MBA (Professional Top up)

Why choose this course?

  • Top up your professional qualification (ACCA, ABP/ABE, CMI Level 7, CIMA, Edexcel Level 7) to a full MBA.
  • All over the world, the MBA is the recognised management and leadership qualification. It's formal recognition that you have the strategic knowledge, insight and understanding to become a successful manager - and an inspiring leader.
  • The new University of Derby MBA reflects the very latest management thinking and takes into account feedback from our industry partners on the specific skills and knowledge they need to see.
  • Your MBA course is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), helping you towards Chartered Manager status*.
  • Study online or on-campus.

* Chartered Manager requires a formal application process to CMI that includes an assessment questionnaire, submission of an independent busness impact study and an assessment interview.

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Fact file

Start date: September and January

Course length: part time: one year

Campus: Kedleston Road site, Derby Campus

This course is available to international students

About this course

If you're looking for a successful career in management, want to develop your strategic knowledge and want formal recognition, the Derby MBA (CMI accredited) is for you. And this professional top up route enables you to gain this prestigious qualification within a year.

Working with students from other cultures and backgrounds, you will study at an advanced and in-depth level how
organisations work, their management, and the changing external environments in which these organisations operate.
You will develop a thorough understanding of the challenges of management and their implementation across core business areas.

The emphasis is on the integration of theory and practice, with core modules covering managing people, strategies, finance, marketing and operations.

Whether you study online or on-campus, you will have the opportunity to participate in a residential workshop which will help you get to know your fellow students and enable you to develop closer working relationships with the group for the period of study on your course.

Exemptions

Holders of Professional Accounting Qualifications and level 7
Management qualifications will normally be granted advanced standing onto the
Masters stage as follows:

 ACCA – awarded 60 credits and must complete Contemporary
Challenges in Leadership, Sustainable Business Operations, Markets, Customers
and Marketing and the Business Impact/Independent Study.

CIMA – awarded 80 credits and must complete Contemporary
Challenges in Leadership, Markets, Customers and Marketing and the Business
Impact/Independent Study.

EDEXCEL and CMI level 7 can be awarded up to 120 credits and
may be asked to complete a short piece of work prior to admission when they
must  the Business Impact/Independent Study.

Entry requirements

You will need:

  • An honours degree (at least 2.2), or equivalent
  • And/or evidence of work experience which will come from a relevant management or supervisory role. This should be evidenced on your application form.
  • If English is not your first language, you will also need IELTS 6.5

You also need to have one of the following professional qualifications:

  • ACCA
  • ABP/ABE
  • CIMA
  • CMI (Level 7)
  • Edexcel (Level 7).

Fees and finance

Please contact us for details of the fees for this course.

How you will learn

How you'll learn

We don't just lecture and expect you to sit and listen. We encourage you to contribute your experience and opinions in classes, and use a range of teaching methods to bring the topics to life and help you apply the theory to real business situations.

  • You will learn through taught lectures, case studies, role play, debating, student presentations - both formative and summative, enquiry based learning, and problem solving activities.
  • You will be provided with reading and research activities. You will also use UDo as a learning resource - the University of Derby's own online teaching portal.
  • You will be encouraged to apply your learning to your workplace throughout the programme so you make an immediate business impact.
  • We teach part time and full time students separately in the early stages of study. This is to apply different teaching approaches that are needed and to make learning more effective as you enter into postgraduate education.
  • You'll benefit from guest speakers from businesses and professional bodies, so you're enhancing the breadth and depth of your knowledge, and applying it to different situations.
  • You will go on visits to organisations which will be part of the learning methods you will encounter.
  • You will share knowledge and experience, so you'll learn from other students too, and develop an ongoing personal learning experience through self-assessment and peer review.

How you're assessed

The focus is on developing your skills, rather than 'testing' what you can remember, so each assessment method helps you to develop your practical skills and the majority is by coursework.

Assessment methods include including computer aided tests, research projects, work based reports, case study analysis and reflective management reports.

Careers and employability

The MBA itself is a well-respected award that proves you have met a high international standard in leadership and management. Our students and graduates find that the MBA's kudos and the content of our course here at Derby, bring them a whole host of benefits.

For example, Neelesh Sawoky studied online for his MBA from his home in Mauritius. He was already ACCA qualified and therefore able to take advantage of this professional top-up route. Neelesh heads up the Internal Audit Department of Bank One, and says, "I now have a much better understanding of how businesses are managed; how to deal with their operations, marketing and human resources."

Hear from other MBA graduates and students

Furthermore, because our MBA is one of the few in the UK that has been accredited by the CMI, you can apply for a Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Leadership and Management at the end of the course, on top of your MBA. It's an extra string to your bow, and will help you towards achieving Chartered Manager status, the highest status possible in the managerial profession.

Find out more about CMI Chartered Manager

Where will I study?

Kedleston Road site, Derby Campus

Contact details

General enquiries about admissions and applications, UK and overseas

T: +44 (0)1332 591167
F: +44 (0)1332 597724
E: askadmissions@derby.ac.uk

Take a look at the programme specification for this course