5 minutes on why the
OU MBA will change
you for a lifetime
The triple accredited
Open University (OU)
MBA programme
INSPIRING LEARNING
Contents
Thinking about joining an MBA programme? We’ve put this guide together
to tell you why we think you should choose ours. If you want more in-depth
information, visit www.openuniversity.co.uk/mba, request a prospectus
or call +44(0)845 366 6035 to talk to an adviser.
First things first… An introduction to MBAs 2
So why choose the OU MBA?
3
How much does the OU MBA cost?
5
What are my payment options?
6
What next? 7
See more - watch a video from Mike
Lucas, Associate Dean.
Dr Mike Lucas explains why the OU MBA is a huge benefit
to a sponsoring employer as well as the employee.
Why did current MBA student
Valerie Pouget choose us?
“For several reasons… The first one was
flexibility. Because I move quite often
– cities, countries – I could be sure to
continue the studies, even if I had to move
again. So flexibility was really important.
Cost as well. I believe it’s the right price, and
also the fact that it’s through the internet, so
it’s really convenient wherever you work.”
1
First things first…
An introduction to MBAs
What is an MBA?
What does business
expert Theo Paphitis
think about the OU
Business School?
An MBA is one of the most prestigious postgraduate
qualifications, coveted by employers and individuals alike.
It’s a hands-on, vocational qualification designed to
stretch and build your conceptual and managerial skills,
giving you the tools you need to tackle complex real-world
business issues.
Why do you need one?
“In today’s fast paced world, businesses
and entrepreneurs need to keep up and
preferably stay ahead to survive. The
Open University Business School provides
modules and qualifications that thriving
business people can study while they earn,
allowing them to brush up on their skills
and explore new areas of knowledge,
while implementing learning outcomes into
their organisation from day one of study to
maximise business opportunities.”
An MBA is widely recognised as a ticket to career progression
and is often a prerequisite qualification for significant promotions
within global businesses. When you’ve completed an OU MBA,
you’ll have a distinct advantage over non-MBA candidates – and
as the course and learning methods are embedded in practice,
your MBA has a sharper practical focus that will help you make
decisions more confidently in your current role.
What are the entry requirements?
• A bachelors degree awarded with honours from a
recognised UK university or an equivalent qualification.
• At least three years’ experience in a managerial,
professional or technical role.
• Spoken and written English appropriate for postgraduate level.
How is our MBA structured? 1
Stage 2
Stage 1
Year 1
Year 2
MBA stage 1:
management: perspectives
and practice (B716)
(60 credits)
The dynamics
of strategy
(BB835)
(30 credits)
Postgraduate Certificate
in Business Administration
(C66)
Year 3
Corporate
finance (BB831)
(15 credits)
15-credit
elective
15-credit
elective
15-credit
elective
Making a
difference:
the management
initiative
(B839)
(30 credits)
MBA
(F61)
Postgraduate Diploma
in Business Administration
(E80)
As you progress towards your MBA you can pick up other
qualifications which will have a positive impact on your career.
Upon successful completion of Stage 1 of the MBA you will
be eligible to claim the Postgraduate Certificate in Business
Administration (C66). On completion of 120 credits towards
the MBA you will be eligible to claim the Postgraduate Diploma
in Business Administration (E80).
1
This is indicative of a three year MBA. The MBA can be completed
in three to seven years.
2
So why choose the OU MBA?
An OU MBA will change your life forever without turning your world upside
down. With us, you study where you want, when you want and for how
long you want, taking between three and seven years to complete your
programme. You pay comparatively little for one of the best quality MBAs
around. And you graduate with a world-class academic qualification that will
set you apart from your peers.
You’ll get one of the very best flexible
MBAs in the world
You’ll immerse yourself in your MBA
– but on your own terms
The OU MBA has triple accreditation from AMBA, EQUIS and
AACSB, putting us in the enviably elite and exclusive top 1% of
global business schools. And of all the schools in the top 1%,
we’re the only one to offer a non-campus MBA – so if you’re
thinking of studying for your MBA flexibly in your own time,
we can confidently say we’re the best.
With most other providers, an MBA means putting your career
on hold. But our MBA is a flexible learning programme,
designed to run parallel with busy careers. As pioneers of
flexible study methods, we use technology to free you to
learn whenever and wherever it’s convenient for you.
You’ll encounter people, ideas and
challenges that will stay with you
for life
We won’t pretend it will always be easy finding the time to
study around your work and family commitments, but the
financial and personal rewards are more than worth it and
the alternative – giving up work to study full time – just isn’t
an option for many people.
The OU MBA is a qualification for those who strive to stand
apart. Your career and life will move into a different gear
as you rapidly extend your knowledge, cognitive skills and
management abilities. You will develop a creative, problem
solving mindset worthy of the most senior business roles.
And you’ll be doing all this alongside people every bit as
talented and driven as you, but from diverse backgrounds and
with rich cross-sector expertise – it’s a brilliant opportunity to
learn from, and network with, your professional peers.
See more - watch a video on how our
MBA study works.
Mike Lucas, Associate Dean of Curriculum and
Learning, talks about the learning methods.
You’ll learn to question everything
See more - watch a video from our
Student of the Year.
An interview with Caroline Stevens, 2012 MBA Student
of the year.
Our MBA is real world focused. Your tutor will be a practising
senior manager, as well as an academic. You will test
theoretical frameworks against actual business problems –
often within your own workplace, so what you learn today,
you can immediately put into practice tomorrow. From day
one we’ll actively encourage you to stress test theory and
assumptions – an approach we call ‘critical engagement’.
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You’ll enhance your earning potential
and career prospects
82% of our students say that they experienced a salary
increase while studying towards the MBA* – and as well
as the potential financial gains, you’ll be better prepared to
make an impact within your organisation or rapidly advance
your career in new directions.
You’ll get all the support you need
to succeed
With a student to tutor ratio of just 16:1, OU MBA students
receive personal support and mentoring throughout their
studies and beyond, and in Stage 2 you’ll also receive the
support of an MBA study adviser.
On top of tutor support, during your studies and as an
alumni, you’ll enjoy access to a range of digital spaces to
discuss your studies with tutors and fellow students all over
the world, 24 hours a day.
What does OU MBA alumnus
Maggie Miller have to say
about us?
“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, and I now have
an appreciation of these professions
and their challenges and am better able
to understand how my own area can
contribute to their success.”
You’ll break new boundaries
without breaking the bank
We offer the most affordable triple accredited MBA on the
market and our fees are as flexible as the course itself –
see page 5. This flexibility appeals to employers and we
can help you approach yours for sponsorship.
You’ll earn your place in a select
international group
Flexible learning doesn’t mean you’ll feel distanced from your
tutor or fellow students. Our residential schools and online
networking technologies ensure that collaboration is a big part
of your MBA. You’ll automatically become part of our Business
School’s 86,500 strong worldwide alumni, opening doors for
you around the world – and speaking of which, you can study
for your OU MBA from anywhere in the world, following your
professional and personal ambitions wherever they take you.
See more - watch our video on
residential schools.
MBA students get to grips with the fundamentals of senior
management at a residential school.
* Postgraduate Alumni Survey 2012.
4
How much does the OU MBA cost?
Welcome to the UK’s most affordable
triple accredited MBA
Only 1% of business schools in the world are triple accredited,
and we’re proud to be among them and still be accessible to all.
The OU MBA opens up triple accredited academic excellence
to everyone by making it a realistic, outstandingly good value
option. Compare our fees with other triple-accredited UK
schools – the figures speak for themselves:
Sample UK triple accredited MBA fees
See more - watch our video on how
our MBA can change lives.
£60,000
£50,000
MBA graduates reflect on how The Open University
Business School has helped them.
£40,000
£30,000
£20,000
£10,000
£0
OU MBA School 1 School 2 School 3 School 4 School 5 School 6
Let’s talk numbers…
At current prices (July 2013), the fee for Stage 1 of the OU
MBA in the UK is £4,145, while the full MBA programme will
cost you between £14,250 and £16,400 depending on the
modules you choose.
Unlike many schools, this fee includes:
• all books and study materials
• accommodation and food at residential schools and tutorials
• access to a bespoke elearning environment
• project supervision
We asked MBA student
Matt Krise if he thought flexible
learning felt distant…
“It is, but it isn’t in other ways.
The internet allows you to interact
in ways that make it not so distant.
I think it’s more... self‑disciplined
learning is another way to think about
it – you have to be very focused but
you immediately have somebody you
can reach when you need to.”
• exam fees.
So all you have to pay for on top are any travel costs to
and from residential schools and tutorials.
5
What are my payment options?
Don’t let money worries hold you back – we’ve worked hard to make our
MBA an affordable option for as many people as possible.
You don’t have to find the full
cost upfront
Unlike many traditional MBA programmes, you don’t have
to pay for the OU MBA all in one go. You only pay for the
modules that you are studying at the time, spreading the
cost over the duration of your study.
Why not spread the cost with OUSBA?
With The Open University Student Budget Account – OUSBA
– you can register for your MBA right 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 very low rate of interest. This is how
much it would cost you each month if you paid for your MBA
Stage 1 with OUSBA:
MBA Stage 1 cost
£4,145.00
11x monthly instalments
£386.27
Total amount paid
£4,248.97
Total interest paid
£103.97
We can help you approach your
employer for sponsorship
Four out of five FTSE 100 companies have sponsored staff
to study with The Open University. We can help you put
together a business case for your employer and help them
see the long-term financial benefits of investing in you and
your career.
See more - watch our video and see
what our students say about us.
MBA student Emma Rose expains why she chose an
MBA with The Open University Business School.
Would our MBA Student of the
Year 2012 Caroline Stevens
recommend us to others?
“Yes, most definitely I would recommend
it to others. It’s transformed me, my
career, my confidence, and I’ve actually
recommended it to one of my team
members and he’s going to be starting
an MBA with The Open University in
November.”
6
What next?
If you’ve decided we’re the MBA provider for you, great
– you can register for your place right here, right now.
But if you’re not quite sure yet, let us point you in the
direction of some resources that might help...
The next step
Call +44 (0)845 366 6035
to talk to an adviser
We’re here 9am to 8pm, Monday to Friday and
9am to 5pm Saturday, to talk through any questions
you might have.
Come to an event or online
information session
We’re holding a number of MBA information sessions
all over the country, where you can meet staff and
students and get all your burning questions answered.
Alternatively you could view one of our online
information sessions, designed for busy professionals
who might not find the time to visit an MBA event
– find and register for your nearest event here.
Experience one of our units
We’ve put our Introducing a framework for strategy unit
on OpenLearn. If you’re currently engaged in strategic
decision-making, or will be in the future, this unit will
stimulate your imagination and inform your judgement.
Why not also try our Discovering management unit?
This unit introduces you to the role of the manager.
It covers management activities looking at leadership,
human resources, finance, project management,
change management, operations management and
stakeholder management.
Register now
There are two MBA intakes a year, in November
and May – register for your place today.
*National Student Survey 2012
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