MBA (Master of Business Administration)

Our internationally recognised MBA is a unique distance learning qualification that will build and develop your business skills. You'll be able to critically assess multiple perspectives and start applying your new understanding of management as you study. Designed for practising senior and middle-level managers, it will develop your strategic analysis, interdisciplinary skills, creativity and innovation. With an international emphasis and global reputation, our MBA programme is highly attractive for all ambitious executives.

Key features of the course

• Our triple-accredited status puts us in an elite group of business schools in the world.
• Practice-based learning brings your MBA to life in your workplace.
• Flexible options enable you to adjust the curriculum to suit your needs.
• Strong international emphasis is essential for developing leaders in a global marketplace.
• Join an influential network of more than 27,000 alumni from 120 countries when you graduate.

The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:

• Knowledge and understanding
• Cognitive skills
• Practical and professional skills
• Key skills

Course details

The emphasis on your learning is directly rooted in management practice. The ‘master’ in the degree title signifies your ‘mastery’ of the art and science of management.

To achieve this level of capability the general MBA programme concentrates on strategic analysis, interdisciplinary skills, intellectual stimulation and independent judgement and covers core themes such as critical engagement; embedding theory in practice and global impact awareness

There are now two routes to the MBA depending on when you start your studies.

November 2019 onwards route

If you start this year or have started with B870 in November 2019 or thereafter, including if you've previously studied any electives as a standalone module, you'll need:

105 credits from the following:

• Managing in a changing world (B870)
• Creating and sustaining value (B872)
• Effective strategic management in business and the public sector (B873)
• Finance for strategic decision-making (B874)

plus 45 credits from the following:

• Contemporary issues in organisations (BB853)
• Entrepreneurship in context (BB851)
• Leadership and management of public services (BB852)
• Supply chain management (BB849)
• Sustainable creative management (BB842)
• Business, human rights and corporate social responsibility (W822)

Or the discontinued modules BB841, BB844, BB845, BB846, BB847, BB848, BXM871.

plus 30 credits from the following:

• MBA project: leaders of change (B875)

You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 60 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.