Postgraduate Course

Master of Business Administration: The Essex Executive MBA

How to apply

Overview

The details

Course: The Essex Executive MBA

Start date: October 2021

Study mode: Part-time

Duration: 3 years

Location: Colchester Campus

Based in: Essex Business School

The Essex MBA seeks to develop socially responsible entrepreneurs delivering sustainable business. Our students are talented, ambitious and full of energy. They possess an entrepreneurial spirit that we do our best to foster. Our MBAs aspire to achieve lasting positive change for themselves and those around them. We aim to inspire them to create the world they want to live in.

Our course is ideal for business professionals looking to challenge themselves to expand their knowledge and skills, and to advance their career.

Part-time study gives you the flexibility to complete your Essex MBA alongside employment or running your own business. You opt for a two or three-year pathway and take two or three one-week modules per term.

You will study a broad range of business functions, which includes strategic marketing, sustainable operations, accounting and finance.

Our Director’s Workshops are integral to The Essex MBA and run as one and two-day workshops at key stages of the programme. The sessions may include company visits, trips to business incubators and presentations from industry practitioners, as well as our specialist academics. The Director’s Workshops give you the opportunity to relate current business issues to content taught in your modules and develop your professional skills. Recent examples include sessions on personal branding, new business creation, business ethics, risk management, big data for small businesses, value proposition development and company visits to the likes of Adnams PLC, Cambridge Science Park and HSBC.

Your course begins with a week of activities to develop your networking, team work and adaptive thinking skills. It ends with a Capstone, where you choose to complete a dissertation, comprehensive business plan or consultancy project that can be tailored to your professional experience or goals.

We hope to foster your entrepreneurial spirit, so you can build sustainable, resilient business models that make sense to shareholders and the environment. You explore the impact of internationalisation on businesses, suppliers and customers and gain the skills to lead in increasingly demanding marketplaces.

We offer a range of learning styles to fit around your professional commitments. As well as the part-time MBA, we offer a year-long full-time MBA and an online MBA that gives you complete freedom to study when and where it suits you.

Scholarships and discounts

At Essex Business School, we are proud to support the best MBA candidates with a range of scholarships and fee discounts.

Professional accreditation

Accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA).

Accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

The Essex MBA is accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA) making Essex Business School among the top 2% of business schools in the world. AMBA describes its accreditation as the “gold standard” for management training around the world and is highly respected by managers and leaders globally. The AMBA affiliation can add huge value to your MBA qualification.

The Essex MBA is also accredited by CMI (the Chartered Management Institute). This means that, upon successful completion of the programme, you receive a Level 7 CMI Qualification in Strategic Management and Leadership in addition to your MBA. This would enable you to achieve full Chartered Manager (CMgr) status with CMI via their Fast Track to Chartered Status when you finish your studies.

Essex Business School is also in the process of applying for accreditation via Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Why we're great.

Our Director’s Workshops take you out of the traditional classroom to apply your learning to current business issues
Accredited by AMBA, making Essex Business School among the top 2% of business schools in the world
Our international cohort of MBA students hails from over 40 countries

THE Awards 2018 - Winner University of the Year

Our expert staff

Our world-class MBA tutors have both academic and extensive private sector experience and are at the cutting-edge of research in: business ethics and corporate social responsibility; organisation studies; leadership and strategy; finance and banking; risk management; and international management.

The course is led by our MBA Director, Professor of Management, Nicolas Forsans. An international business and corporate strategy specialist, Nicolas investigates the role of business in society and the impact of emerging business models built around digital technologies. Nicolas has 20+ years of experience teaching international business, responsible management and strategic management modules at all levels.

Nicolas has designed, developed and re-positioned various Master, MBA and dual degree programmes, embedding innovation in programme design and delivery, securing world class, academic and professional accreditations while collaborating with business and the third sector to create experiential learning opportunities and securing enviable positions for those programmes in leading league tables.

As well as support from academic staff, our MBA Programme Manager Sian Savage, will be in regular contact and can answer any non-academic questions you have. Throughout your course, you benefit from a personalised and supportive learning environment where help is always at hand.

Specialist facilities

The Essex MBA is taught at our Colchester Campus in the unique and inspiring Essex Business School building, the first zero-carbon business school in the UK.

You benefit from exceptional facilities, including:

an MBA Syndicate Room exclusively for MBA students, offering space for group work, meetings and presentation preparation
a virtual trading floor with Bloomberg Financial Market Labs giving you access to industry-standard financial data and analytics
a beautiful winter garden, which gives the building its own micro-climate

Our building is located at the heart of the Knowledge Gateway, the research and technology park on our Colchester Campus. The Knowledge Gateway also incorporates Parkside Office Village, an SME hotspot, and the Innovation Centre, which is home to the University’s Start-Up Hub. These provide significant opportunities for you to network, undertake consultancy projects and develop your own entrepreneurial ambitions with businesses at the cutting-edge of their fields.

Your future

Studying with us on the Essex MBA is an excellent investment in your career and your future. We connect you with the latest developments in business by bringing in practitioners from leading companies to talk about contemporary business issues. Throughout your course, you benefit from our professional links, such as:

we visit inspiring local firms to learn from their success
we connect with business incubators to see first-hand the issues of getting your own business off the ground
we run regular networking events with resident businesses on the University’s Knowledge Gateway
our modules feature business simulations overseen by local entrepreneurs who can share their experiences for the benefit of our students
the part-time MBA is designed to give you fresh inspiration to tackle the daily challenges you face in the workplace
we encourage students to use The Capstone to produce a business plan to launch their own new venture, with the expert support of the Start-Up Hub at the University’s Innovation Centre

Read our alumni profiles to find out how our MBA students have benefited from their qualification.

"I'm an economist, but my long-term goal is to become a manager within the banking industry or start my own business venture. Having an MBA will give me the knowledge and confidence to apply for senior management positions both globally and also within domestic markets. I chose The Essex MBA because of the ranking of the University of Essex and Essex Business School, and the scholarship incentives available for international students. I love studying here in this modern, beautiful building. Across campus there are great facilities, it’s an inspiring place to create something new."

Alexander Malygin, 2016

Entry requirements

UK entry requirements

A 2:2 degree. You are also expected to have at least three years of good quality, relevant, professional work experience, post-graduation, at the course start date. When assessing your experience we will look favourably upon evidence you have managed people, projects or budgets, have demonstrated career progression or have been involved in additional entrepreneurial or community focussed activities.

If you are a non-standard applicant (which is typically an applicant who has an undergraduate degree below a 2:2, or an applicant who does not have an undergraduate degree at all) we require at least five years of relevant managerial experience. You will also be required to write an essay (2000 words) outlining a range of business situations that you have experienced and identifying what you have learnt from them.

All MBA applicants must submit an up-to-date CV. For each professional role, your CV should include: company name, job title, dates of employment, details of your role and responsibilities and an outline of the skills required or learnt in the role.

You don’t need to have completed GMAT to apply for the Essex MBA but we particularly welcome applicants with a GMAT score of 600 and above. If you have completed GMAT, please submit your score as it may strengthen your application and your chances of securing a scholarship.

International & EU entry requirements

We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.

Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please select your country page where you'll find this information.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum component score of 6.0

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Additional Notes

The University uses academic selection criteria to determine an applicant’s ability to successfully complete a course at the University of Essex. Where appropriate, we may ask for specific information relating to previous modules studied or work experience.

Structure

Example structure

The Essex MBA is structured around eight core modules, the MBA Essentials, and three further modules, the MBA toolkit, that leverage Essex Business School’s distinct areas of expertise.

You will also have the opportunity to select an elective module, from a selection called the MBA options, that is aligned to your interests and aspirations.

These are followed by the Capstone, which is the culmination of the practical Director’s Workshops and business simulations that run throughout the year, and is your opportunity to complete a consultancy project, business plan or dissertation.

All of the modules listed below provide an example of what is on offer from the current academic year. Please see our Programme Specification for further details of the current course structure.

Teaching and learning disclaimer

Following the impact of the pandemic, we made changes to our teaching and assessment to ensure our current students could continue with their studies uninterrupted and safely. These changes included courses being taught through blended delivery, normally including some face-to-face teaching, online provision, or a combination of both across the year.

The teaching and assessment methods listed show what is currently planned for 2021 entry; changes may be necessary if, by the beginning of this course, we need to adapt the way we’re delivering them due to the external environment, and to allow you to continue to receive the best education possible safely and seamlessly.

See full list of modules

Strategy

Business strategy is the means by which an organisation achieves its long-term aims. This module will consider the components of strategy, their external and internal influences, what makes a successful strategy and the pitfalls to avoid. You are encouraged to reflect on the nature of business strategy, the approaches to strategy development, the implications of strategic choices, stakeholder interests and the wider context of strategy. Informed by our internationally recognised research, we also consider how strategy delivers a sustainable and ethical business.

View Strategy on our Module Directory

Leading with Impact

So you can emerge as an effective leader, we offer the practical skills that you can use in your workplace. This module provides a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the behavioural, values, culture and psychological frameworks. It’s taught and facilitated by experienced practitioners who have been deeply active in both the research and practical application of the methodology. You learn how to identify the factors which differentiate outstanding from average organisational performance and develop an appreciation of the critical levers which drive and facilitate change and value in a business.

View Leading with Impact on our Module Directory

Strategic Marketing

A sound understanding of marketing strategy is essential for all modern managers. This module provides the foundations of the marketing concept and market orientation for international operations and examines issues related to internal and external environments for strategy-making, across borders. We focus on strategic and functional aspects of international marketing activities of firms of varying sizes and industries and integrate insights of strategy from international marketing literature. You gain a critical awareness of the facets of international marketing both from the strategic and functional point of view.

View Strategic Marketing on our Module Directory

Social Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Impact (optional)

The module develops your critical understanding of social entrepreneurship, social innovation and social impact. You learn how these areas connect with entrepreneurial and management skills to address exclusion, collaboration, poverty, inequality and environmental concerns and examine their impact on business and the economy. You also explore how they promote better management capabilities in social enterprises, enhance corporate social responsibility in the private sector and enable sustainable policy making by the public sector.

View Social Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Impact (optional) on our Module Directory

The Management of Innovation and Organizational Change

A comprehensive introduction to the management of innovation and organisational change. You'll be taught the analytic frameworks, diagnostic tools and communication skills required for the management of innovation.

View The Management of Innovation and Organizational Change on our Module Directory

Accounting and Finance

All managers, whatever their discipline, must understand their sources of capital and how their money is used. This module enables students to understand how to finance their organisation, assess shareholder value and control their organisation based on key financial statements. We will consider the key issues of current debate and while not creating fully fledged financiers or accountants the module will enable managers to ask the right questions and understand the answers.

View Accounting and Finance on our Module Directory

Markets, Governance and Ethics

Managerial Economics is the application of economic theory to business management. It lies on the borderline between economics and business management. In this module, you develop a critical understanding of how economic concepts can be used to solve business problems. We examine decision making and forward planning as an efficient means of attaining a desired end, such as profit maximisation. The focus of the module is theoretical and enables you to examine the different economic concepts which can be used to analyse business situations.

View Markets, Governance and Ethics on our Module Directory

Data and Analytics

Data and information are critical to the success of organisations. Organisations that manage information effectively can improve efficiency, be more responsive to market opportunities, achieve competitive advantage and operate more sustainably. As organisations seek to develop innovations and grow in a sustainable way, they are looking for better information to guide decisions. This module will explore the role of information and analytics in supporting the development of innovative, sustainable growth strategies and the practical techniques managers can use to design effective information flows.

View Data and Analytics on our Module Directory

Entrepreneurship

This module focuses on the formation of new businesses, innovative growth and impact of these on economic and social development in different environments. You acquire a critical understanding of economic, sociological, psychological and managerial theories of enterprise creation and development and learn how they apply in practice. We provide the critical, theoretical underpinning for the study and investigation of enterprise development and the critical components of entrepreneurship.

View Entrepreneurship on our Module Directory

People and Organisations

This module covers many of the key human aspects of management that are, so often, taken for granted. It provides you with an understanding of core issues that shape the management of organisational performance. We invite you to analyse workforce issues that will shape your own management practice.

View People and Organisations on our Module Directory

Sustainable Operations

This module will equip you with the skills to manage operations in a sustainable way that helps deliver the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit. We introduce models that help you manage a range of operations, from high volume batch processing to low volume bespoke businesses. We consider both production and service organisations and address the increasing blurring of the distinction between the two.

View Sustainable Operations on our Module Directory

Business Planning

This module challenges you to create a business plan and implement it within a simulated environment. You work in a group to prepare a business plan and pitch for funding. The module brings together strategy, marketing, accounting and entrepreneurship by giving you the chance to assume the role of a director within a start-up. Together, you put theory into practice by devising plans and operating models to bring your business idea to life.

View Business Planning on our Module Directory

MBA Project

This module allows you to demonstrate your understanding of a management problem, the relevance of empirical research and how these might be applied to the problem, and the implications of the findings of your research. You develop, integrate and apply the concepts, skills and techniques acquired during the MBA programme in addressing a management problem or issue. You are assigned a project supervisor with extensive research experience in your chosen subject area. You are required to complete either a dissertation or comprehensive business plan.

View MBA Project on our Module Directory

Teaching

Each module is delivered in a one-week period. We use the flipped classroom model to deliver your teaching. You’ll start each module by exploring a set of learning resources on our online learning platform, known as Moodle. You will be able to work at your own pace to gain the basic knowledge that underpins the module. Next you’ll attend a series of workshops where you will apply your learning, explore case studies, leverage your skills and prior experience and work with your peers. Finally, you take part in a group meeting with our MBA faculty, so you get all the support you need for the assessment of the module and submission of your assignment.

Assessment

Assessment for each taught module usually consists of coursework as there are no exams for this programme. Coursework takes the form of individual written essays, group projects and presentations. The Business Planning module is provided to support you with your final MBA Project.

Dissertation

You are required to complete one of the following:

dissertation - using robust research methods and tools to explore specific business issues of your choice
comprehensive business plan - a structured business planning document for a new or growing business
consultancy project - you will be linked with a local business and produce a case study of an issue specific to the business

Fees and funding

Home/UK fee

£7,000

Scholarships

At Essex Business School we are proud to make a huge £500,000 worth of fee discounts available for the Essex MBA.

The Essex MBA Dean’s Award

Essex Business School is offering tuition fee discounts to students funding their own MBA studies. The School is able to offer fee discounts between 10% - 100% of tuition fee value.

These are available to students funding their own part-time or full-time MBA studies. To earn an award you’ll have to impress during your MBA interview, the most important part of the application process..

Find out more about eligibility and criteria for The Essex MBA Dean's Award.

International fee

£7,000

Scholarships

At Essex Business School we are proud to make a huge £500,000 worth of fee discounts available for the Essex MBA.

The Essex MBA Dean’s Award

Essex Business School is offering tuition fee discounts to students funding their own MBA studies. The School is able to offer fee discounts between 10% - 100% of tuition fee value.

Find out more about eligibility and criteria for The Essex MBA Dean's Award.

EU students commencing their course in the 2021-22 academic year will be liable for the International fee.

Fees will increase for each academic year of study.

What's next

We hold Open Days for all our applicants throughout the year. Our Colchester Campus events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex, and give you the chance to:

tour our campus and accommodation
find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
meet our students and staff

If the dates of our organised events aren’t suitable for you, feel free to get in touch by emailing tours@essex.ac.uk and we’ll arrange an individual campus tour for you.

You can apply for this postgraduate course online. Before you apply, please check our information about necessary documents that we’ll ask you to provide as part of your application.

We aim to respond to applications within two weeks. If we are able to offer you a place, you will be contacted via email.

For information on our deadline to apply for this course, please see our ‘how to apply’ information.

MBA applicants will be asked to take part in either a face-to-face, online or telephone interview.

Additional Documents

Official transcript(s), in English or a certified translation of your academic results to date, showing marks or grades, must be provided at the time you make your application. (Transcripts are not required from current or previous University of Essex students, or from students who have previously completed a degree at Colchester Institute awarded by the University of Essex).

A personal statement with a 500 word limit to support your application saying why you wish to undertake the course and what you hope to achieve from it. If you require a Tier 4 visa to study with us, your personal statement should refer specifically to your reasons for wishing to study in the UK, and why you have chosen your area of study.

We will also require two references during the application process, one of which must come from a current employer, or appropriate other person, confirming your employment status. Don’t worry if you cannot provide references when you make your application, as if we make you an offer you will be able to provide these at a later stage.

Applicants with an undergraduate degree 2.2 or above

Students applying to the MBA with a 2.2 degree or above, must evidence at least three years of managerial experience, post –graduation, documented by your CV.

Applicants without a first degree, or a first degree below 2.2

Evidence at least evidence at least five years of relevant managerial experience, a significant portion of which should be middle-management level, documented by your CV.

Applicants applying to the MBA without a first degree, or a first degree below 2.2, need to provide an essay of 2,000 words outlining a range of business situations which the applicant has experienced and identifying what s/he has learned from them. When writing the essay, please consider that the admission team will typically be looking at the ways in which the applicant constructs an argument, is able to reflect on his/her experiences, and is able to indicate how these reflections have influenced, his/her subsequent practice.

Home to 15,000 students from more than 130 countries, our Colchester Campus is the largest of our three sites, making us one of the most internationally diverse campuses on the planet - we like to think of ourselves as the world in one place.

The Campus is set within 200 acres of beautiful parkland, located two miles from the historic town centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded town. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.

How to get to Colchester Campus

Find out more

If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360 degree virtual tour allows you to explore the Colchester Campus from the comfort of your home. Check out our accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.

Our staff travel the world to speak to people about the courses on offer at Essex. Take a look at our list of exhibition dates to see if we’ll be near you in the future.

At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.

Find out more

The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications.

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