Summary
The Ulster University Executive MBA is a broad-based masters' degree designed to meet the needs of experienced or aspiring managers and business owners. The course helps its participants to relate their work experience to business theory, deepening and widening their understanding of the organisation and the environment in which they operate. An MBA is also an internationally recognised passport to a successful business career.
By joining the Ulster University Executive MBA you will be joining a group of diverse professionals, gaining exposure to different organisations and sectors while developing your network. Our participants are invited to exclusive business events which help to expand their knowledge and offer further networking opportunities. We offer participants excellent support throughout the course, both in their academic study and also to develop as a manager and business leader.
The quality of our Executive MBA is recognised by a number of professional bodies and chartered institutes who have provided exemptions from their own qualifications. For example, the requirements to become a Chartered Manager with the CMI are embedded into our programme should you wish to also gain this recognition at graduation.
About
The overall aim of the MBA is to educate and develop individuals as managers, leaders and specialists, adding value through an integrated, applied and critical understanding of management and organisations. In parallel the students develop the transferable and intellectual skills that are essential for successful general and strategic management in both private and public sector organisations.
What separates the Ulster University MBA?
This balance of commercial and academic experience is key to what separates the Ulster University MBA from other programmes on offer in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland's leading business school for research (Research Excellence Framework 2014) – The world leading economic and societal impact of our research places us 7th in the UK, out of 101 business schools.
Employer engagement - Our programme has been designed through engagement with over forty local and international employers to ensure its design and delivery is in line with their needs.
A practical and applied MBA – Our programme is practical, everything we cover has to be readily applicable to real organisations. Supporting this is our teaching staff who, while academically qualified subject experts, have on average 10 years' full-time work experience within leading organisations ensuring that the learning is relevant to practicing leaders and managers.
Professional skills development – Complementing our taught modules are a professional development residential (the price for which is included in the course fees).
Chartered manager – We have embedded the Chartered Management Institute's (CMI) Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Leadership and Management into our programme. Participants can opt to gain this qualification automatically at graduation meaning they can become a Chartered Manager through the exemption route (an additional fee to CMI will apply). We are the only MBA in NI to offer this professional accreditation.
Learning with like-minded people -The part-time MBA at Magee is designed to inspire and transform the careers of managers/aspiring managers from across the region. Our participants come from a wide range of industries and sectors including large multinational companies, financial, food, engineering, healthcare, public sector companies and not for profit organisations to progressive and growing SMEs. This diversity of sectoral backgrounds leads to a rich learning environment where knowledge and ideas are exchanged. All of our participants are committed to advancing their development from a business, career and personal perspective and we fully support them to reach this goal.
Tailor your study - There is the opportunity to tailor your MBA via the applied management project and choice of an elective module.
Linked with the Harvard Business School – In 2013, the Ulster University Business School became the first University School in the UK to join a global network of affiliated universities with Harvard. A number of our lecturers undertook intensive training in Boston and bring specialist knowledge in Harvard case study methods and access to online resources.
Mini-MBA – We understand that undertaking an MBA is a significant commitment, consequently, we offer participants the opportunity to trial the MBA through our 'Mini-MBA' graduating with a Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration. This is a commitment of 2 semesters (or 9 months), successful participants can also progress on to complete the full MBA should they wish.
Teaching and learning assessment
The Executive MBA is delivered on a part-time basis at the Magee campus.
The part-time Executive MBA is taught over 2 academic years, with intakes in September and January each year. The Executive MBA (September) begins with an induction residential, where participants spend 2 days familiarising themselves with the course, with their peers and the academic team. Participants will attend lectures on a block learning basis, usually 3 x 2 day blocks, (Thursday and Friday) in semesters 1 and 2 (September to December and January to May). In semester 3, participants complete modules on a 3 day "block" basis. This means studying a subject intensely for 3 days which allows participants to immerse themselves in the subject area. Modules are examined using a combination of coursework (which may include individual assignments, groupwork and presentations) and exam based assessment. The majority of the modules are assessed using 100% coursework. Examinations are held after each semester in January, May and September. A sample teaching timetable is outlined below:
Year 1
Semester 1(Attendance Required 9.00 – 5.00 Thursday & Friday in weeks 1, 5 & 8)
Marketing (15 credits)
Accounting And Finance (15 credits)
Semester 2(Attendance Required 9.00 – 5.00 Thursday and Friday in weeks 1, 5 & 8)
Operations Management (15 credits)
Managing People in the Organisation (15 credits)
Semester 3(Attendance 9.00-5.00 over 3 day block)
Digital Transformation (15 credits)
International Competitiveness (15 credits)
Year 2
Semester 1(Attendance 9.00 – 5.00 Thursday and Friday in weeks 1, 5 & 8)
Innovation & Entrepreneurship (15 credits)
Management Project Part 1 (10 credits)
Semester 2(Attendance 9.00 – 5.00 Thursday & Friday in weeks 1, 5 & 8)
Leadership and Change (15 credits)
Economics(15 credits)
Semester 3(Attendance 9.00-5.00 over 3 day block)
Strategy (15 credits) taught on a 3 day block
Management Project 2 (20 credits)
Please note that this is only a sample timetable and running order of module may vary slightly.