Postgraduate Course
Master of Business Administration MBA
Further your business skills with an internationally recognised and highly regarded award. Choose your path towards becoming a business innovator.
This course is for managers who want to elevate their career or those who aspire to leadership roles in the future. The York Business School Master of Business Administration course (MBA) is an opportunity to develop your understanding of issues relating to business and management. You will enhance your ability to maximise individual and organisational potential.
London campus, York campus
- Duration – 1 year full time, 2 years part time
- Start date – September 2024, September 2025
- School – York Business School
Minimum entry requirements
2:2 honours degree in a related subject
Work experience Current or recent work experience (within the last 2 years)
Tuition fees
UK 2024-25 £10,000 full time
International 2024-25 £11,800 full time
Course overview
The MBA at York Business School is your opportunity to develop an understanding of management and contemporary business issues.
You will develop an understanding of the skills necessary to undertake critical roles in various organisations. You will also enhance your international marketing skills and discover how they can be applied when operating on a global scale, in a socially responsible and forward thinking way.
MBA with Professional Experience
Students on the MBA with Professional Experience are expected to engage in experiential activity lasting the equivalent of an academic year. There are currently 2 options available:
Work Placement
By undertaking a work placement you will be able to practically apply skills and knowledge developed in the taught modules. We will offer guidance and support and make recommendations with many of our partner organisations.
Enterprise Academy (London only)
The Enterprise Academy uses the university’s expertise to help the development of entrepreneurial skills and knowledge. The objective of this project is to develop a new commercial opportunity.
Course structure
How you will study
You can study this postgraduate course full time or part time. This allows you to fit your studies around other commitments.
If you choose to study full time the course will take 1 year to complete. You will study:
- 6 compulsory modules
- A Capstone project
If you choose to study part time the course will take 2 years to complete and the modules will be split across both years.
If you choose the professional placement option you will also take part in a Business Consultancy project.
You can find out which modules are available in each term in the Course Specifications.
Modules
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
On this module, you will review the relationship between business and society. You will learn how the concept of sustainability promotes a holistic process of change and how businesses can act more responsibly towards the community, society and the global environment. You will discover how to apply the concepts taught to business management activities to enhance competitive advantage.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
On this module, you will critically evaluate theories concerning the processes of innovation and change within organisations. In the private sector, innovation is a key factor in competitive success. In the public and not-for-profit sectors, innovation can reconfigure services and processes to meet client needs more effectively. In organisations of all kinds, managers and professionals need to be able to lead and manage change.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
Here you will explore the application of management processes for developing and defining a new business concept. This includes market analysis, competitor performance analysis and the role of due diligence. You will critically examine the process for making strategic choices and explore and analyse different approaches and techniques used in strategic business and service planning. You will also develop an understanding of the purpose and procedures involved in the planning process and learn to plan and execute a business plan.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
Explore key international business theories, concepts and consider the strategic role played by transnational firms (TNCs) as the primary movers and shapers of the global economic system. You will gain an appreciation of the following:
- Principal institutional and organisational macrostructures of the global economy,
- The role of the state,
- International organisations and
- Regional trading blocs in shaping international business. You will also consider the impact of the diverse national business systems on firm strategy
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
On this module you will develop an understanding of the theory and practice relating to the key aspects of financial and management accounting. You will explore the principles of financial accounting and the interpretation of accounts. This will involve an introduction to management accounting including the principles of cost accounting and short/long term decision making.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
On this module you will build your cognitive skills and computational thinking. You will also consider the relevance of these skills to business concepts, critical evaluation and professional considerations. You will develop a deep understanding of the impact and meaning of data. It is also an opportunity to examine data analytics technique in term of problem solving, predicting and decision making in business context.
Credits: 60
Compulsory module
The Capstone Project is a mixed module that you can complete by either submitting a dissertation or a business consultancy project. The aim of this module is to encourage you to select a route where you can demonstrate the understanding and knowledge gained from the course and how this can be applied in a practical or theoretical way in a particular setting or context.
Credits: 60
Compulsory with professional placement
If you choose to study the MBA with Professional Placement, you will complete an additional module:
If you have chosen to take a year in placement as part of you course, you will take this module. You will work independently to produce a consultancy project during your placement year. Throughout this module an academic supervisor will support your independent study. On this project you will reflect on your experiences on placement and apply what you have learnt. You will:
- Engage with the practice of management consulting
- Negotiate a scope of work
- Collect and analyse data
- Prepare and present a consulting report
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning
Modules are delivered using a range of teaching, learning and assessment strategies. These include:
- Lectures and seminars
- Tutorials
- Workshops
There is a range of unique support mechanisms to help your learning:
- A dedicated academic writing tutor. You will meet them 1 to 1 and develop your critical and academic writing skills.
- A director of student engagement who monitors learning and development, as well as offering pastoral care and support.
The teaching draws on both our research and professional experience. This means your learning is informed by the most current thinking in the subject area. You can find out more about our research and backgrounds by visiting our staff pages.
London specific information
If you study this course at our London campus you will have the option of a full year in industry placement.
London campus seminars are capped at no more than 25 students. This creates a more intimate learning environment, wherein you can share ideas and feedback with your fellow students.
Assessment
You will be assessed on a range of projects. These include:
- Presentations
- Critical essays
- Portfolios
- Reflective journals
- Case study work
Assessment methods mirror activities that happen in an industry setting. As a part of the course, you will receive 1 to 1 formative assessment feedback with your module tutors. You will receive detailed feedback on assessments so you can continuously improve your performance.
Advice will be provided in relation to development, further areas for research and guidance on how to enhance your subject knowledge. The study support available includes academic writing and research skill development.
Entry requirements
Qualifications
Minimum entry requirements
2:2 honours degree in a related subject
Work experience Current or recent work experience (within the last 2 years)
If your degree is in an unrelated subject, but you can provide evidence of relevant professional experience, your application may still be considered.
International students
If you are an international student you will need to show that your qualifications match our entry requirements.
Information about international qualifications and entry requirements can be found on our International pages.
If English is not your first language you will need to show that you have English Language competence at IELTS level 6.0 (with no skill below 5.5) or equivalent.
Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL)
If you do not have traditional qualifications, you might be able to provide evidence of professional experience in the subject as an alternative way to meet the entry requirements. This is called Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). Appropriate references and records of employment would need to be presented to support your case for admission.
Terms and conditions
Our terms and conditions, policies and procedures contain important information about studying at York St John University. You can read them on our Admissions page.
Fees and funding
UK
The tuition fee for this postgraduate course in the 2024 - 2025 academic year is:
- £10,000 for 1 year of full time study
- £11,500 for the 2 year course with a placement year
These costs apply to all UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students.
Postgraduate loans are available to help you pay for your master’s course. Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.
International
The tuition fee for this postgraduate course in the 2024 - 2025 academic year is:
- £11,800 for 1 year of full time study
- £15,400 for the 2 year course with a placement year
These costs apply to all students living outside the UK.
Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a student visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages.
Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.
Tuition fees
UK 2024-25 £10,000 full time
International 2024-25 £11,800 full time
Alumni Scholarships
If you are alumni of York St John University we have scholarships available to help you continue your studies.
Additional costs and financial support
Course-related costs
While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include purchasing personal equipment and stationery, books and optional field trips.
Accommodation and living costs
View our accommodation pages for detailed information on accommodation and living costs.
London
You will need to consider the cost of accommodation in London. There are many student accommodation options throughout the city. More guidance on finding accommodation in London is available on our dedicated Study in London page.
Career outcomes
Where could a Master of Business Administration take you?
This is a highly sought after degree by many of the business world's most notable organisations. In fact, for many companies, it is a requirement if you wish to be employed in a senior managerial or leadership position. You will have an advantage in becoming:
- Business consultant
- CEO
- Director of Higher Education
- Entrepreneur
By studying this course, you will be enabled to improve your ability to work in diverse groups and teams and enhance your project management and decision-making capabilities, which is crucial when leading in business.
The course could also lead you to undertake further Postgraduate study through an MPhil or PhD.
Stand out from the crowd with postgraduate study.
Far fewer people have postgraduate degrees than undergraduate qualifications. This gives you something extra to set yourself apart in a competitive graduate job market. Those with a postgraduate qualification will earn an average of £7,000 a year more than those with only an undergraduate degree. (Department For Education Graduate Labour Market Report 2020)
Our careers service, LaunchPad, provides career support tailored to your ambitions. Through this service you can access:
- Employer events
- LinkedIn, CV and cover letter sessions
- Workshops on application writing and interview skills
- Work experience and volunteering opportunities
- Personalised career advice
This support does not end when you graduate. You can access our expert career advice for the rest of your life. We will help you gain the experience and confidence you need to succeed.
Bob Gammie Dean of York Business School
What we are interested in developing at York Business School are graduates that are characterised as having a creative mindset - based on the belief that the difference between being good and great is the difference between your mindset and your skillset.
Course highlights
Success Lab
This platform offers additional workshops, accreditations and short courses that will supplement your degree. You can expand your areas of expertise and evidence your practical skills to employers.
Industry Engagement
We host the annual Top 100 York Business Awards. This puts us at the heart of business in York and connects us with top organisations. We have worked with companies such as Hiscox, Yorkshire Tea, Mini and Pandora.
More to explore
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