Master of Business Administration

Established in 1985, the Stirling MBA combines academic theory with real-life business case study analysis which will equip students with the awareness, knowledge, tools and techniques that are essential for dealing with business challenges in their parts of the world. The programme offers a critical coverage of functional areas of business and management (finance, marketing, economics and human resource management) that are essential for effective management. This forms the basis upon which advanced modules are introduced that provide a strategic analysis of key concerns that are pertinent in business today.

Programme Objectives

Understanding business in terms of inclusion, environmental, cultural, social and economic sustainability is central to the Stirling MBA. These concerns and perspectives are explored in particular in the context of emerging economies with the explicit intent of providing a different business education. Throughout the world, such issues are taken increasingly seriously as a response to the current financial crisis and the Stirling MBA is the first MBA program in Scotland that is specifically designed to cater to this important agenda.

Entrance Requirements

Academic Qualifications & Work Experience: A good honours or equivalent degree in any discipline, or an equivalent professional qualification. While at least two years’ work experience is normally required, candidates with less but who have an outstanding academic record may be considered for admission.

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence of your proficiency such as a minimum IELTS score of 6 (minimum 5.5 in each skill), or TOEFL: Listening 21, Reading 22, Speaking 23, Writing 21.

Funding

A limited number of 30 percent fee scholarships, awarded on academic merit, are available.

Postgraduate Student's Allowance Scheme (PSAS) awards are available on a competitive basis to Home/EU fee paying students.

Information on possible sources of funding

Modes of Study

Full-time: MBA: one year

September

The Stirling Management School is currently reviewing the content of the MBA. For the most up-to-date information contact the Stirling Management School:
Tel: +44 (0) 1786 467418
Email: management@stir.ac.uk

Structure and Content

Programme content will include:

• Business in and with Emerging Economies
  At Stirling, we recognise that the way business activities are managed, and the impact of those activities, varies across the globe. It is forecast that emerging economies will have a significant impact on world economic development – expected to constitute more than 50 percent of world GDP by 2050. The Stirling MBA explores the concept of doing business in and with emerging economies, contrasting it with business elsewhere
• Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Responsibility
  The focus of the Stirling MBA is developing businesses and decision-making skills, enabling students to concentrate on the ‘big picture’ of responsibility in all of its economic, environmental, cultural, social and thus business dimensions, areas in which we have distinctive research expertise. This is also in line with the requirements of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (UNPRME), to which the Stirling Management School is a signatory
• Personal and career development
  Complementing the academic element of the programme are a range of personal and career development workshops and activities that require communication, reflection and analysis. These activities begin at the very start of the programme during induction, and run as an integrated theme throughout the year. The aim is to help you to develop the self-awareness, critical thinking skills, leadership skills and team-working competences that are vital to effective managing
• Internships
  A limited number of students will be offered the opportunity to undertake an internship with a selected organisation either in Scotland or internationally. Internships will be awarded following a competitive interview process

Flexibility of choice

You will have the opportunity to tailor your MBA programme towards your chosen career path. Six MBA variant programmes are currently available.

Elective Modules (select one from the following list of variant options):

• Master of Business Administration (General)
  - Advanced Strategy & Leadership
• MBA (Project Management)
  - Project Management Fundamentals
• MBA (International Marketing)
  - International Marketing
  
• MBA (Human Resource Management)
  - Contemporary Issues in HRM
  
• MBA (Finance)
  - Financial Statement Analysis
  - International Corporate Finance
• MBA (International Retailing)
  International Retailing
• MBA (Climate Change)
  - Energy Markets & Policy
  - The Economics of Climate Change
  

Delivery and Assessment

There will be considerable emphasis on active and participative learning, with extensive use of seminars, case studies, role play simulations and workshops, as well as formal lectures. Assessment is by a mixture of examination and coursework, including written assignments, class tests and presentations.

Timetable

Contact the School for information on your timetable and reading lists.

RAE Rating

The reputation of our research staff was recognised in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), where 85 percent of our research activity was rated as being of ‘International Significance’.

Career Opportunities

Graduates’ careers upon graduation have been in the full range of private, public and voluntary sector organisations, including positions in production management, finance and banking, public relations and customer relations, sales and marketing, higher education, project management, the civil service and international business.