Business Administration

Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration
This innovative course is designed to develop a wide range of interdisciplinary skills that you can apply in your own workplace as you develop. You will gain a solid foundation in core management disciplines, including human resource management, organisational behaviour, accounting and finance, marketing and operations – learning to apply your knowledge to analyse, synthesise and evaluate a wide range of situations. You will explore economic, environmental, social and technological change issues; corporate governance; markets and customers; managing resources and operations; financing organisations; management and development of people; developing information technologies for application in business and management within a global knowledge-based economy, and development of appropriate business policies and strategies within a changing context to meet stakeholder interests.

Key features of the course
• A valuable qualification for practising managers who aspire to higher positions
• Flexible curriculum to suit your professional interests
• Takes you two thirds of the way to our triple-accredited MBA.

Subjects taught

Modules
There are now two routes to gaining this qualification depending on when you start your postgraduate diploma.

November 2019 onwards route
If you started with B870 in November 2019 or thereafter, including if you've previously studied any electives as a standalone module, you'll need:

105 credits from the following:
Compulsory modules
• Managing in a changing world (B870) 30
Next start: 07 May 2022
• Creating and sustaining value (B872) 30
Next start: 07 May 2022
• Effective strategic management in business and the public sector (B873) 30
Next start: 07 May 2022
• Finance for strategic decision making (B874) 15
Next start: 07 May 2022

plus 15 credits from one of the following:
Optional modules
• Contemporary issues in organisations (BB853) 15
Next start: 05 Nov 2022
• Entrepreneurship in context (BB851) 15
Next start: 05 Nov 2022
• Leadership and management of public services (BB852) 15
Next start: 07 May 2022
• Supply chain management (BB849) 15
Next start: 07 May 2022
• Sustainable creative management (BB842) 15
Next start: 07 May 2022

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules BB841, BB844, BB845, BB846, BB847, BB848, BXM871.

Hybrid route
If you have gained 60 credits from completing either of the discontinued modules B716 or BXFT716 you'll need:

30 credits from the following:
Compulsory module
• Effective strategic management in business and the public sector (B873) 30
Next start: 07 May 2022

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued module BB835.

plus 15 credits from the following:
Compulsory module
• Finance for strategic decision making (B874) 15
Next start: 07 May 2022

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued module BB831.
plus 15 credits from the following:
Optional modules
• Contemporary issues in organisations (BB853) 15
Next start: 05 Nov 2022
• Entrepreneurship in context (BB851) 15
Next start: 05 Nov 2022
• Leadership and management of public services (BB852) 15
Next start: 07 May 2022
• Supply chain management (BB849) 15
Next start: 07 May 2022
• Sustainable creative management (BB842) 15
Next start: 07 May 2022

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules BB841, BB844, BB845, BB846, BB847, BB848 and BXM871.

You should note that the University's unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 40 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.

Details of the Final Study in May 2020 route, which is no longer available to new students, can be seen below in the qualification regulations.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements
You'll be eligible for this postgraduate diploma by satisfying the following academic, work experience and language requirements.

Academic requirements
There are three ways to meet the academic requirements:

1: Bachelors degree with honours
You'll need to have a bachelors degree with honours awarded by a UK university or equivalent.

2: Bachelors degree without honours
You'll need to have a bachelors degree without honours awarded by a UK university or equivalent and you'll need to have completed one of the following:
• the discontinued OU module Managing 1: organisations and people (B628)
• three of our Business Management microcredentials*
• the GMAT examination and achieved a result of 640 or higher.

3: No Bachelors degree
If you don't have a bachelors degree you'll need to have completed one of the following:
• the discontinued OU Professional Certificate in Management (S01)
• six of our Business Management microcredentials*

*See our Microcredentials page for further information.

Work experience requirement
You'll need to have gained a minimum of three years' experience in a managerial, technical or professional role.

Language requirement
Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, we recommend that you will need a minimum score of 6.5 under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see their website for details.

Acceptance onto the programme
You'll be required to show how you meet these requirements. You will be asked to submit your CV and proof of qualifications, including English translations of non-UK degrees. Evaluation of the evidence will take place before you're accepted onto the programme.

Application dates

If you would like to discuss making an application and require further information, please call The Open University Business School information line on +44 (0)300 303 0065.

Lines are open (UK time): Monday to Friday 08:00 to 17:30.

Duration

12 months – 2 years

How long it takes
The minimum time to complete this qualification is 12 months. Please note, however, that if your goal is the MBA, (which must be completed within seven years) if you extend your diploma studies to five years you will need to complete the further 60 credits required for the MBA over a two year period.

Post Course Info

Career relevance
The Open University Business School is one of an elite group of schools worldwide accredited by the three leading international accrediting bodies - AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS - hallmarks of quality of teaching, learning materials and qualification impact. It is home to almost 27,000 successful MBA graduates representing 119 countries.

Employers value postgraduate business qualifications as an indication of high level business and management skills. These skills are in demand, increasingly so in times of economic uncertainty, and employers want practical experience, a thorough grasp of business, and the ability to lead at a strategic level. Careers surveys shows that students studying postgraduate business qualifications can expect their salary to increase, and have a positive impact on their career progression, as well as bring improvements to their organisation or business.