Master of Business Management MBM

This course is now closed for October 2022 entry. Applications are open for January 2023 or you may wish to wait until applications open for October 2023 (usually Autumn 2022). Alternatively you may wish to consider one of our courses at our Colchester Campus as these will remain open for October 2022 applications for longer.

Do you want a fast-paced career in management? Are you looking for a business Masters to develop your operational management skills and strategic knowledge?

During periods of economic uncertainty, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, businesses require managers who are agile, collaborative and can deliver better outcomes in times of crisis. This Master of Business Management degree is a broad business and applied management Masters, which is designed to reflect the current business landscape and give you the edge in applying for well-paid managerial positions. It is open to those without a degree in business, as well as those already in work, but without the necessary experience to undertake an MBA.

Our Master of Business Management (MBM) provides knowledge of the main functional areas within organisations, their structure and processes and the changing environments they operate in. We develop your quantitative skills in analysing financial data, so you can make informed decisions to solve complex business challenges.

You learn how to formulate strategies to meet performance objectives, as well as how to manage and allocate resources to sustain competitive advantage. You explore how to run business operations effectively in cross-cultural settings and explore the process of creating your own entrepreneurial venture.

Study areas may include:

• strategic management and leadership
• financial decision making for managers, including financial and management accounting
• supply chain and operations management
• international marketing
• human resources management, organisational learning and collaboration
• business research and consultancy
• managerial economics
• entrepreneurship

We help you to reach your leadership potential by developing your transferable skills in:

• teamwork
• negotiation
• networking
• problem-solving
• project management
• critical thinking
• communication, including engaging with different stakeholders

During your course, you apply your business knowledge and strategic management skills to undertake a dissertation in an area of your choice.

This course is delivered by Essex Business School at our Southend Campus. Our School is home to an international community of students and staff and, across our two campuses, our students join us from more than 40 different nationalities.

This course is available to study starting in January or October, and can be studied on a full or part-time basis. You may be eligible for scholarships and discounts, including those for students joining us from overseas.

Our expert staff

Our expert staff have world-class research reputations. They’re at the forefront of real-world data, management and entrepreneurial issues, ensuring you experience the very latest teaching and thinking to prepare you for the modern business world.

Our staff specialise in areas including:

• internationalisation
• innovation
• new product development
• human resource management
• management science and data analytics
• leadership and strategy
• organisation studies
• ethics
• social responsibility
• sustainability
• data analytics

Our academic staff are active members of the School’s Strategy, Operations and Entrepreneurship Group, which carries out cutting-edge research into issues affecting the sustainable growth of business, society and the economy.

Many are also part of the national Business and Local Government Data Research Centre, which is based at our Colchester Campus and carries out research into issues impacting entrepreneurship and innovation, such as local economic growth and access to broadband. Not only does the centre have expert data analytics facilities, you’re taught by academics who are actively involved in researching big data and collaborating with businesses to solve real-world issues.

When you join our school, you will benefit from world-leading research being conducted by our senior academic staff, like Professor of Technology Strategy Suma Athreye. Her teaching is informed by her work around the evolution of technology markets, inclusive innovation and international research and development management. She has consulted to the World Intellectual Property Organisation and is on the Editorial Board of the Innovation and Development and Multinational Business Review. She also advises the Big Innovation Centre.

Academic staff at our Southend campus also contribute to research for the Centre for Research on Entrepreneurship Innovation Management and Internationalisation (REIMI) which specialises in interrogating the research and practice of entrepreneurship, international management and innovation.

Specialist facilities

Our Masters of Business Management (MBM) is taught at our Southend Campus, just 40 minutes from the City of London and in the heart of the Thames Gateway - one of the Government’s priority areas for economic growth, offering fantastic internship and networking opportunities.

Essex has the highest number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK – meaning you are ideally located when it comes to finding entrepreneurial organisations that could potentially be used as case studies in your assessments, particularly your final business research project.

Southend-on-Sea combines the charms of a traditional seaside resort with the attractions of a vibrant, modern town and our campus sits right at the centre. With seven miles of coastline, a thriving arts and cultural scene and a wide variety of restaurants and nightlife all on your doorstep, it’s the perfect place to live and study. Our town centre location has excellent transport links and London Southend Airport is just five minutes away by train, offering flights to over 50 destinations across Europe.

When you choose our Southend Campus for your studies, you’ll have access to a superb learning environment with state-of-the-art facilities, including:

• 24-hour Learning Hub with computer suites and study pods
• extensive public and academic library
• student services desk
• modern lecture theatres and seminar rooms
• employment support, events and initiatives
• study skills advice
• Faith Centre
• our cosy SU Lounge, with pool tables and large-screen TV for socialising and relaxation

A short walk from campus is The Hive Enterprise Centre - a dedicated business hub that hosts networking events and provides finance and marketing support to start-ups and growing businesses.

Your future

Our Master of Business Management (MBM) equips you with the essential analytic and problem solving skills required to launch a successful career as a manager or consultant in the private or public sectors. Inspired by your studies, you may also decide to follow in the footsteps of our successful student entrepreneurs and launch your own business. Recent graduate startups include international business incubator 0100Ventures and entrepreneurship website SlovakSTARTUP.

We work with the University’s Careers Services to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

Read our graduate profiles to find out the types of organisations our Masters students go on to work for.

UK entry requirements

A 2:2 degree or international equivalent, in any discipline.

English language requirements

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.

Course structure

We offer a flexible course structure with a mixture of core/compulsory modules, and optional modules chosen from lists. Please be aware that we are planning changes to our first year to make it more relevant to your chosen course.

Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The following modules are based on the current course structure and may change in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, or in response to COVID-19, we’ll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

Teaching

We develop your practical management skills and functional knowledge through:

• lectures, seminars, lab sessions, group work and workshops
• an optional research seminar series from our Strategy, Operations and Entrepreneurship group where you can hear from world-respected academics

Assessment

• Coursework and exams.

Dissertation

• You undertake a dissertation in an area of your choice.
• If you start this course in October, you will start work on your dissertation during the summer term (term three) after you have completed your autumn and spring term modules.
• If you start this course in January, you will start work on your dissertation during the summer term (term two) and you will receive feedback on your first draft. You will continue to work on your dissertation during the autumn term (term three) and will have the opportunity to incorporate learnings from your autumn modules before you submit the final version at the end of the year.