Studying with us in 2021/22
It is possible that the 2021/22 academic year may be affected by the ongoing disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Any arrangements put in place by the University for the 2021/22 academic year will be in accordance with the latest government public health advice, pandemic-related/health and safety legislation, and the terms and conditions of the student contract.
This course has recently been updated. Please download the course specification for the up to date information.
Do you want to study an MBA in Birmingham? Accelerate your career and build your development towards higher positions of responsibility with our Executive Master of Business Administration course.
This course will provide a thorough look at different aspects of management, decision-making, strategy and organisational improvement. It is delivered on a part-time basis so that you can continue with your career as you add to your knowledge, competence and credibility.
This is a chance for you to self- manage your learning, developing your leadership abilities by drawing on your real-life knowledge and skills. You will gain invaluable business insight, combined with consultancy, which are key points when it comes to rising up the career ladder. Throughout the course, what you study will mirror the challenges today’s businesses face, helping you deliver appropriate and modern solutions for your organisations.
There are also plenty of networking opportunities available with course colleagues, allowing you to keep in contact with the postgraduate community created in the Business School. We ensure the course is flexible enough to substantially fit around work. Modules are a mixture of classroom and blended online learning, and client-based consultancy, with the whole course being practice-based. Classroom attendance is scheduled for a Friday and Saturday once a month, allowing it to better fit with work and personal commitments.
Our Executive MBA is taught by experts who have experience of working in a wide variety of roles in companies ranging from Zurich International Solutions, JP Morgan and Barclays to Maersk Line, Aviva, Hertz, Ford and The Children’s Society.
As part of your degree you will gain the opportunity to work on live client projects undertaken with both SMEs and high profile companies.
Come along to one of our upcoming events where our staff will be on hand to answer all your questions.
You may be able to take advantage of the government’s plans to make loans of up to £10,906 available for postgraduate study.
Typical Offers (UK Students) | ||
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An honours degree or equivalent qualification. |
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If you do not have a degree you could still be considered through our APEL procedure which looks for evidence of being able to benefit from, and succeed on the programme through your management experience. |
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You should also occupy (or have occupied) a position of management responsibility for a minimum of three years. |
Essential | ||
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Applications from international applicants with equivalent qualifications are welcome. Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept. In additional to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require the qualifications detailed in this table. |
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English language requirements 2020/21 | ||
IELTS |
6.0 overall with 5.5 minimum in all bands If you do not meet the required IELTS score, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English courses. Please note that you must have a Secure English Language Test (SELT) to study on the pre-sessional English course. More information. |
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Other accepted qualifications | Visit our English language page |
Don't meet our entry requirements? You could apply for courses at our International College.
Award: MBA
Starting: Sep 2021
Fees for Part-time students
This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year as shown here.
Award: MBA
Starting: Sep 2021
Fees for Part-time students
This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year as shown here.
If you're unable to use the online form for any reason, you can complete our PDF application form and equal opportunities PDF form instead. The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.
Students are required to submit a personal statement as part of their application for this course.
Your postgraduate personal statement is going to shine a light on your personal experience, academic success, personal skills and any other factors that will support your application for further study.
Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:
Studying a postgraduate course usually means you want to specialise in something. So what’s driving you?
Show that you’ve researched the course offering. What is it about this particular course that appeals to you? Is it the lecturers? The modules? Etc.
Tutors want to know that you can handle postgraduate study, so show them how your undergraduate experiences or work life has equipped you for a more advanced level of study. Key areas to address are research and group work but this can vary depending on your chosen course.
Add anything relevant that relates back to your chosen course and shows how your skills will contribute towards your learning. What extra-curricular activities have you taken part in? What awards have you won? What employment or voluntary experience do you have that has helped you develop transferable skills? How do these specifically relate to the course you are applying for?
You should also mention your future plans and how a postgraduate qualification fits in. Try to look beyond your postgraduate study – do you plan to jump straight into a specific career or follow your studies with a research degree? Lastly, use plain, professional English and, where possible, utilise the language of your chosen industry.
Get more information on writing personal statements.
While there are no additional costs associated with purchasing text books, there may be other costs to you. If you are joining the course which has a professional body accreditation you may be required to pay membership or examination costs. For details of these costs, please click on the link below.
Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £50 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials. All our students are provided with 100 free pages of printing each year to a maximum total value of £15.
Find additional costs for your course
The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.
We offer further information on possible postgraduate financial support. This includes the type of loans, grants and scholarships available both from the government and from Birmingham City University.
Did you know that you will soon be able to apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £1,222 for some courses and options?
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 180 credits):
Modules are a mixture of classroom and blended online learning with the whole course being practice-based.
In addition to the classroom and blended learning, you will need to devote your own study time when this works for you or in conjunction with small groups of colleagues for some modules.
Here are just a few quotes from successful graduates of our Executive MBA course.
“The Executive MBA experience at Birmingham City University has helped me better frame what I know, and understand more of what others know. It continues to help me make better decisions and choices as a result of seeing things from new and different perspectives. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and it was worth the commitment.”
Colette Simonczyk MBA
Tenant Services Manager, The Wrekin Housing Trust
“The Executive MBA course at Birmingham City University has provided me with an extremely powerful platform to achieve my career aspirations. The hard work and effort I exerted into the programme has paid dividends in my professional career, and the letters ‘MBA’ confirm significant meaning in business management world-wide.”
Matt Fraser MBA
Environmental Manager, Jaguar Land Rover
“Working, whilst studying the Executive MBA at Birmingham City University, allowed me to apply the theories learnt in the classroom to my organisation and gain valuable insight into the company and its workings. Although the commitment required to complete this is challenging it has proved to be an invaluable asset as it has led to my progression in the company. I found the tutors to be professional and constructive, with a wealth of knowledge and practitioner experience which immensely added to the entire experience”
Lee Jesic MBA
Senior Design Engineer, Kuka Systems
"Finding mentors with strong business management experience who could help me understand and practice dynamic management relevant to high performance organisations was a daunting task, especially coming from a disadvantaged background. The Executive MBA at Birmingham City University gave me an outstanding opportunity to learn about and practice advanced competence enabling me to deliver it at higher levels in the extremely demanding world of business leadership and management. Armed with the acquired and practiced learning, I can see the greater contributions I am now making to my organisations and how this is helping me transform my life."
Tichaona Dauramanzi MBA
Entrepreneur
Possibilities for further study with Birmingham City Business School include MPhil, DBA and PhD options.
Didn't make it to an Open Day? You still have the opportunity to come and see what our postgraduate courses have to offer. If you would like to enquire about campus tour availability, just drop us an email.
Unlike undergraduate degrees, which are designed to get students into industry, our MBA degrees are aimed at existing industry professionals looking to climb further up the career ladder.
Companies around the world are now looking for a different kind of manager. They need people with different skillsets that can look at situations and opportunities in
unique ways. Our MBA degrees will give you the tools to stand out from the rest.
Upon completion, you will be able to effect positive change, both in your own professional practice, and within your organisation. On a personal level, you’ll be able to utilise new skills and methods to improve your efficiency, your critical engagement, and your ability to instigate change.
Successful improvements in your personal professional practice will then benefit your organisation. The MBA degree alone can open doors, but the possibilities opened to you by utilising your skills to improve your organisation are even more impressive.
Already a managing director, in charge of your own company? The MBA degree can still benefit you internally and externally. The knowledge and skills you will pick up over the course of your degree can allow you to become an industry leader, growing your company’s reputation through innovation. The accompanying benefits of this could help cement your company’s industry position for years to come.
If you want to learn more about how an MBA degree from Birmingham City Business School could help improve your career prospects, contact Martin Eley or Tony Birch.
OpportUNIty: Student Jobs on Campus ensures that our students are given a first opportunity to fill many part-time temporary positions within the University. This allows you to work while you study with us, fitting the job around your course commitments. By taking part in the scheme, you will gain valuable experiences and employability skills, enhancing your prospects in the job market.
It will also allow you to become more involved in University life by delivering, leading and supporting many aspects of the learning experience, from administration to research and mentoring roles.
Since graduating with an MBA, Derrick has contributed to and published international guidance and policies, and presented at international conferences in Asia, Europe and in The United States of America. He is now the Asset Management Development Manager for National Grid, and Chair of The Nuclear Sites Licence Provisions Group.
In 2012, Derrick became the first global recipient of the President’s Award for Asset Management by the Institute of Asset Managers, and recently became a finalist in the Black British Business Awards 2017 in the category of STEM Leader of the Year.
“The Executive MBA experience at Birmingham City University has helped me better frame what I know, and understand more of what others know. It continues to help me make better decisions and choices as a result of seeing things from new and different perspectives. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and it was worth the commitment.”
Colette Simonczyk MBA, Tenant Services Manager, Wrekin Housing Trust.
Welcome to the Birmingham City Business School, home to students from over 70 countries all around the world!
Birmingham City Business School is one of the UK’s largest, most established and most respected business schools. Our programmes are practice based and many have an international focus, which means your course will be entirely relevant to today’s business world. Almost all of our courses, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level, are open to international students.
We also have links with universities across the world, including Europe, the USA, China, India and Malaysia.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
International students who have a serious interest in studying with us but who perhaps cannot meet the direct entry requirements, academic or English, or who have been out of education for some time, can enter Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC) and begin their degree studies.
BCUIC is part of the global Navitas Group, an internationally recognised education provider, and the partnership allows students to access the University’s facilities and services and move seamlessly through to achieving a Bachelor’s degree from Birmingham City University.
We are constantly investing in our estate and are currently in the process of spending £340 million on new learning facilities.
This course is based at our City Centre Campus – and specifically The Curzon Building, alongside other Social Sciences, Law, Business and English students.
The £63m building offers students a unique social learning space, including a dedicated student hub incorporating student support services, in the heart of Birmingham’s Eastside development.
The Business floors house an extensive number of IT facilities, breakout areas, and specialised rooms. The Marketing Link Agency is designed to replicate a modern marketing firm, allowing students to get real-life experience of working in the marketing sector. There is also the City Trading Room, which features state of the art stock market tracking equipment, keeping you up to date with all the financial comings and goings of the London Stock Exchange and Wall Street.
The Curzon building is also conveniently close to Birmingham’s business and financial centre, allowing for strong links between your studies and the real world.
Dr Martyn Brown has a background in engineering but also spent four years as a professional musician. He has worked in engineering consultancy and events management in the voluntary sector and has carried out marketing consultancy on the West Bank. He holds an MBA from Aston University and a PhD examining the rise in interest in spirituality in the workplace.