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Master of Business Administration Master of Business Administration

Start date

  • Level(s) of Study: Postgraduate taught / Professional
  • Start Date(s): September 2024
  • Duration: One year full-time or two years with a placement
  • Study Mode(s): Full-time
  • Campus: City Campus
  • Entry Requirements:
    More information
Information for 2024/25

Introduction:

The Nottingham Business School MBA is designed to enhance your management knowledge, your leadership capabilities, your global perspective and your professional career. It has been awarded a Dual Award status by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). The course is designed around three key themes of Developing Mindset, Leading Agile Transformation and Building and Leading a Resilient Organisation.

Our MBA has three core principles at heart:

  1. The principles of responsible and sustainable management are central to our School and the programme. We’ll help you to develop the insights, capacities and skills to create and maintain responsible, efficient business practices, as well as to develop your sustainable mind-set, promote responsible leadership and influence organisational cultures.
  2. The learning style and opportunities are characterised by experiential learning, manifest in the two consultancy projects and a pedagogy designed to increase opportunities for experiential elements in each module.
  3. We offer a personalised pathway, with the freedom to specialise in the areas that interest you most and to shape your skills and experiences around the career you want.

The NBS MBA aims to prepare you to be more informed across all areas of business administration so that you are able to take up senior strategic management roles as part of your career progression.

We have designed a curriculum which will challenge your thinking, stretch the boundaries of your knowledge and demand reflection on your previous managerial decisions and actions. If you take the programme seriously and go beyond the minimum requirement to pass, it will help you to consider how to be an ethical and effective leader so that you can make a positive contribution to your future organisation, employees and society.

If you have any questions about our Master of Business Administration course, you can now chat to our experienced lecturers and course leaders through Unibuddy.

What you’ll gain from this degree?

  • we offer a more hands-on experience than most other UK business schools. You will complete three hands-on experience projects; two within the UK and one internationally.
  • our Personal, Professional and Leadership Development module will include opportunities for academic and industrial mentoring, careers support and individual personal and professional development based around your needs. Careers coaching during your MBA will support your future leadership career.
  • develop global management skills and immerse yourself in a multicultural atmosphere, with a dynamic community of staff and students from around the world.
  • develop critical thinking skills which are directly applicable to the workplace.
  • be able to apply tools and techniques required to transform the culture and capabilities of organisations to meet the challenges of a turbulent and dynamic business environment.
  • understand contemporary topics such as big data and AI and be able to directly apply this knowledge to your role and organisation.
  • This course has been awarded a Dual Award status by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).
  • You will complete three hands-on experience projects; two within the UK and one internationally.
  • Meet regularly with Academic Mentors and Industry Mentors, and access careers coaching to help you make the most of your time at NBS.
  • Create a personalised learning experience, giving you a unique MBA degree that equips you with the skills you'll need, for the career you want.

Join our internationally accredited business school

Nottingham Business School is accredited to AACSB and EQUIS, the highest international standards for business school education. We are one of 47 global PRME Champions - a United Nations-supported initiative leading the way with sustainable and responsible management education.

  • EQUIS logo
  • PRME Champions Logo

What you’ll study

At Nottingham Business School, you can create a personalised learning experience, giving you a unique MBA degree that equips you with the skills you'll need, for the career you want.

Leading with Purpose

  • Customer Centric Marketing
  • Leading People and Organisations
  • Leading Responsible and Sustainable Organisations
  • Leading Strategy
  • Leading Innovation

Leading Agile Transformation

  • Finance for Strategic Decision Making
  • Operations and Supply Chain Management
  • Data Driven Decision Making
  • Change Management
  • Strategic Business Planning

Building and Leading a Resilient Organisation

  • Governing Organisations
  • Digital Transformation
  • Global Consultancy Experience
  • Business Research Project

Leading with Purpose

Customer Centric Marketing

The Customer Centric Marketing module will enable you to understand the role of marketing, the global marketing context, develop marketing strategy, understand the importance of the customer experience and the interplay with brand. As a result of this knowledge, you will develop skills in applying this contemporary marketing knowledge to a real-world global context.

Leading People and Organisations

The Leading People and Organisations takes a multi-disciplinary approach to develop knowledge, insights, and skills relevant to the management and leadership of people and organisations. You will reflect on and develop your leadership and management practice in the context of contemporary organisations in the global setting.

Leading Responsible and Sustainable Organisations

The Leading Responsible and Sustainable Organisations module will create a sustainable mind-set in you as a global leader through your understanding of the interface between ethics, corporate social responsibility, corporate governance and integrated sustainability.

Leading Strategy

Organisations are facing increasing uncertainty and disruption across all areas. Leading Strategy module will provide you an understanding of these issues and as a result you will be able to develop the leadership skills required to ensure long-term organisational success.

Leading innovation

Innovation skills are highly sought after in the global market-place. As a result of this module, you will have the skills needed to lead and facilitate innovation in complex global organisations.

Leading Agile Transformation

Finance for Strategic Decision Making

Knowing how to make financial decisions is an essential leadership skill. The module provides you with the knowledge and skills required to evaluate internal and external financial information and use this to appraise corporate financial performance and strategy.

Operations and Supply Chain Management

All organisations rely on systems and processes to operate. As a global leader the module will build your knowledge of how these operate and how critical they are in supporting the delivery of strategic objectives.

Data Driven Decision Making

This module will mean that you see beyond the hype of big data and a result you will be able to navigate your way through complexity, quantity and the ethical and legal issues related to data. Leveraging data in this way will enable you to answer strategically important decisions and thus link you to innovation.

Change Management

The Change Management module involves you working with a group of your MBA peers as consultants to an organisation facing a complex change problem. Through this work based experience, you will learn how to lead change in complex global organisations and also develop consultancy skills.

Strategic Business Planning

Using a live case study organisation, and a real business problem, with a group of your MBA peers, you will be tasked with creating a strategic business plan for an organisation.

Building and Leading a Resilient Organisation

Governing Organisations

As a global leader, you will need be able to operate effectively at board level to ensure the development of a sustainable and resilient organisation and establish the values and behaviours that guide organisational decision making and culture. The module adopts a structural, behavioural and an organisational perspective considering the governance options, behaviours and capabilities required to be an effective senior leader.

Digital Transformation

The ability to navigate and lead the ever-changing digital landscape is an essential leadership skill. The Digital Transformation module will allow you to develop an understanding of the strategic and operational business issues related to contemporary digital products and services for global organisations, with a focus on the technologies, skills and capabilities needed to create and sustain a cutting-edge digital business.

Global Consultancy Experience

This module provides the opportunity to experience dimensions of international strategic management by working intensively for a period of up to one week in a facilitated study tour including an external consultancy project. As a result, you will development of a range of important skills related to the economic global environment, managing across borders and managing projects. Given the international setting for the assignment, this will include strategies for operating in a culturally different environment and working closely with international collaborators.

Business Research Project

The Business Research Project module aims to enable students to rigorously investigate an issue of management or organisational relevance. Students are expected to focus on a project that is relevant to their organisation and to themselves as a Senior Leader.

Ongoing learning

Professional Leadership Development

This module is taught throughout the course develops professional, strategic transferable skills which students can deploy in the workplace.

The purpose of the module is to increase students understanding of how to manage their own continuous professional development in order to be a more effective leader and to enable sustained career success.

Specifically the aims of the module are to:

  • Enable an understanding and appreciation of the importance of effective continuous learning in realising potential.
  • Develop an understanding of key competencies and attributes relating to development as a leader.
  • Develop students’ ability to use reflective practice to improve their performance and continuous development.
  • Enable an understanding of how to identify ongoing development needs for continuous career management.

The module content can be grouped into three core themes:

  1. Developing core personal and professional competencies.
  2. Developing leadership capability.
  3. Reflective practice, development planning and career management.

Professional development

This course has been awarded Dual Award status with the Chartered Management Institute, which means you can graduate with a Masters degree and a CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership.

In addition to the qualification and included with Dual Accreditation is student membership with CMI for the duration of the course. Membership whilst you are on the course is included in the course fee. The CMI’s online resource portal, ManagementDirect, offers digital resources, networking, mentoring and support.

You will gain the CMI qualification upon graduation and you are then eligible to become a full member of the CMI and have the opportunity to work towards Chartered Manager status should you wish.

You can choose to add a year's work placement, making your MBA a two-year course. It's a great way to put your learning into practice and gain career-enhancing real-world experience. Your placement year will last up to 48 weeks (minimum 36 weeks). If you are unable to take a full year's placement, but have completed the minimum 36 weeks you can qualify for a Placement Diploma in Industrial Experience.

Please note that placements are not guaranteed and you will need to work hard in securing one during your first semester. We have a dedicated Employability team who are here to help and support you during the placement process with CV writing, creating a LinkedIn page, interview tips, where to search for a placement etc. You can visit the Employability team’s page for further information.

Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves

Student Profiles

Hansanee Rajapaksha

Master of Business Administration

The incorporation of real-life business interactions and client collaborations within our assessments has elevated the learning experience, offering unmatched insights into the requirements and work culture of potential future employers.

Kshitija Bhaskar Kadam

Master of Business Administration

One piece of advice I would give is to enrol in this course with an open mind and a growth mindset. It is what you make of it hence be ready to give your 100% and the results would be rewarding.

Diaa A. Roushdy Mohamed

Master of Business Administration

I can honestly say that the MBA exceeded my expectations, as I realised its constructive impact and change on both personal and professional levels.

Aanchal Singh

Master of Business Administration

The MBA course is well structured and allowed me to undertake two consultancy projects which provided real-world and hands-on opportunities. The MBA is designed for people with prior work experience, so you are learning with a highly experienced and diverse group.

Amber Tipper

Master of Business Administration

My wish to enter a new career path with excellent leadership capabilities has encouraged me to choose MBA. This degree has given me strategic knowledge needed to climb even higher.

Xuejiao Kong

Master of Business Administration

I would like to say the way of thinking. NTU has changed my life in terms of believing in myself, having an open mind and being innovative.

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How you’re taught

Teaching and Learning

Nottingham Business School adopts a distinctive approach to the design of student learning opportunities. Your learning is structured around theory, practice, experience & observation, and reflection & improvement. You’ll not only be taught the latest strategies, but also will be given every opportunity to put your learning into action in real business settings. We structure our courses to encourage constructive learning, self-directed study, critical thinking and team work. You’ll spend much of your time in small group workshops and tutorials discussing and analysing your experience of business practices and behaviours.

Coaching and Mentoring

Every postgraduate student will be allocated an Academic Mentor at the beginning of the academic year and you will meet with them regularly throughout the year. Academic Mentors help you make the most of your time at NTU. Careers coaches will enhance your thinking about what’s best for your future leadership career. Industry Mentors will keep you up to date with the latest trends in the job market. They will all support you in developing and enhancing the qualities and transferable skills necessary for your studies, career progression, professional and personal development.

Assessments

An important part of the MBA learning process is the formal assessment. One of the functions of assessment is a measurement of your progression but other attendant skills are developed during the process. The skills required to succeed in assessment are also skills you will require in the workplace such as conceptualisation, analysis, evidence-based argument, effective communication, information-processing, working within a pre-set boundary of time. We have a range of assessment types but no exams.

Consultancy Projects

A unique feature of the Nottingham Business School MBA is the opportunity to put your skills into practice during three hands-on business consultancy projects. The first, part of your Change Management module, is a team project for a UK business. The second is a strategic business plan which you will develop for a local entrepreneurial business based at Nottingham Trent University's Dryden Enterprise Centre. Your third and final project will be based outside of the UK and is set in a global context, giving you the chance to internationalise your experience and develop your global business mind-set while tackling fascinating, real-world challenges with a critical impact on organisational performance.

You may incur minor additional costs to attend international trips on the course.

In-sessional English language support

In-sessional English language classes are offered to international students at no extra cost. The classes aim to provide focused support in the skills you need in order to develop your English in your subject area.

Further information please contact the Nottingham Language Centre based in the DICE building on City Campus:

Tel: +44 (0)115 848 6156 | Email: englishsupport@ntu.ac.uk | Website: www.ntu.ac.uk/nlc

Personalisation

We know our postgraduate students are a diverse group, with different levels of academic knowledge in their chosen area of study, different cultural and educational backgrounds, and varying levels of personal and professional skills and competencies.

At NBS we strive to ensure that these two motivating factors are nurtured and therefore supported. Our students are encouraged to practice and develop the skills and competencies required to critically reflect on their learning, and on their ability to apply this learning to their studies and to real world complex issues within the workplace. Through a series of curricula and extra-curricular initiatives, strengthened by tailored academic mentor support, NBS provides all our postgraduate students with the ability to participate in a range of challenging and unique activities, projects, events and experiences to enable our students to succeed in a competitive and dynamic global environment.

You may incur additional minor costs to attend international trips on the course however travel and accommodation costs are covered by the university.

Staff Profiles

Julie Rosborough - Principal Lecturer

Nottingham Business School

Julie currently is the MBA Portfolio Lead and is responsible for the design, recruitment, delivery and external client and alumni engagement of the Executive MBA and Full Time MBA courses. Prior this role Julie lead the MSc…

Simon Taylor - Lecturer

Nottingham Business School

Simon Taylor is a Lecturer in Management.

Rotimi Olaniyan - Principal Lecturer

Nottingham Business School

Dr. Rotimi Olaniyan is a senior lecturer in marketing and a practice oriented scholar, with teaching responsibilities in the areas of Strategic Marketing; Leadership and Employability; Marketing Metrics and Analytics;

Matt Dunn - Senior Lecturer

Nottingham Business School

Matt Dunn is a module leader for the Director’s Perspective (EMBA/SLA) and Leading & Managing Strategy (CMDA) at Nottingham Business School.

Careers and employability

At Nottingham Business School, we’re focused on your employability from the start of your degree. We provide you with a learning experience that integrates theory and practice.

Graduates from this course have gone onto roles within the public, private and third sector, undertaking positions such as:

  • Head of Procurement
  • Project Manager
  • Managing Director
  • Finance Director

Employability Team

We have a dedicated Employability Team who not only help you during your time with us but also following graduation, they’ll continue to support you by providing a number of services that will help kick-start your career.

Our Employability Team offer a wide range of support from one-to-one appointments with our specially trained consultants, to arranging recruitment fairs and skill building workshops.

Services they provide include:

  • Finding placements, internships and part-time work
  • Helping you to pursue self-employment
  • Advice on taking gap years and time out
  • Information and help on getting into volunteering
  • Providing advice on further study.

As a student you will have access to our virtual learning environment, where you will be able to get in touch with our Employability team for CV support, application, interview and job hunting advice, career ideas and employer videos.

You can visit the Employability Team on your local campus every day during term time. They are also open outside of term time too, except on University closure days. So drop in, say hello, and get help with quick enquiries or book an appointment with a careers consultant from your school.

Re:search Re:imagined

To us, research is about more than writing papers and proposing new ideas. By daring to think differently, we’re disrupting the research landscape and finding the answers to the questions that really matter. From ethics, innovation and entrepreneurship to behavioural science, we’re inspiring the brightest minds to rise up and find solutions to some of the most significant global challenges facing society.

Find out more: ntu.ac.uk/research

Campus and facilities

We are continually investing in our facilities, and transforming our learning and teaching environment to create an inspiring and innovative atmosphere.

The School is based in the impressive Newton Building on NTU's City Campus.

Postgraduate Centre

A short walk from the Newton building and Boots library, the Postgraduate Centre facilitates on-campus teaching for Nottingham Business School’s postgraduate and executive education courses.

Dryden Centre

Benefit from the newly built NTU Dryden Enterprise Centre that provides dedicated support for entrepreneurs, start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises.

Fantastic facilities

  • You can take advantage of the Link Lounge, a space dedicated to Business School students, located on floor zero of the Newton building.
  • Explore your career prospects with the help of the University's Employability Team.
  • You will benefit from spacious teaching rooms and lecture theatres.
  • We provide students with a variety of social spaces.
  • Your studies will benefit from the £13 million Boots Library.
  • You can take advantage of our 24-hour IT facilities.
  • Our Student Services Centre will also be on-hand should you need support.

The location of the City site also means that you have easy access to:

  • sports facilities
  • shops
  • student accommodation
  • music venues
  • cafés.

Entry requirements

You will need the following:

One year Full-time

  • A good first degree (typically 2:2 or above) or equivalent professional qualifications and 3-5 years professional experience.
  • If you do not have an undergraduate degree we can accept 8+ years of professional experience.

Two years with a placement

  • A good first degree (typically 2:1 or above) or equivalent professional qualifications and 3-5 years professional experience.
  • If you do not have an undergraduate degree we can accept 8+ years of professional experience.

Other requirements:

  • Vocational and academic references

When you join the MBA, we assign you an Academic Mentor who will work with you through the duration of the course to help you achieve your career objectives.

Get in touch If you need any more help or information, please contact us at Ask NTU or call on +44 (0)115 848 4200.

Getting in touch

If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form

You will need the following:

One year Full-time

  • A good first degree (typically 2:2 or above) or equivalent professional qualifications and 3-5 years professional experience.
  • If you do not have an undergraduate degree we can accept 8+ years of professional experience.

Two years with a placement

  • A good first degree (typically 2:1 or above) or equivalent professional qualifications and 3-5 years professional experience.
  • If you do not have an undergraduate degree we can accept 8+ years of professional experience.

Other requirements:

  • Vocational and academic references

As part of the application process, we will meet with you to identify your individual training needs. This will allow us to provide personalised support as we assign you an Academic Mentor who will be with you through the duration of the course to help you achieve your training and learning objectives.

English language entry requirements

If English is not your first language you need to show us that your language skills are strong enough for intensive academic study. We usually ask for an IELTS test and we accept some alternative English language tests.

  • For 1-year Masters you'll need a 6.5 grade overall with minimum of 5.5 in each component.
  • For 2-year Masters you'll need a 6.5 grade overall with a minimum of 6.0 in speaking and listening, and 5.5 in reading and writing.

For a list of our language requirements please visit our English language page.

If you need to do a pre-sessional English language course to meet the English requirements, please visit our pre-sessional English course page.

Help and support

If you have any questions about your qualifications or about making an application to the University please contact our international team for advice.

Fees and funding

Home fees for September 2024 entry

Study route

Home fees

One year (full-time)

£24,000

Two years (with placement)*

£25,850 (£24,000 in Year One and £1,850 in Year Two)

Funding your studies

Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there’s no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and living costs page and funding pages will answer your questions.

Postgraduate loans

The government introduced a new postgraduate loan scheme for Master degrees. The loan will be a contribution towards the costs of study and it will be at the student's discretion to use the loan towards fees, maintenance costs or other costs. Find out more on our postgraduate loans page.

Scholarships

You might be able to get a postgraduate scholarship to help fund your studies. We award scholarships to those students who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion and dedication to their studies.

Alumni Discount

We’re happy to be able to offer a 20% alumni discount to most current NTU students and recent NTU alumni. This discount is currently available for those starting an eligible postgraduate taught, postgraduate research or professional course.

Getting in touch

For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service on Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494 or for Scholarship help please contact us on Tel: +44 (0)115 848 4460.

International / EU fees for September 2024 entry

Study route

International / EU fees

One year (full-time)

£24,000

Two years (with placement)*

£25,850 (£24,000 in Year One and £1,850 in Year Two)

When and how to pay your fees

For advice and guidance on making secure international payments to the University please visit our international fees page.

Scholarships

You might be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies. We award scholarships to those students who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion and dedication to their studies.

Alumni Discount

We’re happy to be able to offer a 20% alumni discount to most current NTU students and recent NTU alumni. This discount is currently available for those starting an eligible postgraduate taught, postgraduate research or professional course.

If you have graduated from NTU with a qualifying award from NTU during or after the 2017/18 academic year and you’re progressing onto this course you will be eligible for our alumni discount.

Advice and guidance

If you have any questions about international fees, scholarships and other funding please contact the International Development Office at international@ntu.ac.uk or + 44 (0) 115 848 8175.

How to apply

Ready to join us? Apply through our NTU Applicant Portal.

  1. Register as a new applicant and create an account in the Applicant Portal - don't worry you won't need to complete your application at once, you can come back to it so keep your details safe.
  2. Fill out and submit your application - make sure to check all the information such as entry requirements before submitting.
  3. Track the progress of your application – you can do this by logging into the Application Portal.
  4. Check your offer – As long as you’ve provided all the information we need, we’ll try and make a decision on your application within five to ten working days. However, this can take longer and you should allow at least three weeks for a decision.
  5. Accept your offer within four weeks - Remember that competition for places is high, and if you don’t accept your offer within four weeks it may lapse. After eight weeks it will be automatically withdrawn.
  6. Meet the conditions of your offer (if you have any) - Upload all the documents required to meet the conditions of your offer using the My Documents section of the Applicant Portal.

Don’t worry if you’re waiting for results – we recommend applying now, and then adding them to your Application Portal once they arrive.

If you need some help in writing your application you can view our handy tips.

Good luck with your application!

You can apply directly to us on our NTU Applicant Portal.

Application advice

Apply early so that you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example.  After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

Writing your personal statement

Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:

Would you like some advice on your study plans?

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.

The University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.

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