Master of Business Administration MBA

Put yourself on the path to becoming an influential business leader. Learn how to inspire, support and motivate a team. Choose your own modules to specialise in the areas you’re the most passionate about.

Overview

The Sunderland MBA offers a varied programme of lectures and applied learning through seminars, workshops and corporate engagement. A business simulation game is integrated into core teaching to cultivate and enhance leadership skills. You will also have the opportunity to take part in a four-day study visit and throughout the programme there is a dedicated pathway of management and leadership competence development activities – all this makes the Sunderland MBA an exciting and rewarding twelve months.

University of Sunderland MBA

MBA (Generic)

MBA with placement

An 18-month MBA which includes a 6-month work placement, facilitated by the University.

MBA with Placement (18-month)

MBA specialist routes

For those with a specific employment focus, we offer a range of MBA’s with specialist routes:

Business ‘start-ups’

MBA Enterprise and Innovation

Functional specialisation

MBA Finance

MBA Marketing

MBA Human Resource Management

MBA Supply Chain Management

MBA Cybersecurity

Sector specialisation

MBA Hospitality Management

Why us?

Accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

'World-leading' research in Business, according to the latest Research Excellence Framework

Course structure

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, class discussions, case studies, group work, presentations and applied study.

Your progress will be assessed with the dissertation and assignments.

Compared to an undergraduate course, you will find that this Masters course requires a higher level of independent reading and research.

Please note, the availability of optional modules may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances or student demand.

If you join us in March, you will be offered the general MBA course with designated options.

Core knowledge modules

Financial Management and Control (15 credits)
Strategic Management in an International Context (15 credits)
Professional Management and Leadership Development (30 credits)
Value Creation in Organisations - Operations and Marketing Management (30 credits)

Some modules have prerequisites. Read more about what this means in our Help and Advice article.

Specialist knowledge: route or optional module (30 credits)

October intake:

If you study the generic MBA, you can customise your course choosing from a range of optional modules such as:

Contemporary International Human Resource Management (30 credits)
Management Accounting and Finance for Decision Making (30 credits)
Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer (30 credits)
Digital Marketing (30 credits)
Managing Brands (30 credits)
Management Consulting (30 credits)
Management Information Systems: Business by Design (30 credits)
Operations, Logistics and Supply Chain Management (30 credits)

Please note, not all options may be offered. Optional modules require viable numbers and may not run each academic year. You will be informed in Term 1 which options are available

February intake:

You will gain specialist knowledge of innovation including:

Innovation Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer - includes a live corporate project with a local business.

MBA Project (60 credits)

Choose the format of your final project:

Business Dissertation
Applied Corporate Project
Route Specialism – MBA Project

Facilities

You’ll be based at The Reg Vardy Centre, on the Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s. The Reg Vardy Centre is a modern building with views of the river, and just a short walk from both the coast and Sunderland town centre.

Entry requirements

Our typical offer is

GPA 2.40 from a Canadian bachelor's degree
GPA 2.5 from a USA bachelor's degree

You must have a minimum six months work experience and you should be able to demonstrate your ability to operate at a managerial level.

For candidates with over 5 years experience at a managerial level but without an undergraduate degree the programme leader will review applicants based upon their suitability for the course.

We also require three passes at GCSE grade C or above, which must include Mathematics and English Language, or an equivalent qualification, for example; a minimum of Level 2 Key Skills in Communication and Application of Number. If you have studied for a new GCSE for which you will be awarded a numerical grade then you will need to achieve a grade 4 or above.

If English is not your first language we will require an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with an overall score of 6.0 and at least 5.5 or higher in each component: reading, writing, listening and speaking. An alternative approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) can also be considered if the applicant's element scores are equivalent to those required for IELTS.

Fees and finance

The annual fee is:

£11,500 if you are from the UK or EU
£14,000 if you are an international student

If you are not sure whether you qualify as a UK, EU or international student, find out more in our Help and Advice article.

Take a look at the Your Finances section to find out about the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

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This information was correct at the time of publication.

The Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's by night

Employment

An MBA is a challenging qualification which requires significant dedication. Employers recognise its worth, and the value that an MBA-qualified business leader can bring to their organisation.

While you are studying for this course, you will be an Affiliate Member of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). This gives you access to the CMI's support resources and networking opportunities. If you have 3 or more years' management experience when you graduate, you will be entitled to apply for full membership of the CMI or Chartered status.

Business graduates from Sunderland have secured roles in organisations such as Facebook, Microsoft, Sage, HSBC, IBM, Enterprise, Nissan, Accenture, Procter & Gamble, Merck & Co, Barclays, Nissan, Marriott Hotels, Viacom 18, PricewaterCoopers and Adidas.

Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Accreditation

The Sunderland MBA is accredited by the CMI, an accredited professional institution for management. Students achieving the MBA are awarded the CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership in recognition of knowledge enhancement and understanding of practice of management.

Graduating from a CMI-accredited course has been proven to boost employability by as much as 10%. According to the 2018 Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey, 58% of graduates from CMI-accredited courses were in graduate-level employment, further study or training within 6 months of graduating, compared with 48% from non-accredited business courses (based on UK students).

Guest speakers

We invite business leaders into the University to share their experiences with students. Past speakers include Divine Chocolate’s Head of Sales & Marketing and Sunderland Football Club’s CEO.

Learning from business professionals can be very useful if you’re not sure what career to pursue when you graduate. If you already have a plan for your career, these events are an excellent way to start building a network of business contacts.

Programme support

The programme team is very much committed to supporting you on your learning journey. We provide a robust personal tutoring system setting academic goals and working with you to keep this on track. Study skills development is a feature of the programme support, for example, honing critical skills and critical writing. We pride ourselves on Sunderland being a friendly and sociable place to study – many long-lasting friendships and networks are formed within our Sunderland MBA cohorts.

Meet the students

The MBA is the very foundation and motivation for the initiative.

Abedalrahman Al-Zghoul
As a student of the University, you shape the work of the SU and have a say in every decision.

Abraham Obinna
The visits to world-known companies like BMW and Audi in Munich are of great benefit.

Kendrick Lim
It's been absolutely great, inside the class, and the experience outside the class as well.

Octavian and Hanneke Lazin

2017

Meet the team

Alan Charlesworth

Senior Lecturer

Allison Abbott

Lecturer in Human Resource Management

Augustus E. Osseo-Asare

Senior Lecturer in Strategy and International Management

John Dixon-Dawson

Principal Lecturer and Head of Corporate Programme and Work Based Learning

Karen Wharton

Senior Lecturer in Marketing Strategy and Innovation

Sarah Robson

Senior Lecturer in HRM and Leadership

Sharp Cooper

Senior Lecturer

Related courses

Contact

Contact the Student Helpline for further information about studying at the University of Sunderland:

0191 515 3000

student.helpline@sunderland.ac.uk

View Programme Specifications for the Faculty of Business, Law and Tourism.

Page last updated: 15 April 2019

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