MBA (Executive)

• You should have both of the following: at least two years' work experience in a business or management capacity; and an honours degree/postgraduate degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject.
• We’ll consider your application if you don’t possess the above qualifications but have substantial managerial experience.
• We'll consider applications where appropriate work experience can be demonstrated in lieu of, or in addition to, the published academic qualifications in line with the University’s Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) procedures.
• When applying you must include a reference from your current employer. The reference should clearly state how long you have been employed by them and give a breakdown of your job content and roles and responsibilities.
• Your application form must be accompanied by a reflective overview of the managerial responsibilities you have undertaken to date.
• You may be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
• If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.5 with normally no less than 6.0 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.

Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.

No matter what part of industry or commerce you work in, the Bolton MBA is designed to help you gain a critical understanding of the problems and challenges facing enterprises and organisations and equip you with the analytical and critical faculties to identify potential solutions. As a graduate, you'll possess an overview of key business practices and further skills in areas such as operations management, marketing, strategy and financial management.

An MBA is often a route to promotion or a career change. Companies in every industry around the world seek out business and management professionals with an MBA. Every business, from tiny start-ups to large companies, needs someone with experience and the necessary education to support common business processes like accounting, finance, human resources, marketing, public relations, sales, and management.

What can I do with this qualification?

A wide range of employers, including financial institutions, technology companies, blue-chip companies and SMEs, recruit MBA graduates. Employers view MBA graduates favourably because studying for this qualification promotes knowledge and skills that apply to any organisation (regardless of the sector). The universal appeal stems from the MBA's focus on collective business principles.

Popular options for MBA graduates include human resource management, investment banking, management consultancy, marketing and supply chain management. An MBA is also highly respected worldwide, so if you're interested in a global business career, it could be beneficial – especially as qualifications from UK business schools are so well regarded. It can also help you specialise in your current sector or a new industry you want to move into.

If you want to continue your studies after graduation, you could opt for a research degree (MPhil, DBA or PhD).

Alternative career options

Graduates can also use this qualification as a stepping-stone into various other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate. Some possibilities include:

• Accountancy
• Hotel and leisure management
• Public relations
• Financial management
• Information systems
• Market research analysis
• Product management
• Health policy and information
• Purchasing
• Teaching and education
• Media (TV, film, online, newspaper, magazine)
• Advertising
• Self-employment
• Logistics
• Banking
• Auditing and quality assurance
• Project management
• Risk and insurance

Please contact the centre of study for fees and funding information – details can be found in the Programme Contacts section of this page.

Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2023-2024 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.

The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.

Bursaries

Click here for more information on our Master's Bursaries.

A variety of teaching and learning strategies are used to help you understand and develop a range of concepts, knowledge and skills. Some of these methods are offered during formally timetabled classes with a tutor; others may be adapted to fit in with your own learning. You’ll also be expected to devote a significant amount of time to guided independent study. This can include, for example, general background reading, preparing for seminar activities and working on assignments.

Our aim is to maximise access to learning and meet the needs of a range of learners – widening participation, avoiding exclusion and developing skills in both academic and workplace arenas. The methods used include an ‘away day’, lectures, workshops, tutorials (group and individual), guest speakers, development of information literacy, and personal development planning (PDP). Individual tutors may use methods they feel are particularly suitable for their specialist area.

The assessment strategy for the programme is designed to make sure you achieve the overall aims of the programme, as well as the learning outcomes for individual modules. As well as being a way to assess your achievement, assessment also helps you to organise and develop your learning. Assessment feedback can help you develop your skills and an understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses.

The assessments you’ll be required to complete fall into two general categories, formative and summative. Formative assessments don’t contribute to your overall module grade, but they are a part of the learning strategy for a module and you’re required to complete them. Summative assessments do contribute to your overall module grade. You’ll also receive feedback on these assessments, so you’ll know what you’ve done well and where you can improve. Many different forms of assessment are used. The major ones being coursework (usually essays), reports/case studies, oral presentations, research proposal and the dissertation.

Modules

The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.

• Dissertation
• Research and Study Skills
• Leadership and Management
• Financial Management and Decision Making
• International Marketing Management
• Strategic Management
• Change Management
• Human Resource Management
• Research Methods

Assessment methods

Learning activities

Disclaimer

The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.