Business Administration - MBA

Overview

The DBS Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a 90 ECTS programme offered full-time (one year) or part-time (two years). It includes nine taught modules (60 ECTS) and a 30 ECTS Business Simulation capstone. An exit award, the Postgraduate Diploma in Business (60 ECTS), is available for those who complete the taught modules but not the capstone.



The programme aims to equip current and aspiring managers with advanced business administration concepts, strategic thinking, sustainability, leadership, and innovation. It covers core business functions in mandatory modules and offers specialisation through elective pathways. Assessment methods include continuous assignments, projects, case studies, and proctored exams



The MBA programme at DBS offers specialised pathways to allow learners to tailor their education to specific career goals and industry demands. While all students complete a set of core mandatory modules, they then choose two elective modules (constituting 20 credits). If both elective modules are chosen from the same specialised area, the learner will be on a specific pathway. If electives are chosen from two different pathways, the learner will be on the general MBA programme.



These pathways are aligned with key areas of rapid industry growth and include:



Marketing

Human Resource Management

Cloud Computing

Finance

Project Management

Supply Chain Management

Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship

Law



This structure allows students to gain specialised knowledge within a particular business subfield, enhancing their employability and aligning with their career expectations.



Objectives

The programme objectives are as follows:



To enable learners to critically evaluate business administration theories and practices across various functional areas, allowing them to analyse and address complex challenges in diverse organisational settings.



To foster the development of strategic decision-making and leadership skills, equipping learners to effectively lead diverse teams and make informed decisions to achieve organisational goals.



To encourage creativity and critical thinking, enabling learners to apply innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to business challenges and opportunities in local and global business environments.



To empower learners to evaluate and apply contemporary analytical tools, digital technologies, and data-driven methodologies to enhance organisational performance in various business environments.



To develop advanced competencies in ethical decision-making, social responsibility, and the application of artificial intelligence in business. This includes empowering learners to make informed decisions that leverage AI for innovation and competitiveness while considering broader social, political, environmental, and economic impacts and promoting sustainability.



To enable learners to critically evaluate research methodologies and conduct in-depth research that adds value to their chosen field of expertise and personal and professional development.



To advance proficient and professional communicators with the ability to inform decisions and present solutions to a critical audience and to collaborate efficiently within diverse teams.



To encourage learners to develop a strategic outlook on business operations within national and international contexts, while synthesising previous professional and learning experiences.



To promote the importance of lifelong learning and continuous personal and professional development, encouraging learners to reflect on their own growth and the changing demands on organisations, ensuring sustainable development and success.



To enhance learners’ strategic decision-making by fostering a critical understanding of core interdisciplinary business knowledge and developing advanced research and practical skills through real-world simulations and collaborative learning experiences.

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme has the following content

Core Modules

Module Name / ECTS

Risk and Change for Global Issues 5

Managerial Financial Analysis 5

Strategic Marketing Analysis 5

Strategic Planning and Management 5

Dynamic Leadership Development 5

Sustainable Operations Management 5

Conducting Research for Business 10

Business Simulation 30



Elective Modules - Choose 2

Module Name / ECTS

Marketing Innovations 10

Integrated Marketing Communications 10

Strategies for Human Resource Management 10

Reinventing Performance Management 10

Cloud Technologies for Business 10

Cloud Application Management 10

Corporate Financial Management 10

Global Financial Markets 10

Project Management Frameworks 10

Project Management Practices 10

Global Supply Chain and Logistics Management 10

Analytics and Enterprise Systems for Supply Chain Management 10

Implementing Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship 10

Divergent Thinking for the Digital Age 10

Company Law 10

International Commercial Law 10

To be eligible for the Master of Business Administration programme, applicants must meet the following minimum entry requirements:



A Level 8 primary undergraduate honours bachelor's degree with a minimum Second Class Second Division award (2.2 classification) in any discipline from a recognised third-level institution (or equivalent).



Alternatively, a Level 6 (EQF) primary undergraduate bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent).



An equivalent professional qualification such as ACCA or CIMA.



A GMAT examination is a mandatory requirement for all applicants who do not hold an Honours Bachelor's Degree (Level 8) with a minimum of second class second division classification.



For international applicants whose first language is not English and who have not previously undertaken a degree taught in English, evidence of English language proficiency equivalent to B2+ or above on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL) is required. This can be evidenced through recognised tests like IELTS, Cambridge Certificate, PTE, or DBS English Assessment, with test certificates dated within the last two years.



Applicants who do not have a Level 8 qualification at a 2.2 award level but have at least three years of work experience may be considered through DBS's Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedures. An interview and/or GMAT examination may be required for RPL applicants.

Continuous assessment is an integral part of many of our taught modules. The weightings attaching to coursework and other forms of continuous assessment vary from module to module to facilitate all learning styles. You will experience a variety of teaching and learning assessment methods including lectures, seminars, tutorials, case studies, group and individual projects, examinations and reports.

Full-time: 1 year

Part-time: 2 years



Delivery

The Master of Business Administration programme offers two modes of delivery: full-time and part-time. Both versions are delivered through on-site face-to-face and online teaching and learning modalities.

Next Intake dates: September 2025

Careers Opportunities

Graduates of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme at DBS have excellent long-term career prospects due to the programme’s alignment with current industry needs and the high demand for qualified business professionals in Ireland and globally.



Specific career opportunities and roles that MBA graduates can pursue include:

Management and Strategic Business Roles: Graduates are well-prepared for management and strategic business roles across diverse industries, including public and private sectors.



Business Development and Consultancy: There is strong evidence of growth in management consultancy, with roles like management consultants and business analysts being among the top professional occupations in job vacancy adverts. The programme’s focus on structured analysis, problem-solving techniques, and effective decision-making directly supports these roles.



Project Management: The demand for project professionals is high, with communication, problem-solving, collaborative leadership, and strategic thinking identified as crucial skills. The MBA programme includes dedicated project management pathways.



Marketing and Sales: Roles such as marketing and sales directors, and retail and wholesale managers have seen significant growth in job vacancies.



Finance: Opportunities exist in financial services and related fields.



Other Fields: Graduates can also find opportunities in administration, education, and retail.



Leadership and Innovation: The programme specifically aims to equip learners with skills for making high-level strategic decisions, enhancing productivity, profitability, and organisational value, and preparing them for complex challenges in dynamic business environments.



Entrepreneurship: Graduates can also become entrepreneurs.