Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Study level: Postgraduate
A student stands confidently at the front of a classroom, delivering a presentation with a bright smile

Are you looking for a career change or to develop your career? Are you considering a move into management? In today’s globally connected environment, a manager’s practice needs to be ethically based and culturally sensitive.

Year of entry

2023-24

Location

Coventry University Wrocław (Poland)

Study mode

Part-time
Online/Blended

Duration

2 years part-time

Course code

FBLT144

Start date

May 2024

The content of this course for 2023/24 entry is still being updated.
The information on these pages relates to 2022/23 entry and is for guidance only. Please revisit this course page for updated information.


Course overview

Are you looking for a career change or to develop your career, whether in Poland, Europe or further abroad? Considering a move into management? This MBA, a mix of Blended online and on-campus learning, will enhance your ability to respond to the needs of the modern world. A manager’s practice needs to be ethically based and culturally sensitive.

Start your journey in this globally connected industry with an MBA from Coventry University, shortlisted for UK University of the Year in the Guardian and Sunday Times Universities Guide 2021.

The course uses blended learning and is taught in English, which will allow you to receive all the benefits of a UK university while learning in Wrocław, Poland. An MBA qualification from a top UK university will help you work towards better career prospects and salary.

The course consists of three distinct but interconnected stages:

  • Certificate - The modern enterprise and business environment – how does it work?

The Certificate phase will develop a resource-based view of the business enterprise and examine how value is created, including the impact of the wider business environment on the enterprise’s value creation activities.

  • Diploma - Preparing for tomorrow – what needs to change?

In the Diploma stage the focus shifts to considering the manager’s role in the development of an enterprise in response to the internal and external context, to create sustainable value.

  • Masters – Management in action – bringing about change

The Masters phase of the programme will focus more specifically on particular sectors and /or roles (including general management and leadership) depending on your chosen pathway. The emphasis will be on exploring, critically evaluating and applying a range of sector/ role specific models and concepts within a practice setting/ context.

As you progress, the course will help you to define and grow your personal career goals, as well as reflect on how to reach them.

Accreditation and professional recognition

This course is recognised by the following professional bodies:

Small Business Charter logo

Small Business Charter

Coventry Business School is a recipient of the Small Business Charter (SBC) Award, and currently holds the award until 2025. The award is a mark of excellence for business schools, recognising their expertise in supporting small businesses, student entrepreneurship, and effective engagement in the local economy.


Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS) logo

Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS)

Coventry Business School is currently an active member of the Chartered Association of Business Schools, which has a membership of over 120 business schools and higher education providers, and supports its members in maintaining high standards of teaching and research. There is currently no intention for this membership to lapse however if this membership were not to be renewed we would notify applicants and students as soon as possible.


The Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) (logo)

The Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME)

Coventry Business School is signatory to The Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) initiative


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What you'll study

The MBA is aimed specifically at current or aspiring managers who wish to develop their career prospects, whether in Poland, Europe or internationally. The course is a path to more senior management and leadership roles, helping you to define and grow your own personal career goals while offering plenty of chances to grow an international mentorship network.

The course is designed to fit around your career using blended learning, with a mix of online study and on-campus teaching at our Wrocław base in Poland.

In the course, theory is given a practical application through your own business experiences. The course aims to improve your critical thinking, responses in the face of ambiguity, and complex problem-solving. You can develop a core knowledge base of business models and concepts, as well as your leadership, financial and project management skills.

As part of a global-facing degree with teaching from the UK, you will investigate how management practice relates to wider societal, ethical and intercultural issues outside of Poland and across the global economy, as well as the challenges this can present. The aim is to develop your responsible management practice and help you climb your career ladder, developing transferable skills for Polish or other international businesses.

Please note that the modules listed are the latest example of the curriculum available on this degree programme. The University reserves the right without notice to make variations to the contents and methods of delivery of courses as part of our commitment to curriculum enhancement.

Certificate Stage – The Modern Enterprise and Business Environment. How does it work? The Certificate phase will develop a resource-based view of the business enterprise and examine how value is created, including the impact of the wider business environment on the enterprise’s value-creation activities.
Diploma Stage Part 1 – Preparing for Tomorrow. What needs to change? In the Diploma stage, the focus shifts to considering the manager’s role in the development of an enterprise in response to the internal and external context, to create sustainable value.

Modules

    • 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

    • 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.

    Compulsory

Diploma Stage Part 2 – Preparing for Tomorrow. What needs to change? In the Diploma stage, the focus shifts to considering the manager’s role in the development of an enterprise in response to the internal and external context, to create sustainable value.

Masters Stage – Management in Action. Bringing about change. The Masters phase of the programme will focus more specifically on particular sectors and/or roles (including general management and leadership) depending on your chosen pathway. The emphasis will be on exploring, critically evaluating and applying a range of sector/role specific models and concepts within a practice setting/context.

Modules

    • 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

    • 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

  • Optional

    • 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

    • 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

    • 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

    • Policy Politics and Transforming Practice - 15 credits

    The module critically considers 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 considers the ways in which patients, service users and the 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 will seek 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

    This module is the culmination of the programme and enables you to bring together learning into one independent self-directed workplace project. Individual student supervision will be provided to offer guidance on a good 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 is to produce a project that will benefit your own workplace, explore service redesign, current practice-based problems/issues, policy implementation, initiatives or innovations which will impact upon or transform patient care.

    Compulsory

**Please note that we reserve the right to limit the number of pathways available to each cohort to ensure you receive the best educational experience. Pathways may be closed due to low numbers. In this instance, you will be offered an alternative pathway.

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.


How you'll learn

The course is primarily designed to be studied part-time by students currently in employment.

For each module, we will provide engaging video lectures and a variety of interactive content and activities. The online contact between lecturers and colleagues aims to help you stay motivated and committed to learning.

Each module runs with 15 credits across an academic semester of 13 weeks, requiring an estimated 15 hours per week of study time, with the flexibility for students to study from one to two modules per academic semester.

The underlying focus is on developing your ability to think critically and strategically and to enable you to develop solutions to complex problems within an ever changing and ambiguous business environment. You can benefit from the innovative and interactive content and activities provided on our online platform FutureLearn. This opens up opportunities to participate in projects with students from around the world.

One of the key aims of the programme is to provide you with experiences of real-life organisations so you will also be exposed to real-life case studies, simulations and engaging guest speakers from industry who will share their expertise and experiences of developing strategy, managing change and growth in their organisations, bringing both contemporary and theoretical concepts to life.

Developing you and your future career

During your studies you will have access to professional management coaches to help you to develop and enhance your skills and capabilities and identify your career goals. After graduating we have a team who will continue to support you to further tailor your career.


Assessment

Mixed assessment modes offer students a range of opportunities to demonstrate their achievement of learning outcomes. You will be assessed through a combination of coursework assignments, business plans and activities, all completed online.

As part of the degree, you will initiate and lead a change project within a practice setting. To do this successfully you will be required to apply knowledge drawn from across the course and to demonstrate the strategic thought and leadership capabilities which are core to the course.

  • On successful completion of the Certificate stage (60 credits) students will be eligible for a Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration
  • On successful completion of the Diploma stage (120 credits) students will be eligible for a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration
  • On successful completion of the Masters stage (180 credits) students will be eligible for a Masters in Business Administration (MBA)

Masters level awards will be made with a ‘Distinction’, ‘Merit’ or ‘Pass’ grade.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.


Entry requirements

Polish and EU requirements

An undergraduate degree in any discipline, obtained from a recognised university/HE institution, or an equivalent qualification in a business related area.

Applicants will also need to have a minimum of two years post-degree full-time work experience. We will also consider applicants who do not hold an undergraduate degree but who can demonstrate significant work experience or hold professional qualifications.

English language requirements

A telephone interview to assess English language skills will be arranged for non-native English speakers.

If you hold IELTS Level 6.0 (with no component less than 5.5) or equivalent, you will not have to complete the telephone interview.

An undergraduate degree in any discipline, obtained from a recognised university/HE institution, or an equivalent qualification in a business related area.

Applicants will also need to have a minimum of two years post-degree full-time work experience.

We will also consider applicants who do not hold an undergraduate degree but who can demonstrate significant work experience or hold professional qualifications.

English language requirements

A telephone interview to assess English language skills will be arranged for non-native English speakers.

If you hold IELTS Level 6.0 (with no component less than 5.5) or equivalent, you will not have to complete the telephone interview.


Fees and funding

We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees which we review on an annual basis. Course fees are calculated on the basis of what it costs to teach each course and we aim for total financial transparency.

Student Full-time Part-time
EU Not available 30,000 zł (EU) per year
International Not available 55,000 zł (non-EU) per year

Facilities

Coventry University Wrocław will offer you a wide range of facilities3 to support your studies and help you succeed.

This campus offers the opportunity to study in fully equipped classrooms for interactive and collaborative teaching, IT suites purpose-built to support the needs of our students and also break out spaces.


Careers and opportunities

The wide-ranging content of this MBA offers considerable flexibility, whether you decide to specialise in one of the management disciplines or take an overview of them all.

You might decide to go into consultancy, whether joining a leading global firm or a more ‘niche’ business, specialising in a particular sector, management function or country.

During the course of your study, you will develop strong analytical skills, clear perspectives on strategy and strategic thinking, and highly effective communication and research skills. These are all in demand from employers in private, public, and third-sector organisations around the world.

On completion, you should be able to:

  • Demonstrate an appreciation of the social and environmental impact of an enterprise and the need to develop ethical and responsible management practices.
  • Act in a culturally sensitive manner towards all of an enterprise's stakeholders through having an understanding of the interconnected global nature of business.
  • Demonstrate reflective practice for the development and achievement of personal career goals.
  • Critically assess the basis of an enterprise’s value creating activities and the impact of the external environment on value creation.
  • Critically assess the manager’s role in ensuring that an enterprise creates sustainable value in the context of dynamic internal and external environments.
  • Demonstrate the ability to think strategically and explore potential solutions to complex and ambiguous problems.
  • Explore, critically evaluate and apply a range of sector/ role specific models and concepts within a practice setting.
  • Formulate potential solutions to complex and ambiguous problems whilst acknowledging the risks and evaluating potential outcomes.
  • Initiate and lead a sector/ role specific change management project.

How to apply

  • Coventry University Wroclaw is a branch campus of Coventry University. Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

    1 UK and International opportunities

    Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK, Polish or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

    2 Tuition fees

    The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year and will be entitled to increase the fees in line with inflation based on the average annual index of consumer goods and services announced in the form of a communication by the President of Statistics Poland in the Official Journal of Poland “Monitor Polski”. If the tuition fees are increased the student may withdraw from their student contract before that increase takes effect without incurring any financial penalty.

    3 Facilities

    Facilities are subject to availability. Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

    Student Contract

    By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2023/24 contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.