MBA Master of Business Administration

The University of Stirling MBA (accredited by the Chartered Management Institute) is designed to transform capable managers into successful business and organisational leaders. Our MBA qualification is unique in the way it focuses on the practices, processes and outcomes of managing in a range of contexts, from large multinationals to small and medium sized enterprises.

There is an emphasis on personal development, responsible business, strategy and how to effectively manage limited resources with maximum impact. These are supported by the professional and personal development modules that are designed to help each individual focus on developing current skills as well as identifying and developing new skills.

Top reasons to study with us

#1 We have strong links with industry and were recently awarded the Small Business Charter for engagement with local and regional enterprise

#2 You’re taught by expert academic staff who have extensive business and consultancy experience

#3 Senior executives from across the private, public and third sectors regularly engage with our MBA students, providing a practical perspective on contemporary business topics

This sought-after qualification will give you a thorough understanding of the functional areas of business and management including:

• accounting and finance
• marketing
• economics
• operations management
• human resource management

By completing this course, you'll gain the confidence and resilience to respond to continually developing circumstances, the skills to build and lead a team, and the theoretical knowledge and its link to practice to successfully manage the challenges of the modern business environments.

By completing this course, you'll gain the confidence and resilience to respond to continually developing circumstances, the skills to build and lead a team, and the theoretical knowledge and its link to practice to successfully manage the challenges of the modern business environments.

You’ll have the chance to go on regular site visits with senior executives and industry experts, as well as the opportunity to undertake a consultancy project with a business or organisation across the public, private and non-profit sectors. This allows you to integrate the knowledge and skills from your MBA to solve a real business challenge, subject to Scottish Government regulations as well as business circumstances.

Our MBA is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) – ensuring that you graduate with two qualifications, an MBA and a CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership.

Learn from the experts

You’ll be taught by internationally recognised subject experts, many of whom have extensive business and consultancy experience.

Throughout the course, you’ll also be able to engage with senior executives from the private, public and third sectors, as well as entrepreneurs. This provides you with a practical perspective on contemporary business topics.

We have a series of guest lectures and workshops which provide many networking opportunities with potential employers, subject to Scottish Government regulations as well as business circumstances.

Course objectives

Understanding the practices and processes of business in terms of inclusion, environmental, cultural, social and economic sustainability is central to the course.

These concerns and perspectives are explored in the context of a wide range of industries and economies. Throughout the world, these issues are increasingly being taken more seriously, and this course is the first MBA in Scotland specifically designed to cater to these important agendas.

Professional accreditations

Our MBA is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) – ensuring that you graduate with two qualifications, an MBA and a CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership.

Course details

Personal and professional development is a key feature for the duration of our course. There’s a focus on self-awareness and personal capability. We’ll help you identify, develop and practice key skills that contribute to a successful managerial career. It includes handling conflict in groups, managing group dynamics, assertiveness, facilitation, critical reasoning and argument building.

Our range of our classes ensures that you’ll gain an insight into each important management function, such as accounting and finance, marketing, human resource management, operations management. This gives you the rare opportunity to understand all aspects of business and management. We also help you to understand how these functions are integrated through our strategy classes, enabling you to see the big picture along with the detail, and work comfortably with both at the same time.

Teaching

Teaching is carried out through lectures, group work, case studies, role-play simulations, workshops, guest speakers, master classes and presentations. Our master classes are delivered by world-renowned academics and industry leaders, and practitioners who are responsible for shaping management thinking today. We also have excellent links with local, national and international organisations. Senior executives from across the private, public and third sectors regularly engage with our MBA students, providing a practical perspective on contemporary business topics through a series of guest lectures and workshops.

If you successfully complete the taught element of this course, you'll receive the Diploma award and then you can continue on the course for the MBA award. To receive an MBA award you'll complete a 10,000-word dissertation based on an original research question agreed by yourself and your supervisor, or a consultancy project on behalf of an external client organisation, with an 8,000 word report.

Fieldwork

You’ll go on field trips and industry visits where you can gain an insight into the workings of specially selected successful Scottish companies. Visits will include an overview on the company's history and culture, as well as understanding their approach to strategy development.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed by a mixture of coursework (individual and group-based), including written assignments, class tests and presentations.