Master of Business Administration MBA, Fernstudium

This is for you if... you want to be a global business leader. The Leicester Global MBA provides the knowledge, skills and internationally recognised qualification to advance your career in management.

Launched in 1989, the AMBA-accredited Leicester Master of Business Administration (MBA) is an inspiration and pioneering global executive education programme. Our flexible, part-time distance learning course allows you to gain an MBA degree in two and a half years without having to take a break from your career. Subject to final approval is our new accelerated route where you can gain your degree in just two years, by taking two modules at the same time.

The Leicester MBA has a rich heritage of innovation and digital technology implementation. It is one of the oldest AMBA-accredited distance learning MBA programmes in the world, with a strong international reputation. With over 12,000 graduates we have a truly global MBA alumni network of professionals and business leaders working in a wide range of sectors.

With the Leicester Global MBA, you can study fully online and can supplement your studies with residential learning. Your online study will include viewing recorded lectures, taking part in live online seminars and workshops, interacting with tutors and fellow students in online discussion boards and learning from our online study guides. You also have the option to attend our residential Leicester Masterclass that takes place at the School of Business' new £16m campus.

All teaching is delivered by School of Business staff who combine cutting-edge teaching techniques with innovative and forward-thinking research to help you develop your expertise. Your studies will be in small groups (up to 20 students) with extensive opportunities for teamwork and networking (in teams of 3-5) between students and tutors.

Each cohort comprises students from both the UK and overseas offering you unparalleled opportunities for cross-cultural learning.

The Leicester MBA gives you an opportunity to specialise in:

• Business Analytics  *subject to final approval
• Finance
• Human Resource Management
• Marketing

The course is competitively priced with a number of payment options and offers you a great return on investment.

In addition to being AMBA-accredited, the Leicester MBA is also accredited by, and enables you to gain professional qualifications from:

• Chartered Management Institute (CMI) : In addition to gaining the MBA degree, upon completion of the programme (and subject to successful moderation) you will be awarded a Level 7 Certificate or Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice plus being awarded Foundation Chartered Manager status.
• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) : exemptions from CIMA examinations on eight of our modules (subject to satisfactory completion).
• Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) : If you select to follow our MBA Marketing specialist route, you will have the opportunity to gain module exemptions on professional qualifications with CIM.

Why Leicester?

• The Leicester Global MBA is AMBA-accredited and has held this prestigious accreditation since 1998. AMBA is the quality seal of approval for MBA programmes.
• The Leicester Global MBA has been offered as a distance learning programme for over 30 years and has the expertise, reputation and credibility that come with this experience.
• Our Leicester MBA students are award-winning holding both the AMBA Best MBA Student of the Year 2021 and CMI Student of the Year 2021.
• When graduating with your Leicester MBA your certificate won't state how you studied, so you'll get the same certificate as a campus-based student.

Teaching and learning

You will be taught by academics who have international research and teaching expertise, as well as practical experience in their respective fields. You will also have an academic personal tutor who will provide support and guidance to enable you to make the most of your studies.

Our programme gives you the flexibility to fit your studies around your professional and personal commitments while ensuring that you meet the learning and progression requirements.

The programme consists of five modules, each taking 6 months and running from 1 April to 21 September and 1 October to 21 March, with 9/10-day breaks between modules. When studying a module, each week you will either view a two-hour recorded lecture or participate in a one/two-hour live online seminar. These will be further supported by our online study guide, additional learning materials, and online forum discussions with your tutors and peers. Online teaching takes place via our Leicester learning environment, which also houses your learning materials. Live seminars are undertaken in small groups and scheduled so that they are convenient for different time zones. As this is a global MBA some of your seminars may be scheduled within what constitutes your normal working hours.

During each module, you will have the opportunity to participate in a residential workshop, held in February and August. Because we know you are doing a distance learning degree for flexibility, the February workshops are held online and the August workshops are in person in both Leicester and the UAE.

Each August you will also have an opportunity to attend a Leicester Masterclass, held at the University of Leicester School of Business campus.

Of the five programme modules, the first three are your core modules, assessed by a mid-term online open-book examination (lasting 72 hours) and an individual assignment, submitted at the end of the module. The fourth module is an option module, with the choice of three options to correspond with the MBA specialisms offered: human resource management; finance; and, marketing. This module is assessed by a group assignment and an individual assignment. in the final module, you will provide your MBA Project, which will help you improve your career prospects by allowing you to conduct a live consultancy-style study in your own organisation, undertake market research for your next start-up, or explore in depth any business or management topic of interest.

Distance Learning

Online learning is an important feature of this course, therefore it is essential that you have reliable, regular access to the internet (preferably with a broadband connection) in order to participate.

As a distance learning student, you will have access to the University Library's electronic service, the Leicester Digital Library, which includes a large number of e-journals and e-books.

If you live close to Leicester you can, of course, visit the Library in person. For UK-based students who wish to use other libraries, we can issue you with a card which allows you to do so. This is a national scheme which allows distance learning students to borrow material from up to three other participating libraries.

Powered by world-class research, the University of Leicester delivers research-inspired education across the Sciences, Humanities, Law, Medicine, the Arts and Business, with staff and students collaborating to create, share and apply knowledge to change the world. It is a world-leading, diverse and inclusive university based in the UK’s most multicultural city.

Whether you choose to study full-time on campus, or part-time via distance learning, through your studies and independent research you will acquire the advanced skills and knowledge to pursue your passion and enhance your career options.

The University of Leicester is a top 30 UK university (Complete University Guide 2023) and is proud to be one of the world’s leading research-intensive universities. Our research changes the way we think about the past, present and future. As a discovery-led University, we are elite in the excellence of our research, as well as being focused on innovation. Research underpins all of our taught postgraduate courses so you can be sure that the knowledge you’re learning, and skills you’re developing, are at the forefront of available knowledge.

Why Leicester

The University of Leicester is a leading research and teaching university with more than 30 years of experience offering high-quality distance learning courses. Over 25,000 Citizens of Change have graduated from our distance learning courses. We invite you to be the next one.

Unlike some distance learning providers, our distance learning courses are taught by the same academic staff who teach our undergraduates and postgraduates on campus. You are assured of a real university education and a real university qualification.

Each of our distance learning courses is tailored to the subject, level and requirements of our students. Some courses even include residential visits or workshops.

Supporting our students

As a Leicester distance learning student, you have full access to the same student support services as our on-campus students. This includes the Students’ Union which has a dedicated Distance Learning Officer who makes sure that your views and needs are considered in Union affairs. The Distance Learning Officer is elected each year – maybe you could be the next one?

Library

You will have access to the Library’s comprehensive online catalogue containing thousands of electronic journals and over 350,000 books. This includes the Leicester Research Archive, a digital collection of research papers and theses from members of the University.

As a Leicester student, you will be able to access the online catalogue and download these resources free of charge - wherever you are in the world. You are, of course, welcome to come onto campus and use our Library facilities at any time.

Career Development Service

For most distance-learning students, career advancement is a prime motivating factor. Our Career Development Service will offer you guidance and support throughout your studies – and beyond. The Career Development Service offers:

• Online tools and individually tailored advice to help you extend and develop your academic skills
• Employability programmes and awards including the online version of our Leicester Award
• A wide selection of one-to-one careers consultations, workshops and webinars covering interview and assessment centre skills, psychometric testing and CVs, covering letters and application forms
• Links with employers to discover the career paths that are open to you

Graduation – and beyond

As a distance learning student, you are welcome to campus at any time. We would love to meet you in person, though obviously, this is dependent on where you live. It is particularly gratifying when distance learning students are able to visit campus to take part in our graduation ceremonies, celebrating their academic achievement in the best way possible.

As part of our global alumni family, you can maintain links with the University through our Alumni Association, which has chapters around the world.