Full Time MBA

An MBA challenges how you think and act in business. Employers want more from their managers than knowledge and strategic thinking – they also seek leadership skills, commitment and creativity. The Leeds MBA equips you to meet these challenges.

This top global MBA programme (Financial Times Top 100 Global MBA Ranking, 2016) integrates business and management theory with practice, but also emphasises your personal and professional development. You’ll study the foundations of business such as marketing, accounting, finance, operations and human resource management.

Importantly, you’ll also gain key qualities expected of leaders including commercial awareness, interpersonal skills, a genuine understanding of the fundamental business functions and a critical and questioning outlook.

You’ll apply what you’ve learned to examine significant business issues in a set of live challenges working with a range of external organisations. You’ll gain an international outlook and build valuable connections, helping you become a global leader.

Academic excellence, professional focus

You’ll benefit from the expertise and support of several major research centres. The Business School boasts the UK’s premier research centre in international business, the Centre for International Business at the University of Leeds (CIBUL) led by Professor Peter Buckley OBE and our Global and Strategic Marketing Research Centre (GLOSMARC) is led by one of the UK’s foremost professors of marketing, Professor Constantine Katsikeas.

Given Leeds’ position as a financial services hub, it’s not surprising that our academics working through our Institute for Banking and Investment, and the Credit Management Research Centre, are among the most respected in the UK. As organisations and the nature of work change in an ultracompetitive marketplace, specialists from our Centre for Employment Relations, Innovation and Change work with employers and staff to develop effective working practices.

If you’re thinking of starting your own business, you’ll also benefit from the support of Spark – our specialist team will be there to support and encourage you in turning your business idea into a reality.

You’ll also come across plenty of opportunities to build your professional network, and your project work will bring you into contact with some of our many industry partners. We have extensive relationships with Marks & Spencer, IBM, Yorkshire Bank, Asda-Walmart, Lloyds Banking Group, KPMG, Accenture and the NHS, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, charities and social enterprises.

Accreditation

The Leeds MBA is accredited by the Association of MBAs.

Course content

Through a variety of taught modules, you’ll gain an understanding of the key components of business management – marketing, accounting, finance, operations and human resource management. Alongside these subjects we explore how to manage and lead people in organisations. You’ll also have the option to take part in one of our international study tours.

You’ll build and apply your skills as you complete live challenges in two of your modules. One of these exciting projects allows you to generate ideas for new commercial opportunities and turn them into viable business plans, either for an existing organisation or in a start-up. The other gives you the chance to provide consultancy support to an external business, social enterprise or voluntary sector organisation.

The course culminates in your MBA Project, giving you the opportunity to turn your knowledge into practice that relates to your own ambitions. Your project can be desk-based if you want to research a topic in-depth, or you can work on a live management issue with an external organization to develop links with employers and industry. If you’re planning to start your own company, you could even put together a comprehensive business plan.

Course structure

Compulsory modules

• Management Decision Making 15 credits
• International Business Management 15 credits
• Strategic and Entrepreneurial Management 15 credits
• Economics of Strategy 15 credits
• Global Marketing Management 15 credits
• People and Behaviour in Organizations 15 credits
• Global Operations and Information Management 15 credits
• Leading in Practice 15 credits
• Strategic HRM and Talent Management 15 credits
• Accounting and Finance 15 credits
• Project/Dissertation 30 credits

For more information on typical modules, read Full Time MBA in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

We use a range of teaching methods including lectures, seminars, tutorials, online learning, computer simulations and more.

Your interactions with other students are also a key element of your learning experience, and you could meet prominent external speakers and professionals through events such as our prestigious Corporate Wisdom Lecture Series.

Independent study is also vital, allowing you to sharpen your research and critical skills.

Assessment

Assessment methods emphasise not just knowledge, but essential skills development too. They include formal exams, group projects, essays and written assignments, group and individual presentations.

Study tours

MBA students have the opportunity to take part in a one or two-week international study tour.

Typically we try to offer a variety of trips. You’ll have the chance to visit local companies and partner business schools, enjoy business seminars and networking opportunities with local students, businesses and leaders and still have time to explore the culture, history and sights of the region.

Please note these trips are optional and are not covered bythe basic programme fees.

Read more about MBA study tours

Career opportunities.

You are an individual with your own career aspirations and goals – so we take a person-centred approach. Our professional development programme is tailored to help you compete effectively in the global marketplace. We will support you in developing your career plans by providing high-quality careers information, advice and coaching that realistically meets your needs and the market’s requirements.

You'll also interact with experts, gain knowledge in global developments and enhance your leadership and transferable skills. Some professional development activities are embedded in the core programme, others are delivered virtually, run as a workshop, seminar or through one-to-one coaching. Ultimately we want to equip you with the skills you need to manage your career for life.

Read more about Career Development in The Leeds MBA.

Visit the Full Time MBA page on the University of Leeds website for more details!