The Bradford Distance Learning MBA allows you to study at a time, place and pace to suit you.
This programme is ideal if you need to combine work and family commitments with your business management studies, giving you the flexibility to complete your MBA in two to six years.
This flexibility means that you can fit your learning around your work and home commitments, and complete the MBA at a pace to suit you, in anything from two to six years. If you are using the government’s Postgraduate Loan to fund your studies, you will need to complete the MBA in no more than two years (see the Fees and Financial Support section for more details).
You’ll join an international network of over 500 distance-learning students, which means you’ll never be studying alone. Students get all the benefits of being part of a leading business school with access to our unique online learning, careers and support services from around the world.
About our partner RDI
University of Bradford School of Management administers its distance learning MBA programmes alongside RDI. RDI is responsible for the initial stages of student application and admission onto the Bradford Distance Learning MBA programmes in specific territories.
Please note: In August 2015, RDI achieved university status resulting in a name change from Resource Development International Ltd to Arden University Ltd. However, the organisation is aware of the high esteem in which RDI is held by students worldwide and so the RDI name will continue as part of Arden University.
Professional Accreditation
The Financial Times has placed the University of Bradford School of Management's Distance Learning MBA in the world's top 10 in its Online MBA Ranking 2015.
We are in an elite group of less than 1% of business schools in the world to hold the triple accreditations of Equis, AMBA and AACSB.
Why Bradford?
The Bradford Distance Learning MBA is ranked by the Financial Times as one of the world's best online MBA programmes (World No.8) and rated No.1 in the world for alumni career progression.
The programme is aimed at intelligent, highly motivated managers who wish to equip themselves with the essential business and management skills required in the increasingly competitive, diverse and dynamic business environment.
As with all our MBAs, we offer students the flexibility to switch between modes of study. Distance learning students can choose to take certain modules alongside Full-time and Executive Part-time students in Bradford or at one of our partner institutions across our global campus. There is also flexibility in terms of how intensively you study. We advise that you study two modules every three months, tackling one unit per week – approximately 14-16 hours of study. However, if you are restricted on time, you can choose to just study one module at a time or even suspend your studies all together and restart at a later date.
While distance learning allows you to study at a time, place and pace to suit your needs we ensure that you will never feel like you are studying alone. Distance Learning MBA students have access to our Virtual Learning Environment and are provided with a variety of materials from textbooks and academic journal papers through to video clips and podcasts for each module. You are also expected to contribute to online discussion forums and tutorials with your tutor group and can network with staff and students our online social networking site - The Atrium.
Although studying largely independently, Distance Learning MBA students get all the benefits of being at a leading international business school and gaining a globally recognised qualification. You will also get access to all of our learning, careers and support services as well as our online library and academic expertise.
Rankings
Financial Times rankings for the School of Management:
-Our Distance Learning MBA ranked 11th in the world, 3rd in the UK in Online MBA rankings
-Our Distance Learning MBA is also ranked 1st in the world for salary increase (percentage) and 2nd in the world for value for money
Modules
Core modules - You will study 10 core modules covering key business and managerial disciplines.
-Online Induction Programme (Completion of the online induction programme is vital as during the induction you will be provided with key information on issues such as MBA rules and regulations, student support services and the online learning resources)
-Business Accounting
-Business Economics
-Operations Management
-Marketing Management
-Managing People
-Managerial and Professional Development
-Business Ethics and Sustainability
-Business Research
-Strategic Management
-Corporate Finance
Elective modules - Once you have gained the required managerial skills and knowledge from the core modules, you will then be required to complete four elective modules. There are normally 9-10 elective modules to choose from for those studying purely by distance learning.
-Business Simulation
-Circular Economy, Core Principles and Concepts
-Corporate Marketing
-E-business
-Entrepreneurship
-European Business Management
-Financial Risk Management in European Banking
-Global Supply Chain Management
-International Business in Emerging Economies
-International Business Studies
-International Financial Management
-International Marketing
-Management of Change
-Management Consulting
-Managerial Leadership
-Marketing Communications
-Mergers and Acquisitions
-Project Management
-Services Marketing
-Strategic Information Systems
-Sustainable Operations
Students who choose to take an elective module(s) in Bradford or at one of our partner institutions will have a wider range of choices, including modules such as Mergers and Acquisitions, Management Consulting and Global Supply Chain Management. Up to three modules may be taken in this way at no extra cost.
The management project is an integral part of the Bradford MBA and is often the most challenging and rewarding part of the programme. At the end of the taught programme you put into practice what you have learnt by investigating and reporting on an important management issue or opportunity. If you are sponsored by your employer, the project can relate to your workplace.
Otherwise, you may choose to use the project to deepen your knowledge of a different sector or organisation, or as a stepping stone to your next job. The project findings and recommendations are then written up in a 9,000-word dissertation.
Throughout the project you will be guided by an experienced academic and you will have access to the School of Management Effective Learning department. The Effective Learning service often proves to be very useful providing students with a clear understanding and guidelines on what is required in order to successfully complete their project.
Learning activities and assessment
Students are expected to take two subjects (modules) every three months.
Each module contains nine study units. Students typically progress by studying one unit from each module per week. This equates to approximately 14-16 hours of study per week. If you don't think that you have enough time to study two modules over the three month period you can always chose to study just one module, lightening your workload considerably.
If work or family life is particularly busy then you can even suspend your studies and restart at a later date. This flexibility means that students can complete a distance learning MBA in 2 to 6 years. We do however strongly advise that students study two modules every three months.
Study Abroad
You may decide you want to accelerate your studies, learn about a particular subject area, study alongside other University of Bradford School of Management students or simply broaden your horizons and spend some time studying overseas. You can do this by undertaking up to three block modules (i.e. 3-5 days of intensive study) at no extra cost (other than travel, accommodation and subsistence) at the School of Management or at any one of our partner institutions in Dubai and Singapore.
Career support and prospects
The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.
Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes there is direct input by Career Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.
An MBA is an opportunity to either change career direction or consolidate experience then return and progress in a previous industry or job. The Financial Times Global MBA rankings show that, on average, 20% of alumni achieve board-level positions within three years of graduation.
On completion of the programme participants go into a wide variety of functions and sectors, including IT/Telecoms, Finance & Banking and Industry being amongst the most popular.
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