Online MBA

An online MBA course offers flexibility to study the MBA postgraduate qualification – the Master of Business Administration. The MBA is renowned for being the prime qualification to set you up for being a leader and to help you on your way to the dizzying executive levels of business – and big salary boosts!

As technology continues to improve, online MBA options are growing, and it’s becoming a popular way for ambitious working professionals to obtain this qualification and enhance their career prospects.

How does an online MBA work?

An online MBA involves a course format of predominantly online lectures and seminars. Some courses will run all tutoring, seminars, assessments and resources entirely online; others may provide a more blended approach with which you’ll be required to attend some sessions face-to-face at your course provider university campus; though the majority of course content and activities will still be delivered online and through supporting materials. Any face-to-face time will only be a matter of a few days throughout the whole course. Online MBA students are assigned tutors online who they are able to contact for feedback on their assignments and progress.

Working professionals often undertake an online MBA alongside their day job, squeezing in study alongside their other responsibilities. As such, it takes longer to complete an online MBA; usually between two and six years depending on how much study time is available. On the plus side, it can be a slightly cheaper option compared to full-time study.

Entry requirements

Most MBA providers will ask that you have at least three years of relevant work experience in addition to an undergraduate degree (or equivalent). The MBA is a course that builds on work experience you already have. Those with relevant work experience but no undergraduate degree may be able to complete a foundation course of sorts before being able to commence the course.

It’s likely you’ll have to pass the GMAT exam too before you will officially be offered a place on a course. The GMAT exam tests your aptitude for the skills you’ll have to put to use on the MBA course. It’s a challenging and intense programme, so providers want to be sure you can keep up with the level of content.

International students will also have to pass an English proficiency test if their first language isn’t English and they don’t have an undergraduate degree from the UK or enough work experience in the UK.

Providers of distance learning/online MBA courses based in the UK

  • Warwick Business School
  • Durham University Business School
  • Bradford University School of Management
  • Open University Business School
  • The University of Liverpool
  • Oxford Brookes University
  • Robert Gordon University
  • University of Strathclyde
  • University of Reading
  • Aston University
  • University of Manchester
  • Leeds Metropolitan University
  • Heriot-Watt University