Introduction
Africa's Leading MBA
Be a better leader... Switch to a new career... Start a business that will make an impact...
The UCT GSB MBA programme will help you get there.
Our MBA is a broad-based degree that will refine your professional knowledge, stimulate your imagination and give you the business acumen and leadership skills you need to stay relevant in a changing world. The MBA is offered as both a full-time programme over one year or in a modular format over two years.
Study in an Emerging Market
Study an MBA in Cape Town, South Africa’s most beautiful city, at a globally-ranked business school with a world-class reputation. We are one of less than 100 business schools in the world to be triple-crown accredited.
The MBA at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business will give you a solid grounding in international business within an emerging market context. It offers a rich experience in innovating solutions – the lifeblood of a modern business – and will build your resilience, creativity and confidence.
You will gain improved critical thinking, problem-solving, data collection, analytical abilities, research and written communication skills as well as leadership competencies that reflect values-based approaches to help you navigate a complex world.
Choose the Format that Works for You
Full-time MBA
Modular MBA
Intensive 11-month journey
Mid-January to mid-December
Core courses in terms 1 and 2
Electives in terms 3 and 4
Extensive group work
Individual assignments
Over 500 hours of contact time (lectures, group work and one-on-ones with faculty)
6 intensive on-campus modules over 2 years
The first module is 3 weeks
The remaining 5 modules are 2 weeks each
Participants need only be absent from their workplace for a total of 13 weeks over two years
Core courses in modules 1 - 4
Electives in modules 5 and 6
Extensive group work
Student support provided between modules
First African Win at Top International Business School Competition
A team of UCT GSB MBA students, led by the senior lecturer and MBA alumnus, Johannes Schueler, won the 39th John Molson MBA International Case Competition, claiming victory over 35 business schools from 18 countries around the world. This is the first time an African business school has won this prestigious event, the oldest and largest MBA company analysis competition in the world, often referred to as “MBA Olympics”. Congratulations to the team: Jane Obree, Van Zyl van der Merwe, Kate Herringer CA (SA) and Shivani Ghai and their coaches Johannes Schueler and Rihana Hoosain.
Curriculum
Core Courses
Course designs are updated and adapted annually.
Organisations, Leadership and Values
Markets in Emerging Countries
Business, Government and Society
Leadership and Personal Development
Economics for Business
Accounting
Organisational Behaviour and People Management
Operations Management
Finance
Marketing
Social Innovation Entrepreneuring
Strategy
Business Model Innovation Lab
Research Methods and Research Report
Company Analysis
Electives
In addition to the core curriculum, students must select a total of 20 credits from the choices listed below. These vary to keep the course relevant and in the past have included:
Advanced Finance
Advanced Leadership 1
Advanced Leadership 2
Change Management
Coaching
Company Valuations
Digital Market-making
Integrated Reporting
Lean Thinking and Operational Excellence
Management Control Systems
Negotiating to Create Value
Venture Launch
Strategic Brand Building
Social Finance
Social Innovation Lab
Specialisation Streams
The UCT GSB offers six MBA specialisation streams, allowing you to enhance your generalist MBA training with a set of in-demand specialised skills. This way you can tailor your degree to match your areas of interest, knowledge and unique skills. As employers are increasingly looking for a balance of generalist and specialist skills, this may increase your employability and help you define your career path.
The specialisation streams are made up of specific combinations of MBA core courses and electives. Please note that each specialisation stream has core course minimum grade requirements, so we cannot guarantee that you will be accepted into your first choice of specialisation stream. Also, due to timetabling, logistics and minimum class sizes, specific electives may not be run every year.
We offer six specialisation streams:
Management Consulting
Marketing Management
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Leadership and Change
Operations and Supply Chain Management
Corporate Finance
What Our Students Say
"The GSB MBA gave me a great boost in my confidence levels and my ability to grasp things” James Espey, Entrepreneur, Mentor, Author, Philanthropist and GSB MBA 1969 alumnus.
“I’ve learned to be able to listen for understanding”Noma Dumse, Fleet Operations Manager at Astron Energy Pty (Ltd) and MBA Modular 2018/2019 candidate.
“You are in a community where people are willing to share. You’re not doing it alone”Sarah-Jane Joshua, Senior Brand Manager at Parmalat South Africa and MBA Modular 2018/2019 candidate.
Entrance Requirements
The UCT GSB MBA programme is geared toward talented and mature adults who have proven academic ability and business experience, and who are highly motivated to succeed. Students are selected, inter alia, on their capacity for personal and professional development.
Prospective UCT GSB MBA candidates need to:
Be 25 years or older.
Have a minimum of three years of work experience.
Be fluent in English. Applicants whose mother tongue is not English will be required to produce a TOEFL certificate to verify fluency in English. Some applicants may additionally be asked to complete the National Benchmark Test (NBT).
Have completed either a Bachelor Honours degree or Postgraduate Diploma at NQF level 8. Candidates not meeting the degree requirement can apply through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) route and submit the Portfolio of Learning (POL) assessment form. Verification of whether the qualification is equivalent to a South African degree is also required. This can be done by contacting the South African Qualifications Authority.
Write the GMAT. All applicants are required to write the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) and obtain an acceptable GMAT score. A GMAT score of 550 will ordinarily be required. The GSB offers a five-day GMAT Preparation Course to help students prepare for the GMAT.
In addition to the above criteria, the GSB uses other indicators including essays about life experience, goals, attitudes and values, evaluations from two referees and details of work experience, educational and extramural activities.
An interview may also be required.
