In a changing world, leadership is the ability to influence a group towards goals and values which are sustainable and contain a vision for the future. Designed for tomorrow’s leader, the MBA in Leadership and Sustainability creates distinctive managers with a unique leadership-oriented career opportunity. This programme in Leadership and Sustainability creates individuals who have the ability to be far-sighted and actively engage with their environment to responsibly transform ideas into reality.
Our online MBA can act as a catalyst to your business knowledge and infuse new perspectives to your professional goals. Thanks to our partnership with Robert Kennedy College, you can study at a pace that suits you, with the ability to fast track for completion in 18 months. Get involved in this exciting opportunity to take the first MBA in the world that focuses on Leadership and Sustainability.
This course is run in exclusive partnership with the Robert Kennedy College in Zurich, Switzerland and applications should be made directly at their website.
Graduate destinations
An MBA is the prime management qualification, providing a catalyst for those with strong career aspirations.
Course outline
Course summary
The MBA has been shaped to form what the programme team believes to be a unique curriculum. It allows students to:
- Gain a UK Higher Education Institution accredited MBA.
- Study in their own time (in whatever time-zone in which they live).
- Study at their own pace (within the current period of University of Cumbria regulations for part-time study).
- Continue to live in their own country/location without disrupting family life.
- Continue to pursue their existing career without a break.
The MBA in Leadership and Sustainability programme aims to develop an understanding and critical appreciation of the theories, tools and techniques of leadership and management that will enable graduates to more effectively participate in leading organisational change. In doing so, the programme seeks to improve the quality of management as a profession. In particular, the overarching purpose is, in the context of the specific award, to provide students with:
- An advanced understanding of the management of organisations and the changing external context in which they operate;
- Opportunities for the systematic development of the skills of objective analysis, evaluation, and presentation to enable students to develop confidence in effectively appraising and implementing management strategies;
- An ability to apply knowledge and understanding of business and management to complex issues, both systematically and creatively, and to have a critical understanding of how business and management practice may be improved;
- A stimulating academic environment which is based upon the values of academic openness and critical appraisal.
The programme consists of the standard 180 Level-7 credits that constitute an NQF (UK National Qualifications Framework) Masters award, the content being informed by QAA (UK Quality Assurance Agency) benchmark statements for Business and Management programmes. 60 credits of the programme are provided by a dissertation.
Modules
Year one
Compulsory modules
- Organisational Behaviour
- Marketing Management
- Financial Management
- Leadership and Sustainability
- Dissertation
- Tackling Global-Local Challenges in Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability
Optional modules (subject to availability and demand)
- Information Management
- Money Management
- Corporate Strategy and Competitiveness
Programme Specification
Programme Specification
For a detailed summary of all course content please read our programme specification for this course.
Assessment, Feedback, and Teaching and Learning methods
Full details are available in the programme specification.
Timetables
The teaching timetable should be available from the end of August. Access to the timetable is through the Student Hub – you will be able to access the Student Hub after you have completed online registration. The teaching day is 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday; please keep your other commitments open until confirmation of your teaching timetable, and bear in mind that many courses will offer placements or fieldwork which sometimes extends into the evenings and weekends.
Entry requirements
Have a question about our entry requirements?
Entry Requirements
1st or 2nd class honours degree.
Students with other qualifications may be admitted to the course. Please contact the Enquiry Centre for further details.
More information about levels and credits.
Selection criteria
Applicants for the MBA (Leadership and Sustainability) must have the following; either: (minimum entry qualifications)
a) A Bachelor degree in Business Administration or Management from an accredited or approved college or university or the equivalent, and at least three years of business-related experience;
OR
b) A Bachelor degree in a non-business field and at least five years of business-related experience;
OR
c) An appropriate professional qualification and eight to ten years of suitable business-related experience and a letter of recommendation verifying that the applicant has the necessary ability and motivation to complete the programme within the allotted time span;
OR
d) A substantial period of suitable business experience, a letter of recommendation verifying that the applicant has the necessary ability and motivation to complete the programme within the allotted time span and successful completion of module MNGT7901 (Organisational Behaviour) or equivalent.
Application information
Making your application
Applications should be made online directly to Robert Kennedy College.
What makes a good application?
We consider all aspects of your application, not simply your qualifications and grades. We look at your academic background and performance, relevant experience (particularly for professional courses where some voluntary or paid experience is required) and your reference. Above all, we look for motivation, commitment and potential - evidence that you can benefit from study at higher education level.
Make sure you include:
- Relevant qualifications/evidence of ability: check our website for the specific entry requirements required for each course. Tell us your previous academic results and your projected grades.
- A supportive reference, from an employer or your school or college.
- A good personal statement.
Explain clearly what attracts you to the course and tell us about your wider interests and experience. If you are applying for a course that incorporates professional training and placements, you should include any relevant experience or visits you have made in the workplace. Highlight your individual strengths and qualities, personal skills, capacity for teamwork, contribution to the community and your enterprise, originality and determination. Select some activities which bring out these qualities.
What next?
When we receive your application, we will send you an acknowledgement and if you are successful at this stage you will get either an offer (with an invitation to visit the campus to which you have applied), or an invitation to interview on a particular date. If we are not able to offer you a place on your chosen course we will usually try to offer you a place on a similar course and will contact you to discuss this. Alternatively, if we think you are suitable, but cannot offer you a place on your preferred campus because of the level of competition, we will offer you a place at another campus if one is available.
And if I accept?
The admissions team will contact you and send further information from February onwards about accommodation, and from May/June onwards about preparing to join the university. If you have any other queries, please telephone the admissions offices for information and advice on 0845 6061144.
Deferred entry
We welcome applications for deferred entry on some courses. If you have specific plans during your year out, indicate these on your personal statement as they may be relevant to your course and could enhance your application.
International students
Please see the international pages of our website for full details of our entry requirements (including English Language skills) as well as contacts for advice and support.
From 2009 the UK Border Agency introduced a Points-Based Immigration System (PBS) for students coming to the UK from outside the European Economic Area (EEA).
Students entering higher education will need to obtain a Confirmation of Acceptance (CAS) plus finance confirmation to obtain a Tier 4 student visa.
UK education providers are licensed by the UK Border Agency. When students apply for their visa (or entry clearance) they will need a valid Certificate of Acceptance of Studies from the university. Please note that a CAS is not a guarantee that a visa will be issued.
See the following websites for further details:
Student finance
We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us. This includes the Cumbria Bursary - a non-repayable bursary designed to support first year students with a household income of less than £25,000..
Student Finance Tuition Fee PolicyAdditional costs
All students will need to purchase stationery, course books and personal equipment. Extra costs may also be applicable to cover field trips, membership fees etc.
Resources and facilities
Our tutor team consists of professors and former managers with a wealth of experience in CEL programmes and the FE sector, highly skilled in both academic theory and practical application.
The residential module 'Trans-national leadership, ethics and sustainability' is taught by Dr. John Luffrum. Dr David Costa, tutor of our 'Money Management' module, has extensive experience in Investment Management and is a regular guest on international TV networks like CNBC and Bloomberg television as a market strategist.
