Public Service Management
MBA (PGCert PGDip)
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Course summary and entry requirements
Course duration
Full-time: 2 years
Part-time: up to 6 years
Professional accreditation
Brighton is one of the few universities with an MBA accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), the UK's only chartered professional body for managers and leaders.
About the course
The Public Service Management MBA will enhance your professional and personal skills, challenge you and your organisation, and aid career progression into senior managerial positions.
It provides the transfer of knowledge and new ideas from course to workplace, benefiting employers and equipping you with strong personal and professional capabilities by enhancing your knowledge, confidence and competencies to address complex organisational problems in a fast-changing political and global environment.
The course emphasises the need for soft and hard management skills, promotes creative problem-solving, communication, multidisciplinary thinking, team work, and leadership and management skills. The focus is on developing the knowledge in an applied and integrated way.
Overall, the course aims to deliver a high quality, personalised management learning experience, specifically designed for experienced professionals to develop analytical and critical strategic and change capability, ready for new leadership challenges.
Past students include managers from the health, police, prison and fire services, the civil service, the voluntary sector, non-governmental organisations and local authorities.
The MBA is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). All graduates gain dual awards - both an MBA and a CMI Strategic Diploma in Management and Leadership. Having the CMI Strategic Diploma as well as an MBA from Brighton makes a powerful statement about your standards and determination to continue to develop your management skills.
During your studies you will benefit from free membership of both the Institute of Directors and the CMI. Our partnerships with professional associations helps to keep the Brighton MBA relevant to the needs of today's business practitioners.
The course is taught in weekly blocks which allows you to apply the tools, theories and techniques learnt during the course in your workplace, bringing an immediate benefit to your organisation.There are multiple start dates throughout the year.
Typical entry requirements
Individual offers may vary.
For non-native speakers of English:
In order to benefit from, contribute to and enjoy the course, a good command of spoken and written English language is required. If English is not your first language, you will need English language proficiency equivalent to an overall IELTS score of at least 6.5, with 6 in the written test.Other:
The Brighton MBA does not require the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), though if you have taken GMAT a good score can strengthen your application.Degree and/or experience:
The standard entry qualifications are a degree or professional qualification equivalent to a degree, plus at least three years' relevant management experience or appropriate professional work experience. Applications will also be considered from managers with at least five years' experience who do not hold a degree or equivalent qualification.For equivalent international qualifications
We can help you meet our English language entry requirements
For help meeting English language requirements contact our
Language Institute.We can help you meet our academic entry requirements
For help meeting academic entry requirements contact our
International College.If you cannot find your country listed, please email admissions@brighton.ac.uk
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Course content
Syllabus
- Accounting and Performance ManagementExplores a range of issues in accounting and performance measurement and associated theories. It examines critically their implications for organisations, through consideration of literature, case studies and professional practice.
- Collaborative Working, Communication and MarketingDevelops a systematic and critical understanding of the different approaches to sustainable and customer-focused service delivery. This includes a critical appreciation of the strategic frame in which services are designed, communicated, marketed and delivered to address service users? needs. A further aim is the development of the capability to act as an internal organisational consultant, capable of critically assessing ways of delivering services, communicating with and marketing to stakeholders the relationships through 'real' internal consultancy type projects.
- Dynamic Public Service EnvironmentA critical analysis of public service contexts. Explores the relevance and impact of government initiatives in highly politicised contexts, public service system models and the development of UK public services. It covers policy development, political drivers for public service agendas, markets and professionals as well as the importance of the economic context.
- Information Systems, Operations and Process ManagementExplores the role of information systems, process and operations management, as both drivers and facilitators of business strategy. This module provides an awareness of the importance of processes and information innovation as a means of competitive differentiation.
- Leadership and EthicsThe module critically explores the role and impact of leadership in organisations. It critically examines of the impact and relevance of different theories and their application to live case studies.
- Managing People and OrganisationsProvides essential knowledge for those responsible for the management of people in an organisational context. It investigates the way organisations and their environments influence the practice of management and the performance of people.
- Services Planning and CommissioningA critical analysis of the strategic positioning of public service organisations and the efficient development/review of services, including financial considerations, to deliver these effectively and efficiently. The service planning element includes examination of different strategy models, analysis tools, strategy and service implementation, commissioning issues and quality.
- Project: Developing Strategic and Change CapabilitiesYou will initiate, plan and carry out a project of strategic importance to your organisation. The design and interpretation of the project should draw on a sound knowledge of strategic and change management disciplines.
The project will prepare you for new and challenging situations of strategic relevance to your organisation. The project will equip you with the knowledge and skills to initiate and lead new developments, be capable of comprehending and integrating cross functional and sectoral issues while drawing on sound judgement, personal responsibility and initiative in complex and unpredictable public service environments.
You will be allocated a supervisor to work with you and guide you through the project.
A sample of recent projects:
- How to sustain and support the planned development of the Dementia Relief Trust across the UK
- The use of clinical networks as strategic alliances in the NHS
- Motivation of Physiotherapists within an Acute Hospital Trust
- An investigation into Motivation within a University careers centre
- Leadership and knowledge management to achieve organisational objectives
- Leadership of information technology within a Cancer Centre
- Information systems management leaders who fail to plan -
Fees and costs
The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2013-14. Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.
The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.
What's included in the fee?
When costs such as health or criminal record checks, field trips or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.
You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply please check with the school that provides your course using the contact details on the left of this page for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.
Our website www.brighton.ac.uk/money provides advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee paying status.
MBA (PGCert PGDip) Public Service Management
Please contact us directly for exact tuition fees for this course. -
Location
Location
Moulsecoomb Located to the north of Brighton city centre, the Moulsecoomb campus offers students an excellent learning environment and a wide range of facilities. It is the largest of our five campuses with over 8,000 students.
View campus maps and directions
Living in Brighton
Brighton’s rich mix of historic architecture, lively arts scene, varied shopping and cosmopolitan community make it a vibrant, enjoyable place to live. It is no wonder that many Brighton graduates choose to stay here.
Social scene
Alongside the traditional seaside attractions, Brighton is famed for its exciting social scene with a wide choice of pubs, clubs and restaurants.
Arts
The highlight of the city’s cultural year is the Brighton Festival. The event is held each May and is England’s biggest arts festival, which showcases arts and performance from around the world. Brighton is also home to the UK’s oldest working cinema, the Duke of York’s, which shows alternative and mainstream films. The city is also well known for its exciting music scene and hosts The Great Escape music festival.
Sports
Whether you take your sport seriously or just want to keep fit, Brighton offers all kinds of sports opportunities and facilities, on and off campus. You can also make the most of the location, and play volleyball, basketball and windsurfing down by the beach. The seafront is also the finishing point for the famous London – Brighton bicycle ride and the quirky veteran car run.
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Staff profiles
Tove Sorensen-Bentham, Course Leader
Tove has worked in senior management in the public and independent sectors since 1982. She has an LLM in Law and an MSc in Social Policy.
She was a non-executive director of a local Health Authority from 1996 to 2002, a non-executive director of a Primary Care Trust from 2002 to 2006 and is currently a school governor for a UK secondary school and an associate mental heath manager.
She also undertakes management consultancy work for the NHS and is working closely with the University's Health Faculty on post-graduate leadership and management courses. She is particularly interested in quality, leadership, strategy, change, management development and governance in public services.
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Student views
Tracey Rose, Operational Manager, Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust
Since joining the Public Service Management MBA I have appreciated the peer support from student colleagues and have used this networking to continue to get ideas on how to resolve difficult issues at work. As peers we use the knowledge gained on the MBA to challenge each other and provide advice and guidance to take back to our work.
I have gained a significant amount of knowledge and developed my skills to the extent that I have the confidence to leave an organisation that I have worked for for 10 years and embark on a new challenge within a new organisation during a time of uncertainty but interesting challenges within the public sector. The knowledge I have gained has enabled me to embrace change and given me confidence in my abilities.
I owe my professional development to the MBA and I am grateful to my lecturers who have provided learning in a supportive but challenging environment. I would recommend the MBA programme to all managers within the public sector.
I do believe that I would not be in the fortunate position of having four job offers with increased remuneration during a period of austerity had I not studied for the MBA.
Lisa Williams, Assistant Director for Innovation, East Sussex County Council
The MBA helped me to put a theoretical framework around much of what I might instinctively do as a manager. This in turn helped me to step back from the detail and have a broader view of both my own transferable skills and an understanding of the common issues public services face.
Since completing the course I have felt more confident about myself as a manager and have since changed jobs to work in a completely different field within public services.
Lin Hastings, MIND
Reflecting back on the last three years, I consider the MBA experience to have been rewarding, challenging and life changing. I began the course with no academic background and initially felt quite overwhelmed. However, the learning support at the Business School was excellent and my self confidence grew rapidly. The learning took me through experiences that I found challenging but ultimately that helped me to develop both professionally and personally.
I have discovered, with the support of the Business School and my cohorts, the hunger that one can get for new knowledge and the exhiliration and satisfaction of learning.
Completing the course has enabled me to introduce a whole new dynamic into my working life and has opened up career opportunities that would not have been previously possible. I feel far more confident in myself, both academically and personally and am proud to have achieved such a credible qualification.
Andy Jones, Operational Manager, Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust
I would recommend the Public Service Management MBA to anyone. It has been a real learning experience that has changed the way I look at the world. It has changed me as a person in so many ways and most importantly increased my confidence in my own skills and abilities.
I would like to thank all of the tutors for their assistance over the past 3 years, in particular I would like to thank Tove Sorensen-Bentham for her tutorage and insight.
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Career opportunities
An MBA is an internationally recognised passport to a successful management career. It takes into account all the major aspects of business.
In a recent study by the Association of MBAs, those surveyed were earning on average, 33% more immediately after their MBA, 92% more 3-5 years later, and 151% more 6-10 years after graduation.
The University of Brighton has been producing high-quality MBA graduates for over 25 years. Our graduates have progressed to hold key positions in companies such as Brighton and Hove City Council, London Underground, South Downs Health NHS TrustSussex Police and West Sussex Social Services.
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More...
Graduate with an MBA and a CMI Diploma
The Brighton MBA is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), and all of our MBA students have the opportunity to graduate with dual awards – both MBA and a CMI Strategic Diploma in Management and Leadership.
The CMI Strategic Diploma makes a statement about your standards and determination to continue to develop your management skills.
The CMI is the only chartered professional body in the UK dedicated to promoting the highest standards in management and leadership excellence. The University of Brighton's partnership with the CMI helps to keep our courses relevant to the workplace.
While studying for your MBA you will be entitled to free affiliate-level CMI membership.
Institute of Directors membership
We offer all of our MBA students free Institute of Directors (IoD) membership. Membership provides you with access to IoD events, mentoring, forums, crowd funding and work placement opportunities.
The IoD network provides opportunities to learn from director-level business people. These are influential people who can really help develop your career.
The IoD is the UK's longest running organisation for business leaders. It encourages entrepreneurial activity and promotes responsible business practice for the benefit of the business community and society as a whole.
Why Brighton?
The University of Brighton has been running postgraduate courses in management since 1970 and MBA courses since 1986. We have a postgraduate community of around 600 students from a diverse range of backgrounds whose learning experience is enriched by the high quality of our research.
The latest Research Assessment Exercise (2008) ranked us in the top 15 UK business schools in terms of world-leading research outputs. Our postgraduate programmes reflect the research that is being undertaken.
The University of Brighton offers a network of student support services, all of which are fully available to MBA students. The University's Careers Centre provides information about careers, courses and job vacancies. Brighton Business School has a designated Careers Adviser, who is available for student consultation on a one-to-one basis.
Relationships between tutors and MBA students are professional and supportive. Class sizes are small enough for there to be a personal and friendly atmosphere where staff know students by name and can closely monitor their progress.
Benefits to employers
The Brighton MBA aims to develop managers who will create organisational capability and improve organisational effectiveness in order to give value to sponsoring organisations as well as to course members. The course gives organisations the opportunity to access leading edge business research expertise.
A wide variety of organisations sponsor students on to the Brighton MBA, providing a varied cohort of participants who learn from each other. Work based projects that link to the needs of the organisation as well as the individual manager provide value for sponsoring organisations throughout the course.
Support for international students
We provide high-quality support for students from outside the UK to help you:
- get your student visa
- settle in when you first arrive
- succeed in your academic studies
- prepare for a successful careerMore about our support for international students.
Your level of English
In order to benefit from, contribute to and enjoy the course, a good command of spoken and written English language is required. If English is not your first language, you will need English language proficiency equivalent to an overall IELTS score of at least 6.5, with 6 in the written test.
However, we provide a number of ways to improve your English before you start your course and free English language support you while you are studying.
Meeting entry requirements
We can help you meet our academic entry requirements if your qualifications are not the correct level to study at university in the UK. The preparation courses at the University of Brighton’s International College have been specially designed to help international students to progress to a postgraduate degree course at the university.
More about our university preparation courses.
The Brighton MBA
Find out more+44 (0)1273 642197
Email mba@brighton.ac.uk
International students:
+44 (0)207 250 6749
international@brighton.ac.uk
OPEN EVENINGS
Our open evenings provide an excellent opportunity to find out more about our part time MBAs.
The next open evening is on 18 July. More details.