Module Directory

This MBA Project is a significant, self-directed piece of work involving a 'hands on' live project that enables you to consolidate and deepen your MBA learning while pursuing avenues of personal or professional relevance.

The MBA Project is led by a suitable management issue, problem or business opportunity which is critically discussed or evaluated with reference to existing research and primary, as well as secondary data. An understanding of the academic debate and critical application of existing research (and the student's own research) to a case, are key to the MBA Project.

The aim of this module is:

• To consolidate your MBA learning and demonstrate an ability to design, plan, lead and manage a significant, self directed piece of work of relevance to an organisational setting.

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Show an appreciation of current business and global issues.


2. Design, lead and manage a project aimed at addressing a clearly identified business and/or management issue.


3. Scope the project and design a proposal.


4. Understand methodologies to help structured thinking, and the techniques for effective project management.


5. Make a reasoned and critical selection of information sources, analytical tools and techniques appropriate to the specific issue being investigated.


6. Identify and understand ethical issues in management research.


7. Synthesise and apply knowledge from multiple course modules to a business problem.


8. Analyse, evaluate, and present a coherent extended argument.


9. Evaluate and recommend appropriate courses of action.


10. Manage relationships with a client – including managing risk, productive relationships, expectations, handling problems, barriers to implementation, evaluation. Understand the protocols, expectations and outcomes of engaging with organisations as clients.

Skills for Your Professional Life (Transferable Skills)

1. The research and distillation of current information.


2. The ability to carry out primary research based on a justifiable method to find out new information.


3. The ability to write clearly and concisely to convey ideas to others.

The outcome of the MBA Project is a written report of no more than 16,500 words in length, based upon a comprehensive understanding of the relevant literature and elements of primary as well as secondary data research that you have conducted yourself. You are to include an annex of no more than 2,500 words reflecting on how the Director’s workshops and your research for the MBA Project will affect your future approach to business and management.

This module will be delivered via:

• Five 1-day workshops in the spring and summer terms.
• One-to-one supervisory meetings during the summer term. 

Each workshop will focus on a particular aspect of the project and help students decide on, focus and plan their research topics.

Spring term

• Negotiating and scoping your project (2 days).
• Generating Insights through research methods (2 days).

Summer term

• Writing for impact and evidencing value (1 day)

The one-to-one supervisory meetings are tailored to each student for their specific project. 

Students will be allocated a supervisor and each student should expect about 10 hours with their supervisor.