Master of Business Administration - MBA

The MBA is an internationally recognised and respected qualification for managers. Applicants are from both the public and private sectors in the UK and abroad. 

The teaching programme is aimed at those who are looking to develop their careers and at 'high flyers' that need an understanding of all the major functions of business providing generalist knowledge for prospective leaders. 

In addition to enhancing successful students' career prospects, the course aims to encourage independent and creative thinkers. This is done by following the UK Quality Assurance Agency guidelines in giving students a 'strong practical and professional orientation' differentiating it from other masters programmes.

All students complete seven taught modules, (five compulsory core modules and two optional modules), together with a final dissertation/project.​

​Course Content​​

The core modules are designed to expose participants to state of the art thinking in the key management disciplines and provide opportunity throughout to apply theory to real life management situations.

• Accounting for Decision-Makers (20 credits)
• Marketing (20 credits)
• Operations Management (20 credits)
• People and Organisations (20 credits)
• Strategic Management (20 credits)

Optional Modules:

Participants will be able to choose 40 credits from a range of optional modules. These will include:

• Business Process and Data Analytics (20 credits)
• Social Media Analytics for Business (20 credits)
• Management of Finance (20 credits)
• Finance of International Business  (20 credits) 
• Leadership and Health Sector Management (20 credits)
• Health Sector Operations Management (20 credits)
• Managing People in a Global Context (20 credits)
• Developing People for Leadership and Management (20 credits)
• Principles of Islamic Finance (20 credits)
• Islamic Investment Banking (20 credits) 
• Understanding the Behavioural Elements of Marketing: Knowing Your Consumer (20 credits)
• Strategic Global Marketing (20 credits)
• Product Development Management (20 credits)
• Managing the Product Development Process (20 credits)
• Project Management Theory and Practice (20 credits)
• Management of Mega and Complex Projects (20 credits)
• Logistics in a Global Context (20 credits)
•  Supply Chain and Logistics Management (20 credits)

Successful completion of a combination of these subjects (with core modules and final project / dissertation) will entitle students to the award of MBA. However, students may opt to undertake a specialism, studying two subjects in the same area, for example Principles of Islamic Finance and Islamic Investment Banking; the programme offers several pathways for students wishing to have their specialisms noted, and these include:

• MBA (Business Analytics)
• MBA (Finance)
• MBA (Health Sector)
• MBA (Human Resources)
• MBA (Islamic Finance)
• MBA (Marketing Management)
• MBA (Product Development Management)
• MBA (Project Management)
• MBA (Supply Chain and Logistics Management)

Final Module (40 credits):

The final project is a double module, completed by students after they have completed all taught modules. Whether an academic piece of research or an investigation into the launching of a business; it is designed to be an intellectually challenging piece of individual management research. It will equip successful students with the knowledge, capabilities and competences required of today's managers, in a world in which the ability to research new information is increasingly important. Students are able to choose between:

• Dissertation (40 credits)
• Capstone Project (40 credits)
• Consultancy Project (40 credits)
• New Business Project and Professional Practice (40 credits)

​Learning & Teaching​

​The core and optional modules will be delivered through a mixture of lectures and seminars. All modules are supported by Moodle, the virtual learning environment which will provide students with a wide range of learning material and study guidance.

For the final 40 credit module, students are allocated a supervisor who will provide constructive comment on their work as it develops. Students have access to online as well as standard library facilities. The entire process, from development of a draft research proposal and schedule, through selecting methods and drafting chapters, is supported by the Cardiff School of Management supervisors but managed and implemented by the student.

Assessment

Assessment is via a combination of examinations, assignments, presentations, groupwork and the final project. 

Employability & Careers​

There have been developments within the School and Institution to encourage employability. The module in Core Skills in the first semester, for example, has introduced the student to the maintenance of personal records.

Careers events and a Blackboard on-line module allow students opportunities to further their knowledge. "Campus Pack" offers a student the capacity to build their e-portfolio within their online modules. This is designed with the following aims:

• Social Assignments: Empower instructors, academic technologists, and instructional designers to build and implement assignments and activities from a palette of re-usable social media tools including wikis, blogs, journals, podcasts, and templates.
• Social Network and Academic Commons: Implement a secure social network and community for instructors, students, departments, and administrators.
• e-Portfolios: Provide every individual a space and network to create, categorize, assess, and present academic and co-curricular activities with instructors, peers, advisors, or anyone in the world.
• Personal Development Plans: Personal Development Plans (PDP) facilitate the structure necessary for students to reflect upon individual learning, performance, and achievement, and map personal, educational, and career development. Institutions can easily design template profiles to meet the needs of different users and skill set groups.

The Alumni office and the MBA Team have also been developing networks, for example through social media such as Linked In. The success of these networks has been evidenced by the amount of former students currently in contact with the university about their employment, allowing current and former students to form links, and network.

The invitation to join with Merseburg University of Applied Sciences in Germany, to offer a Project Management Summer school is further evidence of the reputation now established and enhances any professional accreditation applications further. In July 2013, a tuition programme was offered, combining theory and practice and adhering to PMI global standards. This summer school opportunity not only offered the opportunity to foster partnerships in Europe alongside valuable learning experiences for students, it was centred on a live project. The project included the subdivisions of Funding, Regional Development and Visitor Centre, marketing strategy and Information systems.

Visit the Master of Business Administration - MBA page on the Cardiff Metropolitan University website for more details!