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MBA Distance Learning

MBA

Duration
Start date
Location

Suitable for applications.

Overview

Our Master's in Business Administration (MBA) programme will provide you with the strategic, financial and people skills you’ll need to progress and perform effectively at senior levels.

The programme combines management theory with real business application. From day one you’ll be able to apply new knowledge and skills in your workplace. You will develop a broad foundation of knowledge in core modules, and focus your studies around a particular sector or discipline in elective modules.

The flexibility of the Distance Learning MBA allows you to study from anywhere in the world, with our new Virtual Learning Environment. We provide live online sessions with tutors that help you contextualise your learning.

Our MBA programmes integrate responsible business practices, social inclusion, sustainability and the '3 Ps'; profit, people and planet, into the curriculum. This reflects our ethos of 'doing well by doing good'. You will be equipped to make strategic decisions that consider the impact of all stakeholders. This unique focus sets the Bradford MBA apart from traditional programmes and prepares you to become a future-focused business leader capable of driving positive change.

Our refreshed MBA has been designed with your future employability in mind, and we continue to work with major employers on our MBA Advisory Board and International Advisory Board to ensure our syllabus deals with contemporary issues.

Established over 60 years ago, the University of Bradford School of Management has a rich heritage and an international reputation as one of the innovators in business education. The Distance Learning MBA has been delivered for 25 years and is one of the longest running and most respected global online MBA courses in the world.

Join our Distance Learning MBA webinar

Thursday 28 November 2024, 12:30 - 13:15 (GMT)

Explore our MBA admission process. Learn how to make your application stand out and maximise your chances of being accepted onto our prestigious Distance Learning MBA programme.

Book for the MBA webinar.

Professional accreditation

We are proud to be in an elite group of business schools to hold the triple accreditations of Equis, AMBA and AACSB, often referred to as the "triple-crown".

Our School of Management MBA programmes are accredited by the Business Graduates Association.

Equis Accredited logoAMBA Accredited logoAACSB accreditation logoBusiness Graduates Association logo

Rankings

In The Financial Times' Online MBA Rankings 2024, our Distance Learning MBA was again ranked 1st in the world for value for money, 1st in the world for ESG and net zero teaching and 3rd for student demographics, with 72 per cent of those on the course classed as international students.

In addition, it is ranked 4th in the world and 1st in the UK for overall MBA satisfaction, 6th in the world for programme delivery and 4th for 'international mobility', which looks at the citizenship and work location of alumni before their MBA, upon graduation and three years after graduation.

Financial Times Logo
As a mother, wife and someone working full-time in a very demanding role, having the flexibility to tailor my learning and study time has enabled me to have a good work/life/study balance. Tatjana, Distance Learning MBA

Entry requirements

If you'd like a quick view on your suitability and eligibility for The Bradford MBA before you complete a full application, simply send us your CV and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. Please email it to [email protected]

All applications are considered on their individual merits and will be assessed using a collective approach, which takes into account professional status and work experience as well as academic achievement.

Work experience

Candidates must have at least three years’ postgraduate work experience, which can be from any industry, including both private and public sectors, and charitable organisations.

Academic and professional achievements

You should have a good first degree awarded by a UK university or overseas equivalent, or a relevant professional qualification. If you do not have a first degree or professional qualifications you will need to demonstrate significant management or business leadership experience (normally at least eight years). We will also consider an academic recommendation based on interview.

Numeracy and literacy competencies

We will require evidence of numeracy and literacy competencies, and you may be required to complete an authorised online aptitude test such as the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or School equivalent (The Bradford Test).

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, we may need evidence of your proficiency in English through a recognised test (IELTS). You will be required to achieve a minimum score of:

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no sub-test less than 5.5

If you do not meet the IELTS requirement, and you have a UKVI approved IELTS, you can take a University of Bradford pre-sessional English course. See the Language Centre for more details. For further information on English Language requirements please see the dedicated international entry requirements page.

What you will study

All module information is for 2024-25 entry, and is subject to change.

Core

Option

There is an opportunity to take ‘clusters’ of options on themes of ‘sustainability’, ‘applied artificial intelligence and the digital economy’, and ‘entrepreneurship’. Students who elect to take all modules in a particular theme will receive a letter of recognition from the Dean of the School of Management.

Learning and assessment

Our Distance Learning MBA programme consists of three stages:

  • Core modules – designed to help you get back in to learning and provide fundamental knowledge of management principles and theory, before leading into an in-depth understanding of specialist topics that are essential and relevant to the contemporary commercial world
  • Elective modules – designed to help you explore contemporary management topics in more detail
  • Skills profile modules – challenges you to link your learning to the programme and personal goals, encouraging continued professional development and helping you to build a credible skills profile, linked directly to all the core themes of the Bradford MBA.
  • Management project – enables you to put the knowledge and skills gained throughout the programme to practical use on a relevant management issue

To help you focus on your career trajectory, the range of subject areas will enable you to assess and find creative solutions to complex issues. Your knowledge and understanding of each subject area studied will be assessed by the most appropriate means.

Learning experiences and assessments are done through the following methods which reflect the tasks and behaviours of senior leadership roles:

  • individual and group assignments - for example producing actionable plans and advice for your organisation to solve their problems
  • live online tutorials
  • various discussion forums
  • reflective personal reports on shared experience
  • multimedia presentations
  • online collaboration, discussion and viva voce
  • online multiple-choice quizzes
  • formal examination

How you study

Each module contains study units that you will progress through each week under the guidance of a module leader. This equates to approximately 14-16 hours of study per week. Module content is available 24/7 to supplement live scheduled teaching sessions.

If work or family life is particularly busy we offer flexibility for completion of the MBA in two to three years.

Official programme specification

Fees, finance and scholarships

Tuition fee 2024

  • Home/International: £20,196
  • Deposit to secure your place: £2,525
  • Instalment plan: the fee of £20,196 can be paid in up to eight instalments over two years (£2,525 every three months). Find out about payment plans
  • 3% discount for payment in full (first year or total fees)

Additional costs

There will be no additional costs if you study optional modules (including examinations) at our hub in Dubai or our partner institution in Toulouse, other than your travel, accommodation and sustinence costs.

There may be additional costs that you may incur as a student. Though these are not essential to your programme of study you need to be aware of them as a student of the University. A list of the sort of costs you might expect can be found on our fees and finance section.

Financial support

Master's Loan

Applicants from England and Wales can apply for a Master's Loan of up to £12,471 from Student Finance for the 2024/25 academic year over the duration of the course.

Corporate discounts

Corporate discounts are available where organisations enrol multiple employees in the same academic year.

Travel bursaries

Every year a number of travel bursaries of up to £500 are available for distance learning students, to enable them to attend a block elective module at the Bradford campus. The bursaries can be secured on a competitive application basis, and students who are successful can use the funds to contribute towards travel and accommodation costs.

Students that have benefited from a travel bursary have enjoyed the opportunity to visit the Bradford campus and take part in a module in a classroom alongside other MBA students. The travel bursary scheme is enabled thanks to a generous alumni donation.

MBA Alumni Referral Scheme

£500 will be awarded to any current student or alumni who recommends new students to take up a place on the MBA. 

See our fees and financial support section.

Scholarships

Every year we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

The School of Management offers a number of scholarships to MBA students from anywhere in the world to help fund tuition fees.

Please note that where candidates are eligible for more than one scholarship they will be offered the one of highest value.

Current scholarships for this course:

  • Paul Donovan scholarship - £5,000 off second year fees from a small medium enterprise in a Bradford (BD) postcode. This will be awarded in June to a student who has joined in the previous 12 months

Find out more

Explore our MBA programmes and flexible study options.

Related courses

Career prospects

The MBA is designed to enhance future employability and help you to progress in your career.

The Financial Times Global MBA Rankings show that MBA alumni continue to operate in a wide range of sectors with, on average, 20% of them being in board level positions within three years of graduation. Our graduates are ranked 8th in the world for career progression three years after completing our online MBA.

Often students use the MBA as an opportunity to develop the skills to consolidate experience, progress in their current job or industry, or even change career direction.

Career support

The University is committed to helping you develop and enhance your employability. This is an integral part of our MBA programmes.

Specialist support is available throughout the course from dedicated MBA Career Development Services. According to the recent FT rankings, our Careers Services for MBA students is ranked 6th in the world.

Our MBA Careers Service is free to use and available to all MBA students and Alumni up to five years after graduation.

The Careers Services is comprehensive and includes coaching appointments, webinars, workshops, events, a dedicated website and a curated suite of MBA specific careers resources.

Our MBA Exchange gives you access to Leadership Development Programmes, the AMBA network, global job databases, links to executive search firms and the Bradford Mentoring Programme.

You will also have the opportunity to develop a portfolio of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Certificates, which will demonstrate to employers that you are not only ambitious but also take responsibility for your own professional development.

In addition, the programme will also include activities to promote teamwork, confidence, communication and many other skills sought by employers.

MBA students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the careers website. 

Student with back towards the camera, arms spread, overlooking a sea. The student is wearing a shirt saying 'See the world'.

Study abroad

You may decide you want to accelerate your studies, learn about a particular subject area, study alongside other University of Bradford students or simply broaden your horizons and spend some time studying overseas. You can do this by studying optional modules at no extra cost (other than travel, accommodation and subsistence) at our hub in Dubai or partner institution in Toulouse, France.

University of Bradford School of Management (Dubai)

Our Dubai MBA programme has now been running for more than a decade. Students can attend optional module blocks at our study centre in Dubai's Knowledge Village. Please note that access to these modules is subject to availability.

Toulouse Business School (France)

You can study the 'Financial Risk Management in European Banking' module at TBS Education (Toulouse Business School) in France. This module is taught in the international business language of English and is studied and completed in a one-week block including an assessment examination.

School of Management’s International Summer School

You will be able to attend the annual School of Management International Summer School. Here, you can study week-long optional modules, earning 10 credits towards your MBA. All students will receive a certificate of completion upon successful engagement and attendance.

There is also the opportunity to undertake Professional Development certificates from our partners such as the Project Management Institute.

At the end of the week, you will be able to attend the MBA Summit. This is a great opportunity to network and meet the rest of your cohort. You will have the opportunity to hear keynote talks, engage in panel discussions and take part in practical workshops.

Study support

Each module has been designed so that your understanding and knowledge is developed through using a variety of materials from textbooks and academic journal papers through to video clips, podcasts, online discussions and live online tutorials.

Supporting materials

For each module you will be provided with electronic access to readings, the core textbook and discussion boards through our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You will also have 24-hour access to online academic textbooks via the Perlego digital library.

Tutorial groups

While distance learning allows you more flexibility to study, we ensure that you will never feel like you are studying alone.

When studying a module you will attend live online tutorials with an academic. You can also discuss topics with other distance learning students and academics through discussion boards and informal networking sessions online.

Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

The University of Bradford School of Management uses Canvas as a virtual learning environment and Menitmeter for real-time interactive lectures. Each module you study will have a dedicated site containing:

  • guidance on the assessment used for the module
  • PowerPoint slides and lecture recordings
  • access to Microsoft Teams for live tutorials
  • key readings selected by Bradford academics from leading academic journals, trade publications and broadsheet newspapers
  • selected audio and video clips helping to underline your knowledge and understanding of particular subject areas
  • additional non-compulsory readings enabling you to further engage with a subject and advance your understanding
  • formative assessments allowing you to monitor your understanding and get instant feedback on your progression

University of Bradford School of Management Library

As a distance learning student you will have access to the University's online library resources. This means that from wherever you are in the world, you can access thousands of academic journals, market reports and textbooks all from your computer.

Distance learning students also have their own dedicated librarian who can provide students with photocopies of various materials including journal papers, book chapters and company reports.

Academic Skills Advice Service

It may be some time since you last studied for a formal qualification and so some of your key learning skills such as essay writing, critical analysis and revision may require some attention. The School of Management Academic Skills Advice Service can provide you with all the help you need to overcome such obstacles. A variety of additional information is available and you can even have a one-to-one consultation with our effective learning advisor.

Research

The material is research-led with contemporary material for current managerial and business issues. The rationale for the redesigned MBA is that it maps on to the three research centres of the School of Management.

This is the current course information. Modules and course details may change, subject to the University's programme approval, monitoring and review procedures. The University reserves the right to alter or withdraw courses, services and facilities as described on our website without notice and to amend Ordinances, Regulations, fees and charges at any time. Students should enquire as to the up-to-date position when applying for their course of study.