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MBA Executive

Start date
March 2024
Duration
Minimum 2 years (extendable to 4 years)
Course Type
Postgraduate, Continuing professional development, Taught
Fees
For 2024/25:
£26,250 - £1,875 per module
My Birmingham MBA Experience

Get ready for the next step in your career. Whatever your sector, our Executive MBA will empower you to lead in the world of business. Flexible and practical, it’s designed to fit perfectly around your life and work.

An MBA will elevate your career. Ours nurtures responsible business leaders, preparing you for the next step in your career. Our Executive MBA will challenge you to reflect on your approach to responsible business and help you develop key skills for your future. Suiting all lifestyles, this post-experience master programme is designed to be flexible. You can also tailor your studies around your passions and interests with our three specialist areas focusing on Innovation & Business Transformation; Marketing; International Business & Strategy, plus our Global Perspectives in Responsible Business module. 

Our Executive MBA is studied over two years, extendable up to four.

From March to September 2024, each module will be delivered as an intensive four-day block, spread over a long weekend (Friday to Monday). From September 2024, modules will be run in a hybrid format with a blend of online learning and residential weekends. You can even 'pay as you study' with our flexible payment scheme. This lets you pay per module, breaking the tuition fee down into smaller chunks. 

On our Executive MBA, you’ll grow your confidence and learn the latest business thinking: 

  • Build personal values and accountability through responsible, purposeful leadership 
  • Grow the analytical skills needed for smarter decision-making 
  • Carry out research, learning to analyse and integrate complex information 
  • Promote an ethical, inclusive, innovative and supportive culture to drive sustainable business improvement  
  • Engage in career development workshops led by consultants 

Our classes and seminars stimulate critical thinking and discussion. All to equip you with vital business skills, such as analysis, negotiation and synthesis. By working on case study assignments in small groups, you’ll link theory to practical situations, building your interpersonal and problem-solving skills. 

For me the MBA Executive programme delivers on four levels: value for money, flexibility, focus and the opportunity to develop a strong network of business contacts and friends. The programme fitted perfectly with my busy work and family life.

Mfon Whyte Oton, MBA Executive, Business Development, Multi-Materials Stewardship Board

Modules

Core modules

You must choose ONE of the following. 

You must choose an additional 40 credits in total. When choosing the optional modules, you can also choose a specialism. There are three specialisms students can choose from: Marketing; International Business & Strategy; and Innovation & Business Transformation. These require a specific combination of optional modules. 

Marketing pathway: 

Students who wish to be awarded the Marketing pathway must choose at least two of the following modules (each worth 10 credits): 

Any remaining credits should be chosen from the full list of optional modules below (can include one from the immersive modules, unless global marketing consultancy: international residential has been chosen). 

International Business and Strategy pathway: 

Students who wish to be awarded the International Business and Strategy pathway must choose the following module: 

And at least one of the following modules: 

Any remaining credits should be chosen from the full list of optional modules below (can include one from the immersive modules). 

Innovation and Business Transformation pathway: 

Students who wish to be awarded the Innovation and Business Transformation pathway must choose the following modules: 

And at least one (and no more than one of the immersive modules) of the following modules: 

Any remaining credits should be chosen from the full list of optional modules below (which can include one from the immersive modules, unless international business experience: doing business in Mexico, doing business in the middle east, or the future for southeast Asia economies have been chosen). 

Optional modules if no specialism has been chosen: 

You must choose three or four from the following selection of modules as long as at least one is in your home location. Each module is worth 10 credits. 

Students who chose three options from the above can choose one of the following modules: 

Fees

Fees for March 2024 are £26,250 or £1,875 per module.

Scholarships may also be available. International students can often gain funding through overseas research scholarships, Commonwealth scholarships or their home government.

  • Questions about funding? Use our Student Help knowledge base to find the answer.

How To Apply

Before you submit your application, you should have the following supporting documents:

  • Evidence of your academic and/or professional qualifications
  • An up-to-date copy of your resume or CV
  • One academic reference, and one work related reference (if you don't have an academic reference, we will accept two work references)
  • Your personal statement, including why you wish to apply to the MBA course, why you have chosen to apply to the Birmingham MBA in particular, highlights of your career to date, examples of managerial responsibility, and your career aspirations for the future (maximum 2 pages)

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Apply now

Our Standard Requirements

  • A good Honours degree (or equivalent), or equivalent professional qualification 
  • Five years of work experience with evidence of extensive managerial experience or professional responsibility. Three years exceptional work experience meeting these criteria will also be considered 
  • IELTS 6.5 (with no less than 6.0 in any band); TOEFL IBT 88 (21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing); Pearson Academic Test of English 59 (in all four skills)

Please note we will also consider candidates without a first degree or professional qualification but with at least ten years’ work experience including significant managerial responsibility. 

International Requirements



International Students

IELTS 6.5 (with no less than 6.0 in any band).


  • IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band
  • TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) including online: PTE Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
  • Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced – minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component

If you are currently studying at a Chinese university, please view our specific entry requirements including our list of acceptable universities for further study at Birmingham.

Our Executive MBA is studied over two years, extendable up to four.

From March to September 2024, each module will be delivered as an intensive four-day block, spread over a long weekend (Friday to Monday). From September 2024, modules will be run in a hybrid format with a blend of online learning blocks and residential long weekends. 

Key dates of on-campus activity

Induction Day – 21 March 2024

Residential weekends

22-25 March 2024
Corporate Communication (optional elective subject to availability)

10-13 May 2024
Operations management OR
17-20 May 2024
Project management (optional elective subject to availability)

12-15 July 2024
Marketing OR one of the following electives which will be subject to availability:
Elective option 1: 5-8 July 2024
Service Operations Management (optional elective subject to availability)
Elective option 2: 19-22 July 2024
Strategic procurement and supplier management (optional elective subject to availability)

11-14 October 2024
Accounting Accountability and Decision Making 
AND - Purposeful Leader (Part 1)

30 November - 2 December 2024
Managerial Finance

1-3 February 2025
Strategy in a Complex and Uncertain World 

21-24 March 2025 
Marketing OR March optional module
AND 
Purposeful Leader (Part 2)

21-25 March 2025 
Optional module (TBC)

10-12 May 2025 
Sustainable Operations 
OR
May 2025 Optional module  

May 2025 (exact dates TBC)
May 2025 Optional module

28-30 June 2025 
Understanding the Economy

16-18 August 2025
Digital Marketing* 
AND
Entrepreneurship & Innovation* 

11-13 October 2025
People Management and Organisations 
AND 
Purposeful Leader (Part 3)

29 November - 1 December 2025 
Global Perspectives in Responsible Business

31 January - 2 February 2026 
Change Management* 
AND
Fintech, Digital Finance and Blockchain*

23 February-31 May 2026
Final 40 credits project

* Optional elective module, subject to availability

Become a responsible business leader, feel confident you’ll succeed and be fully prepared to accelerate your career in global business. Our support and expertise will open up new opportunities, getting you ready for the world. 

Lifelong careers support 

From day one of your MBA, you can tap into the expertise of our career consultants. Whatever your short or long-term goals, our careers support will put you in the best position to achieve them. In fact, we’re one of the few business schools who offer lifelong support throughout your career. 

University-wide, our careers and employability team offer internships, careers fairs, support, access to bursaries and events with top UK employers, plus activities for start-ups and entrepreneurs. 

An international experience 

At Birmingham Business School, your experience will be truly multicultural. You’ll join a melting pot of diverse students on our campuses in Birmingham, Dubai and Singapore. Our MBAs include activities with global firms like IBM, Accenture, Capgemini, Deloitte, Mondelez, KPMG, Santander and HSBC. All creating an experience of rich global learning, international relationships and perspectives. 

Global alumni network 

Throughout your MBA, you’ll have many opportunities to learn directly from our alumni at top international companies. When you graduate, you’ll become part of the same alumni network, who can offer you further advice, support and expertise. 

Skills development 

Our Skills Development Consultant offers personal coaching to help you develop the soft skills of a top business leader. You could grow as a team leader and player, become a better communicator, a great negotiator or the kind of presenter who inspires an auditorium. From interview practice to industry networking events, we’ll help you develop the skills you need to achieve your professional career goals.