Master of Business Administration (MBA)

This is a full-time master’s course. You’ll study for 12 months, from September to the following September.

The course takes place in 3 stages:

• Mastering fundamentals (semester 1): You’ll develop expertise in key business and management skills through core modules
• Mastering complexity (semester 2): You’ll build on your learning and develop more complex skills through core modules. You’ll also choose your optional modules
• Mastering business (over the summer): You’ll work independently to research and write a business project about a sector and organisation of your choice. You’ll have the chance to work with a real business client for this research project. You’ll have one-to-one meetings with your supervisor to discuss progress.

Modules

The modules outlined provide examples of what you can expect to learn in this degree course based on recent academic teaching. As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our course to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

You must study the following modules :

• Accounting
• Business Analytics and Risk
• Business Project
• Corporate Finance
• Digital and Data-Driven Marketing
• Global Business Environment
• Leadership Development Programme
• Leading Sustainability, Innovation and Change
• Operations Management
• People and Organisations
• Strategy and Decision Making

You must also choose from the following modules :

• Blockchain Technology and Cryptocurrency Investment
• Deeper Analytics and Big Data
• International Banking
• Project Management
• Responsible Leadership
• Strategic Brand Management
• Supply Management

Whether you want to improve your promotion prospects, bring new skills to your current role or show you're ready to take on more responsibility, an MBA will help you achieve your ambitions.

Working closely within a diverse, international group will enrich your experience and give you a valuable insight into different business cultures.

To help you plan your next career steps, the Southampton MBA includes a non-credit bearing Leadership Development Programme (LDP), which runs throughout the year.

The LDP includes a series of workshops on key leadership and management skills, and 'soft' skills such as business communication and negotiation.

The LDP also offers executive coaching, careers coaching and employability workshops delivered by the University’s Careers and Employability Service. In addition, you’ll have access to worldwide MBA-level employment opportunities and recruiter fairs.

During your time on the MBA course you’ll become a member of the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), giving you access to a range of business management career and e-learning resources.

We teach through a mixture of:

• Lectures with group discussions
• Practical exercises
• Case studies
• Simulations
• ‘Live’ business projects

We emphasise the importance of collaboration between students, as this is critical for developing your management and leadership skills. We’ll teach you in small groups, using a round-table classroom layout, to encourage discussion and develop your teamwork skills.

Through case studies, simulation exercises and games, you’ll learn how to apply your knowledge to real-world settings.

Assessment

Depending on the modules you take, we’ll assess your progress through a combination of:

• Exams
• Coursework assignments
• Reflective reports
• Group projects and presentations
• A 12,000-word business project