MBA Distance Learning

Program Overview

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MBA Distance Learning

Overview

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

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

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

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

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

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

Professional Accreditation

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

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

Rankings

In the Financial Times' Online MBA Rankings 2025, our Distance Learning MBA was again ranked 1st in the world for value for money; 2nd in the world for ESG and net zero teaching; and 4th for student demographics, with 67 per cent of those on the course classed as international students.

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

Our online MBA also ranked 3rd in the UK for programme delivery and 3rd in the UK for salary increase for MBA alumni three years after graduating.

Our Distance Learning MBA is ranked 20th in the world out of 100 ranked online MBAs in CEO Magazine's Global Online MBA rankings.

Entry Requirements

• Work experience: Candidates must have at least three years’ postgraduate work experience, which can be from any industry, including both private and public sectors, and charitable organisations.
• Academic and professional achievements: You should have a good first degree awarded by a UK university or overseas equivalent, or a relevant professional qualification. If you do not have a first degree or professional qualifications you will need to demonstrate significant management or business leadership experience (normally at least eight years). We will also consider an academic recommendation based on interview.
• Numeracy and literacy competencies: We will require evidence of numeracy and literacy competencies, and you may be required to complete an authorised online aptitude test such as the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or School equivalent (The Bradford Test).
• English language requirements: If English is not your first language, we may need evidence of your proficiency in English through a recognised test (IELTS). You will be required to achieve a minimum score of:
  • IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no sub-test less than 5.5

Your Learning Journey

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

First Year

Core

• Executive Development & Research Skills (DL) (EDRS)
• Management Project
• Accounting and Economics for Decision Making
• Marketing, Branding and Organisational Strategy
• Leadership for Transformational Change
• Personal Leadership Skills and Practice

Optional

• Organisational Sustainability in Practice
• Financial Risk Management in European Banking
• Digital Health and Informatics
• Responsible Innovation
• Data Visualisation for Business Leaders
• AI for Organisation
• Contemporary Issues in Global Banking
• Design for Circularity
• Organisational Agility
• Entrepreneurial Leadership
• Digital Resilience, Innovation and Transformation
• Circular Economy: Principles and Strategies
• Project Management
• Corporate Finance and Venture Funding
• Global Supply Chain Management
• Contemporary Marketing Communications
• Diversity, Scale and Development
• Management Consulting

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Our Distance Learning MBA programme consists of three stages:

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

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

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

• Individual and group assignments - for example producing actionable plans and advice for your organisation to solve their problems
• Live online tutorials
• Various discussion forums
• Reflective personal reports on shared experience
• Multimedia presentations
• Online collaboration, discussion and viva voce
• Online multiple-choice quizzes
• Formal examination

How You Study

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

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

Fees, Finance and Scholarships

Tuition Fee

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

Additional Course Costs

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

Funding Your Studies

It can be hard to know what financial help is available to you as a student.

• Master's Loan: Applicants from England and Wales can apply for a Master's Loan of up to £12,471 from Student Finance for the 2024/25 academic year over the duration of the course.
• Corporate discounts: Corporate discounts are available where organisations enrol multiple employees in the same academic year.
• Travel bursaries: Every year a number of travel bursaries of up to £500 are available for distance learning students, to enable them to attend a block elective module at the Bradford campus. The bursaries can be secured on a competitive application basis, and students who are successful can use the funds to contribute towards travel and accommodation costs.
• MBA Alumni Referral Scheme: £500 will be awarded to any current student or alumni who recommends new students to take up a place on the MBA.

Scholarships

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

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

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

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

Career Prospects

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

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

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

Support for Your Studies

At Bradford, we’re committed to supporting your success, well-being and future ambitions.

We’re here to provide everything you need to make the most of your time with us, ensuring you not only excel in your studies, but also step confidently into the world of graduate employment.

In addition to the support you receive from your academic tutors, our Student Support Services are here for you throughout your journey - before, during, and after your studies.

Research

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