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Business Administration (Distance Learning) (MBA) (2023 Entry)

Account and Finance students at the University of Warwick

Explore our Business Administration (Distance Learning) taught Master's degree.

Gain an understanding of the global business environment with the Business Administration (Distance Learning) MBA. Ranked 1st in the world for the fifth year running by The Financial Times, this programme is taught primarily online and distinguished by face-to-face learning in Warwick or London.


Course overview

Ranked first in the world by The Financial Times Online MBA Ranking 2022, our Distance Learning MBA combines inspirational teaching with flexible online learning.

If you’re looking for a way to accelerate your career, increase your business knowledge and leadership skills and maximise your board level awareness without stepping out of work, our part-time course could be your next step.

Teaching primarily takes place via our bespoke online learning environment my.wbs, which houses our teaching materials, interactive spaces and our online classroom: wbsLive and via two residential weeks at either Warwick or London, depending on the programme format you have chosen.

Skills from this degree

  • Gain a comprehensive understanding of the global business environment
  • Gain an understanding of different leadership skills and develop your own leadership style
  • Gain an appreciation of different perspectives and viewpoints by learning with and from a diverse cohort
  • Practical application - take new ideas straight from the classroom into your day-to-day work
  • You will benefit from being part of a global cohort, allowing you to develop your professional network and understand different cultures and work practices.

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

You must have at least four years' postgraduate managerial work experience. We are seeking evidence of consistent progression including increased people management, budgetary and/or project management responsibilities.

You must have a 2:i at undergraduate level from a UK university or the equivalent from an overseas university. However, we also welcome applications from candidates who do not have the academic qualifications but are exceptional, with a proven ability to achieve.


English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

  • Band B
  • IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.


Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Core modules

  • Organisational Behaviour
  • Strategic Advantage
  • Operations Management
  • Corporate Reporting and Decision Making
  • Financial Management
  • Marketing
  • Leadership
  • Innovation and Strategic Entrepreneurship

Elective modules

You will choose four elective modules from a wide choice to customise your MBA and achieve your aims. One of your four elective modules will be a required face-to-face module. You will have a range of face-to-face modules to select from which may be based at our Warwick campus, WBS London, The Shard, or at an international location.

Face-to-face elective modules

You may select your face-to-face module from elective modules offered to our Executive MBA students at our Warwick campus or at WBS London, The Shard.

Examples of the kind of modules that may be available are:

  • Behavioural Sciences for the Manager
  • Entrepreneurial Finance
  • Financial Analysis
  • Leadership and the Art of Judgement
  • Project Management
  • Strategy and Practice

Alternatively, you can choose to complete your face-to-face elective module overseas, including five international modules that are offered primarily to our Distance Learning MBA participants.

Examples of these include:

  • Luxury Industries and Brand Management - Bocconi, Italy
  • Leading Global Organisations - Dubai
  • Strategic Cyber Security and Cloud Management - Michigan Ross, USA
  • Managing Sustainable Energy Transitions - New York, USA
  • Design Thinking - Aalto University, Finland

Online elective modules

  • Corporate Finance
  • Creating Sustainable Organisations
  • The Economics of Wellbeing
  • Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation
  • Leading and Managing Change
  • Management Accounting
  • Modelling and Analytics for Management
  • Human Resource Management
  • International Business
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Strategic Marketing
  • Strategy and Practice

Read the module descriptions for this course on the Warwick Business School website.Link opens in a new window

Teaching

Our cutting-edge technology will ensure you feel fully connected and that you never miss anything, regardless of your schedule. Teaching primarily takes place via our bespoke online learning environment, my.wbs, which houses our teaching materials, interactive spaces and our online classroom: wbsLive. Easy to use, my.wbs enables interaction in lectures, discussions and syndicate groups. It also allows you to test yourself, to access lessons and lecture recordings, submit assignments and to connect with other students and academics.

Face-to-face interaction is an essential element of our course, so you will join us on campus in Warwick or WBS London, The Shard, depending on which variant of the programme you have enrolled on, for two residential weeks (Warwick Weeks). These intensive face-to-face periods of study will embed your learning, enrich your studies and allow you to grow your network. In addition to the Warwick Week attendance, included in your tuition fee is one required face-to-face elective module. You may also opt to take an additional face-to-face module for an additional cost.


Class sizes

At Warwick our Distance Learning class sizes comprise of around 180 students, whilst in London Distance Learning class sizes comprise of approximately 60 students.


Typical contact hours

This course is taught online, with 2 weeks face-to-face teaching in the first year and a required face-to-face elective module in your second year. Each module should take approximately 100 hours, which typically includes a minimum of 27 hours of structured teaching (live teaching and online learning/support) and the remainder made up of guided online study and independent self-study.


Assessment

Module assessment is a mix of individual assignments, exams, group work and class tests.

Strategic consulting project or dissertation

You will have the choice to undertake either a strategic consulting project or traditional dissertation.

The strategic consulting project focuses on practice and is based in an employment setting. You will work as part of a group on the project with 10% of your assessment being based on group work and 90% based on an individual consulting report. This is your opportunity to consolidate everything you have learnt and apply it to a real business. Academically, it tests your ability to apply your learning to real management issues. Professionally, it may well open the door to your next career move.

If you choose to undertake the dissertation option, although more academic with a focus on theory, it is still highly relevant in the world of business. It will demonstrate that you can assimilate your learning, take multiple perspectives on a business issue and explore your subject thoroughly.

Your career

Graduates from these courses have gone on to work for employers including:

  • Accenture
  • Amazon
  • AT&T
  • Barclays
  • Capgemini
  • Citigroup
  • Deloitte
  • e-on
  • GE Healthcare
  • Heineken
  • IBM
  • Ikea
  • Jaguar
  • Morgan Stanley
  • PwC
  • Virgin media
  • VW

Helping you find the right career

We have our own dedicated careers team at Warwick Business School called WBS CareersPlus. You will have access to one-to-one career guidance appointments, CV checks and tailored mock interviews.

Personalised support

The WBS CareersPlus team will support you and help you to understand yourself and your strengths. They can help you to identify possible career paths, and to set and achieve your career ambitions. This helps to boost your employability and helps you prepare for your career.

You can take advantage of personalised careers coaching and advice. Our one to one careers appointments can help you if you have a question about writing applications, wish to explore your career options, or need to prepare for interviews and assessment centres.

Warwick Business School

If you’re interested in the bigger picture, comfortable challenging assumptions and want a degree that will open doors, then WBS is the place for you. We will give you the foundation for change and prepare you for your future career. Are you ready to make your mark in the world of business?

Find out more about us on our website.Link opens in a new window

The vision of WBS is to be Europe’s leading University-based Business School, developing transformational ideas and people that shape how we do business. We recognise that rankings are one way to profile our progress towards fulfilling this vision, and are proud to participate in the major global business education rankings.

QS Business Masters Rankings 2022

  • Master's in Business Analytics – 12th in the world, 3rd in the UK 
  • Masters's in Marketing – 7th in the world, 2nd in the UK 
  • Master's in Management – 19th in the world, 4th in the UK 
  • Master's in Finance – 20th in the world, 6th in the UK .

Financial Times Masters in Management Ranking 2021

  • 15th in the world, 3rd in the UK.

Financial Times Masters in Finance Ranking 2022

  • 12th in the world, 3rd in the UK.

Financial Times’ Online MBA ranking 2022

  • 1st in the world for our Distance Learning MBA.

Economist/Which? MBA 2022

  • 1st in the UK for our Full-time MBA.

Our Postgraduate Taught courses

MSc courses

MBA

Executive Diplomas

Our Postgraduate Research courses

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Taught course fees  Research course fees


Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2022/23 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

  • Core text books
  • Printer credits
  • Dissertation binding
  • Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and financial support

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

Global Online MBA Scholarships

Find out more about the various funding opportunities that are available in our department.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

Global Online MBA (London) Scholarships

Find out more about the various funding opportunities that are available in our department.

Find out how to apply to us, ask your questions, and find out more.

Warwick Global Online MBA

Read about how to apply to our Global Online MBA.

London Global Online MBA

Learn more about applying to our London Global Online MBA.

After you’ve applied

Find out how we process your application.

Applicant Portal

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Admissions statement

See Warwick’s postgraduate admissions policy.

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Postgraduate Open Day

Our Postgraduate Virtual Open Day will help you find out more about your course of interest, as well as general topics like applying to Warwick, accommodation, careers and funding.
Please register your interest to be the first to hear when booking opens.

Postgraduate fairs

Throughout the year we attend exhibitions and fairs online and in the UK. These events give you the chance to learn about our Master's and PhD study routes, and the wider context of postgraduate study.

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Live chats

Every week, you can connect directly with representatives from Warwick, who will be answering your questions on applying to and studying postgraduate studies at Warwick.

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Departmental events

Some academic departments hold events for specific postgraduate programmes, these are fantastic opportunities to learn more about Warwick and your chosen department and course.

See our online departmental events

1-2-1 online consultation

Learn more about our 1-2-1 online consultations for our MBA programmes.

Find out more.

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