MBA in Retailing

Study MBA in Retailing and graduate with a university degree

Postgraduate Diploma; Postgraduate Certificate; MBA

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The MBA in Retailing is offered by the Institute for Retail Studies (IRS), based in the Stirling Management School. The IRS has  an international reputation for teaching, research and consultancy in retailing and the distributive trades.

The MBA places emphasis upon individual coaching and is unique in catering specifically for the retail sector. Its modular design results in each subject being studied separately.

It is a high-quality programme offering a unique combination of general management skills and retail-specific specialisms.

Programme Objectives

This programme was developed to meet the needs of retail managers and others servicing the retail industry.

It provides you with industry-focused study for your MBA whilst maintaining your career and applying your learning within the business. The programme has the following objectives:

  • To demonstrate a thorough understanding of the industry and associated organisations
  • To encourage you to use your skills more effectively in areas such as strategy, human resource management and marketing
  • To apply current management techniques
  • To develop responses to market turbulence
  • To analyse problems and develop solutions on an industry-wide basis

Entrance Requirements

The MBA in Retailing by Distance Learning is a postgraduate programme open to both graduates and non-graduates. For those individuals who have an undergraduate degree from a recognised University, then the selection committee require each candidate to have at least 2 – 3 years relevant work experience.

For those who have not previously studied in Higher Education, admittance is through relevant work experience. Typically an individual should have worked in retailing or a related sector for at least 8 – 10 years.

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

Students can finance their MBA in the following ways:

Self funding – where the student pays for all costs themselves there are a number of options available including payment by instalments.

Fully-sponsored – where the student’s organisation pays for all the costs. This can be linked to a ‘golden handcuffs’ arrangement where the student agrees to remain with an organisation for a certain length of time after gaining their MBA or pays back a percentage of the fees if they leave within the set period.

Part-sponsored – where the student and sponsor (employer) agree on a shared contribution. This can be done in many ways and we would be delighted to talk this option through with students and/or employers.

Modes of Study

Most students complete the full MBA but you can exit after four modules with a Postgraduate Certificate in Retailing, and after eight modules with a Postgraduate Diploma in Retailing. These qualifications are internationally recognised and can be accredited towards further later study on the MBA. Some students may enter the programme at Certificate level or with accredited modules through tailored corporate or individual management programmes run by the IRS or other institutions.

The MBA takes a minimum of two years to complete but there is flexibility for the programme to be taken over a longer period.

Programme Start Date

May/June

Structure and Content

The programme comprises eight modules of study plus a dissertation. Modules include:

  • Managing the Strategic Environment: Examines the role of senior management in setting the direction of an organisation. It offers the opportunity to examine the strategic issues and problems confronting companies in the retail sector
  • Retail Management Context: Examines the principles of retailing in terms of their function within the distribution channel
  • Managing the Supply Chain: Examines the importance of supply chain management to retail businesses
  • Managing Finance: Introduces the three disciplines of financial accounting, management accounting and financial management
  • Managing People: Examines the context of Human Resource Management (HRM) decision-making in terms of the employment structure in retailing and outlines processes and techniques required by managers for the effective management of the workforce
  • Retail Marketing: Defines the role of marketing within retail organisations. It emphasises the need to integrate marketing policy with business strategy
  • Buying and Merchandising: Explains how merchandise decisions within retail organisations are made at both strategic and operational levels
Either:

  • Locational Strategy: Provides a strategic view of store location and design, locational analysis and property development
Or:

  • International Retailing: Provides an understanding of the process management of international retailing by analysing the companies involved as well as reviewing major retail areas of the world in search of the effects of internationalisation

Dissertation

After completion of the taught modules, you will undertake a dissertation (circa 15,000 words) which is an applied and/or academic piece of research into a specific business or retail topic of your choice.

Students may choose a topic which is relevant to their employer as well as interest to themselves. It is an opportunity to develop analytical skills that are essential in the fast changing retail sector.

Delivery and Assessment

Over a period of two years students will study from home and will also attend two annual Summer School events at Stirling. In addition, students will have the option of attending weekend study schools for an introduction to the next modules of study (in September and January/February).The academic year for the programme is split into three teaching semesters, during each of which students will study two modules.

Find out more: MBA UK Brochure

MBA Global

The programme is divided into 5 study periods each lasting approximately 4 months. Each study period starts and ends with a study school where new modules are introduced and taught, and old modules concluded. Teaching methods include seminars, guest speakers, tutorials and case study workshops. Assessment is a combination of coursework and examination.


The programme of study can be viewed here

Why study MBA in Retailing at Stirling?

Programme Director

Eric Calderwood

RAE Rating

In the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), retail research at Stirling was acknowledged as ‘World-leading’.

Division Website

http://www.irs.stir.ac.uk/

Career Opportunities

The programme is aimed at experienced managers in retailing and related trades, and serves to enhance career prospects within existing companies.

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MBA FAQs

Why this MBA?

The MBA in Retailing by distance learning is unique in that it is the only MBA which caters specifically for the retail sector. It is written and delivered by a team renowned for their international research and consultancy. Participants on the programme apply their knowledge from the MBA to their own business.

Students therefore benefit by:

  • becoming more effective managers;
  • enhancing their career opportunities;
  • achieving a prestigious postgraduate business qualification.

Why distance learning?

The MBA in Retailing by distance learning has been designed for those managers who cannot or who do not wish to study on a full-time basis. Distance learning is a means of delivering HIGH QUALITY management education to a student regardless of location.

How does the MBA work?

The MBA in Retailing is a modular programme and this means that individuals can study at a pace to suit themselves. To gain an MBA an individual must complete eight taught modules and submit a dissertation. However, as the programme is modular, individuals who have completed four prescribed modules qualify for the Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration (Retailing), while those who complete eight taught modules qualify for the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (Retailing). Those who then go on to complete the dissertation successfully qualify for the MBA in Retailing.

What are the benefits to my employer?

If you are thinking about approaching your company to enquire about sponsorship or if you are thinking about sponsoring an individual on the programme it may be helpful to consider the following advantages of the MBA in Retailing. These are:

  • Applicability: the programme has been designed for the retail industry. Employers and participants benefit immediately from the additional skills and knowledge gained.
  • Integration: employers do not lose valuable members of staff to full-time study for one or two years and the employees avoid the problem that can arise with re-integration into the organisation.
  • Flexibility: participants can organise their study time according to personal circumstances, without loss of income or disruption to their careers.

For a full list of MBA FAQs, please click here.


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Stirling Management School

Institute for Retail Studies

Institute for Retail Studies LogoThe Institute for Retail Studies at the University of Stirling was established in 1983 to act as a focus for the academic and applied study of the retail industry. It is now one of Europe’s largest University based retail institutes and has developed a reputation for offering a range of high quality education and training programmes to the retail sector as well as undertaking research of an international standard.

The Institute (IRS) has for a number of years been recognised as a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for its contribution to retail education and training.

Our Teaching

All members of staff are high profile academic with an excellent international reputation. Our teaching is based on the research activities in the fields of e.g. consumer behaviour, marketing, international business and logistics. Students benefit from our intensive contacts to the leadings  UK retailers in in terms of guest lectures or field trips. For more information on our staff, their research and teaching please visit the Institute for Retail Studies.

Business, Marketing and Management


What our graduates say about the MBA in Retailing

“I have been working in grocery retail for the past eight years and in order to develop my skills I thought the MBA in Retailing would help me.  It is the only MBA that I know of, that has a focus exclusively on retail so that was a big selling point for me”.

“I chose the MBA specifically because it focussed on retail.  I did an undergraduate degree in retail and having such a passion for the business I wanted to carry it on”.

“The MBA has really opened my eyes to lots of different areas in retail that I probably wouldn’t have had experience otherwise, so it gets me involved in things like logistics, finance and marketing”.

‘The Stirling MBA was a great way of reinforcing and consolidating practical and commercial knowledge in a theoretical context.  It was also a great way of meeting retailers and those interested in UK and International Retail.  Studying for the MBA, and undertaking the Dissertation in particular, helped me develop my knowledge and experience in a number of important ways, and has benefitted me in my day-to-day work.  Rather than being a course overly focused on theory, I found the approach - and the lecturers and tutors - to focus on the specifics, realities and changing face of modern retailing.  I would certainly recommend the course – and the experience – to other people’.

“I work for a retailer and I chose the MBA in Retailing as it was relevant to my business”.

“Within my work it’s allowed me to get greater visibility and develop a lot of connections with other people within the business.  Also through people that are studying on the MBA with me it’s allowed me to get an insight into how other people work within retail”.

"The MBA in Retailing has deepened my understanding of the industry and at the same time given me the skills and knowledge to approach the sector in positive ways, especially in these times of challenge.  The team at Stirling, the materials and the professional network that the MBA has allowed me to build, have proved invaluable both through my studies and beyond"



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Part-time; Distance learning

Melanie McLeod Programme Administrator
MBA in Retailing (by distance learning)
Institute for Retail Studies
Stirling Management School
University of Stirling
Stirling
FK9 4LA
Scotland
UK +44 (0) 1786 467407 www.irs.stir.ac.uk/

© University of Stirling FK9 4LA Scotland UK Telephone +44 1786 473171
Scottish Charity No SC011159