Distance Learning MBA - Frequently Asked Questions
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1. General Introduction Questions
Why should I consider doing an MBA?
Why should I do a Distance Learning MBA at Bradford University School of Management?
Who are RDI?
Will my degree certificate say 'Distance Learning' on it?
2. Rankings & Accreditation
How is the Bradford MBA programme ranked worldwide?
How is the Bradford MBA programme accredited worldwide?
3. Fees, Scholarships and Intakes
What are the tuition fees for the distance learning MBA?
Is Bradford University covered under the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships Scheme?
When can I apply?
4. Entry Requirements & Application Process
What are the entry requirements for the Bradford MBA?
What is the application process?
How long will it take you to process my application?
May I transfer credits from other institutions?
5. Teaching and Faculty
What materials will I receive to help my studies?
How will I progress through my studies?
How much time will I have to commit to my studies?
If I take the distance learning MBA administered from Bradford, will I be required to attend lectures at Bradford?
Will I feel isolated when doing a distance learning MBA at Bradford University School of Management?
6. Assessment
How will my progress be assessed?
Do I have to come to Bradford to take any exams?
1. General Introductory Questions
Why should I consider doing an MBA?
There are a variety of opportunities available to progress your managerial understanding. However, the results of a survey conducted by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) involving 735 UK based organizations (of various sizes operating in numerous sectors) states that the MBA maintains its strong brand recognition in the workplace, being perceived as a 'high status' qualification.
Interestingly though it has been noted that employers are placing increased emphasis on the quality of the qualification students attain. The Bradford University School of Management is ranked as a top 10 UK business school by the Financial Times. The MBA is listed by the Financial Times as one of the world's top 100 MBA all of which underlines the quality of the Bradford MBA.
Why should I do a Distance Learning MBA at Bradford University School of Management?
There are six key reasons why the Bradford University School of Management Distance learning MBA is a sound choice:
1) Accreditation: The AMBA, EQUIS accreditation. We are currently in the process of attaining AACSB accreditation.
2) Ranking: One of the top 10 UK business schools and one of the top 100 MBAs in the world as ranked by the Financial Times.
3) Management Knowledge: The Bradford MBA provides students with a sound understanding of key management disciplines (e.g. Business Economics and Marketing). However, through drawing on the expertise of many world renowned academics based at Bradford University School of Management, distance learning students have the opportunity to study increasingly important contemporary managerial issues (e.g. Leadership, Business Ethics and Sustainability and Managing International Business in Emerging Economies). This means that our MBA students attain vital skills and knowledge which will enable them to become well rounded managers able to meet the challenges of an ever changing business environment.
4) Interaction and Support: For each subject (module) studied you will receive individual tutor support as a member of a small tutorial study group made up of 20-25 students. The study group will provide you an opportunity to progress your understanding of a subject area alongside other students through a series of planned on-line discussions and tutorials but also through the development of informal student networks.
5) Flexibility: We appreciate that our distance learning students are likely to have a numerous commitments (e.g. work and family). With this in mind students can tailor their learning to suit their needs. Students can: a) suspend their studies, b) study a reduced number of modules over a certain period, c) switch to an alternative mode of study (e.g. on site Part-time or Full-time). Distance learning students can also accelerate their learning by completing up to 3 modules (at no extra cost) in just 3-5 days through attending intensive teaching blocks in Bradford or at our partner institutions in the Netherlands, Germany, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai and the Philippines.
The element of flexibility extends to what you actually study. In cycle 2 of the programme all students are required to take 4 elective modules from the 9 elective modules offered. Through offering 9 modules it means that even if you do not attend an intensive teaching block in Bradford or at a partner institution you can still tailor your studies to suit your needs choosing the modules that are right for you.
6) Value for Money: Given the high quality and outstanding reputation of the distance learning MBA programme the fee represents real value for money. As of September 2011 the fee for the distance learning MBA is £12,950. Limited scholarships are available. For further information on scholarships please contact our partners at RDI.
Who are RDI?
The Bradford University School of Management administers its distance learning MBA alongside a partner organization called RDI (Resource Development International). RDI are responsible for the initial stages of student recruitment onto the distance learning MBA as well as the collection of student fees (year 1 fees for EU/UK students, all fees for students from other geographic locations).
Once a student has been accepted onto the MBA programme then the dedicated team of distance learning administrators based at the School of Management oversee student progress and deal with any issues that may emerge.
Will my degree certificate say 'Distance Learning' on it?
No, the School of Management uses the same degree certificates across all of its MBA programmes.
2. Rankings & Accreditation
How is the Bradford MBA programme ranked worldwide?
Financial Times Rankings:
- 15th in the UK
- 24th in Europe
- 89th in the world
How is the Bradford MBA programme accredited worldwide?
AMBA (Association of MBAs): We were among the first business schools in the UK to receive portfolio accreditation for all our MBA programmes (including full-time, executive part-time and distance-learning MBAs) from AMBA.
EQUIS: We have the prestigious EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System) which is the leading international system of quality assessment, improvement, and accreditation of higher education institutions in management and business administration, run by the European Quality for Foundation for Management Development.
AACSB: We are currently in the process of being accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. We are confident this process will be complete next year, and this will give us a triple crown of accreditations. Around 1% of business schools in the world are accredited by all 3 of these organizations.
3. Fees, Scholarships and Intakes
What are the tuition fees for the distance learning MBA?
The fees for the distance learning MBA are £12,950.
Is Bradford University covered under the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships Scheme?
The Bradford MBA is not covered under the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships Scheme.
When can I apply?
There are 4 intakes per year (January, April, July and October). This means that you never have to wait too long before you start studying for your MBA. It is however, advised that you apply at least 3 weeks before the deadline. This will leave plenty of time for your application to be assessed and if successful, processed.
4. Entry Requirements & Application Process
What are the entry requirements for the Bradford MBA?
- A degree from an approved university, or an acceptable professional qualification. Usual entry requirement is: UK degree minimum 2:2 (honours); European degree gross percentile average (GPA) of 2.5 out of 4.0 or 6.5 out of 10, or overall average of 70 from 100 per cent.
- At least three years' relevant postgraduate work experience
- Proficiency in English - a 6.5 score on IELTS test of English, 580 in written TOEFL, 240 in computer-based TOEFL or 94 or better in the internet-based TOEFL are needed from non-native speakers. Under exceptional circumstances we may consider alternative evidence regarding proficiency of English
- It may be the case that you are a highly motivated applicant with a proven track record and a wealth of highly relevant work experience but you do not have the required academic qualifications. If this is the case you may well still be eligible for the MBA and as such you are encouraged to proceed with your application
What is the application process?
The application process can be broken down into a number of simple stages.
- A student submits a formal application to RDI with the required documentation (i.e. qualification certificates, completed application form). All applications are screened at this stage and suitable applications are forwarded to the School of Management
- The School of Management admissions team asses each application on an individual basis looking at academic qualifications, work experience and if English is not your first language, proof of English ability. Following on from this the team make a decision on an applicant's suitability.
- If an applicant is accepted onto the programme a student file is created and a letter is sent to the student informing them that they have been accepted onto the programme.
- If the student subsequently accepts a place on the MBA programme the School of Management postgraduate office writes to the student outlining all the essential information they need to start studying for the MBA.
How long will it take you to process my application?
Once our partners RDI, have passed on all the relevant information provided that the complete application does not raise unexpected issues of interpretation, we can expect to confirm a decision within a working day, or two in periods of our peak activity. Applications that are either incomplete or raise unexpected issues are usually delayed whilst the applicant provides further details; once completed, these applications may take up to three working days to resolve. Once a decision has been agreed to make the offer (usually an unconditional offer), the relevant offer document is sent out at the next opportunity (usually the next working day).
May I transfer credits from other institutions?
Our University encourages the recognition of transfer credit but our accrediting bodies do not always employ the same criteria. It is therefore in the best interests of a candidate with possible transfer credit to make careful enquiry before submitting an application. The judgement of how much credit to accept depends upon a detailed comparison of syllabus/programme specification materials, as well as level of attainment. It is difficult to predict how long such an evaluation may take because individual circumstances vary.
5. Teaching and Faculty
What materials will I receive to help my studies?
For each module you will receive a textbook and a high quality study book containing essential study notes, case studies and short exercises to develop your understanding. The study books are written by academics from Bradford University School of Management many of whom are world leading authorities in their subject area. Each study book contains:
- 9 study units, each unit is designed to develop your understanding of a particular subject area
- 2 optional assignments which you submit to your tutor for feedback. These assignments enable you to track your progress whilst providing valuable feedback ensuring that you understand key subject areas.
- A series of short case studies and exercises reinforcing key principles and ideas and demonstrating how academic theory can be put into practice.
- Clear guidance on accessing additional learning materials (e.g. academic papers) that will help reinforce your understanding and knowledge
The printed materials are used alongside on-line materials made available via the Bradford School of Management virtual learning environment (Blackboard). The on-line materials include:
- A copy of the module study book
- Guidance on the assessment used for the module
- Powerpoint slides and audio recordings (where available) taken from Bradford based full time MBA lectures
- Film from 3 key on-site lectures (where available)
- Key readings selected by Bradford academics from leading academic journals, trade publications and broadsheet newspapers
- Selected audio and video clips helping to underline your knowledge and understanding of particular subject areas
- Additional non-compulsory readings enabling you to engage with and advance your understanding
- A comprehensive bank of multiple choice questions allowing you to monitor your understanding and get instant feedback on your understanding and progress.
- Access to the University on line library resources.
How will I progress through my studies?
In order to successfully complete the MBA you have to complete 14 taught modules and a 12,500-15,000 word management project. Initially you study 10 compulsory core modules followed by 4 electives modules. These 4 modules can either be studied on line or through attending a 3-5 day intensive teaching session(s) at the Management School in Bradford or at a partner institute.
Distance learning students usually study 2 modules every 3 months. Each module is split into 9 units (8 learning units and 1 revision unit). Students are expected to work through 1 unit per module per week. This format ensures that students have a number of weeks at the end of the module for examination revision (if the module is assessed by an exam) assignment work and general recuperation.
Through completing 2 modules every 3 months by the end of year 1 students will have studied 8 modules. In year 2 students take the remaining 2 compulsory modules and the 4 chosen modules. The completion of these modules takes 9 months. In the final 3 months students complete the Management Project. Many students however, see the Management Project as a key part of the MBA experience, putting the skills they have learnt into practice. To facilitate this we allow students up to 12 months to complete the management project.
The programme does allow considerable flexibility with students taking up to 6 years to complete the MBA.
How much time will I have to commit to my studies?
Conventionally students study 2 modules per quarter. Following this timetable students finish the taught element of the MBA in 21 months. A student may then spend the remaining 3 months on their project, completing the MBA in 2 years. However, please note you can take up to 1 year to complete the Management Project and 6 years to complete the distance learning MBA in its entirety.
Each taught module is made up of 9 learning units. It is expected that students will progress at the rate of 1 learning unit per module per week. Each unit equates to 7-8 hours study time. As such if you were to take 2 modules in a quarter then you will need to put aside 14-16 hours per week for your studies.
If I take the distance learning MBA administered from Bradford, will I be required to attend lectures at Bradford?
You are not required to attend any lectures at the School of Management in Bradford. All modules can be studied through the use of the on line resources and materials provided. However, as a distance learning student you do have the option of attending an onsite 2 day induction session in September or January each year at the School of Management. You can also study up to 3 elective modules at the School of Management in Bradford or at one of our partner institutes in the Netherlands, Germany, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines. These modules are taught over an intense 3-5 day period. No extra charge will be made for attending these modules. Please note though, you will have to pay travel, accommodation and subsistence and these modules are subject to availability.
Will I feel isolated when doing a distance learning MBA at Bradford University School of Management?
While distance learning allows you to study at a time, place and pace to suit your needs we ensure that you will never feel like you are studying alone. When studying a module you will be part of a small tutor group led by an experienced academic. As a tutor group member you are expected to take part in weekly on line discussions and a series of live on line tutorials. You can also discuss issues with other distance learning students and academics through the Bradford University School of Management social networking site - The Atrium.
You can also study up to 3 modules over an intense 3-5 day period at the School of Management or at one of our partner institutions. This provides an opportunity to study alongside other MBA students from the full time, part time and distance learning programmes.
6. Assessment
How will my progress be assessed?
In order to ensure that you have gained the required skills and knowledge you will have to successfully complete a form of assessment for each module. The assessment may be an individual written assignment, an exam or a mixture of both.
So that you can monitor your progress as you work your way through each module there are a number of opportunities for formative assessment (i.e. assessment that will not count to your overall grade). As such when studying each module you will be invited to submit 2 pieces of work to your individual tutor. Your tutor will read through the work and provide you with feedback. In addition to this you will be encouraged to complete a series of on-line multiple choice questions for each module.
Do I have to come to Bradford to take any exams?
You do not have to sit your exams in Bradford. We have over 50 exam centres throughout the world and so the chances are there is an exam centre near you. If this is not the case then you will be able to nominate an exam centre near where you live and sit your exams there so long as the exam centre nominated passes our quality control procedures. Please note if you do not sit exams in Bradford or the RDI offices in Coventry then you will have to pay an additional examination fee.