Intro

The Brighton MBA is designed for professionals who wish to advance their career or to pursue their own business ideas. You will develop your potential in your chosen field, cultivating the analytical skills and entrepreneurial thinking needed to turn business challenges into opportunities.

Accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), the only chartered professional body in the field of management and leadership, you can graduate with a degree as well as the CMI's Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership.

Full-time students also have the option to add work experience to their MBA through a year’s paid placement in industry.

During your studies, you will benefit from free membership of the Institute of Directors. Our partnership with professional associations ensures the Brighton MBA remains relevant to the needs of today's business practitioners.

This course is part of our wider MBA programme.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

Full-time 1 year / 2 years with placement

Part-time 2–3 years

January and September start dates, depending on route chosen

Accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

The University of Brighton is ranked as a top 5 university for world-leading research impact in business and management studies (REF 2014)

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Apply online

Please review the entry requirements carefully and if you have any questions do get in touch with us.

Apply now for your place

Course content

How this course is delivered

We've made some changes to the way our courses are taught to keep everyone safe, connected and involved in university life.

At the moment, students have a blend of on-campus and digitally enabled remote learning that provides lots of opportunities to interact and engage with lecturers and other students.

Find out what these changes mean for this course

Course structure

Case studies and professional work-based projects enable you to apply your new skills to the benefit of employers. Guest speakers, industry visits and attending core modules provide a wider perspective and exposure to different cultures as experiences are shared.

It is possible to complete the part-time course in two years, but most students spread the workload over three years.

Core modules

Managing People and Organisations
Marketing and Communication
Finance Accounting and Performance Management
Leadership with Ethics
Information Systems, Operations and Process Management
Research Methods and Strategic Change
Managing in an Uncertain Environment
Developing International Strategic and Change Capabilities (one-to-one supervision)

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Flexible study

Our MBA programme has been developed so that you can choose to complete your MBA full-time, part-time or a combination of online and taught (blended learning). When studying in the block taught format, modules can be taken in any order to suit your interests, apart from the final module.

You can also choose to start your MBA in January or September, depending on the route chosen. The two-year full-time MBA with placement year starts in September.

Industrial study visit

The optional study visit to an organisation gives you the opportunity to experience live case studies and meet senior managers whilst engaging with institutions. Previously, students have visited Belfast City Council, Comité Interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne (Epernay, France) and the European Commission in Brussels.

Interviewing managers at Steelcase, designers of workplaces of the future.

Placement year

To further increase your employability and international experience we offer full-time students starting in September the opportunity to take a placement year. This means that your course will take two years, but you’ll be graduating with work experience.

The year on placement in a role related to your course will allow you to put all that you have learned on your masters into practice, enhancing your career opportunities and giving you practical experience in your area of expertise.

During your placement you will also complete a business project. This project is assessed as part of your masters and, depending on the topic that is agreed between you and your employer, could also provide a valuable piece of insight for your placement employer.

Our placement partners include BMW, Bosch, Disney, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, HSBC, IBM, Ipsos Mori, L’Oréal, Nike, Metropolitan Police and The Pensions Regulator.

Work placements are optional, and you are responsible for arranging your placement with support from our dedicated Placements and Employability team.

We are now offering a two-year international study visa route to support applications for this course.

Find out more about how we can support you finding a placement.

Staff profile

David Foster MBA
Interim Course Leader for The Brighton MBA and Leadership MBA David has been teaching part-time within Brighton Business School since 2013 and on the MBA programme since 2017. He brings deep experience into the classroom from his work over the last 12 years as an independent consultant and from 12 years of running ‘direct experience’ marketing agencies before that.

He gained an Executive MBA from London Business School in 2003, an Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy in 2014 and a Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy in 2017.

Our latest news

Join us in January 2021 on a Master’s course

There’s still time to start your Master’s degree with us this academic year as several of our master’s degrees are available to start in January 2021.

Starting your course in 2020?

You’re going to have a brilliant time here and we can’t wait to meet you!

Brighton Business School graduate receives royal honour

Sheila Flavell, University of Brighton graduate and a champion for women in tech, received a CBE in the Queen’s new year honours.

Watch graduation 2019 live

It’s nearly time for the final University of Brighton graduation ceremony for our amazing Brighton Business School graduates, the hall is bustling with activity and there are some incredibly proud family and friends in the audience.

Careers

Career prospects

Successfully completing an MBA can lead to a better salary, improved professional reputation and a large network of business contacts.

A recent study by FT.com found that of those surveyed, MBA graduates gained salary increases of between 44% and 182%. Both in the short-term and long-term, an MBA can be considered a solid investment.

Employers of our MBA graduates include Total Oil Marine (UK), Fuji Bank (Japan), Price Waterhouse (Beijing), Ericsson (Sweden), Proton Cars (Malaysia), Hewlett Packard (Germany), Microsoft (Mexico) and PepsiCo (India).

Sponsors of our part-time students include Lloyds TSB, American Express, Police and Fire Services, Health Trusts, the Body Shop, TRANSCO and BOC Edwards.

Accreditations

Accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), this course progresses you towards Chartered Manager status – the highest level that can be achieved in the management profession.

All students successfully completing the Brighton MBA and who have passed the qualifying modules will have completed the study required for the Chartered Management Institution’s Level 7 Diploma in Management and Leadership.

You can apply to the CMI to buy the certificate at the current cost but will not need to sit their exams.

You will also be eligible for membership of the Institute of Directors, the longest running organisation for professional leaders in the UK. Membership provides you with access to the resources and the opportunity to network with leaders and executives.

Work-related experience

Our dedicated Placements and Employability team provide a huge portfolio of employers offering business-related placement opportunities. They support all students find a placement.

They offer several services to improve your employability including CV and cover letter reviews, mock assessment centres, fast-track interviews and interview practice sessions.

They will also support you throughout your placement and act as referees.

JobTeaser
We are one of the first UK universities to use JobTeaser, a new online placements system presenting placement options in the UK and Europe. It gathers together all the job opportunities, events and resources you need to help you with your professional development.

Placement and recruitment events
Placement fairs are held twice a year involving companies from well-known names such as Enterprise-Rent-a-Car, Nike, BMW and IBM, through to smaller and more local businesses.

Our regular Employability Weeks offer activities designed to enhance your employability, including LinkedIn workshops, sessions on working abroad, advice from the university’s volunteering service and support from the Careers team.

Careers advice

Careers Service
Our Careers Service provides help and advice from the very start of your studies, on subjects including careers counselling sessions, CV checking, mock interviews and advice on setting up your own business. Find out more on our careers service website.

Mentoring
Momentum is our award-winning mentoring scheme. It pairs students with professionals who wish to share their experience. Students and their mentors meet regularly to exchange ideas. The scheme helps students to develop new skills and enhance their career prospects.

Starting your own business

Beepurple is the university’s entrepreneurship support network. They offer free support for any student or graduate with their business ideas, freelance plan or social enterprise project.

Beepurple run events throughout the academic year, designed to equip you with skills that will improve your employability and help you grow a successful business.

By taking part in beepurple activities, you will meet like-minded people, hear how other recent graduates have set up their own businesses and gain key enterprise skills that will help you stand out from the crowd.

For more information visit beepurple.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

The entry requirements listed here are our typical offer for this course if you wish to begin studying with us in 2021. They should be used as a general guide.

Degree and experience
At least three years management or professional experience, plus a degree or equivalent professional qualification. If you have considerable management experience but no first degree, contact us at business@brighton.ac.uk.

Graduate Management Admissions Test
Our MBA programmes do not require the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), though if you have taken the GMAT a good score can strengthen your application.

English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

International students whose language skills do not match the IELTS scores set out here should consider applying for this course through the Extended Masters programme at the university's Language Institute.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visit our language centre

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time) 16,830 GBP

International (full-time) 19,314 GBP

Placement year

Home 1,330 GBP

International 2,100 GBP

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. 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. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included, while studying a course in Brighton Business School are listed here.

Students who choose to take an optional placement will have travel and living expenses. The cost of this depends on where and how long your placement is.
Some courses include optional field trips for which the school pays – you may incur minimal costs such as for food and drink and should budget up to £15.
You will be required to buy textbooks and should budget up to £150.

You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page if you require further information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships, as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2021–22.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

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-time 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.

Location

Local area

About Brighton

The city of Brighton & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

Brighton is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy - as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus. Subjects taught here include architecture, business, computing, construction, engineering, geography, product design, law and pharmacy.

On campus you will find professional-standard facilities including a flight simulator, trading room, design and digital media suites and specialist research laboratories, alongside the library, student centre, a nursery, fitness facilities and Students’ Union. There are excellent public transport links.

The Big Build
A major transformation of our Moulsecoomb campus began in summer 2018. By the time the Big Build is complete, there’ll be new halls of residence, academic building, and Students’ Union and fitness facilities – all created with sustainability, inclusivity and community in mind.

As the development grows it will provide many exciting learning opportunities for our students, ranging from live projects, placements and internships with the companies involved to guest lectures and site visits. Find out more...

Accommodation

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Halls of residence
We have halls of residence across Brighton in the city centre, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

You'll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
Moulsecoomb campus is linked to Varley Park and Moulsecoomb Place halls. All halls are self catered, but if you prefer you can add in a food and drink plan.
- Varley Park offers a mix of rooms. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there’s a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.
- Moulsecoomb Place halls are all self-catered and are located right on campus.

Want to live independently or in a university-managed house? We can help – find out more about unihomes and unilets or private renting.

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Halls

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Park

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Students eating at the Hub

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

Our students

Gillian Jackson

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Joe Morecroft

"I really enjoyed the marketing course. The lecturer was great, and the case studies chosen were really interesting – I would thoroughly enjoy and look forward to Monday evenings!"

Joe Morecroft, Brighton MBA student (part-time)

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Michael Schnuppe

Head of Sales and Marketing, The Great Shutter Co – the UK's largest distributor of plantation shutters.

After his MBA, Mark was able to complete an evaluation and overhaul of the company’s strategy as a premier brand, implement a new set of marketing collateral, reorient the sales approach, develop a network of nine franchises, and design the CRM system for John Lewis.

Indranil Chaudhury

Indranil completed his MBA and became Director – Business Development and Project Management of Global Market Development Corporation (Canada). This is a start-up organisation created with the idea of setting up new businesses with global reach.

Maya Bankovich

Maya is now Managing Consultant at PA Consulting Group, responsible for leading business transformation programmes in Project Management Practice. After completing her MBA she took up a position at PricewaterhouseCoopers as a Senior Manager – Finance Consulting, then as Cost Transformation Director at BT.

Xuedan Zhang

Xuedan completed her MBA to become Managing Director at Lok Ant Ltd. The company is an OEM/ODM manufacturer, as well doing export and import trade between China and Europe. The company’s products include knitted fashions, lingerie, ladies’ dresses, and fashion accessories.

Michael Morgan

"To say that my experience and learning was of the highest order is to underplay what I was fortunate enough to be a part of. The course has changed my life. I am now looking at business on a corporate level and working in the change management team at an investment bank in the city of London. This opportunity would never have presented itself to me without the University of Brighton and the MBA.

"The lecturers that were core to my course were always there for me, supporting and cajoling, sometimes even scolding me but always with my best intentions at heart. Without them I would never have made it through the MBA. My respect for all of them is beyond words.

"I have now been able to use my knowledge in a work-based environment and feel grateful to the University of Brighton for the grounding they gave me. I now have a great understanding of the frameworks within which I work and am able to make a contribution on all fronts."

Giampaolo Burgio

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