Master of Business Administration MBA

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Course starts: 14 October 2019Apply now

Course starts: 12 October 2020Apply now

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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.

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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 course there is a dedicated pathway of management and leadership competence development activities – all this makes the Sunderland MBA an exciting and rewarding programme.

MBA

12 month taught MBA programme.

MBA with placement*

18 or 24 month MBA which also includes a 6 or 12 month work placement, facilitated by the University.

Master of Business Administration with Postgraduate Certificate*

24 month taught programme comprised of a MBA and Postgraduate Certificate in Human Resource Management or Digital Marketing and Analytics.

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

*additional fee applies

Upcoming start dates
24 February 2020
12 October 2020

Why us?

  • Accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
  • Our Business and Administrative Studies courses, which include MBA Business Administration, were ranked 1st for Skills Development and 5th for Overall Satisfaction out of 61 institutions in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2019 (PTES)
  • 'World-leading' research in Business, according to the latest Research Excellence Framework

Our partners, accreditations and networks

  • AACSB
  • CABS
  • EFMD
  • PRIME

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.

Read more

Specialist knowledge: route or optional module (30 credits)

October intake:

If you study start the generic MBA in October, 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.

Read more

MBA Project (60 credits)

Choose the format of your final project:

  • Business Dissertation
  • Applied Corporate Project
  • Route Specialism – MBA Project
Read more

PgCert in HRM or Digital Marketing and Analytics* (60 Credits - Optional)

  • Human Resource Management in Context (30 credits)
  • Leading, Managing and Developing People and Organisations (30 credits)

Or:

  • Markets and Marketing in the Digital Age (30 credits)
  • Contemporary Issues in Digital Marketing Analytics  (30 credits)

*Additional fee applies. Please refer to course page for more details.

Read more

  • You can access free Wi-Fi throughout the University campus, so you can work from anywhere. If you don't want to carry a laptop around, just use one of the University’s PCs or Apple Macs. We have hundreds of computers for you to use in the Murray Library, St Peter's Library, and the David Goldman Informatics Centre. If you ever have any technical problems, just ask the friendly helpdesk team.

    IT provision

  • The St Peter’s Library contains over 31,000 books related to business, economics, management, human resources, marketing, strategy and tourism, with many more titles available through the inter-library loan service. We also subscribe to a comprehensive range of print and electronic journals so you can access the most reliable and up-to-date academic and industry articles.

    Library Services - St Peter's Library
  • Map and directions

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

2019/20 fees:

The annual fee is:

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

If you choose to proceed onto the optional PgCert in HRM or Digital Marketing and Analytics (24-month total duration) the fee is:

  • £14,000 if you are from the UK or EU
  • £16,500 if you are an international student

2020/21 fees:

The annual fee is:

  • £12,000 if you are from the UK or EU
  • £14,500 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.

Optional PGCert in Human Resource Management or Digital Marketing and Analytics

Following the completion of your MBA programme, you can continue your studies by completing an optional Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Markeing and Analytics or Human Resource Management.

This route enables you to develop specialist knowledge in the areas of digital marketing and analysis or in skills in people management and learning and development.

The total duration of the MBA with PgCert is 24 months.

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 2016/17 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

    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 course

    Abraham Obinna

  • I’ve enjoyed meeting and getting to know new people from different cultures all over the world.
    Ayah Aldohni Small

    Ayah Aldohni

  • The visits to world-known companies like BMW and Audi in Munich are of great benefit.
    Kendrick Lim, MBA student

    Kendrick Lim

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

    Octavian and Hanneke Lazin

Meet the team

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: 18 October 2019

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