MBA (Business Leadership and Practice) MBA



Enhance your leadership and managerial skills and develop valuable experience on this course.

Overview

Are you a recently qualified ambitious graduate who has acquired experience in areas such as the voluntary sector or family businesses or held leadership positions in associations such as student unions, sports clubs or societies? Or even, you just completed one to two years of your career in a business-related job or a work placement? If so, then this innovative MBA programme is for you. It recognises the rise of young entrepreneurs and demand from graduates to acquire higher-order managerial skills to develop their careers quickly.

The 24-month Edinburgh Napier MBA programme is tailored to the dynamic, contemporary, global business environment, focused on developing skills in leadership and the application of conceptual management theories to current practice.

You will acquire creative problem solving, critical reasoning and strategic thinking skills, gaining the confidence to present your ideas and strategies to the business world. Your learning experience is enhanced by Masterclasses and Employability skills workshops.

Our MBA in Business Leadership and Practice has a 95% overall student satisfaction score (PTES, 2023).

Typical entry point to this course is in September. Please enquire for more information.

 

 

students sitting in a lecture at the Craiglockhart campus

Mode of Study:

Full-time

Duration:

2 years

Start date:

SepJan

Course details

Designed for early career professionals, an MBA is different from other masters degrees in that it draws very much on your life and personal experiences. You’ll have group work, real-life examples, and case studies to work through in addition to learning business strategy in a simulated environment.

Our MBA programme is designed to develop your skills as a manager and leader on an international stage. We do this by supporting your study in analysing environments, formulating strategy, taking decisions and leading change programmes.

The course helps you develop practical experience and insight as well as build valuable links between theory and practice and enhances your overall employability.

The programme covers the full range of MBA skills as well as additional action learning and critical reflection skills – essential for the modern manager.

You'll acquire creative problem solving, critical reasoning and strategic thinking skills, and apply these to your learning about global economic and finance principles, strategic business issues, organisational management and the realities of the competitive marketplace.

You'll develop your written and verbal communication techniques, giving you the confidence to present your ideas and strategies to the business world.

On graduation you’ll join our MBA Alumni community, giving you access to future masterclasses and networking.

How will my degree reflect sustainability and sustainable development?

The Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) – established under the UN Global Compact – places a clear onus on Higher Education to ‘transform management education and develop the responsible decision-makers of tomorrow to advance sustainable development’. The Business School is a PRME signatory, and we seek to influence professional practice and policy nationally and internationally, helping to drive key societal, economic and environmental impacts.

Our mission is ‘to empower communities to apply business knowledge for positive societal impact’ and we work constantly to embed practical actions into our curriculum, to promote sustainability and relate these to the key ideas of sustainability, as reflected in the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes now reflect one or more of the SDG, and our research is targeted to solve real world problems, mapped against the criteria used in the Times Higher Education’s Impact Ranking. 

The most recent annual league table for Sustainability - compiled by People & Planet, the UK’s largest student campaigning network - again places Edinburgh Napier in a top 3 position among Scotland’s 19 universities. This reflects their assessment of our performance across a range of environmental and ethical considerations, which include carbon reduction and management, and education.

What is distinct about equality, diversity and inclusion?

Edinburgh Napier University is enriched by the diversity of perspectives, cultures and backgrounds brought by all within our global community. We are committed to a positive environment where diversity and inclusiveness is celebrated and everyone is treated fairly regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, disability, age, ethnic origin, religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status or whether pregnant or on maternity leave. We commit ourselves to providing a learning, working and social environment that is free from discrimination, prejudice, intimidation, stigmatisation and all forms of harassment and bullying.

The Business School's vision: 'To be the Business School for empowerment, enterprise and employability for all'.

Our mission statement: 'Empowering our communities to apply business knowledge for positive societal impact'.

What you'll study

You will study one skills module and a foundation module on business to level up your knowledge in academic skills and business at the start of the programme, and six core modules including Leadership of People and Organisational Change, Business Operations for Leaders, Business Economics in Practice, Financial Analysis for Business Leaders, Marketing Strategy for Business Leaders and Strategic Management. You will also undertake individual research and complete a Business Practice Project. You will complete 200 credits to qualify for the award.
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    How you’ll be taught

    You’ll learn through a combination of lectures, tutorials, workshops, presentations and discussions, and other interactive learning experiences.

    Classroom-based learning is enhanced by masterclasses with guest speakers from various business sectors, keeping you in touch with contemporary business solutions.
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    Assessments

    Reports, Case Studies, Reflection Logs, Presentations – they are all present in the assessment of the modules.

Modules

Modules that you will study* as part of this course

Business Economics in Practice ( SOE11158 )

The module will expose students to use critical economic analysis in business decision making and strategy development within social framework. The theoretical business and economics essential knowledge allowing for this is to be gained in the first year of the programme and the module is going to allow students to apply the theoretical concepts in practice. The skills and academic knowledge combined will constitute one of the pillars of the Business Practice Project crowning the programme. The detailed topic areas are:*Introduction to economic decision making;*Application of the business economics in market analysis;*Optimal decisions using marginal analysis;*The macroeconomic environment of businesses;*Application of the business economics in market analysis;

Further information

Business Operations for Leaders ( SOE11157 )

A business adds value through its operations, which today are typically highly dependent on the linking together organisations within the value network, connect with customers, improve delivery, personalise products and services, and match demand and supply. It is vital that managers and leaders understand both how business operations are designed, managed, and improved, and the relationship between new product/service development and operations.



The module aims to:
• develop knowledge and understanding of the key challenges of building and managing operations.
• build knowledge and understanding of the role played by people in operational delivery including Lean and Agile working
• equip students to be able to analyse and recommend improvements to the operation of a business system, whether a start-up or a well-established enterprise.


Content:
• Fundamentals of operations management and operations strategy

• Supply chains, value chains and value networks alignment with operations

• Enterprise Resource Management and planning

• Capacity planning, tools and techniques

• Lean operations and alternatives

• Quality management systems, tools and techniques?

• Knowledge management systems in business, current and future digital technologies

• Process mapping and new product and service innovation and development

• Operations leadership, role of people and culture for continuous improvement

Further information

Developing Academic and Professional Skills for Business Leaders ( SOE11156 )

Enhancing self-awareness Developing as a team member and leader, valuing difference Networking as a skill Creating your brand Career planning Reflective practice Digital literacy Sourcing data Interpreting and evaluating data Using data Developing as a self-regulated learner Academic Literacy – including study skills and referencing/citations Assessment Literacy Feedback Literacy Developing Skills to include Professional communication and persuasive writing in academic and business contexts Time management Presentation using different media Inner Feedback (using external sources of information to evaluate knowledge and understanding)In relation to whether these are separate topics within the module, the intention is that they will be delivered discretely, but in an order that allows for them to be iteratively and cumulatively drawn upon to complete the tasks and transfer the knowledge form these tasks to other MBA modules and content. See below for more details of this in the Learning and Teaching Methods (Approaches).

Further information

Financial Analysis for Business Leaders ( ACC11126 )

This module equips students without accountancy and finance knowledge with the ability of financial decisions making in a corporate business environment. Students will learn the process of evaluating business performance as well as various techniques for valuing firms/businesses. The module will also discuss the key managerial decisions. Students will be exposed to various approaches for investment appraisal and capital raising. The module will offer a reflection on the contemporary issues business managers face in the current social and environmental conditions.

Further information

Leadership in Business Practice Project ( SOE11163 )

The module has been designed to enable you to develop your knowledge, and skills as an independent business consultant and produce a business report for a chosen business problem.The module comprises of a seminar series that help students to gain necessary research skills to conduct an independent business research. Topics include:Seminar 1: Research Process and Planning Seminar 2: Research problem identification and developing a design Seminar 3: Business Research Proposal development Seminar 4: How to do a Literature Review Seminar 5: Data, Data Collection and Sampling Seminar 6: Qualitative Research and Data analysis Methods Seminar 7: Quantitative Data analysis Methods Seminar 8: Writing, Communicating and Reporting Research

Further information

Leadership of People and Organisational Change ( HRM11124 )

This module provides a theoretical foundation in management and organisational behaviour, which then links with follow-on module on year 2. The module emphasises the key knowledge for the successful completion of the programme. Framed within the wider contexts of employee relations and managing change, this module includes critical examination of the impact of people management and leadership practices on organisational, team and individual behaviour. The module builds on the theories explored in previous modules and sets the basis for understanding the fundamentals of people management and organisational behaviour in changing contexts. Further to this, you will explore the way work is organised (rational and social theories) and how these feed into the contemporary business environments. The module is also concerned with learner development of a business orientation, a concern with adding value through HR practice, and a range of skills pivotal to successful people management practice, effective leadership and the valuing of difference. This includes critical reflection, problem solving and decision-making skills; a range of team working and interpersonal skills and others associated with developing personal effectiveness and credibility at work.

Further information

MBA Employability Skills ( TBS11107 )

This is a shell module for timetabling purposes

Further information

Marketing Strategy for Business Leaders ( MKT11123 )

The module introduces marketing strategy as fundamental to organisations’ strategic planning, formulation, implementation, measurement, and control. Marketing involves value creation and the exchanges amongst customers and society. The module critically examines strategic marketing planning processes, customer identification, customer needs, and how these can be satisfied in a challenging and competitive global marketing environment.

Contemporary marketing concepts and theories are introduced to examine the micro and macro marketing environment. This is examined as part of organisations’ marketing processes, linking to digital marketing communications. The module aims to develop your critical thinking and analysis skills so you can make effective and evidence-based strategic marketing decisions. This will create an awareness for the role of marketing strategy in business.

Topics you will cover include: The marketing environment, marketing mix, segmentation, branding, and innovation issues of marketing sustainability including aspects of market research and analysis.

The module content will be delivered using practical examples and case studies that aim to develop critical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Further information

Strategic Management ( SOE11164 )

This module provides students exposure to strategic business environment. It critically explores the analytical frameworks and techniques for the analysis of uncertain and dynamic business environments and effective strategy formulation, implementation and evaluation. In addition, the module considers the strategic paradoxes and tensions – the key challenges of strategic management. Furthermore, the module provides an opportunity for students to make strategic decisions in a simulated business context, aimed at achieving business targets..

Further information

* These are indicative only and reflect the course structure in the current academic year. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our disclaimer.

Entry requirements

What are the entry requirements for MBA Business Leadership and Practice?

The entry requirement for this course is a Bachelor (Honours) Degree at 2:2 or above. We look for applicants to have a background in any discipline in order to be eligible for the programme. 

Applications need to be supported with a personal statement detailing the reasons for choosing the particular specialism.

We may also consider lesser qualifications if you have sufficient professional work experience within the industry.

Can I get admission into MBA Business Leadership and Practice based on my working experience in this sector?

This course has academic entry requirements which are assessed alongside relevant work experience. Full details of any relevant work experience, including references should be submitted with your application and may be considered for entry where the minimum academic entry requirements are below those required.

Usually, unrelated work experience is not considered sufficient for entry without meeting the minimum academic entry requirements. Please contact us with your specific circumstances by submitting an enquiry form above and we will be happy to discuss your options.

Can I make an appointment with an advisor to discuss further about the admission process?

If you want to get more information on the admission process, please get in touch with the Postgraduate admissions team by submitting an enquiry form above.

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test and our minimum English language requirements will apply.

This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English, or your undergraduate degree was taught and examined in English (within two years of starting your postgraduate course). Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study. 

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Tuition fees
Students from 2023/24 2024/25
Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland £8,305 £8,720
Overseas and EU £10,260 £11,290
You study this course over two academic years, fees listed are per annum.
Please note tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other Tuition Fee matters please see Frequently Asked Questions about Fees Click this link for Information of Bursaries and Scholarships
Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.


Please note:

The discount for Edinburgh Napier alumni can only be applied to year one of a full-time Postgraduate degree, any additional years are exempt from the discount.

For part time Postgraduate degrees the discount will apply to years one, two and three only and any additional years will be exempt from the discount.

Please read our full T&C here

Careers

Graduation students taking pictures with an ENU sign outside Usher Hall.

The MBA (Business Leadership and Practice) will provide you with the opportunity to realise your full career potential. You’ll be in demand as employers worldwide seek graduates with a recognised portfolio who are able to deliver solutions in complex organisational settings.

In recent years, students have come to our MBA with first degrees from many different disciplines, and have gone on to build careers in a range of industries in the public, private and voluntary/not-for-profit sectors.

Coloured letters that spell out the word 'welcome' at Craiglockhart