This MBA programme has been specifically designed for graduates who aspire to develop careers in global banking and finance. The programme aims to improve management and technical skills by focusing on key areas such as international banking, banking and finance regulation and supervision, risk and asset and liability management, strategic management of financial institutions, financial markets, and private equity and venture capital finance.

Many of our graduates are working at senior positions in banks and financial institutions, and in the investment industry worldwide. The programme is delivered by University faculty and industry practitioners to cater to the current and future needs of global financial services industry. MBA (GBF) attracts highly qualified and experienced students from a variety of cultures and nationalities and is highly rated by students wanting to specialise in banking and finance. The programme is accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and (EQUIS) European Quality Improvement System.

Programme content

The programme includes core modules and optional modules. Apart from the taught element of the programme, students have the opportunity to attend talks delivered by practising managers and senior executives from some of the world's leading banks and finance houses. Students will have opportunities to interact, discuss their career-related issues and gain valuable insights into the working of these prestigious institutions.

A compulsory requirement of the programme will provide students with the opportunity to conduct a supervised in-depth study of a specific topic relevant to their area of interest, leading to the writing of a dissertation. As part of their induction, all students attend a personal development course at the University's outdoor pursuits centre at Coniston in the picturesque Lake District.

Programme activities include:

• Core taught elements in functional business disciplines. As a research-led School, the latest thinking and techniques can be rapidly incorporated and teaching kept at the cutting edge
• Classes and seminars supplement lectures, where fuller analysis and discussion takes place and important business skills, such as analysis, argument and synthesis, can be developed
• Case studies are used as a means of relating theory to practical situations and students will often work in small groups with other students on assignments designed to develop problem solving and interpersonal skills
• A series of industrial seminars, given by outside speakers from industry and commerce, provides contemporary ‘real world’ perspectives on the business environment – recent visitors to the School have included Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England (and a former professor of the University of Birmingham) and Sir John Bond, Chairman of HSBC Holdings
• A residential weekend business simulation requires you to manage a ‘company’ team in competition with others, against tight deadlines and with a range of rapidly changing data to assimilate and act upon (Full-time only)
• A Teamwork Skills course at an outdoor pursuits centre in the Malvern Hills develops skills in leadership, team building and team working (Full-time only)
• Cross-Cultural Management skills are developed in a variety of workshops and Issues in Global Competitiveness are the focus of a specialist series of seminars
• Researching and writing a project develops skills in information gathering, analysis and report writing
• A supporting programme of consultant delivered career-development workshops allow you to reflect on the impact of what you have learnt on your future career development

Birmingham Business School understands the importance of undertaking an MBA Business programme for your career development. Finding the right employment afterwards will clearly be an important objective and our primary aim is to help you do so.

The Careers in Business team and experienced consultants provide a specialist careers support service located in University House for the exclusive use of Business School postgraduates.

What our MBA graduates go on to do

For many who join us, the Birmingham MBA is a major step towards developing an international or strategic focus within their careers. Some accelerate successful careers with existing employers.  Others create potential for change.  Major directions include jobs in banking, business analysis and development, management and strategy consulting, corporate finance and investment, human resource management and marketing.

• Finance/Banking/Accounting 32%
• Consulting 13%
• Hi-Technology/IT/Telecomms 9%
• Healthcare/Pharmaceutical 9%
• Media/Entertainment 4%
• Government/Non-Profit 16%
• Consumer Goods/Retail 6%
• Other industries10%

‘Careers in Business’

Our in-house careers unit is for the exclusive use of postgraduate students in the Business School.  Their role is to support your career development and this can be done in a variety of ways.

• Advice and guidance, provided by professionally qualified Careers Advisors, who offer individual consultations,
• Career Development lectures and workshops and a Career Management skills programme;
• Employer liaison, bringing in a variety of organisations to give presentations
• Offer vacancies for full-time work and dissertation projects and deliver skills sessions and mock interviews.

Personal skills are increasingly valued by employers and this is reflected in our Personal Development module and Skills Series that include sessions on a wide variety of topics such as Networking, Team Working, Time Management, Leadership, Consulting Skills, Personal Image and Presentation, Assertiveness, Influencing and Persuading Skills, Stress Management and Emotional Intelligence.

‘Incubator’ support

Many students will have their own business idea that they would like to develop and we can provide support for this.  Our Entrepreneurship & Innovation Centre gives practical support for embryo businesses. The Centre provides professional office and meeting (incubator) space and one-to-one expert guidance and advice.  Access to the Business School network (industrial links, partners, advisers/mentors, alumni and other students) is available, as are networking events, work space, skills programmes, funding, and, where possible, access to the media. The Centre also runs a Postgraduate Enterprise Summer School, which MBAs are encouraged to attend, designed to prepare you to:

• Develop a business idea from the concept stage to a fully fledged business proposition
• Know the steps required to set up their own business
• Be aware of the requirements to commercialise research in an academic environment.
• Be able to work effectively in a team environment
• Identify which role they are best suited to in a business team