Master of Business Administration (MBA)

The MBA programme covers three distinct but interconnected stages – the Certificate Stage, the Diploma Stage, and the Master's Stage, where you have the chance to complete a comprehensive management qualification or specialise through two pathways delivered on campus. All modules on the course are mandatory. Please note that upon successful completion, on your final award certificate for this course, the course title will be Master of Business Administration and will not refer to the pathway studied, while your transcript will cite the modules studied and will not make reference to the pathway chosen.

Modules

• Certificate Stage – The Modern Enterprise and Business Environment
  • Business Models and Processes - 15 credits 
    The aim of this module is to introduce you to business model thinking and innovation and business process design and analysis and provide both knowledge and a higher level of understanding of the role that these play in the global context. Through developing a “live” business idea, you will look to develop an appreciation for differing models and processes, how they can best be applied to different environments and understand the relationship between frameworks for business strategy and planning (models) and the processes through which work gets done. A variety of topics will be dealt with in this module, including business model thinking and innovation, business process design and analysis, the challenges presented through globalisation, business sustainability, dealing with complexity and adapting to change.
  • The Geopolitical, Economic and Legal Environment - 15 credits
    This module introduces you to the three main factors that strongly influence business in the external and the internal environment as well as the local and international environment. These three major factors (geopolitical, economic and legal environment) have an impact in the development of organisations and countries. The module will explore and analyse the concept of geopolitics and examine theories and debates through discussion of the main elements of the geopolitical environment. The aim is to develop your ability to think critically about political issues surrounding us and their impact on the business environment.
  • Financial Analysis -  15 credits
    This module is designed to develop your ability to interpret and use financial information within the strategic framework of an organisation. It is oriented toward the user rather than the preparer of corporate financial statements.
  • Organisational Behaviour and Learning - 15 credits
    This module is designed to provide you with a clear insight into how the behaviours of people within an organisation can impact an organisation’s effectiveness. It reflects the critical role played by Human Resource Management (HRM) in the management of people’s behaviours within organisations in both the national and international context.
    
    

  Compulsory

• Diploma Stage – Preparing for Tomorrow
  • Innovation and Entrepreneurship - 15 credits
    This module will foster your entrepreneurial and innovation skills by blending theory and practice to enhance your understanding of the functioning of modern enterprises to ensure sustainability and growth. It aims to endow you with the skills to utilise innovation in either setting up a new venture or bringing an innovative and entrepreneurial vision into an existing organisation.
  • Leadership and Change Management - 15 credits
    This module is designed for aspiring leaders and managers who wish to challenge assumptions and develop an in-depth understanding of how to effectively lead an organisation. It also focuses on how leaders understand change and consider what leadership capabilities are required for transformational change. From these discussions, the module will go on to explore how various leadership capabilities may be suited to different organisational structures and different approaches to change.
    
  • Strategy and Decision Making - 15 credits
    Effective strategy planning, decision-making, implementation and ongoing management are dependent on deep and wide analysis of current information and data regarding an organisation’s strategic position. This module seeks to widen your perspective and understanding of the principles of strategic management and introduces a variety of analytical models of strategic analysis and strategy formulation. You will also explore the pros and cons of strategic choices and consider the impact of and consequences of strategy implementation.
    
  • Global Marketing -  15 credits
    The module aims to introduce and develop a contemporary perspective of the global marketplace by focusing on the strategic marketing paradigm. The module requires you to critically discuss and analyse key managerial decisions on formulating and executing global marketing activities, keeping in mind the cultural demands of the various markets across the globe. Marketing research is also included within the module to support the critical evaluation of international markets.
    

  Compulsory

• Master's Stage
  • The MBA Consultancy Project* - 30 credits
    The aim of this module is to ensure integration between theory and practice. It enables you to apply your skills and management theory in carrying out live consultancy projects within your own or a host organisation where possible. It also provides an opportunity for you to reflect on your knowledge, experience, and practice. You will be expected to draw upon the knowledge acquired, and the intellectual, technical, and analytical skills developed during your programme. To equip you with the additional research skills required to successfully execute the research, you will be supported by a series of resources on research methodology and writing a consultancy project.
    
    *This module is not applicable to those studying the Healthcare Sector pathway.

  Optional

• Plus, one of the following pathways**: pathway details below

  Optional

• 1. Non sector/role specific pathway
  • Project Management – 15 credits
    This module aims to prepare you in delivering strategic change and transformation through the management of projects in organisations. It will develop your understanding of the stages, tools and techniques required for project initiation, planning, execution, control and termination.
  • Decision Making and Risk – 15 credits
    This module aims to promote an understanding of decision-making in a management context. It will examine theoretical knowledge underpinning decision-making and develop skills to solve problems and influence others in the workplace. It will also consider aspects of bias in decision-making from psychological and sociological perspectives.

  Compulsory

• 2. Artificial Intelligence pathway
  • Artificial Intelligence Technologies for Business and Management - 15 credits
    This module seeks to provide you with a comprehensive knowledge of working with AI and data, and an understanding of how they are applied in business and business management. Detailed coverage of various machine learning models and hands-on AI exercises will enable you to gain a comprehensive understanding of the AI and data analytics process.
  • Artificial Intelligence Issues - 15 credits
    This module seeks to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the social, ethical, legal issues on artificial intelligence technology and its applications in business and management. You will be equipped with the knowledge of steps that can be taken to mitigate the risks AI technologies may bring to a business. Case studies will be used to enhance your understanding.

  Compulsory

• 3. Cyber Security Management pathway
  • Digital Security Risk – 15 credits

  This module seeks to provide you with a comprehensive knowledge of digital information security concepts and an understanding of how they are applied using the Internet and mobile technologies. The importance of a security policy and security management is considered.

  • Network Defence Management – 15 credits

  This module will provide you with the knowledge for securing networks that come under cyber-attack via developing the understanding of cyber-attacks, effective defence, and crisis management. The overall aim of the module is to understand the common security controls available to prevent, detect and recover from network security incidents, and to mitigate risk.

  Compulsory

• 4. Marketing pathway
  • Digital Marketing Strategy – 15 credits

  This module is intended to provide you with both the theory and practice of digital marketing. The module builds on existing theories and concepts and encourages you to critically assess the use of the core digital marketing concepts such as social media, email marketing, website design, online advertising and online PR.

  • Marketing Strategy – 15 credits

  This module is key to developing your strategic thinking and operational marketing skills for future application in the workplace. It aims to develop a strategic focus for marketing management by applying operational principles and practices to the framework of the strategic marketing planning process in building organisational strategy. This module also focuses on the implementation, control and evaluation of the marketing planning framework.

  Compulsory

• 5. Healthcare Sector pathway
  • Policy Politics and Transforming Practice - 15 credits

  The module seeks to critically consider the relationship between the political process; the development of policy; and the leadership challenges of implementing service changes locally, resulting from national policy drivers. It explores the tensions that can arise when broad policy objectives are transferred into specific local contexts without fully considering all relevant contextual factors. The module also aims to consider the ways in which patients, service users and the general public are informed and educated about such changes, either through official policy development, via the media or through local processes of governance and engagement.

  • Leading in Complex Health Systems - 15 credits

  This module is designed to enable you to demonstrate a critical understanding of the impact of culture, values and complexity on and within health and social care organisations and systems. It will consider management theory, its critical application and seek to understand the challenges of leading and managing complex systems and services and a highly professionalised workforce. You will use this understanding to critically evaluate the impact on systems and organisations delivering services to patients and service users.

  • Transforming Health Care Business Project - 30 credits

  The module is the culmination of the programme and is designed to enable you to bring together your learning into one independent self-directed workplace project. Individual student supervision will be provided to offer guidance on a choice of project and advice on all stages of the project. The project will take the form of a business proposal that addresses an aspect of workplace practice. The aim being to produce a project that will benefit your own workplace, explore service redesign, current practice-based problem/issues, policy implementation, initiatives, or innovations that will impact upon or transform patient care.

  Compulsory

• 6. Sustainable Tourism pathway
  • Sustainable Tourism Management – 15 credits

  This module aims to critically evaluate perspectives of sustainable and responsible tourism. It will explore strategies for implementing a sustainable approach to tourism management and investigate the impact these have on stakeholders. The module will aim to develop your skills of critical analysis and synthesis, so you are able to evaluate existing tourism policy, projects and design future operations from a sustainability perspective.

  • Critical Issues in Tourism Management – 15 credits

  The aim of this module is to enable you to investigate, analyse and discuss from a critical perspective, the current issues in international tourism management. 

  Compulsory