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THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION FOR FULL-TIME MBA(12-MONTH)1
1) Awarding Institution: University of Edinburgh
2) Teaching Institution: University of Edinburgh (Business School) 3) Programme accredited by: AMBA
4) Final Award: Masters of Business Administration 5) Programme Title: Full-time MBA
6) UCAS Code: n/a
Relevant QAA Subject Benchmarking Group(s): Masters Awards in Business and Management
7) Postholder with overall responsibility for QA: Dr Inger Seiferheld 8) Date of production: 2011/2012, revised August 2012
9) External Summary
The Master of Business Administration is a generalist post-experience degree designed to prepare participants to take on management and/or leadership roles in any purposeful organisation i.e. NGOs, public, private or third-sector organisations. A smaller cohort than the industry norm allows for close interaction with Faculty fellow as well as fellow students. Despite the small cohort the School maintains a strong focus on securing a truly international and diverse cohort, thus allowing for extended learning opportunities. Drawing on current research and input from practitioners, the programme allows students to integrate their learning from a range of subject areas to understand and address complex situations holistically, as well as integrate new knowledge with previous learning and experiences. Working with international peers, students will be introduced to an environment where the capabilities required for the craft of management and leadership, many of them tacit, can be nurtured (e.g. how to form and lead high performance teams, share responsibility, negotiate, resolve conflict and deal with risk).
The main programme aims are to:
▪ develop managers and leaders capable of and willing to engage in critical decision-making in a variety of organisations;
▪ encourage socially responsible professional management;
▪ instil an aptitude and desire for peer learning and lifelong learning.
1 The information contained in this Programme Specification should be used as a guide to the content of a degree programme and should not be interpreted as a contract.
10) Educational aims of programme:
The programme is designed to introduce students to the core managerial subject areas as a preparation for roles in management and/or leadership. Focus is on application and integration of new and previous knowledge as well as understanding the underlying theoretical frameworks. Students will become aware of the importance of the economic and cultural settings for in understanding business through open sharing of knowledge and experiences from previous employment. A leadership and professional development programme (LPD) including one-to-one feedback sessions complements the programme. Specific educational aims are to:
▪ enable all students/non-specialists to recognise and understand the language and theory of the field of business and management;
▪ allow students to know and understand organisations, the external context in which they operate and how they are managed;
▪ foster an ability to critically analyse, synthesise and solve complex unstructured business problems;
▪ experience and benefit from the experiences of fellow students in order to enhance the learning and skills acquisition processes;
▪ instil a sense of ethical decision making and a commitment to the long-run welfare of both the organisation and the communities that they serve;
▪ value diversity and equality in contribution to the organisation and the wider community.
11) Programme outcomes:
11a) Knowledge and understanding
By the end of the programme, students will be able to:
Describe and critically analyse the environment in which purposeful organisations operate and the way that they are effectively managed in this environment;
Use frameworks to devise suitable plans of action for any specific purposeful organisations through analysis and integrated problem solving;
Identify global aspects and social responsibility in the management of purposeful organisations.
11b) Graduate attributes: Skills and abilities in Research and Enquiry By the end of the programme, students will be able to:
Apply models and frameworks for analysis in business;
Collect information and critically assess, analyse and interpret complicated business problems and cases;
Integrate knowledge and information from different business domains to produce holistic plans and solutions.
11c) Graduate Attributes: Skills and abilities in Personal and Intellectual Autonomy By the end of the programme, students will be able to:
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Undertake independent learning and display independent thought, acknowledging the importance and limitations of their own knowledge.
11d) Graduate Attributes: Skills and abilities in Communication By the end of the programme, students will be able to:
Demonstrate ability to present clearly and cohesively both orally and in writing;
Demonstrate capacity for synthesising written and verbal information. 11e) Graduate Attributes: Skills and abilities in Personal Effectiveness By the end of the programme, students will be able to:
Reflect on their ability to work in and lead teams;
Confidently transfer knowledge from one domain to another. 11f) Technical/practical skills
These skills are covered under the headings above.
12 Programme structure and features Entry Requirements
At least three years’ continuous work experience in substantial positions. A 1st class or a 2:1 Honours degree from a good university in any subject, or an appropriate professional qualification. Applicants who do not hold a degree or professional qualifications, may still be considered if they have a very strong employment record demonstrating a high degree of responsibility. A valid GMAT score, a minimum score of 600 is preferred.
Applicants for whom English is not their first language: a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 600 (250+ computer based) or an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7 is preferred. Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): Grade A is also accepted for our programmes. Alternatively, a recent degree from a university in an English-speaking country may be acceptable.
Degree Criteria and Programme Structure
The MBA programmes have exemption from the University’s Curriculum Framework and can therefore offer courses in Semester 2b. From 2011-12, the Full-time MBA programme (12 months) requires 180 credits from taught courses and 40 credits from the Capstone Project. Diploma is full time for 9 months, 180 credits from taught courses.
All students attend and complete the fourteen compulsory core courses (130 credits in total, including one zero-credit course), nine in semester 1a & 1b, four in semester 2a & 2b, and one straddling across semester 2a-2b. In addition, in semester 2a, students take three elective courses and another two elective courses in semester 2b (50 elective credits in total). A programme focusing on Leadership and Professional Development runs alongside the academic programme throughout.
Core Courses (all 10 credits, except where noted) Semester 1a & 1b:
Accounting
Business Ethics Finance Macroeconomics Marketing Operations Management Organisational Behaviour Strategic Management Semester 2a & 2b: Corporate Strategy Decision Analytics
Research Methods course (0 credits) Leadership & High Performance Teams Consultancy Project
The Capstone Project (40 credits)
Each student conducts an individual capstone project on a subject chosen in consultation with an academic advisor. MBA candidates write up their work (maximum 14,000 words), which is submitted by the end of August. Different models exist for the MBA Capstone Project from a traditional research based dissertation or business related reports to a Business Plan for those wishing to set up their own business.
Elective Courses (all 10 credits, five chosen)* Semester 2a & 2b:
Brand Planning Business Coaching Business Finance Business Law
Business to Business Marketing Carbon Accounting
Climate change and the challenge for business Company Finance
Consumer Behaviour
Consuming and Communicating Brands Contemporary Issues in Management Developing Inclusive Business Strategies Economics of Strategy
Emission Reduction Project Development Entrepreneurial Growth for the Family Business
Entrepreneurship and the Management of New Ventures Family Business Management
Financial Analysis Global Strategy
Green Entrepreneurship International Business
Investment and Securities Markets Investment in a Low Carbon Economy Lean Business
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Management Consultancy
Management of R & D and Product Innovation Negotiations
New Venture Creation and the Entrepreneurial Process Planning, Budgeting and Control
Project Management
Scenario Planning and Strategy
Strategic Human Resources and the New Economics of Personnel The Entrepreneurial Manager
The Management of Technology Takeovers and Mergers
Work Psychology
* Not all elective courses may run in a particular year Progression and Exit Awards
To pass the coursework element of the degree, 180 credits, students must attain at least 120 credits with a pass at masters level (50% or more) in each of the separate elements and be awarded an aggregate pass at masters level for the 180 coursework credits.
Students who also achieve at least 50% in the Capstone Project will be awarded the Masters of Business Administration. A Diploma in Business Administration will be awarded if the student has 120 credits at 40% or above and an overall 180 credits with a weighted average of at least 40%.
Students who have failed any courses in Semester 1a & 1b will be advised about their standing and if unlikely to pass the coursework component they will be advised to leave the programme.
13) Further information on programme Learning and Teaching Methods and Strategies The Business School's strategy in learning and teaching is to deliver a dynamic, engaged, classroom experience that exposes our students to both practical and theoretical perspectives on business issues in ways that stretch and challenge them.
We encourage an active learning pedagogy on all courses and discuss individual learning strategies with individual students in DoS counseling. The learning outcomes of the programme are achieved by a mixture of formal lectures, tutorials, student presentations, guest speakers, research assignments, and the MBA Capstone Project. Delivery of the taught element of the programme is via lectures, presentations, discussions and presentation by guest speaker. These are supplemented by tutorials and meetings with the students’ designated Director of Studies and the Programme Director. At MBA level a substantial amount of independent study and pre-reading for lectures is also required of students. The Full-time MBA offers the option of specialised pathways in finance, strategy, carbon management, entrepreneurship & family business. Completing two courses from Semester 2a and 2b plus the MBA Capstone Project in any one area will be recognised with the Business School Certificate.
14) Further information on programme Assessment Methods and Strategies
Assessment techniques are designed to align the individual learning strategies of students from diverse backgrounds and heritage educational and business experience, with assessment techniques appropriate to particular disciplinary fields. We encourage assessment techniques associated with active learning pedagogy. All courses specify in the Course Handbook a minimum of three individual feedback opportunities, providing formative feedback in time to improve prior to summative assessments. Courses employ a range of assessment types, including the following:
Presentations by teams or individuals
Team and individual projects/case studies and case analysis
Role playing (including Second Life role play; Production Game and Tea game)
Essays
Formal degree examinations
Personal reflections (including reflective diary)
Preparing posters, Board reports, advertisements and prospectuses Wiki essays
e-Portfolio project reports
Blogging
Leadership and Personal Development
During Semester 1 and Semester 2a students will attend the Leadership and Personal Development programme (LPD). The programme provides a range of appropriate interventions that will help meet the varying MBA students’ aspirations by
▪ helping students reflect on and make concrete their goals, whether career or personal development related
▪ providing a range of diagnostic tools intended to give students a greater understanding of their current skills base and development needs
▪ delivering a series of interventions aimed at increasing knowledge, skills, confidence and competence
Focus is placed on: ▪ Diagnosis
A detailed personal and professional perspective on the student’s initial skills base using leading edge diagnostic tools and industry recognised benchmarks designed to raise an individual’s awareness of where s/he wants to progress and the actions s/he needs to take.
▪ Delivery
The underpinning knowledge and underlying concepts, which help an individual become aware (intellectually and emotionally) of the key issues which will impact her/his ability to lead and work successfully in teams and solve real problems in challenging and constantly changing business world.
▪ Development
Individual feedback and coaching enabling each individual to articulate and reach her/his chosen career goal by pursuing a planned programme of skills development provided by experienced professionals with industry wide knowledge and skills.
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LPD runs in parallel with the Career Management Support (CMS) programme, which is designed specifically to support students in their job searching and self marketing.
15) Career Opportunities
All students go through a rigorous Careers Management Support programme designed to identify clear career targets, any soft skills gaps and to build up a network of likely career opportunities: this is led by a Careers Manager. Since salary achieved and salarly-plus are key external ranking indicators, attention is paid to the particular needs of each individual student. Formal sessions are held throughout semester 1 and 2a; with additional sessions by visiting HR professionals, recruiters and firms offering internships. Every effort is made to support students conducting Consultancy Project and Capstone work in their target careers area.
For some the Edinburgh MBA is the next step on their existing career path, for others it provides the opportunity to reconsider their futures and embark on a new career journey. MBA graduates go on to work in a variety of fields, with about a third working in banking, a fifth in consultancy, with the remained working in various industries, including Telecoms and IT, manufacturing, energy and utilities and consumer retail. Employers include Barclays, BskyB, Deloitte, IBM and the United Nations.
16) Other Items
Additional Learning Opportunities
Visiting Speakers and other Networking Functions
A large number of visiting speakers and other networking functions (3-4 a week) are scheduled in Semester 1 and 2a. Speakers are often chosen for their relevance to the core and option courses and are therefore a source of useful information that can be used for assignments and exams. The speakers can also be useful from a networking point of view. Visiting speakers are often also invited to Option classes, and where appropriate, these will be advertised so that students not taking that course may attend.
Seminars
School seminars and other talks which are not part of the MBA programme but which may be of interest to MBA students are advertised on the School’s local student portal.
Outdoor Development
Students are offered to participate in outdoor development weekends at the University’s outdoor centre at Firbush at Loch Tay in the Highlands. Weekends are attended by students on all MBA programmes, thus allowing for social networking across the programmes. The programmes are designed to accommodate all levels of ability and activity.
The e-Club
The Edinburgh Entrepreneurship Club (E-Club) is a consortium of students, alumni, researchers, faculty and staff from across the university, and colleagues from the wider community who share a common goal of fostering the entrepreneurial spirit.
Facilities and support
In terms of pastoral care and student support, all students are assigned a Director of Studies (DoS). The DoS’s function is to monitor your progress and provide advice on course choices. In addition, the DoS will be a student’s first line of pastoral support and advice for any other academic or personal issues which may arise whilst on the Programme. More information about student support is available in the programme handbook.
Course teaching will mainly be based in the University of Edinburgh Business School, 29 Buccleuch Place. In addition to 8 lecture rooms of varying size, the School offers sixteen syndicate rooms all with a dedicated PC and laptop hook-up and equipped with Smartboards or large LCD displays. Syndicate rooms are accessed by proximity card, are bookable in advance and have audio enhancement for hearing impaired. We offer two computing rooms and a computer teaching laboratory. The School hosts its own library and business information resources centre (The Hub), open from 07.00 – 24.00. The associated website supports all the postgraduate courses taught at the School and provides extensive access to a wide range of electronic business information, business research databases and on-line journals. Access to the vast majority of these services is also available to students and staff from their place of work for part-time students and at home world-wide. The portal gives access through the intranet to a comprehensive collection of electronic links, including many specialized subscribed databases (e.g. Datastream, Thomson Research, Thompson One Banker, London Share Price Database, Center for Research Security Prices (CRSP), Compustat, WRDS), to support teaching and learning.
More detailed information can be obtained from the Programme Director Dr Tony Kinder, University of Edinburgh Business School, 29 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9JS, Scotland, United Kingdom. He can be contacted through email at:
