MBA Advanced Entry Route

The Cardiff Metropolitan University MBA Advanced Entry Route is a package consisting of two parts. The first part consists of the postgraduate Level 7 Diploma in Business Management. When you pass this, you can progress to the second part which is the Cardiff Metropolitan University Advanced Entry MBA. Thus, you gain a UK professional qualification part way through your studies and an MBA from a UK university on completion. You study at your own pace either online or through blended learning which combines classroom work with flexible online study.

The Postgraduate Level 7 Diploma in Business Management is awarded by Learning Resource Network (LRN) an Ofqual (UK Government regulator) recognised Awarding Organisation for qualifications.

Entry requirements

You must comply with the entry requirements for the Diploma and then for the MBA. The Diploma must be passed first before you can progress to the MBA:

Diploma

You must have one of the following:

• a first degree in business, the management or related subjects from a UK university
• a UK level 6 qualification, for example, a Diploma in Management
• other equivalent international qualifications
• at least five years extensive relevant work experience (paid and/or unpaid) with levels of responsibility, participation and/or achievement of a range of relevant professional qualifications

You must also have an appropriate standard of English to enable you to access relevant resources and complete the unit assignments and so you should have a speaking, listening, reading and writing ability at CEFR Level B2 (or equivalent).

MBA

For the MBA Advanced Entry Route you will be required to have all of the following:

• The LRN Level 7 Diploma in Business Management (or UK equivalent)
• An undergraduate qualification equivalent to UK Bachelors 2:2 or higher, or five years’ work experience may be considered for candidates not meeting this requirement
• High School Certificate
• A Statement of Purpose
• Two letters of Reference/Recommendation
• A secure English language test such as IELTS 6.0 (with 5.5 in all modules) or equivalent
• A copy of your passport (and all UK visas where applicable)

In addition to the above requirements, you will be required to take a Skype Interview with the Programme Director.

What is included?

Everything you need to study for both parts is supplied. There are no additional requirements or fees.

All Cardiff Metropolitan University, LRN registration/assessment and iQualify UK tuition fees are included. You are responsible for your travel to/from, accommodation and subsistence in the UK for your study on campus in Cardiff and for the graduation ceremony, along with obtaining the necessary UK short-term student visa (also known as short-term study visa).

Aims

The Cardiff Metropolitan University MBA will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to successfully manage a major organisation in any industry sector.

How do I study and how long does it take?

The Diploma is taught through iQualify UK’s online Teaching Zone, through a mixture of recorded and live lectures coupled with essential reading texts and exercises to support your studies.

The Cardiff Metropolitan University MBA advanced entry route is taught on campus in Cardiff in a five-day block for the research methods unit (with subsequent follow-ups online) and your dissertation is completed online in your home country.

You will have a personal tutor from iQualify UK for the Diploma part and from Cardiff Metropolitan University for the MBA part. They will support you in your studies and you can contact them if you have any questions.

The two stages combined will normally take you from 12 to 18 months to complete. The Diploma part can be started anytime and should normally be completed within one year, although it can be quicker or longer depending on your commitment to your studies. You must successfully complete and pass the Diploma before you can start the MBA part. The MBA part would take an average of seven months to complete.

How is it assessed?

Diploma

Each of the five units are assessed by a 3,500 word written assignment. These can be submitted anytime at one of the four marking windows throughout the year.

MBA

The MBA is assessed by a dissertation.