Full-time MBA

A transformational MBA for managers who want to accelerate their thinking, career and potential

Ranked 1st in UK for career progress (FT Global MBA Rankings 2010)
Innovative programme from elite triple-accredited business school
Global network with 12,000 alumni and business partners.

The Aston Full-Time MBA is an intensive 12-month programme that will open your mind to the latest business skills, tools and thinking necessary to become an effective global manager in the 21st Century.

Programme details

The Aston MBA is completed over a 12 month period
Comprises 10 core modules, 2 elective modules and a business project
Includes the Mindful Global Manager self-development module
Dedicated MBA career support with advice, workshops and industry speakers
European study visit to develop your network
You may choose to study for either a general MBA, or a specialist MBA
Globally ranked programme from an elite triple-accredited business school.

Study mode

Students attend a series of on-campus lectures, seminars and workshops
Regular skills workshops run by our dedicated MBA Careers Advisor
Opportunity of an industry project

Modules and business project

The Full-time MBA programme is taught on-campus over 3 terms and followed up with a business project. The taught part of the MBA takes 9 months, and the project up to 3 months:

Term 1 – 4 core modules
Term 2 – 4 core modules, plus 1 elective module
Term 3 – 2 core modules, plus 1 elective module
Business Project – in a suitable area of interest, or chosen subject stream
The Mindful Global Manager – self-development module running in Terms 1/2

General and Specialist MBA options
You may choose to study a general MBA, or focus on a particular subject stream to gain a specialist MBA.

To gain a General MBA, students complete:

all 10 core modules
any 2 elective modules
The Mindful Global Manager module
a business project in an area of their interest.

To gain a Specialist MBA, students complete:

all 10 core modules
2 elective modules from one subject stream
The Mindful Global Manager module
a business project in their chosen subject stream.

When it comes to deciding between a general MBA and one which specialises in a certain field, there are a number of considerations. A general MBA is more likely to keep management options open for you, whilst a specialist MBA will potentially make you more attractive to particular management functions of a business. You do not need to decide right away, and we will give you every support in exploring all your available options.

Study Visit

Full-time MBA students visit and study at a top European business school for a week – this is included in the tuition fee. Most recently, our students have visited Bordeaux, Nantes, Nice, Paris, Barcelona and Leuven. We also host MBA students from our international partners, giving you the chance to further develop your global network.

Transfer to other modes of study

You can transfer to the Part-time or Online learning routes any time during the year, if your visa, employment status or personal commitments change

Modules & Business Project

Each MBA student completes ten core modules and two elective modules, the Mindful Global Manager self-development module and a business project.

Core Modules

Our core modules cover ten key business disciplines that will shape you in becoming an effective manager. Each module has been created to enhance your understanding of the strategic and functional areas of management, organisations and entrepreneurship in a global business context. You will develop practical knowledge and skills in fundamental business topics that you can apply directly and immediately to any work environment. The core modules are:

Organisational Behaviour
Operations Management
Marketing Management
Business Finance
Accounting for Business
Business, Ethics and Responsibility
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Business Economics and Strategy
Leadership Development
Strategic Management

View core module summaries

Elective Modules

For a Specialist MBA, you choose two elective modules and complete a business project from the same subject stream:

MBA e-Business
Knowledge Management
Electronic Business

MBA Finance
International Finance
Business Performance, Planning & Control

MBA International Business (Any two modules from)
International Business
International Marketing Management
International Finance

MBA Marketing
Marketing Strategy
International Marketing Management

MBA Law
Intellectual Property, Strategy & Management
Proactive Business Law

MBA Leading People for Competitive Advantage
Strategic HRM in a Global Context
Creative Decisions for Effective Change

MBA Strategic Management (Any two modules from)
International Business
Topics in Advanced Strategy
Marketing Strategy

View elective module summaries

Mindful Global Manager

Mindful Global Manager (MGM) is the personalised development component of the Aston MBA through which we monitor and support your growth on the programme. It has been expertly designed to develop the self-awareness, critical thinking and intercultural skills necessary for aspiring senior managers to perform effectively. We provide you with the tools that will support your professional development for the duration of your career and make you employable, both now and in the long-term.

You will focus on three key areas:

Developing self-awareness
We help you to:

reflect upon the knowledge and competencies developed on your MBA programme
become more aware of your specific professional development needs
take control of your own personal development
maximise your performance throughout your entire career

Gaining a global perspective
We help you to:

sharpen your awareness of different working cultures
develop your intercultural readiness
understand how and when culture impacts on effectiveness in the workplace
enhance your global employability and mobility

Developing skills in five core areas:

communication and presentation skills
decision-making and problem solving
time and priority management
creative thinking
coaching and developing others

You will learn through a combination of instruction, peer-feedback and self-reflection. At the end of the module, you will be assessed on your ability to guide your professional development, reflect critically on your and others’ development, and recognise the main enablers of and barriers to personal and organisational success.

MGM is facilitated by Dr Uwe Napiersky, an Aston faculty member and highly-experienced business psychologist and specialising in leadership development programmes within a global context. Before arriving at Aston, Uwe worked as a consultant for Fortune 100 companies across the globe in all sectors and across all management levels. He brings those 20 years of unique insights to the MGM.

View further details of the MGM module

Business Project

As one of the most important pieces of work that you will complete during your Aston MBA, the project will place you as a consultant within an organisation for 8-12 weeks, with the aim of producing a consultancy report that successfully solves your client’s real-world business problems.

You will apply management theories and frameworks to challenging organisational issues, using your skills to define, analyse and resolve problems.

The role is unpaid and, although we will support you in sourcing your project, you will need to contact and obtain agreement from the organisation you choose to work with.

View examples of recent MBA business projects

Start date: October 2013
Duration of programme: 12 months
Study mode: Full-time study
Intake: 90
Fee: £24,700
Funding: Scholarships available
Application process: Information on how to apply & FAQ

Entry requirements:

For direct enrolment onto the Aston MBA programme, you will need one of the following

A good UK honours degree, or
An equivalent overseas degree recognised by Aston University, or
A degree-level professional qualification.

Plus

At least three years’ relevant post-graduation work experience by the time you start your programme
An official academic transcript of your grades (in English)
Two references – preferably one from an academic referee, the other from your current or previous employer (Two professional references may be accepted from applicants with substantial work experience).

English Language Requirements 2013/14
Applicants whose primary language is not English, or whose previous education was conducted in another language, must submit evidence of satisfactory completion of a standardised English test. The minimum acceptable test scores are: TOEFL 105 with a minimum of 22 in any section (Internet-based exam); or IELTS with a 7 overall band score, and no less than 6 in any section.

Students with lower English scores may still be accepted for the MBA on condition that they successfully complete a pre-sessional English course at Aston University. Please contact us for further details.

Notes
Admission outside of these guidelines is possible for exceptional students. If you have extensive work experience but no graduate qualifications, you may be enrolled as a Diploma student and attend all the same sessions as MBA students. If your first set of results is acceptable, you may transfer and continue as an MBA student at no extra cost.

We take a holistic approach in evaluating applications. If you would like to get a better idea before applying, you are welcome to contact one of our MBA advisers for an informal discussion.

Any Questions?
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