QUALIFICATION LEAFLET

Master of Business
Administration (MBA)
Distance learning degree qualification

GLOBAL
STUDY
GLOBAL
RECOGNITION
1 QUALIFICATION LEAFLET
Qualification details
With AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA recognition, The Open University Business
School is the largest triple accredited MBA provider in the world. This
guarantees our reputation as a global top-tier provider of management
education and places the OUBS in the top 1% of global business schools.
Managers in over 75 countries are studying
the Open University MBA because of its
international relevance. The impact of
cultural differences is a theme that runs
through and unites all our MBA modules.
By focusing on current work practice, local
and organisational contexts are interwoven
in all MBA study. This approach is
fundamental to developing global leaders.
MBA modules are challenging but will
always direct you towards improving your
management capabilities. You will need
to have some experiential knowledge at a
managerial level and/or of decision-making,
so that you have a practical business base
on which to build your MBA learning.
The programme concentrates on strategic analysis,
interdisciplinary skills, intellectual stimulation and
independent judgement and builds these upon a solid
foundation of core disciplines, including human resource
management, organisational behaviour, accounting and
finance, marketing and operations.
Career relevance and
employability
Employers value our MBA because it delivers consistent,
high quality development and shared terminologies to
high-potential executives wherever they are located. We
For more information and to register go to www.openuniversity.edu, or call +44 845 241 6555
Masters of Business Administration (F61) 2
Modules
For this 180-credit masters degree you require:
60 credits (600 study hours) from the following
compulsory Stage 1 module:
Postgraduate compulsory module Credits
MBA Stage 1: management: 60
perspectives and practice (B716)
And 450 study hours from the following compulsory Stage
2 modules:
fast track your career because we let you study while you Postgraduate compulsory modules Credits
work and earn. Unlike MBAs which require attendance Corporate finance (BB831) 15
on campuses, our MBA links your daily work practice to
management theory. Learning by your experience and that
The dynamics of strategy (BB835) 30
of other working managers on the course is more relevant
and rewarding than any classroom activity. From day one, And 45 credits from the following optional (or 'elective')
it makes you a more rounded and complete manager. Stage 2 modules:
Postgraduate optional modules Credits
Entry requirements Business, human rights law and 30
All entrants to the MBA are required to have a minimum of corporate social responsibility (W822)
three years’ experience in a managerial, professional or Business operations: delivering value 30
technical role. Usually this means that you are at least 25
(T883)
years old as it is unusual (but not impossible) to be able to
satisfy the ‘experience’ requirement under this age.
Entrepreneurship: experience and 15
For direct entry onto the MBA you’ll need a bachelors
perspective (BB846)
degree awarded with honours from a recognised UK
Leadership and management in 15
intercultural contexts (BB848) NEW
university or the equivalent. You will need an appropriate
facility in English language, sufficient to be able to work Management beyond the mainstream 15
effectively at postgraduate level. (BB847)
Managing financial risk (BB841) 15
Credit for previous study
Marketing in the 21st century (BB844) 15
elsewhere
Strategic human resource management 15
If you have already completed some successful study
(BB845)
at postgraduate level at another institution you may be
Sustainable creative management 15
able to transfer credit for this study and count it towards
this Open University qualification. If you wish to apply to (BB842) NEW
transfer credit you must do so as soon as possible as it
may affect your choice of OU modules. If you are awarded And 30 credits (300 study hours) from the following
credit for study completed elsewhere, you may find that compulsory module:
you need to study fewer OU modules to complete your Postgraduate compulsory modules Credits
qualification with us.
Making a difference: the management 30
initiative (B839)
For more information and to register go to www.openuniversity.edu, or call +44 845 241 6555
3 QUALIFICATION LEAFLET
Modules
For a full list of modules available, please refer
to our website, www.openuniversity.edu.
Assessment key
EMA = End-of-module assessment
iCMA = Interactive computer marked assessment
TMA = Tutor-marked assignment
* Module may only be studied as part of a qualification and
is therefore not available as a stand alone module.
MBA stage 1: management: perspectives and
practice (B716)
Credits: 60 at Postgraduate
Assessment: 7 TMAs, 1 Examination
This MBA course will enable you to make a real difference
within your management practice through active use of
frameworks, theories and tools. It will help you to develop
a good grounding in the theory and practice of managing
and leading, covering the core functions and disciplines
of management and helping you make the connections
between them. The course provides a framework for a
year-long process of professional development which
challenges you to engage actively with a wide variety
of ideas and to develop a repertoire of techniques
and approaches best suited to your own situation and
management context.
Corporate finance (BB831) *
Credits: 15 at Postgraduate
Assessment: 2 TMAs, 1 Examination
Middle and senior managers meet a multiplicity of
financial problems in their organisations. This course
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 (BB835) *
Credits: 30 at Postgraduate
Assessment: 3 TMAs, 1 Examination
If you’re currently engaged in strategic decision-
making, or will be in the future, this course will
stimulate your imagination and inform your judgement.
For more information and to register go to www.openuniversity.edu, or call +44 845 241 6555
An understanding 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.
Business, human rights, law and corporate
social responsibility (W822)
Credits: 30 at Postgraduate
Assessment: 3 TMAs, 1 EMA
This interdisciplinary course 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 course 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.
Business operations: delivering value (T883)
Credits: 30 at Postgraduate
Assessment: 3 TMAs, 1 Examination
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 course,
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
you’ll have opportunities to apply your learning to your
own context.
Entrepreneurship: experience and perspective
(BB846) *
Credits: 15 at Postgraduate
Assessment: 1 TMAs, 1 EMA
Social and commercial enterprises play an important
role in today’s society, often in partnership with larger
corporations and public sector organisations. This
course provides rich, experience-based 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.
Leadership and management in intercultural
contexts (BB848) *
Credits: 15 at Postgraduate
Assessment: 1 TMAs, 1 EMA
Given the increasingly intercultural and globally
connected nature of business, management and
organisations, this course 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.
Management beyond the mainstream
(BB847)*
Credits: 15 at Postgraduate
Assessment: 1 TMAs, 1 EMA
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. This course
poses the question 'What do you do when management
is inappropriate, not enough, doesn’t work - or is
simply not an option?’. You will explore a number of
undercurrents in management thinking, and various
alternatives to it – some longstanding, some recently
developed.
Managing financial risk (BB841) *
Credits: 15 at Postgraduate
Assessment: 1 TMAs, 1 EMA
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 course then
examines how these risks can be both measured and
managed. It uses many recent actual examples of
risk management practices adopted in the public and
private sectors – some good, some bad and some very
ugly.
Marketing in the 21st century (BB844) *
Credits: 15 at Postgraduate
Assessment: 1 TMAs, 1 EMA
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 online course explores a variety of marketing
For more information and to register go to www.openuniversity.edu, or call +44 845 241 6555
Masters of Business Administration (F61) 4
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
(BB845) *
Credits: 15 at Postgraduate
Assessment: 1 TMAs, 1 EMA
This course 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. BB845 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.
Sustainable creative management (BB842) *
Credits: 15 at Postgraduate
Assessment: 1 TMAs, 1 EMA
This course 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.
Making a difference: the management
initiative (B839) *
Credits: 30 at Postgraduate
Assessment: 2 TMAs, 1 EMA
This course 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 courses. You will embark on a self-directed
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.
5 QUALIFICATION LEAFLET
FAQs
Can I study in any country?
This MBA is approved for study in most countries. Please use
the Course Finder menu at www.openuniversity.edu to see
if it is available in your country.
Is an OU qualification recognised
in my country?
An OU degree is equal in academic standard to a degree
from any other British university. The University is subject
to the same quality assurance procedures, through the
Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), as all other British
universities, and uses external assessors and examiners
to ensure comparability of standard and level in its
courses.
A leaflet is available on how you can apply for formal
recognition in your country. To download the leaflet, please
go to www.openuniversity.edu/brochures/recognition.
pdf.
What support will I receive?
The OU excels in its unrivalled support for students. You’ll
have email and online support from a tutor and you will be
able to discuss your study in online tutor group discussions,
using our customised learning environment. Our community
websites Platform and OpenLearn offer a different perspective
on your subject, and a huge range of OU resources on
YouTube and iTunes U can expand your understanding.
In addition, you can tap into a range of enthusiastic and
welcoming OU social network groups on Facebook, Twitter
and LinkedIn.
The Business School has representatives based throughout
Europe who are available to provide advice and guidance
on study plans and courses. For further details please go to
www.openuniversity.edu.
For more information and to register go to www.openuniversity.edu, or call +44 845 241 6555
Are there any entry requirements?
To be eligible to apply for the OU MBA, you need to have: a
Bachelors degree awarded with honours from a recognised
university; a minimum of three years’ experience in a
managerial, professional or technical role; a good knowledge
of the English Language (to International English Language
Test System (IELTS) score of 6.5). If you do not hold the
required qualifications you can benefit from the Open Entry
route. For details please go to www.openuniversity.edu.
Can I count previous study towards
an OU qualification?
Any higher-education level studies you’ve successfully
completed elsewhere may count towards your OU degree or
other qualification. We enable you to do this by awarding you
a certain amount of ‘transferred credit’. By transferring credit
gained from previous study, you can reduce the amount you
need from OU study to achieve your qualification. For more
information please go to www.openuniversity.edu.
How do you work towards a
qualification?
We measure the size of our qualifications in credits - you need
60 credits for the certificate, 120 credits for the diploma and
180 credits for the masters degree.
How much will it cost?
The total cost of The OU MBA depends on the modules
studied. As a guide, the total fee for the 2012/13 academic
year was approximiately £19,315. For 2013/14 module
fees please go to www.openuniversity.edu and view the
details on the Courses pages.
Masters of Business Administration (F61) 6
How long does it take?
Our qualifications are designed to be flexible. So if you want
to vary the amount of time you spend studying, you can. The
normal pattern of study is based on 12-15 hours/week of
study. The table below is a guide on the time required, but call
us today to discuss how you can vary the study intensity and
therefore the time taken to complete your course.
Stage Credits Time required to complete1
required
Certificate 60 1 year part-time study
Diploma 120 2 years part-time study
Masters degree 180 3 years part-time study
1
For illustrative purposes only – in most cases you can vary the
number of credits taken per year and therefore the time taken to
complete the course.
When can I start?
To give you more opportunities to start, we have two
intakes a year – November and May. To start in November
2013, for example, you need to register no later than 18th
October 2013.
Can I meet and network with other
students?
Definitely – when you start with the OU you automatically
become a member of the Open University Student
Association (OUSA). OUSA also runs a popular student
forum site. For more information, go to www.ousa.org.uk.
Once you have gained your qualification, you can join
the OU Alumni Association, our vibrant and active alumni
community with 280,000 members worldwide. You will
enjoy many membership benefits, including regular
newsletters, good networking opportunities and access to
the alumni website.
How is my privacy protected?
We record your personal information when you contact us
and use this to manage registration, study, examination
and other services. When you register, we’ll tell you more
about how we process and use your personal information.
When should I apply?
Apply as early as you can – particularly if you wish to claim
for credit for previous study. Registration open dates are
shown in the Courses section on each qualification page
at www.openuniversity.edu.
For more information and to register go to www.openuniversity.edu, or call +44 845 241 6555
7 QUALIFICATION LEAFLET

What do I need to
do next?
It takes just 2 simple steps.
Begin the process to secure your place.
Here's how easy it is.

1. Register now
Go to www.openuniversity.edu, select the Courses section
and the degree you require. You will then be asked to select
your first module to register.
Alternatively call us on +44 845 241 6555.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to pay anything at this stage.
As soon as you have registered you’ll get an email
confirmation which contains your login details.

2. Choose your first module,

make payment to enrol
Before you start studying you will need to choose and
register on your first modules and arrange payment;
instructions for this will be emailed to you.
Once complete you will officially be an Open University
student – welcome!

For more information and to register go to www.openuniversity.edu, or call +44 845 241 6555
All details shown in this leaflet are
correct as at September 2013, but
are subject to change.
Please call +44 845 241 6555 for
the latest details.

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.

Copyright © 2013 The Open University.