The Open University MBA

2012/2013
Making a difference

INSPIRING LEARNING

A world apart from any other way of learning

A world apart from any

other way of learning
Welcome to The Open University Business School at The Open University (OU),
the UKs largest university with over 250,000 students and one of the worlds
leading providers of high quality, flexible learning.

Achieve your ambitions

We help ordinary people achieve extraordinary things, so if you want to improve your
prospects by getting a qualification then well support you every step of the way.
You will find a range of support services designed with you in mind.
Whatever your ambitions, make this the year you start to achieve them.

We make learning affordable

Investing in your own future may be one of the best decisions youll ever make,
but finding ways to pay tuition fees can be a challenge. Thats why we offer you
the option of paying your fees in affordable monthly instalments with a loan
from Open University Student Budget Accounts Ltd (OUSBA), the OUs own
student budget account.

Were more local than you think

In addition to the 350 tutorial venues and 13 national and regional centres
in the UK, we have Open University Business School representatives based
throughout Europe ready to provide advice and guidance.
If you live outside Europe, The Open University Business School operates
partnerships with a number of international partner organisations and you may
even be able to study in your local language. For more information on where you
can study, click www.openuniversity.co.uk/global-mba.

Students love studying with us

Thats why they keep rating us so highly in the UK National Student Survey,
and their support has put us in the top three UK universities for student
satisfaction since the survey began in 2005.

A world apart from any other way of learning

Martin Bean,
Vice-Chancellor,
The Open University

Professor
Rebecca Taylor,
Dean,
The Open University
Business School

The Open University Business School was founded in 1983.

In that time it has grown to become a leading business,
management and legal education provider and has achieved triple
accreditation1 for its innovative and high quality teaching methods
and learning materials. As pioneers of online business and
management education, we are transforming management thinking.
Studying with The Open University Business School is an inspiring experience.
It is more than just reading books; it is about interacting with other students in
forums, drawing on the contemporary experience of our associate lecturers, exploring
alternative learning materials such as podcasts, videos and online activities, and
reflecting on your own practice and the changing commercial world. These skills
are all integrated into your learning experience, so you and your organisation start
benefiting from day one of studying with us. The fact that 75 per cent of FTSE
100 companies have sponsored employees to study with The Open University is
testament to the value our courses provide.

The global marketplace is more challenging than ever before.

Businesses need executives who are agile, resilient and can
work across boundaries; who can understand the theory of
management and business and apply this in the real world; and who
can spot and react to new threats and opportunities. These are the
executives who will drive growth and success in the future.
At The Open University Business School, we offer a cutting-edge, practice-based
MBA programme developed by leading business academics. We work alongside
businesses and our students to deliver an MBA that builds executive business
skills while they continue to operate in the workplace. This ensures that students
critically assess and apply new skills as they are learnt and it means that we can
assist managers who want to take the next step in their career.
For employers we offer the ability to see an immediate return on the investment
made while helping with retention of highly valued and skilled individuals.
The OUs 40 years experience of developing study programmes, allied with our
individual approach to business education, The Open University Business School
offers a tailored and effective MBA that is uniquely placed to assist students in
their journey to becoming highly effective executives.

Our MBA is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB),
European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) and Association of MBA (AMBA).

Making a difference

Making a difference
To your life
Studying The Open University MBA will take you on a personal
journey. It will encourage you to challenge limits, cross boundaries
and change the way you think. The MBA will help you become
someone who inspires achievement, encourages dedication and
instils admiration and trust in others.
The Open University MBA stands out among all others as the only
one thats truly designed to fit around your life and career.
By drawing on our 40-year experience of distance learning,
we enable you to study at the highest level in a way that enriches
your working life without putting it on hold, giving you maximum
flexibility coupled with convenience.
With our MBA, the quality of your experience is matched by the
versatility of our learning methods:
Proven: our triple-accredited status puts us in the top
1 per cent of business schools in the world
Uniquely flexible: we are the only triple-accredited business
school which specialises in flexible learning
Practical and applied: integrates with, and adds value to,
your day job, allowing you to apply your learning instantly
Convenient: fits learning around your day job and lifestyle.
Our cutting edge technology enables you to study in your own
time at home, at work or on the move
Affordable: with the option to pay as you go in
monthly instalments
Financially rewarding: the average salary of our MBA
students increases by 40 per cent1.
1

Source: OU MBA Alumni Research

Making a difference...

To your career and organisation

Highly accredited qualifications

Its the balance of quality teaching, convenient delivery and

practical application that makes our MBA so special. The Open
University MBA will give you the skills and experience you
need to take your career to the next level. Both you and your
organisation will benefit from your MBA study straightaway,
through our unique study method of practice-based, action
learning. What you learn today, you can implement tomorrow
creating an immediate impact in the workplace. It will increase
organisational and leadership effectiveness not only in you,
but in your colleagues and peers too.

Business men and women can make a

real difference to their organisations
strategy through implementing learning from
The Open University Business School. Having the
support of highly accredited qualifications under
their belt gives employees the confidence and
knowledge to voice solutions and strategies that
reflect todays business practices.

Our students like our approach theyve rated us

among the top three universities for student
satisfaction since the UK National Student Survey began in 2005.

FACT:

Corporate partners and employers value this

approach, which is why over 75 per cent of
FTSE 100 companies have sponsored employees studying with
The Open University.

FACT:

Sir Gerry Robinson, business leader

Everything is linked to your working life

The MBA programme from The Open
University provides you with techniques and
models that you can use in real life its not just
theory. You learn so much and everything is linked
to your working life, so it enabled me to help my
organisation move forward. We implemented great
programmes that were all based on my input.
Heike Funk, MBA graduate

Flexible delivery
I chose to undertake my masters through
The Open University Business School because
of the flexibility of delivery, the international scope
of its student-base and my previous experience of
working with The Open University.
Moses Warburton, MBA graduate
Only 1 per cent of all business schools are
triple accredited, and with over 22,000
successful MBAs we are the most popular in this elite
and exclusive group.

FACT:

Recognised as one of the worlds leading business schools

Recognised as one of the worlds

leading business schools
Gaining our MBA is rewarding both personally
and professionally. Since The Open University
Business School started in 1983, weve helped
more than 22,000 MBAs fulfil their ambitions.
A view that is shared by
UK Superbrands

The Open University Business School is

accredited by three leading international
management education bodies from
the United States of America, Europe
and the United Kingdom: Association to
Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
(AACSB), European Quality Improvement
System (EQUIS) and Association of MBAs
(AMBA). Only a select group of less than
60 business schools worldwide have this
triple-accredited status.

The Superbrands Council comprises

business experts and professionals,
and defines a Business Superbrand
as a brand which has established the
finest reputation in its field and offers
customers significant emotional and/or
tangible advantages over its competitors,
which customers want and recognise.
The Open University Business School
has been voted one of the top
business-to-business brands in the UK
for its quality, reliability, and distinction.
In 2012 we have been voted 4th best in
the Executive Education, Training and
Development category.

inquiry

competencies

power

profit

marketing
critical
human resource

efficiency

leadership

performance internet
value
processes

action
sme

sector

measures
human behaviour
private
uncertainty
professional

learning

emotional intelligence
sustainable approaches

concepts

authority

policy

virtual

development

excellence

social

difference

ratio

leader

diversity
innovation

values

environment

lean

evidence

communication
structure

tools
cost

culture
budget global ideas
influence
complex
improvement

role

coach

implement

skills

transition

international
stakeholder practice project
organise business

finance

plan

reflection

mentor
loss

balance sheet

change
public sector

review

voluntary

inspire
quality
employees

mba techniques
aims

resources

analysis

trends

perspectives

enterprise

options

web: www.oubs.open.ac.uk

goals

third sector

organisation
thinking

reward

vision

negotiation

effectiveness

objectives
team frameworks
relationships
messy
interpersonal theoryfirmsystems resistance

strategy

engagement

creativity

ethical

people

management

Subjects, themes
and concepts of The
Open University MBA

direction

models

cross cultural networks

work groups motivation

problem solving

This accreditation ensures that you will

have a globally reputed qualification
that has proven quality and is accepted
worldwide. By studying with us you will
join this elite and select group.

manager

Ian Davies, MBA graduate

Endorsement at the
highest level

decision making

My study with The

Open University
Business School gave
me a greater
appreciation of my own
organisation and the
opportunity to help
bring about change.

operations

appraisal

connected

Recognised as one of the worlds leading business schools

Relevant, responsible and

far reaching
Our MBA is so successful because of
its relevance to your work. It is designed
with the highest amount of practical focus
and that is why our MBA works for so
many professionals.
You can take your MBA with you
wherever you go. Our philosophy has
taken education to a different level
as we have made education open and
accessible to all. We also pride ourselves
on being champions of ethical standards,
environmental development and
corporate social responsibility.

Our MBA really comes to

life in the workplace
The best way to learn is practice,
which is why, unlike traditional MBA
programmes, ours is very much a
practice-based course we call this
action learning. The study method will

help bring your learning to life as you

will be able to instantly apply what
you learn to your work. This method
of blending theoretical frameworks
with real business problems gives
you a superior learning experience,
adds value to your day job and changes
your perspective.

We actively encourage
you to challenge theory
and think critically
Choose our MBA and well ask you
to take the concepts youve been
studying and see their strengths,
limitations, applicability and relevance
in a practical, work-based context.
This experience helps you develop
independent learning and a critical
view on the knowledge you gain.

Your employer will like our

approach too
Our flexible teaching methods minimise
disruption to your working life, so its no
wonder were so popular with employers.
The unique practical focus of an MBA
means that your organisation will benefit
from your newly acquired management
tools and techniques. So if your employer
sponsors your study theyll soon begin to
see the return on their investment.
For more information on how we work
with organisations see page 24.

Learn with some of todays leading business thinkers

Learn with some of todays leading business thinkers

Most of our tutors are practising senior professionals in their fields, so you
can draw on their insights and experiences, together with the ideas of our
world-class academics.
Introducing the professoriate of The Open University Business School.
Professor Taylor,
Dean and Professor
of Economics
Professor Taylor is Dean of
The Open University Business School.
She is also an Associate Director of the
Economics Network at the University
of Bristol and a member of the steering
group for the Committee of Heads of
University Departments of Economics.
Professor Taylor has greatly contributed
to the field of online learning, where
she has led projects aimed at enabling
lecturers and students to engage
effectively and creatively in the
learning process.
Professor Cornforth,
Organisational Governance
and Management
Professor Cornforths
recent research has focused on the
governance and management of nonprofit organisations, such as charities,
schools and colleges.
Professor Daniel,
Information Management
Professor Daniels research
focuses on the effective use
of information systems by organisations
and the individuals within those
organisations.
Professor Dibb, Marketing
Professor Dibb is joint
Head of the Marketing and
Strategy Research Unit at
The Open University Business School.
She has undertaken a diverse range of
consultancy assignments within the field
of marketing strategy. Her research has
been at the forefront of theoretical and
relevant issues in marketing strategy,
segmentation, marketing planning and
consumer behaviour.

web: www.oubs.open.ac.uk

Professor Fenton-OCreevy,
Associate Dean International,
Organisational Behaviour
Professor Fenton-OCreevys
research (on the role of traders in
investment banks and management
practices in multinational firms)
contributes to fields such as international
business, behavioural finance, the sociology
of markets, industrial relations and
cognitive psychology.
Professor Fleck,
Innovation Dynamics
Professor Fleck has carried
out research on technology
development and innovation, including
artificial intelligence (AI), industrial
robotics, company-wide information
systems, strategic innovations infinancial
services, multimedia, the designprocess,
and most recently elearning. He is
currently a board member of the
European Foundation for Management
Development (EFMD).
Professor Frecknall-Hughes,
Accounting and Taxation
Professor Frecknall-Hughes
is Head of The Open University
Law School. Her research focuses on
taxation from an interdisciplinary
perspective, and she has been instrumental
in taking tax research forward into the
areas of strategic management,
international business, finance, history,
ethics, ecommerce and small business
performance evaluation.
Professor Hastings,
Social Marketing
Professor Hastings is the
first UK Professor of Social
Marketing and founder/director of the
Institute for Social Marketing and
Centre for Tobacco Control Research
at the University of Stirling and
The Open University.

Professor Paton,
Social Enterprise
Professor Paton has pursued
an interest in management
learning, publishing articles, leading research
projects, and working with the Higher
Education Academy Subject Centre for
Business Management Accountancy and
Finance to encourage new approaches to
teaching and learning.
Professor Quintas,
Knowledge Management
Professor Quintas has
conducted research into
innovation and knowledge processes and
applied the results to business school
teaching. This has enabled The Open
University Business School to pioneer the
inclusion of knowledge processes in the
MBA curriculum.
Professor Rutterford,
Financial Management
Professor Rutterfords
research has centred
around corporate finance, investment
management, and the history of finance.
Her academic papers are in the field
of performance measurement, equity
valuation, pension funds, women and
investment, and the history of finance.
Professor Storey, Human
Resource Management
Professor Storey is an
Associate of the Center
for Global Strategic Human Resource
Management, Rutgers University, USA
and of the Economic and Social Research
Council (ESRC) Skills and Knowledge
Centre (SKOPE) at Oxford and Warwick
universities. He is a member of the UK
Governments Leadership & Management
Panel which advises ministers in the
Department for Business, Innovation
and Skills.

Learn with some of todays leading business thinkers

The International Advisory Board (IAB)

The IAB is advisory to the Dean of The Open University Business School, to the School executive team and
to the wider School. Our board members are from a range of public and private enterprises worldwide,
reflecting the diversity of both the School and The Open University. The board enables the School to be in
touch with the latest international practice and provides valuable input from outside the University.
Margaret Miller
The International Advisory Board is
chaired by Maggie Miller. Maggie is a
partner and member of the global
leadership team for Elix-IRR. Elix-IRR is
a sourcing advisory and consulting firm
focused on providing business support
through the entire sourcing lifecycle.
Janice Bell
Janice is an expert in business
management and transformational
change and has strong links with a
number of major UK and international
organisations. Janice was a senior
executive within IBM before taking
early retirement in 2010.
Sanjeeb Chaudhuri
Sanjeeb is the Regional CEO for
Central and Eastern Europe for the
Global Consumer Group (GCG) and
Chief Marketing Officer and Managing
Director of Retail Banking for GCG Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Andrew Craissati
Andrew is a highly experienced
entrepreneurial business leader,
encompassing strategic thinking and
value creation. He currently advises the
Singapore Government on media issues,
as well as running his highly successful
corporate finance and investment advice
business which has offices in London,
Asia and the USA.
James Crotty
James has held a broad range of
international general management
and commercial roles at
European Executive Board level
at American Express.

James Cullens
James has a variety of board-level
HR experience, most recently with
Linde AG, a DAX 30 company; The BOC
Group plc, a FTSE 50 company; and with
African Oxygen Ltd, where he was a
non executive director.
Justin Jenk
Justin possesses a particular set of
skills and global experiences with a
proven track record of value creation
for enterprises across industries and
geographies: acting as an adviser, CEO,
board member and investor.
Professor Kapur
Professor Kapur is University
Professor of Marketing, Sales and
Strategic Management in the Faculty
of Management Studies at the
University of Delhi and adviser to
the Vice-Chancellor, Indira Gandhi
National Open University (IGNOU).
Dr Arthur Langer
Arthur is the Academic Director of
the Executive Masters in Technology
Management at Columbia University.
He has authored various papers on
information systems design and
management. His current research
focuses on the design of technologybased curricula for corporations
and universities.
Richard Minoff
Richard is a pharmaceutical and life
sciences global marketing/business
strategist and brand visionary.
He has launched over 75 brands
(and companies), including many
medical breakthroughs and
billionaire blockbusters.

Jay OConnor
Jay is an active mentor and advocate
of organisational best practice,
contributing to initiatives that help
advance standards. With an extensive
background in communications and
PR, she has held elected positions
in the Chartered Institute of Public
Relations (CIPR).
Neil Passmore
Neil has a broad range of corporate
and entrepreneurial experience,
including as an officer with the
Army Air Corps, and working in
corporate finance with a focus on
natural resources and emerging
markets. Neil has recently started an
aircraft leasing company and has an
MBA from The Open University.
Renzo Scacco
Renzo has an extensive background
in professional services gained from
working with some of the leading
global consulting firms including
Andersen Consulting (Accenture),
Price Waterhouse and Interbrand.
Peter Wright
Peter is the President of Global
Network Services for American
Express which has a global presence
in 155 markets. American Express
is one of the most widely recognised
and respected organisations in
the world.

10

Values, vision and mission

Values, vision and mission

Values
We are transforming
management thinking
We have taken down the boundaries
between the academic and working world
with our pioneering and practice-based
approach; what is taught one day can
be put into action immediately what
is learnt is embedded in practice.
Our research and teaching truly challenge
the way professionals and organisations
work and learn around the world: we learn
from professionals while professionals
learn from us.

We are responsible, inclusive

and accessible
We champion ethical standards,
sustainable environmental development,
and corporate social responsibility.
We offer a wide range of support services
to students with disabilities and additional
requirements. We offer opportunities
for everyone throughout the world to
realise their full potential, whatever their
educational or financial starting point: we
have broken the link between exclusivity
and excellence.

We are driven by quality

We pursue excellence in everything we
do, in our internationally recognised
research, teaching and delivery methods.
It is this commitment to innovation and
continuous improvement that keeps
The Open University Business School at
the forefront of global organisational,
management and legal thinking: we are
working with business for business.

Michael Young Building, The Open University Business School, Walton Hall Campus

web: www.oubs.open.ac.uk

Vision
We are creating a truly global business
school that aims to improve social and
economic welfare across the world
through fostering responsible values
and sustainable business practices while
engaging with local knowledge.

Mission
We will deploy our world-class learning
approach to take business management
and legal education into the very heart of
professional practice enriched by a
worldwide network of partnerships,
underpinned by leading-edge research, and
a deep understanding of how professionals
learn and develop their practice.

Innovative flexible learning with the best digital technology

Innovative flexible learning with

the best digital technology
The underlying approach of The Open University MBA
is that we fit our programme around your life, not
the other way around. The Open University MBA is hard
work, but with a flexible approach to study planning and
methods, we enable you to plan your own way through
the programme.
The MBA is life
changing as it
enlightens you to take
a holistic view of both
professional and
personal events. I was
amazed how I am now
able to see all types of
situations with a fresh
point of view.
Joe Synnott, MBA graduate

We provide extensive support in

helping you organise part-time study
and we have a clear philosophy about
the importance of planning. For each
module, we provide you with a calendar
and individual block summaries to help
you stay on target.
Our MBA programme is designed to
take three years but you can study the
programme over anything from three
to seven years, depending on how much
time you can allocate to your studies.

FACT:

40%

is the average our students say that

their salaries increase by compared
to their pre-MBA level.

Wherever you are,

were never far away
Geography has almost no boundaries
when you study with The Open
University Business School. With local
study centres, and partnerships in
South Africa, Asia and the Arabian Gulf,
and virtual seminars and online forums,
you really can study with The Open
University Business School wherever
you are.

My MBA has proved an

invaluable benefit to both
my professional and personal life.
My veterinary practice is now in
the process of developing a
sophisticated strategy to build
and renew its existing success.
Ive developed an unprecedented
insight into who I am, how I think
and how I relate to others. A life
changing experience!
Graham Finch, MBA graduate

11

12

Global credibility, local relevance

Global credibility,
local relevance
We are part of a global community
and a global economy. In a smaller
world, todays successful businesses
need a new kind of knowledge of: local
and global management principles;
new rules and regulations; cultural
differences; and communications
theories. Our approach to business,
and business teaching, is a perfect
match for this global context.
We believe that being a global
business school is not about bringing
students in; it is about extending
learning outwards.

International reach
With more than 55 per cent of our
students studying outside the UK, and
with alumni in more than 92 countries,
The Open University Business School
offers a truly global experience.

MBA student locations

Our 2011 intake had students in:

North America

Africa

Bermuda

Angola

Canada

Eritrea

Jamaica

Ethiopia

Mexico

Gambia

St. Lucia

Ghana

Trinidad and Tobago

Kenya

United States of America

Somalia

The MBA gave me valuable

life lessons about priorities.
The different modules also helped
me to acquire the beginnings of a
common language in which to
communicate with professionals
outside my chosen fields.
Maggie Miller, New York, USA

You can undertake your studies

throughout the UK, Republic of
Ireland, Continental Europe and other
locations worldwide, and can change
location without disrupting your
study. Support is provided through
a network of regional and national
centres in the UK, local offices in the
Republic of Ireland and a variety of
international partnerships.

South America
Brazil

Chile

Australasia
Australia

web: www.oubs.open.ac.uk

New Zealand

St. Helena
Swaziland
Tanzania (United Republic of)
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Global credibility, local relevance

Europe
Austria

Czech Republic

Greece

Luxembourg

Romania

Spain

Belgium

Denmark

Hungary

Netherlands

Russian Federation

Sweden

Bosnia and
Herzegovina

Finland

Italy

Poland

Serbia

Switzerland

France

Bulgaria

Latvia

Portugal

Slovakia

Ukraine

Germany

Cyprus

Lithuania

Republic of Ireland

Slovenia

United Kingdom

Gibraltar

Studying with The Open

University has changed my
perception on life. I now believe
that anything is possible.
Kevin Sampson, UK

The MBA programme

makes you dig deeply
beneath the surface.
Ian Davies, UK

My motivation for studying

the MBA was to be better
equipped for the complexity and
ambiguity of business reality through
the means of broader knowledge.

After completing my MBA

I feel great. I know that with
my MBA I can change my working
environment by thinking differently,
thinking outside the box, getting
new tools and finding new ways of
doing things.
Susanne Frederiksen, Denmark

The Open University Business

School gave me the
opportunity to study while working
in a busy full-time job, which was the
only option for me.

I was really looking forward

to studying with a foreign
business school but I was really
surprised ... first of all because the
approach to study at The Open
University Business School is
absolutely different from the one
I had in my country at graduate level.
All the Russians who were studying
with me had a lot of management
experience. Now I am one of the
most educated managers in my
company.
Valeria Dmitrieva, Russia

Iztok Toplak, Czech Republic

Nils-Carsten Huber, Germany

Asia
Bangladesh

Kuwait

Philippines
Qatar
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Syrian Arab
Republic
United Arab
Emirates

Malaysia

Vietnam

Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Jordan

My motto is continuous
learning for life, which is
what The Open University and
The Open University Business
School are so brilliant at offering.
Wilson Yeh, Hong Kong

The Open University MBA

programme has given me a
deeper understanding of the issues
and challenges within my particular
work environment, particularly
areas such as HR and finance,
which I have been less familiar with
in the past.
Christian Duncumb, Indonesia

13

Our model

Our model
Our teaching model is centred around your student experience
and is a highly effective professional development method
that allows you to acquire new knowledge and skills without
taking you away from your workplace.
Learning materials

When you study with The Open University

Business School, your learning is not
limited to what goes on in tutorials or at
the residential schools. Your environment
and your workplace become an important
part of your study. We focus on using
practical examples and assignments
that refer back to your working life and
encourage you to include and engage your
workplace in your studies.

Everything you need is included in the

fees. All of our modules employ a blend of
learning styles innovative and inspiring
materials that bring your learning to life in
many ways. Youll learn through podcasts,
downloads, our interactive virtual learning
environment and study books.
Everything is designed to support and
inspire you in your learning.
All of our study materials are underpinned
by strong research from faculty academics.
The Open University Business School is
at the forefront of using technology to
enhance teaching and learning.

Critical
Engagement
Action
Learning

nc e
rna

porate g
or

e
ov

ma

ng
eti
rk

operatio

lea

ns

I was on an assignment in
India when I decided to use
my downtime in hotel rooms to
further my career and start my
MBA studies. The Open University
is very well set up for distance
learning and is supportive. I made
some life long friends at the
residential schools and have really
enjoyed the journey.
Nick Hopkins, MBA graduate

Cross
Functionality
Collaborative
Learning

der
ship

evidence and integration

project management

stakeholder management

Managing
learning

Exploring
ideas

creative and sustainable

manage change

corporate finance

preneur
re

g
inin c
orpora
tra
l
te social responsibility
ia

Expanding
horizons

Developing
capabilities
Making
connections

en

14

global or intercultural

Integrating management knowledge through

our blended approach
web: www.oubs.open.ac.uk

The learning cycle of the MBA Stage 1 module

Our model

Support from your tutor

Residential schools

Your tutor will be your guide and will

encourage the exchange of ideas and
learning across the group, feeding back
to you personally by drawing on their
experience and knowledge.

To support your learning experience and

help you progress through your MBA,
we have designed a series of residential
schools at selected points in your
programme. These residential schools
are three to five day events where you
will meet fellow students from across
the world.

We have a strong community, and you

receive more individual tutor support
than at campus-based universities.
Whether its via tutorials, residential
schools, by phone, email or through our
online student platform, your tutor will
offer constructive feedback helping you
contextualise your learning and improve
your performance.
The majority of our tutors are working
in the private and public sectors while
also tutoring on our programmes.
They therefore represent a valuable
source of corporate experience and
business knowledge and bring a unique
practice-orientation to the delivery of
our modules. Many of our tutors are past
students eager to share their experiences
with others.

The residential school is offered both

face-to-face and, for students who prefer,
via an online format.

You will meet MBA students from all walks

of life to share and explore new ways of
working, allowing you to gain new
perspectives on and insights into the
relevant subjects. Alongside being a
fantastic networking opportunity, the
collaborative learning experience and
group exercises let you immerse yourself
in your development, test your learning
and assumptions on others and work
collectively on your skills development.
Students often tell us that the residential
schools were the most enjoyable and
engrossing part of their MBA programme,
providing memorable learning and
networking opportunities.

I received lots of support from tutors, online

forums and residential schools, which was also
great for building a network of contacts. The practical
experience helps me to do things differently.
Andre Simonian, MBA graduate

15

16

The Open University MBA programme

The Open University

MBA programme
This internationally recognised MBA qualification is designed
for practising managers aspiring to higher positions.
The emphasis for your learning is directly
rooted in management practice the
Master in the degree title signifies
your mastery of the art and science of
management. To achieve this level of
capability the programme concentrates
on strategic analysis, interdisciplinary
skills, intellectual stimulation and
independent judgement. It builds these
upon a solid foundation of core disciplines,
including human resource management,
organisational behaviour, accounting and
finance, marketing and operations.

The MBA is designed as an integrated

programme, and balances your learning
time between 75 per cent of compulsory
elements (including the final organisationbased project) with 25 per cent from
elective modules. This enables you to
adjust the curriculum to suit your needs.
MBA modules are challenging but will
always direct you towards improving your
management capabilities. You will need to
have three years experience at a managerial,
professional or technical level and have an
understanding of decision-making, so that
you have a practical business base on which
to build your MBA learning.

You will learn to analyse, synthesise and

evaluate a wide range of situations within
the broad framework of organisations,
their external context and internal
management. Among these you will look
at economic; environmental; social and
technological change issues; corporate
governance; markets and customers;
managing resources and operations;
financing organisations; management
and development of people; developing
information technologies for application
in business and management within a
global knowledge-based economy; and
development of appropriate business
policies and strategies within a changing
context to meet stakeholder interests.

The Open University MBA programme structure

Entry requirements
An honours degree from a recognised UK university or the equivalent PLUS a minimum of three
years experience in a managerial, professional or technical role. If you do not hold the required
qualifications, please see Open entry route opposite.

Stage 1

MBA stage 1: management: perspectives and practice (B716) (600 hours) (12 months)
You will cover a range of management approaches, knowledge and competences
enabling you to develop as a manager and a leader. Youll improve your awareness
of different organisations and the wider global context in which business and
management takes place, enhancing your ability to plan and implement changes
which will have a real impact on your organisation.

Year 2

Stage 2

1st elective (150 hours)

(6 months)

The dynamics of strategy

(B835) (300 hours)
(12 months)

3rd elective (150 hours)

(6 months)

web: www.oubs.open.ac.uk

The elective modules are your opportunity

to personalise your MBA to match your career,
interests, aspirations and expectations.
On Stage 2 of the MBA you will study up to
three of the following modules:
150-hour modules
Entrepreneurship: experience and
perspective (B846)
Leadership and management in intercultural
contexts (B848)
Management beyond the mainstream (B847)
Managing financial risk (B841)
Marketing in the 21st century (B844)
Strategic human resource
management (B845)
Sustainable creative management (B842).
300-hour modules

Year 3
2nd elective (150 hours)
(6 months)

critical engagement
embedding theory in practice
global impact awareness.

Elective modules

Year 1

Corporate finance (B831) (150 hours)

(6 months)

The core themes are:

Making a difference:
the management initiative
(B839) (300 hours)
(12 months)

Business, human rights law and corporate

social responsibility (W822)
Business operations: delivering
value (T883).

The Open University MBA programme

Gaining my MBA with the OU is one of my

proudest achievements balancing a
demanding job and a young family with studying
was challenging but extremely rewarding.
Christine Jackman, MBA graduate

The Open University MBA can be

completed over anything from three years
to seven years depending on how much
time you can allocate to your studies.
The following charts illustrate how you
could plan your studies to suit your
requirements and achieve your MBA
within your preferred timescale.
These charts only illustrate a few of the
options; the programme can be planned in
various different ways to accommodate
your life and work schedule.

3 years

Open entry route

There are three open entry routes onto
our MBA programme:
If you do not have an honours degree
you can apply for our Professional
Certificate in Management (S01).
Successful completion of this
certificate may permit you to
progress directly on to our MBA.
If you have the equivalent of a UK
bachelors degree without honours
you may be permitted to progress
on to the MBA course by taking the
first module of the Professional
Certificate in Management (S01).

Year 1

Year 2

For more information, click

www.open.ac.uk/mba.

Elective

Stage 1

3 1/2 years

Year 1

All of these routes require evidence of

three years experience at a managerial,
professional or technical level, and an
understanding of decision-making, so
that you have a practical business base
on which to build your MBA learning.

Year 3

Strategy

Finance

If you have an official Graduate

Management Admission Test (GMAT)
score of 640 or above, and the
equivalent of a UK undergraduate
degree, you may be allowed to
progress directly on to the MBA.

Elective

Elective

Year 2

Making a
difference:
the
management
initiative

Year 3
Elective

Elective

Stage 1
Finance

4 years

Year 1

Strategy

Year 2

Elective

Year 3
Elective

Stage 1
Finance

Strategy

Elective

Year 4
Making a
difference:
the
management
initiative

Year 4
Elective
Making a difference:
the management initiative

17

18

Your first step towards the MBA

Your first step towards the MBA

MBA stage 1: management: perspectives and practice (B716)
Module length: 1 year
600 study hours

This is the first module in The Open

University Business School MBA
programme. Successful completion
of this module also entitles you to the
Postgraduate Certificate in Business
Administration (C66).

Over the course of a years study you

will learn, develop and consolidate
your understanding of the principal
management functions. This will help
you move successfully to strategic and
specialist areas in your MBA studies.

This module is framed within the complex

and challenging nature of 21st century
management. Its dual aims are to help
you build on your understanding of
management and to enable you to develop
and improve your practice of managing.
In this module you will be guided through
a wide variety of materials, activities
and resources designed to help you
make sense of the complex nature of
management in the light of your own
experience of managing. This module is
a year-long programme of professional
development which requires your active
engagement to enlarge your knowledge
of the functions of management and
make a real difference in your own
context of managing.

The module aims to:

What you will study

You will gain a better understanding
of your own management practice
in the context of learning about
different management functions within
organisations. You will gain confidence in
understanding how they operate and in
having successful conversations across
these areas, including:
managing people and organisations
accounting
marketing management
operations management
project and change management.

web: www.oubs.open.ac.uk

develop your understanding of the core

and current frameworks, theories and
tools and to assess their relevance to
the issues of 21st century leading
and managing
increase your awareness of different
perspectives on, and approaches to,
managing and leading in different
organisational and cultural contexts
develop your ability to engage critically
with management frameworks, theories
and tools, helping you to select and
adapt techniques and approaches
appropriate to your own management
context, in order to have a real impact
on your management practice
develop your awareness of the wider
global context in which business and
management takes place, and increase
your ability to work confidently across
sectorial and national boundaries

develop interpersonal and conceptual

skills that will help you to use ideas and
frameworks to make sense of, and to
work with, organisational complexity
challenge your own thinking and
practice by reflecting upon it critically
in the light of the ideas you encounter,
and through debates with others
enhance your ability to plan and
implement change which will have
real impact within your own
organisational context.

Support:
Two one-day workshops
One residential school where you join
students from all round the world and
engage in dedicated workshops and
tutorials for five days
Tutor support and face-to-face and
online tutorials
Online forums and resources.

What and how you learn

What and how you learn

MBA stage 1: management: perspectives
and practice (B716) provides the
opportunity to advance your professional
managerial competence.

The overall content includes a range of

topics. You will develop your professional
practice and discover important skills
such as reflecting on real managerial
issues, developing an approach to

practice-based learning and engaging

with the diverse range of management
literature. The strength of the module is
not only in what you learn but also how you
learn, as the following diagram depicts.

Unit 1
management
Exploring

s
et
dg
u
B
Und
erstanding customers
Ma
rketin
oles
g strategies, planning and r
M
e
ana
valu
ging
ting
a
relation
c
i
n
u
ships and comm

rmanc
e

ns
io
at
er
op
ns
ing
tio
and
ra
erst
pe
Und
ns
go
tio
gin
ra
ana
pe

a
Man

M
go
ns
vin
t io
pro
ra
Im
pe
go
gin it 5
Un

Making
connections

Expanding
horizons

erfo

MDA

so
ur c
es
Un
and
it 3
p

Project

Developing
capabilities

re

nd
and c
han
ch
ge
an
ma
na
ge
Un
g
em
ders
en
tan
din
t in
gc
Ma
or
ha
nag
ga
ng
ing
n
e
ch
an
ge

Un
it 6
pr o
jec
ts
a

Mana
gi n g

ions

Managing
learning

t
nisa

Exploring
ideas

st
a

a
org

Each management development activity (MDA)

consists of:

M
a

it 2
Un

Managing in action

U
nd
er

d
ntext
an
nd co
le
re a
op
ultu
pe
al c
on
ng
ati
gi
ple
nis
na
ga
peo
or
ith
g
gw
in
e
opl
kin
nd
pe
or
ing
W
ag
an
M

ns
io
at
is

al perspectives of manage
nction
men
Fu
t
s
i
y
s
l
a
a
n
n
d mana
ra
e
d
l
o
h
gem
ake
ent
St
agement activities and
n
a
M

as manager
e
l
o
r
r
u
o
y

an
d
m
nd
an
ag
er
em
sta
ent
nd
acc
ing
gi
ount
f
ing too
i
ng
n
R
anc
ls
ial s
ati
fin
o
t
a
teme
an
an
nts
aly
cia
sis
l

am
Ex

a
an

Managing marketing

Un i t 4

The outer circles show the areas that you

will cover under each unit. The six units
contain a range of topics, examples of
which are shown in the above diagram.

The inner core represents how you study

the units. Your study will include a process
which we call Managing in action.

Each unit has a set number of management

development activities (MDAs) and at
the end of each unit you will complete a
tutor-marked assignment (TMA). This, with
our unique methodology of practice-based
learning, helps bring management theories
and principles to life.

19

20

MBA modules

MBA Stage 2 modules

Compulsory modules
Corporate finance (B831)
Middle and senior managers meet a
multiplicity of financial problems in their
organisations. This module will help you
develop your knowledge of this area.
It introduces finance problems that
organisations face at board level, and equips
you with the fundamentals of corporate
financial theory enabling you to challenge
finance experts. You will learn how to tackle
the main financial problems you are likely to
encounter, in particular, how best to finance
a company, what dividend policy to choose,
how to appraise both public and private
sector projects, and how to value a company
for takeover or flotation.

The dynamics of strategy (B835)

If youre currently engaged in strategic
decision-making, or will be in the
future, this module will stimulate your
imagination and inform your judgement.
Anunderstanding of the frameworks
of strategy and an ability to use them
imaginatively will help your organisation
survive in the longer-term and perform
its role more effectively. You will not be
expected merely to learn the frameworks,
but to critically analyse and comment on
them, sometimes in collaboration with
fellow students. The module will also help
you contribute to and better understand
the dialogue of strategy at a variety of
levels in your organisation.

Elective modules

Managing financial risk (B841)

Managing financial risk explores the
various financial risks that confront all
institutions credit risk, liquidity and
refinancing risk, interest-rate risk, foreign
exchange risk and operational risk.
The module then examines how these
risks can be both measured and managed.
It uses many recent actual examples of

web: www.oubs.open.ac.uk

risk management practices adopted in

the public and private sectors some
good, some bad and some very ugly.
By the end of the module you should have
a full appreciation of how vulnerability
to financial risks arises and how you, as a
manager, can contribute to their effective
management within your institution.

Sustainable creative
management (B842)
This module deals with creative, innovative
and sustainable ways of developing and
managing people and organisations.
You will look at the way cognition, values
and style affect how we manage and
relate to others. You will explore how
to work more creatively and effectively
with colleagues as well as understanding
innovative and sustainable ways to develop
organisations. You will also consider the
culture, environment and context in which
management operates. The module offers
practical approaches for developing
individuals, teams and organisations
and includes a library of techniques that
you can continue to use after you have
completed the module.

Marketing in the
21st century (B844)
The economic turmoil of the last few years
has required organisations to undertake
more creative marketing as well as be more
responsive to the needs of the market.
This module explores a variety of
marketing issues that emerge from
marketing planning, such as marketing
research, marketing segmentation,
targeting and positioning. You will draw
upon current theories and examples that
illustrate how organisations of all sizes deal
with environmental challenges and through
this gain a strong appreciation of how
marketing will not only benefit your
organisation, but also how you can
use marketing to improve your own
job performance.

Strategic human resource

management (B845)
This module is designed to meet the needs
of managers who wish to understand and
be able to influence decisions regarding
the management of human resources
within organisations. It considers the
different aspects of human resource
management at a strategic level in the
organisation and how this differs from the
more operationally-focused personnel
management. You will work collaboratively
with others on strategic human resource
management (SHRM) issues and problems
and find, review and evaluate information
relevant to key aspects of SHRM in your
own professional context.

Entrepreneurship: experience
and perspective (B846)
Social and commercial enterprises play
an important role in todays society, often
in partnership with larger corporations
and public sector organisations.
This module provides rich, experiencebased insights into the distinctive
challenges of creating and developing
entrepreneurial ventures. It helps you
to gain relevant skills and underpinning
knowledge. You will also develop a deeper,
and more critical, understanding of
entrepreneurial practices by connecting
your experiences to relevant concepts
and research evidence. As a result, you
will be better placed to: develop your own
venture, engage with other entrepreneurial
organisations, and take part in wider
debates about entrepreneurship in the
21st century.

Management beyond the

mainstream (B847)
Many managers work in situations, or face
tasks, for which the established toolkit of
mainstream, Anglo-American management
and leadership with its command and
control assumptions, instrumentalism and
strong financial focus is inadequate.

MBA modules

This module poses the question What do

you do when management is inappropriate,
not enough, doesnt work or is simply
not an option? You will explore a number
of undercurrents in management
thinking, and various alternatives toit
some longstanding, some recently
developed. In particular, it will surface
issues and questions that tend to be
neglected or underplayed by the main
managementdisciplines.

Leadership and management in

intercultural contexts (B848)
Given the increasingly intercultural and
globally connected nature of business,
management and organisations, this
module provides opportunities for you to
question and reflect on your own practice
and to develop ways of managing and
leading which are appropriate in different
national and regional settings.
By offering new (cross-national)
perspectives on leadership and
management you are also challenged to
rethink your own practices in your current
setting. This module addresses issues
facing managers and leaders working
in intercultural contexts and supports
you to develop skills, competencies and
knowledge to thrive and to get the best
from colleagues, partners and associates.

Business operations:
delivering value (T883)
The core of any enterprise is the set of
processes that must take place to deliver
goods and services that provide value
to customers and other stakeholders.
To effectively design and manage business
operations requires an appreciation
of their strategic importance, an
understanding of the human and technical
factors that impact on their effectiveness,
and mastery of appropriate analytical
techniques. In this module, concepts and
principles are taught using case studies
spanning all sectors of the economy: public

or private, large or small, manufacturing

or service-based, and youll have
opportunities to apply your learning to
your own context.
This module will be presented for the last
time in November 2013.

Business, human rights

law and corporate social
responsibility (W822)
This interdisciplinary module considers
how business increasingly conducts its
operations with responsibility to its
stakeholders and the wider society.
It takes a socio-legal approach when
examining how this expectation is being
framed in terms of corporate social
responsibility and human rights and the
challenges of a globalised world.
The module is diverse and wide-ranging,
considering the development and
application of these concepts in very
different business contexts such as the
development of international labour
standards, criminal liability (corruption
and corporate manslaughter), branding
and marketing, charitable foundations and
a range of specialist industries through
the use of case studies.

MBA final module

Making a difference: the

management initiative (B839)
This module consolidates your ability
to make a genuine contribution to
organisational effectiveness as a
manager or leader. It is the final element
of your MBA programme as it builds on
the learning and assessment of earlier
modules. You will embark on a selfdirected yet rigorously constructed
initiative, focusing on a real-time
management initiative of your own
choosing. We will support you with
resources and guidance, including models
and concepts for managing change and
organisational learning. The module aims
to enable you to make a difference in your
own organisation and to enhance your own
personal and professional development.

Module assessment
There are a number of assessment
vehicles which will test your learning
throughout the MBA programme such
as examinations, assignments and
reflective course work.

21

22

Fees and funding

Fees and funding

The best value MBA with top-tier, triple-accredited quality

Our MBA breaks the link between

exclusivity and triple-accredited
excellence. When compared to other
triple-accredited business schools in the
UK, the value for money of the OU model
is clear.

Fees
Unlike many business schools the OU
fee includes the cost of books and study
materials, accommodation and food at
residential schools and tutorials, access
to a bespoke elearning environment
and project supervision, as well as
examination fees.
The fee does not include travel costs
incurred to and from the residential
schools or tutorials.
The approximate fee range for the
Open University MBA is as follows:
Region

Approximate
fee range1

United Kingdom

13,93515,995

Republic of
Ireland

16,48018,540

Other EU

17,17519,315

Rest of the
world

Please call
+44 (0)845 366 6035
for details

Based on 2012/2013 prices

Fee range explained:

The module prices are reviewed
annually, and hence may vary as
you progress in your studies.
The total cost of your MBA will
depend on which modules you study.
The total costs assume that you pass
each module at first attempt.

web: www.oubs.open.ac.uk

60,000
50,000
OU MBA
40,000

School 1
School 2

30,000

School 3
School 4

20,000

School 5
10,000

School 6

0
OU MBA School 1 School 2 School 3 School 4 School 5 School 6

Sample fee comparison across triple-accredited business schools in the UK.

Don't let funding problems

stop you
Unlike many traditional MBA
programmes, The Open University
MBA does not require a single upfront
payment. You only pay for the modules
that you are studying at that time.
This spreads the cost over the duration
of your study.
You can always take advantage of
The Open University Student Budget
Account (OUSBA) scheme where you
can enrol now and pay at module start
date, without paying any interest.
Or you can pay for your module in
monthly instalments over a period of
one year at a low rate of interest.

Therefore, if you start with MBA stage 1:

management: perspectives and practice,
which costs 4045 in the UK, and you
choose to pay using OUSBA, the costs will
be as follows:
MBA Stage 1 cost

4045

11 x instalments

377.03

Total amount paid

4147.33

Total interest paid

102.33

The same funding arrangement can be

made for all subsequent modules that
count towards your MBA.
For more information on OUSBA,
see page 26.

23

Our students

Our students
Our MBA students are determined, career-orientated
professionals from all over the world.
Our MBA programme is designed
for practising senior and middle-level
managers. It has a strong international
focus with emphasis on strategic
analysis, interdisciplinary skills, creativity
and innovation.
Your peers will be career-orientated
professionals who are motivated to grow
in both knowledge and experience with
the skills necessary to engage in
stimulating discourse.
Open University Business School students
are many and diverse; they are based
around the world, from different sectors,
industries and backgrounds. We believe
that this diversity enriches your MBA
experience and allows you to broaden your
mind and gain a deeper understanding of
other cultures.
Our students are determined; they all
share the same goal of achieving an MBA
while juggling busy lives and careers.
Throughout your studies you will be
challenged to manage a large workload,
and learn how to plan your time
efficiently and manage conflicting
priorities.

Continuing your development

Your learning and development continues
even after you have achieved your MBA.
We organise regular events for our
students and alumni to network at various
locations. These events bring together
high-calibre professionals to discuss the
latest management and business thinking
as well as opportunities to participate
in live business challenges. There is a
complementary online programme of
events and discussions.
We also hold monthly webinars on a range
of career-related topics such as:

Christian Kastner, MBA graduate

Making it easy to get hired creating a

CV that markets you.
How to prepare for interview, including
how to answer difficult questions and
competency-based interview questions.
Secrets of how to accelerate your
career in your organisation.
Networking everything you need
to know in a nutshell.
How to use LinkedIn.

The people I studied my MBA

with were from the United
States, Kosovo and Austria, each
working in different industries. This
allowed us to share any similarities
in our business practices.
Gillian Attard, MBA graduate

I chose The Open University

because it offered me
a way to a degree without
interrupting my work. The MBA
gave me a birds eye view over
many problems in day-to-day
business, offering a toolbox of
valuable models which really work.
I changed jobs twice during the
five years of my study and the
MBA opened a lot of doors in
the improvement of my career.

2011 MBA class profile

Tutor/Student ratio

1:16

Average age

37

Average years of work experience

14

Gender

36% female 64% male

24

The corporate link employee development

The corporate link

employee development
By listening to and understanding the requirements of the
individual organisation, The Open University provides flexible
solutions to business critical issues. The Open University has
more than 25 years success in fulfilling organisational needs
from large corporates to SMEs across various industry sectors.
The Open University Business School helps
thousands of organisations train their
managers and staff. Our modules introduce
employees to the latest business thinking
and require them to apply these ideas
immediately to their work environment.
The organisation will see an excellent and
immediate return on their investment.
Geographically dispersed organisations
are especially drawn to The Open
Universitys ability to deliver the same
training across the country or the world.
Our learning methods give managers a
consistent approach to management
wherever they are located.

FACT:

40%+

Why is our MBA so popular

with employers?
Its a mobile and flexible route for
training managers, allowing them to
study at a time, place and pace that
suits them.
It gives employees access to one of
the worlds largest communities of
management learners and practitioners.
It draws on daily management activity so
that what your employees learn today,
they can put into practice tomorrow.

FACT:

75%

of our MBA students are fully

sponsored by their employer.

of FTSE 100 companies have sponsored

employees studying with The Open University.

We started
working with
The Open University
about two and a half
years ago because we
thought its education
programme would not
only benefit our staff,
but also our company.
We were right!

The OU MBA
programme
allows employees to
study while on the go.

Barry McGugan, Communications

Training and Innovations Manager,
IBM Greenock

web: www.oubs.open.ac.uk

Derek Harnby, Cummins Corporate

Recruitment Manager for Europe and
the Middle East

It crosses geographical, cultural

and sector boundaries offering
equal relevance to the private and
public sector.
It develops not only managerial
capability and motivation but also
valuable talents such as effective
prioritisation, team-working,
commitment and personal motivation.
Training managers through our MBA
makes a difference to both the
employee and the organisation.

Your ticket to a powerful global alumni network

Your ticket to a powerful

global alumni network
The Open University MBA is your entry ticket to a large and
very active business network. MBA graduates automatically
become members of our worldwide alumni community.

The Open University Business School

Alumni network has more than 80,000
members worldwide.

We do this through:

Its mission is to support an active

international network of Open University
Business School alumni in pursuit of
their continuing professional and
personal development.

industry expertise

learning and networking events

featuring:
latest academic thinking
practitioner insight
access to Open University Business
School thought leadership
career support provision
a dedicated alumni website
and newsletter
a library service
access to online professional
networking and peer learning
a variety of professional
memberships
discounts and affinity
benefits.

An MBA is not
the end but it is
the beginning of a new
journey, a new life.
Dr Christoph Weimer, MBA graduate

25

26

Practical information

Practical information
Entry requirements

Credit transfer

For entry to the MBA youll need an honours

degree from a recognised UK university or
an equivalent qualification.

Of the 1800 hours of study required

for the MBA, 300 hours at Stage 2 can
be awarded in recognition of relevant
previous study elsewhere.

Professional experience
You will need at least three years'
experience in a managerial, professional or
technical role. Usually this means you are
at least 25 years old as it is unusual (but
not impossible) to be able to satisfy the
experience requirement under thisage.
English language
Your spoken and written English needs to
be of an appropriate standard to be able
to work effectively at postgraduate level;
generally this means capability equivalent
to an International English Language Test
System (IELTS) score of 6.5.

Fees
The fees for The Open University MBA
programme are charged on a module
by module basis. Our MBA programme
consists of individual modules
and you will be charged for the modules
as you go through the programme.
This means that you avoid having to
pay a large programme fee upfront.
Please check our website for pricing
www.open.ac.uk/study-mba.

For more information on credit transfer,

click www.open.ac.uk/credit-transfer.

Funding
Sponsorship
More than 40 per cent of our students
are sponsored by their employers. If your
employer would like more information
about The Open University and the
benefits of sponsoring employees then
please go to www.open.ac.uk/employers.
Alternatively, if you require guidance or
advice on how your employer can sponsor
you, then please call +44 (0)845 366 6035.
Pay by instalments
If you are paying some or all of the
cost yourself, you can pay in full when
you register, by credit or debit card.
Alternatively, UK, European Economic Area
(EEA) and Switzerland students can defer
or spread the cost with a loan from
Open University Student Budget Accounts
Ltd (OUSBA). With OUSBA you can:
Enrol now, pay later OUSBA pays
your full module fee direct to us.
You repay OUSBA interest-free and in
full just before your module starts.
Pay by instalments OUSBA pays your
full module fee and you repay the
loan in monthly instalments over
the length of your module, starting
a month after your module begins.
Interest is currently charged at
5.0 per cent (APR 5.1 per cent).
Find out more at www.open.ac.uk/ousba or
by calling +44 (0)8457 697937.

web: www.oubs.open.ac.uk

The Crowther Fund

(Open University graduates only)
The Crowther Fund was set up as a
tribute to the late Lord Crowther, our
first Chancellor. Its intended to help
Open University graduates build upon
their degrees, either by formal study or
research or by generally broadening their
experience through a period of voluntary
work. The fund doesnt take account of
financial circumstances. The fund is open
to all Open University graduates holding
honours degrees. The application closing
date is 28 February each year.
For further information please email
OU-crowther-fund@open.ac.uk.

Start dates
Our MBA programme starts in May and
November each year and you will need to
enrol for your modules at least a month
before you begin your study. The closing
dates for enrolment are published on our
website www.open.ac.uk/study-mba.

Practical information

Meet us

Ways to register

We host a number of events in the UK

and Continental Europe giving you the
opportunity to meet with Open University
staff and discuss what its like to study
with us, and what modules we have to
suit your needs. At some events you can
view our learning materials, or talk to
subject specialists.

Online at www.open.ac.uk/study-mba.

For details of events near

you in the UK, please visit
www.openuniversity.co.uk/mbaevents.
For details of events near you in
Continental Europe, please visit
www.open.ac.uk/events.

Talk to us

Call The Open University

Business School Information Line
+44 (0)845 366 6035.
Contact your local country
representative in Continental Europe,
click www.open.ac.uk/europe.

International partners
We have a large number
of international partner
organisations some of which
offer The Open University MBA.
For further information, click
www.oubs.open.ac.uk.

You are always welcome to contact one

of our study advisers who can answer
any questions you might have and give
you further information about the
MBA programme.
Please call The Open University
Business School Information Line on
+44 (0)845 366 6035.
If you live in Continental Europe you can
contact your local country representative,
click www.open.ac.uk/europe.

It is brilliant because what you find is that

you get much better each year. I am much
more considered, I am a much better manager.
I have learned the art of letting people get on with
things. I have learned delegating and leadership.
Lisa Vernon, MBA graduate

27

The Open University MBA 2012/2013

Student Registration & Enquiry Service

The Open University Business School Information Team
PO Box 197
Milton Keynes
MK7 6BJ
United Kingdom

The Open University MBA programme structure

Entry requirements
An honours degree from a recognised UK university or the equivalent PLUS a minimum of three
years experience in a managerial, professional or technical role. If you do not hold the required
qualifications, please see Open entry route on page 17.

Stage 1

Year 1
MBA stage 1: management: perspectives and practice (B716) (600 hours) (12 months)
You will cover a range of management approaches, knowledge and competences
enabling you to develop as a manager and a leader. Youll improve your awareness
of different organisations and the wider global context in which business and
management takes place, enhancing your ability to plan and implement changes
which will have a real impact on your organisation.

Year 2

Stage 2

Corporate finance (B831) (150 hours)

(6 months)
1st elective (150 hours)
(6 months)

The dynamics of strategy

(B835) (300 hours)
(12 months)

Year 3
2nd elective (150 hours)
(6 months)
3rd elective (150 hours)
(6 months)

Making a difference:
the management initiative
(B839) (300 hours)
(12 months)

Contact points for advice and enrolment

Please visit our website:

www.oubs.open.ac.uk
or, for students resident in the UK and Ireland, please call
The Open University Business School Information Line:

+44 (0)845 366 6035

Lines are open (UK time):
Monday to Friday 08:00 to 20:00
Saturday
09:00 to 17:00
Calls to this number are charged at the UK local
rate when calling from a UK landline.
Calls may be recorded for training and security purposes.
From the rest of Europe please contact your local Open University Business
School Representative (see our website www.open.ac.uk/europe for a list of
contacts) or call The Open University in Europe on +44 191 477 6100.
For students resident elsewhere in the world, please call +44 845 366 6035.

The Open University is incorporated by

Royal Charter (RC 000391), an exempt
charity in England and Wales and a charity
registered in Scotland (SC 038302).
While we have done everything possible to
make sure the information in this publication is
accurate, it may change due to regulations or
policy, or because of financial or other reasons.
Printed by Belmont Press Ltd.
Copyright 2012 The Open University.

SUP 029615