Course Overview
| Level of study: |
Postgraduate degree |
| Tuition Fees |
Fees and Finances |
| Entry requirements: |
A 2:2 honours degree, or equivalent. Applicants would normally have 2 years’ relevant work experience.
|
| English language requirements: |
IELTS 6.0 with no component less than 5.5, or equivalent
Other English language tests are accepted, click here to find out more.
|
| Mode of study: |
Full-time |
| Duration: |
1 year |
| Assessment method: |
Coursework (may include class tests) |
| Student finance: |
Available |
| Location: |
London
Birmingham
Manchester
|
| Start dates: |
January, September |
| Application deadline: |
Next application deadline
|
About this course
The corporate leadership training market is expected to reach $26.7 billion by 2024 (Digits 2022). The aim of this programme is to educate and develop you as a manager and business specialist by providing knowledge of various business disciplines such as marketing, finance and human resources.
You will develop a critical understanding of management and organisations, as well as developing transferable skills such as leadership and communication, which are essential for successful management in private, public and third sector organisations.
This programme is also available as MBA with Advanced Practice, which includes either an internship or project.
- Explore various perspectives, concepts and issues in the major management disciplines
- Gain an understanding of relevant toolkits and techniques for analysing business and management issues
- Learn to apply knowledge and understanding to solve management problems critically and effectively
- Develop skills for leadership and transformational roles in business
- Boost your strategic thinking, innovation and entrepreneurial skills
- Improve interpersonal and group-working skills
Teaching and Assessment
| Teaching and Assessment |
| Lectures and seminars: |
12 hours per week |
| Independent study: |
30 hours per week |
| Assessment: |
Coursework (may include class tests) |
Careers and postgraduate opportunities
The number of businesses in the UK has grown from 3.5 million businesses in 2000 to 5.6 million in 2021 – an increase of 61% over the whole period (House of Commons Library 2021). This course places a strong focus on enhancing your management and interpersonal skills to help you succeed at manager level in various business disciplines.
You will develop strong strategic decision-making and analytical skills to help you face the day-to-day challenges of working in business and management.
- Finance
- Marketing
- Corporate strategy
- Data analysis
- Accounting
- Management
- Leadership
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Research
| Competitive job roles this programme might open up for you: |
| Finance Manager |
Management Consultant |
| Marketing and Sales Director |
Project Manager |
| Business Development Manager |
Human Resources Manager |
Related reading
Business reading:
Masters reading:
Modules
All modules are core and 15 credits unless specified
Level 7 MSc Workshop (0 credits)
Enhance your academic writing skills in contexts relevant to the modules you’ll study on this programme.
- Develop skills and frameworks specific to postgraduate study, with weekly opportunities for you to transfer these skills to your own assignments
- Gain feedback on your progression and acquire the skills required to succeed in your written assignments
Marketing Strategy
Gain an in-depth understanding of the processes and tools needed for strategy development.
- Learn how organisations create and sustain a competitive advantage
- Develop knowledge of strategy, strategic issues and a range of frameworks, while equipping gaining the skills to be able to conduct a strategic analysis of an organisation
- Explore the concepts, practices and tools of contemporary marketing and how it can contribute to sustainable competitive advantage
Accounting and Finance
Gain the opportunity to explore the key areas of financial and management accounting.
- Explore the issues around numbers and the context within which they are set and understand the balance between calculation, interpretation and discussion
- Engage in intelligent discussion with financial experts and be able to grasp the bigger picture and view issues in a wider context
Entrepreneurship
Enhance your understanding of the theory, knowledge and practice of the process of entrepreneurship.
- Develop the skills and mindset to be an entrepreneurial leader
- Gain an understanding of the theory and practice of entrepreneurship across different contexts
- Gain the knowledge, skills and mindset needed to pursue entrepreneurial endeavours
Economics and the Business Environment
Examine the internal and external environments in which firms operate and how managers audit their business environment to establish a strategic approach to business activity.
- Explore the principles of economics as they apply to the business environment
- Enhance your understanding of, and ability to adapt to, changes in the environments in which it operates
Managing People in the Organisation
Developing knowledge and understanding of individual and group behaviour within organisations is crucial if you wish to succeed as a manager.
- Explore core areas of human resource management
- Apply your knowledge and understanding in a range of organisational settings
Operations Management
In the dynamic environment in which businesses operate the importance of business improvement is fundamental for the success of the organisation. Customer focus through streamlining of value chains is imperative.
- Understand challenges in terms of how we classify, relate to and manage the internal and external chain of customers
- Enhance your ability to remove costs, optimise value creation, understand the competencies, and effectively reconfigure the organisation in the context of a continuous improvement philosophy
Leadership and Change
Gain the knowledge and skills you to be an effective leader.
- Consider the key theories of leadership
- Understand the application of these theories in the context of leading organisational change
Project Management and Research
Explore project management methods that emphasise dividing projects into manageable and controllable stages.
- Develop the knowledge and skills to conduct research and enquiry into business and management issues through research design, the collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data and reporting
- Learn to select, use and analysis the findings from a range of research methods and apply this learning to managing a research project on an organisational issue
Digital Transformation
Develop an understanding of digital transformation in a range of organisational contexts and assess how digital technologies can disrupt industries by transforming industry value chains.
- Learn about patterns of demand and competitive pressures and understand how digital technologies and frameworks can be applied in a digital transformation strategy
- Understand the capabilities required to support and implement a digital transformation strategy and critically evaluate current practice and theory on digital transformation
Business Ethics and Sustainability
Learn about the ethical and sustainability issues that can arise in the business context and learn the workplace tools available to manage these.
- Develop the personal ethics, skills, and attributes required to manage ethical and sustainability issues.
- Learn how to embed ethics and sustainability in business management practices
- Apply frameworks and models to practice in order to evidence evaluative and problem-solving skills for ethical and sustainable development in the real, 21st century business environment
Business Simulation Project (30 credits)
Learn what it takes to lead a business by analysing the factors that will determine whether an organisation excels, survives, or fails.
- Apply what you’ve learnt throughout your MBA in one integrated experience.
- Gain experience in strategic and operational situations facing an international organisation in a fast moving, highly competitive, global environment
The course information displayed on this page is correct for the academic year 2025/26. We aim to run the course as advertised however, changes may be necessary due to updates to the curriculum (due to academic or industry developments), student demand or UK compliance reasons.
Academic requirements
- 2:2 (second class) honours degree or International equivalent
- In addition, applicants would normally have 2 years’ relevant work experience
For country-specific entry requirements, please visit the entry requirements page.
If you do not meet the academic entry requirements, you may be eligible to study our Graduate Certificate programme.
If you are unsure whether your qualifications meet the entry requirements, please contact us and one of our team will contact you to discuss your options.
English language requirements
Applicants must satisfy our general entry requirements as well as meeting specific requirements.
- You will need to provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade 4 – previously grade C – or equivalent).
The general entry requirements are any of the following:
- IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5, or equivalent
- HKDSE English Language – Grade 4 overall with no less than 3 in any of the 4 sub-skills
- Indian Standard XII English – Minimum of 70% (in Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) or Indian Certificate in Secondary Education (ICSE) only)
- WAEC – C6
Tuition fees for 2025/26
This course is eligible for the postgraduate government loan, for more information, please contact us for details.
International students:
- London: £16,000
- Birmingham: £14,350
- Manchester: £14,350
Deposit payments
All postgraduate students, both international and home, are required to pay a deposit towards their tuition fee. For more information about the deposit, please visit our finance page.
What do my tuition fees pay for?
The following is included in your tuition fees:
- Your teaching in class – this included seminars, lectures and tutorials
- Campus facilities and social spaces, including computers, Wi-Fi, printers, lockers and multi-faith rooms
- The ACE Team (Academic Community of Excellence) who can support you with your studies and assignments
- Careers and Employability Service, which provides help with CVs, applications and interviews through workshops, drop-ins and 1-2-1 appointments
- Facilities (computers, on-campus wi-fi, printers, vending machines)
- Library resources, both on-campus resources and an extensive online catalogue of resources
- Student Support, including the Welfare Team, Finance Team and more
- Students Advice & Support Centre (SASC), which is the first point of contact for all student support enquiries
Tuition fees do not cover the cost of subject books, stationery, printing and photocopying costs, accommodation, living expenses, travel, hobbies, sports or any other extracurricular activities.
Student finance loan
If you’re a UK postgraduate student, you may be eligible for government-funded financial support, such as:
- Tuition Fee Loans: Paid directly to the university for undergraduate students or to you for postgraduate students, requiring you to transfer the payment to the university
Visit the finance page to find more information.
Living costs
Tuition fees cover registration, teaching, and access to learning resources and support services. However, students are responsible for covering additional living expenses, including books, stationery, accommodation, and travel.
International students must meet UKVI financial requirements for visa purposes:
- £1,483 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London
- £1,136 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside of London
For detailed information, refer to the UKVI financial requirements.
Scholarships and discounts
For self-funding students, we also offer a range of academic scholarships and fee discounts.
If you completed your undergraduate degree at an Ulster University branch campus, you may be eligible for an alumni scholarship. Scholarship availability and eligibility requirements vary. Contact us to find out more.
Need more help?
If you have further questions or require additional assistance, visit the finance page.
How to find out more
To find out more about this course, we recommend that you complete our enquiry form and one of our team will contact you to discuss your options.
How to apply
UK and International students can apply directly to study the MBA via our online application form below.
APPLY FOR SEPTEMBER 2025
You will be directed to a QA Higher Education portal to set up an account and complete your application.
*Please note: The London daytime programme is now closed to international students.
APPLY FOR JANUARY 2026
You will be directed to a QA Higher Education portal to set up an account and complete your application.
Information for disabled applicants
At Ulster, we welcome applications from disabled students and are committed to ensuring an equal and accessible application journey. Your application will be considered on an equal basis to all other applications. Please contact us if you require any assistance. This website is continually optimised to adhere to accessibility best practice guidelines; tools to assist users with specific accessibility requirements have also been provided. More information is available in our accessibility statement.
If you’re not sure or have any questions about studying with us, please contact us and one of our team will be able to help.
