Master of Business Administration MBA

Course Content

• Course Details

  Which MBA course is best?

  It’s important to do your research when choosing which MBA course to study. The right course for you will depend on your personal interests, experience and ambitions. Your options include General MBA courses, which teach a broad range of business skills and are ideal for those with less managerial experience. Alternatively, if you are progressing to finance-related positions at management and board level, MBA Finance could be a more suitable option for you

  What does an MBA qualification get you?

  If you choose to pursue MBA study with a university, you can benefit in a number of different ways. The experience and knowledge gained on MBA courses can lead to more career options being available to you, promotion from your current position and an increased salary. They also come with the advantage of global recognition, making them valuable to individuals working abroad.

  Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme

  The Master of Business Administration MBA is part of the Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme (ELCS). The ELCS is an opportunity for members of the Armed Forces to further or expand on their education. The scheme offers support financially in a maximum of three separate financial years for higher level learning of a nationally recognised qualification at a Level three or above.

  Work Placement Year

  This MBA course also has the option of a 6–12-month work placement. A Master of Business Administration MBA work placement will give you the opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills in a real-world environment, while completing your Major Project (placement). This will give you an advantage over the competition for jobs and scholarships after you graduate and could be a good starting point for setting up your own business.

  Securing a placement

  Your placement will need to be appropriate to your level of study and you should be paid for this work. It is important to note that we will support you in securing a suitable placement opportunity, however, it must be noted that placements are highly competitive and there’s no guarantee of a placement offer being made.

  The finding and securing of a work placement is the responsibility of the student and while the University cannot offer you a guaranteed placement, our dedicated Student Futures team are on hand to offer help and support to maximise the chances of you finding and securing a work placement, see the FAQs section for further information. If you are unable or unwilling to progress with a work placement, you will have the option to transfer onto our Major Project (standard) module to gain the required credits to complete your programme of study.

  Modules

  Trimester 1

  Academic and Digital Skills for Professionals (20 Credits; Compulsory)

  You will be equipped with skills and confidence to successfully navigate the demands of both master’s level study and future careers in the digital era. Through reflection, you will be analysing and critiquing previous experiences, situating these in the context of relevant academic literature and real-life case studies.

  People Development and Leadership (20 Credits; Compulsory)

  You will be able to critically evaluate and develop strategic people development and leadership skills. Application of these skills will enable you to understand individual/collective behavioural dynamics and its influence on organisational goals. You will also have the opportunity to develop self-reflection through reflective practice and models of professional development.

  Strategy and Decision Making (20 Credits; Compulsory)

  You will be equipped with applied knowledge of strategic management and economic principles that underpin decision making in organisations. You will be analysing how the dynamic business environment influences organisational strategy formulation, and how sustained competitive advantage and growth are achieved through astute decision making.

  Career Futures: Employability Skills (0 Credits; Compulsory) – For MBA placement pathway students

  You will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to be able to compete for current (placements and internships) and future job opportunities.

  Trimester 2

  Practical Data Analysis for Business (20 Credits; Compulsory)

  You will learn how to effectively utilise secondary data to inform organisational proposals and decisions. You will be equipped with the skills required to acquire, manage, analyse and apply qualitative and quantitative secondary data sets in a business management context.

  Marketing Innovation (20 Credits; Compulsory)

  You will be provided with a comprehensive understanding of entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial principles, focusing on their application in various business scenarios and emphasising the importance of creativity as a catalyst for innovation and transformation in any business environment.

  Financial Management for Organisational Performance (20 Credits; Compulsory)

  This module explores the role of Accounting and Finance in organisations, enabling you to understand and analyse financial information for strategic decision making. It examines inter-relationships between business functions, processes, and their impact on organisational performance.

  Trimester 3

  Sustainable and Transformative Operations Management (20 Credits; Compulsory)

  You will be introduced to the concepts and strategies associated with sustainably managing the business operations that are associated with transforming goods and services from the point of origin to the final customer.

  One of the following Major Project modules:

  – Major Project – Standard (40 Credits; Compulsory) – For MBA standard pathway students only

  You will be able to devise an original research project associated with topics and themes from the MBA programme. The module provides opportunities for you to identify, select and analyse secondary data in novel and innovative ways for applied research in business and management contexts.

  – Major Project – Placement (40 Credits; Compulsory) – For MBA placement pathway students only

  You will learn how to identify, select and research a work-based business or management topic. You will be introduced to key concepts in work-based research and be equipped with the skills required to engage in action research in applied business and management contexts.

  Module information for the MBA placement pathway the can be found in this Award Map. While module information for the MBA standard pathway can be found on this Award Map.

  * Subject to securing a work placement offer and meeting the programme’s work placement requirements.
  ** Only applicable to students studying MBA full-time on campus, directly through The University of Northampton. Also, subject to a satisfactory CMI inspection.

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• FAQs

  Do I need a background in Business to be able to join the programme?

  Usually, no. However, having business experience may help your application, and you could potentially develop knowledge and understanding of the taught content quickly.

  Will I be required to attend the teaching sessions in person?

  Most modules will have an in-classroom (i.e. in-person) three-hour weekly session across thirteen weeks. However, in a few modules, you will also have the opportunity to attend some of the teaching/support sessions online.

  How will I be assessed for this Master of Business Administration MBA?

  The assessment strategies in this programme allow you to acquire up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills to help you stand out professionally. You may complete some assessments individually, while others may require you to complete a specific task as part of a group. The assessment types in this programme vary between Video Presentation, In-classroom Presentation, Personal Reflection, Case Analysis Report, Business Plan, Portfolio, Time-constrained Report (to be completed in 72 hours), among others.

  Will I be able to transfer between programmes/pathways after I complete my face-to-face enrolment?

  There is a short window of opportunity, at the start of your programme, to transfer between programmes/pathways. We deal with transfer requests on a case-by-case basis; some requests are easier to accommodate than others. You must discuss your transfer requests with the programme team very early in the programme (preferably during the induction week). For any transfer-related enquiries, please contact MBAsupport@northampton.ac.uk.

  Will I have access to professional resources during my MBA studies?

  In addition to academic resources (e.g. books and journal articles), we also provide you with a wide range of professional resources (e.g. professional courses) such as LinkedIn Learning, CMI, ILX, and Bloomberg for Education, just to mention a few.

  What support will I be provided with to find and secure a work placement?

  If you enrol on the Placement pathway, you will study a module called HRMM072 Career Futures: Employability Skills. This module provides the foundation of the skills you need to enter the UK labour market and apply for suitable roles. The intranet site for this module has a wealth of information, including links to various websites where suitable roles are advertised, and roles are advertised directly on the site too. There is a placement-specific FAQs document on the site too.

  However, you cannot rely on this module alone for support: you must seek advice and support from the Student Futures team, in particular the Career Development Consultants (CDCs) and the interactive information and activities within the Student Futures Portal. We will not be able to provide you with a placement role, but we can direct you to the places where you can find support, and offer you the opportunities to learn the skills you need to enter the UK labour market.

  Depending on when you start, there is a Careers Fair that includes Placement Providers, where you can come to campus and speak with potential employers. The event is an excellent opportunity to practice your networking skills and make a good first impression with real employers.

  Additionally, part of your programme includes guest speakers in the Weekly Support Sessions, and these can be great opportunities to ask questions and get tips on applying for placement roles successfully.

  Who to contact for more information?

  For further information regarding the programme, please contact the MBA team on MBAsupport@northampton.ac.uk.

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