The Manchester Global Executive MBA
This MBA degree will equip you to lead effectively through uncertainty, seize opportunities to innovate in an ever-changing business landscape and solve the complex business challenges you face every day in a senior role.
Executive MBA Programmes
Are you a senior manager, high-level executive or experienced entrepreneur? The Global Executive MBA is one of the leading executive MBA programmes that caters to seasoned professionals like yourself. Enrol in our 18-month Global Executive MBA for a closed cohort of senior MBA candidates.
This executive MBA programme goes beyond the basics. It will equip you with the skills and insights necessary to lead effectively through uncertainty. The programme empowers you to seize opportunities to innovate in an ever-changing business landscape. It will also arm you with the strategic acumen needed to solve the complex business challenges you face every day in a senior role.
Gain a comprehensive understanding of advanced business concepts and develop a global perspective essential for navigating today’s interconnected business world.
our most experienced MBA candidates from all over the world
Global Executive MBA course content
The Global Executive MBA is a dynamic and highly experiential executive MBA programme. Whatever sector, job function or the global region, this part-time executive MBA degree will enable you to:
- Understand the economic, societal and cultural challenges and differences that emerge when working in a globalised business environment
- Work collaboratively on live business issues and engage with business practitioners
- Gain the practical and analytical abilities, critical awareness and transferable skills you need to function effectively in the current and future worlds of business
- Develop your self-awareness, self-management capabilities, personal networks and networking abilities
- Learn how to engage in lifelong personal and professional development through reflective practice
In addition to online learning, this specialist executive MBA programme includes 32 days of teaching across five global workshop residencies. Please explore the executive MBA programmes below or view the course overview ».
Global workshop residentials
This online course helps you understand what it’s like to study at Manchester, how you go about writing academic assignments and most importantly, what ‘Learning by Doing’ really means.
You will have the opportunity to rediscover key study skills, undertake Business Essentials courses in Marketing and Operations Management and meet the teams supporting you.
Taking around 15 hours in total, you can complete the course at your own pace, and there are many opportunities to apply your skills and new knowledge.
Core Courses
Contemporary businesses face two major transition challenges:
- To re-evaluate the purpose of the firm in the 21st century and transition to a stakeholder value-driven firm
- How to re-design the business model in global transition to a net zero economy.
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) is the formal tool that companies use to manage these two transitions. On this course, we cover why these two major transitions are happening by covering concepts and analytical tools such as:
- Financialisation
- Shareholder value maximisation
- Corporate governance
- Firm purpose.
Then we analyse the rise of ESG as a mechanism for firms to achieve social and environmental responsibility and to transition to a net zero economy.
In this core course, you’ll examine the field of organisational behaviour, evaluating questions such as:
- Why have contemporary management practices and organisational forms been adopted?
- What is their effect on people’s behaviour?
You’ll learn how to respond to contemporary management and organisational challenges, by applying the latest research, ideas, frameworks and practical case studies.
4-day workshop in Singapore or Hong Kong + online learning
This course will provide you with key knowledge about operations management and marketing. We will encourage you to consider the interactions and potential tensions between these areas, and to critically evaluate the application of theory to real-life contexts. You will also work in multinational groups to develop solutions to marketing and operations management challenges.
3-day workshop in Dubai + 1 virtual workshop + online learning
This course will introduce you to the two main areas of accounting: financial accounting and management accounting. We will introduce you to financial reports’ content, role and usefulness. You will then learn how to interpret, analyse and understand financial information. Alongside this, you will develop an understanding of the theories, techniques and practices of management and cost accounting. You will also explore the design of management accounting and control systems.
4-day workshop in Manchester + online learning
This interdisciplinary course will help you develop a cutting-edge approach to strategy and competition that is fit for purpose in today’s changing business environment. You will explore key areas of interest, such as competition, global instability, the sharing economy and technology disruption, alongside more traditional, dominant schools of thought. The course will blend theory and practice, emphasising teamwork and real-time case analysis.
3-day workshop in Dubai + online learning
This course will boost your understanding of e-commerce, allowing you to deal with rapid changes in technology and business practices. As well as studying core economic and internet market theory, you will consider the effects of technology and Artificial Intelligence on key industries such as advertising, financial markets, insurance, healthcare, venture capital and the retail sector. You’ll also learn how to design new platform firms and develop strategies to take a traditional corporation into the digital age.
2 workshops in Manchester (3 days in total) + workplace application + online learning
Today’s senior executives are increasingly required to be more reflective about their own practice (e.g. their responsibilities) and more reflective in decision-making situations that are uncertain and complex. Applying this dual perspective to the senior managerial approach, this inquiry-based course will help you to explore aspects of your own practice (e.g. senior managers’ responsibilities). It will enrich your practical knowledge and skills for cultivating a more reflective approach to decision-making.
Applied Learning
This project is delivered through a one-day workshop in Manchester and group work. It takes six months in total to complete.
You’ll collaborate on a live, interdisciplinary business project, for a sponsoring ‘client’ organisation, potentially from the not-for-profit or social value sector. Organisations are normally student-sourced, with the final approval of client organisation and project scope choices by the course unit director, to ensure you have a viable project.
Guided by a supervisor, your team will develop a strategic plan, leveraging insights and models from your MBA coursework, to address real-world business challenges.
This project culminates in a professional presentation and report, delivering actionable recommendations to your client and showcasing the depth of your learning and expertise.
Tailoring Your Journey
Per elective: 3-day workshop (minimum) in Dubai, Hong Kong, Manchester, Shanghai or Singapore + online learning
Elective courses are your opportunity to gain more expertise in an area of your choice or explore a new field of interest. Choose electives tailored to your interests and career goals, and combine electives to create your own pathway in marketing, digital business or finance, for example.
Our electives are continuously refreshed to ensure it balances traditional core business principles with current and emerging topics such as fintech, sustainability and data science.
You can attend workshop residentials for electives at any of our global centres: Dubai, Hong Kong, Manchester, Shanghai and Singapore. This gives you more opportunities to widen your international network and business perspectives.
Current electives:
- Advanced Strategic Management
- Big Data Analytics
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management
- Fintech, Digital Banking and Blockchain
- Information Systems and Digital Strategy
- International Business Strategy
- Investments and Portfolio Management
- Managing Disruptive Technologies
- Negotiation Skills
- Strategic Financial Analysis
- Venture Capital and Private Equity
- Work Psychology for Managerial Success
Offered in Manchester:
- Business-to-Business Marketing
- Digital Marketing Strategy
- Engaging Human Talent
- Practical Investing
- Strategic Supply Chain Management
To give you added flexibility, we offer some electives that are entirely online or that include longer/shorter face-to-face workshops.
Personal and Professional Development
Running in parallel with the academic programme, these activities are not credit-bearing. They are designed to give you targeted support and motivation to help you through the MBA and beyond. The Global Executive MBA includes several exclusive options:
Supporting professional discussions The team are on hand to facilitate introductions to senior alumni to enhance your learning and career progression. Drawn from our extensive network of business contacts from across the world, they will work with you to help you define your goals, build your confidence and increase your global corporate contacts.
Next level networking To help you make those vital global business connections, our Global Careers Service and Alumni Relations team offer a range of different events exclusively for GEMBA students. These include a welcome dinner, guest speaker and networking events, and visits to high-profile global organisations.
In addition to the above, you will also have access to the MBA+ extracurricular activities that we offer across all our part-time MBA programmes, including:
- Online careers seminars
- Employability sessions
- Careers guidance
- Alumni introductions
- Alumni socials
- Alumni speaker events
- Alumni groups, and more
How will I learn?
The Global Executive MBA is taught through a combination of highly-participative online learning and five global workshop residentials (32 days of face-to-face teaching in total). This blended learning approach is ideal for fitting your studies around your work and home commitments, while still getting an equivalent amount of on-campus teaching time as many full-time executive MBA programmes.
Global workshop residentials
Most courses that you will study include an intensive, three-day residential workshop. These are a chance to immerse yourself in your studies, away from the distractions of daily life, focus on what you want to achieve and build a robust and supportive cohort. At the workshops, you will experience a challenging mix of experiential learning from renowned business experts and practitioners, and group work focusing on real business problems. Additionally, there’s the opportunity to network, socialise and make connections that could transform your career. To give you extra flexibility, for elective courses we offer some courses that have more online or face-to-face learning to suit your commitments.
Travelling cohort
Unlike the Global MBA, where workshops for core courses take place at your ‘home’ centre, our Global Executive MBA will immerse you in our global study locations. You will attend four core workshop residentials as a cohort in Manchester, Dubai and Singapore for greater exposure to international business culture, then choose your own electives at any of our global centres. We will provide 26 nights of accommodation across the three core global workshop locations.
Workshop schedule
July 2022 intake
| Year One | Months 13-18 |
|---|---|
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11-16 July 2022 (6 days in Manchester) |
July 2023 (7 days in Manchester) |
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21-28 September or 22-27 September 2022 (6 days in Singapore) |
September/October 2023: (6 days – choose up to 2 locations) |
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March/April 2023 (7 days in Dubai) |
N/A |
July 2023 intake
| Year One | Months 13-18 |
|---|---|
|
January 2023 (6 days in Manchester) |
July 2024 (7 days in Manchester) |
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September/October 2023 (7 days in Singapore or Hong Kong) |
September/October 2024 (6 days – choose up to 2 locations) |
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March/April 2024 (6 days in Dubai) |
N/A |
January 2024 intake
| Year One | Months 13-18 |
|---|---|
|
January 2024 (6 days in Manchester) |
July 2025 (7 days in Manchester) |
|
March/April 2024 (6 days in Dubai) |
March/April 2025 (6 days – choose up to 2 locations) |
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September/ October 2024 (7 days in Singapore or Hong Kong) |
N/A |
Online learning
Our executive MBA programme blends online learning with face-to-face workshops. To make it easier for students, we provide online teaching, learning and student support, including:
- Dedicated online learning and support hub
- Live online lectures and virtual workshops to support face-to-face workshops
- Virtual office hours with world-leading academics
- Online student surgeries
- Digital library
- Discussion forums
- Pre-sessional study skills and foundational review courses
- Virtual guest speakers and networking opportunities
Typical course unit
- Delivered online + three-day face-to-face workshop (either at the start or around the middle of the teaching period)
- Typically studied over six months (some are shorter) with a total of 150 hours of study per unit
- Taught from an applied perspective using practical elements, such as problem-solving, case studies, interactive activities and online quizzes, so you can apply your learnings immediately
- Assessed by ongoing coursework with no exams (you will typically complete two individual/group assessments per unit)
- Informed by the latest cutting-edge research
- Taught by world-leading academics with extensive expertise and teaching experience
Assessment
There are no examinations in our executive MBA programme. Assessments comprise individual and group coursework.
Teacher – Students Ratio
1: 35 students
Entry requirements, fees & scholarships
The Global Executive MBA is for our most senior MBA candidates. As a leading executive MBA programme, slots are limited and entry is competitive. We aim to admit a cohort of senior leaders from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
Typical class profile
- Cohort size: 25
- Average age: 41
- Average work experience: 17 years
- Average management experience: 12 years
- Female candidates: 23%
- Nationalities: 35
Many of our most senior executives still choose to study our two-year Global MBA. For example, they may prefer to complete the MBA programme over a longer timeframe for personal or professional reasons, or they may not be able to accommodate the mandatory travel that is part of the Global Executive MBA in their work schedule. On our Global MBA programme, the average age is approximately 3ester.ac.uk/study/mba/global-pa6, with an average of 12 years of professional experience, comparable to many executive MBA programmes other schools offer.
To apply, you will need to demonstrate the following:
Substantial and significant professional experience in management roles
Applicants of our executive MBA programme should currently be in a senior leadership position influencing the company’s strategy, decisions and goals. They should also:
- Typically, have held a P&L responsibility for a minimum of two years or been part of a team with clear P&L accountability for four or more years.
- Be in senior leadership positions with substantial accountability, such as:
- President, vice president, chairman, managing director, board member, CEO, COO, CFO, CIO, or other C-level post within a Corporate, NGO, or mid-market-sized business and is, or will become, an officer of the company.
- General manager, divisional manager, or senior manager with high-level accountability for a business unit/country/region within a corporate ownership structure, large family-owned family business with formal management structures, public corporation or NGO.
- Senior management position with high-level cross-functional responsibilities e.g. director of functional department but as part of the organisation’s senior leadership team.
- Successful, established entrepreneur who has scaled a business or businesses for growth or is developing strategies to enable and support the growth of a business.
- Have the aptitude and leadership talent to make a real difference in today’s global business world with a solid commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability values.
Significant international exposure (preferred)
For example:
- Working in a global environment, operating across international borders, dealing with complexity and uncertainty, preferably across multiple sectors, with experience in leading international teams or managing virtual teams across geographies and time zones.
- Global mindset developed through exposure to new business cultures and experiences gained on international placements or through living and working in other countries.
You will also need the following:
- Good undergraduate or master’s degree or international equivalent
- Satisfactory admissions test: We accept GMAT®, GMAC Executive Assessment, GRE® or Manchester Admissions Test
- Proof of English competency (assessed throughout the admissions process). All our programmes are conducted in English and participants are expected to have excellent communications skills and English competence to understand, and contribute to, what can be very fast-paced discussions in class.
Admission route for applicants without a degree
If you do not have a degree, gaining a place in our executive MBA programme may be possible. Your application will be considered through prior experiential learning (APEL) accreditation. You will need to show alternative evidence, e.g. strong school results, professional qualification and/or training courses, non-degree business qualifications and examples of demonstrating specialist knowledge in your business area. A good admissions test result will be required. We advise you to discuss your circumstances with us before submitting an application.
Fees
The fee for the Global Executive MBA is £46,052.50 (inclusive of GST), which can be paid in instalments on a semester-by-semester basis.
Accommodation
We will provide 26 nights of accommodation across the three core global workshop locations: Manchester, Hong Kong and Dubai.
Global Executive MBA Scholarships
We offer several scholarships to our executive MBA programme for candidates with excellent achievements. Our scholarships also support cultural and professional diversity in the Global Executive MBA programme and the School’s commitment to social responsibility.
Candidates selected for the interview stage will be invited to present their case for a scholarship as part of the interview process.
We expect our scholarship award holders to contribute dynamically to all aspects of the executive MBA programme and become excellent ambassadors to the School and our alumni community. Please note that:
- Scholarships are open to all self-funding candidates.
- We operate a one-discount policy; discounts cannot be accumulated.
- Applicants who will be receiving substantial (over 50%) financial company sponsorship towards their tuition fees will not typically be considered for a scholarship award. Corporates supporting multiple employees onto our MBA programmes may be eligible for a corporate discount; please contact us to discuss this.
The following scholarships are available:
Alliance Manchester Business School and The University of Manchester are distinctive in UK higher education as the first university and business school to make social responsibility a core strategic goal.
Social Responsibility Scholarships
For exceptional leaders who can demonstrate leadership through social responsibility initiatives in your organisation or community and have made a significant contribution to influence change.
Leadership in Not-for-Profit Organisations
Scholarships for candidates providing outstanding leadership and contribution in Not-for-Profit organisations, with a preference for those who aspire to continue in the sector after graduation.
Contribution Through Entrepreneurship
Business leaders make contributions to society through entrepreneurship, with a preference for those who aspire to continue developing and growing businesses after graduation.
Sustainability Scholarships
Scholarships for leaders who can demonstrate significant contributions towards sustainability and conservation initiatives in their organisation.
Women Business Leaders Scholarships
Scholarships for outstanding female business leaders who inspire other women and support initiatives to increase the proportion of women in senior leadership roles.
Significant Industry Contribution Scholarships
Scholarships for exceptional senior leaders who can demonstrate significant contribution to their industry sector, for example:
- Banking & Finance
- Energy
- Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals
- Technology, Engineering & Construction
- Professional Services
- Public Sector
Professional Diversity Scholarships
Scholarships for senior leaders demonstrating exceptional achievement in a sector not typically represented in executive MBA programmes.
Cultural Diversity Scholarships
Scholarships to support senior leaders who are citizens of countries not typically represented in executive MBA programmes.
Outstanding Achievement Scholarships
A number of scholarships are open to all successful GEMBA applicants who can demonstrate outstanding personal/professional achievements and display the attributes to contribute dynamically to all aspects of the GEMBA programme.
How to apply
Please ensure that you have met all the Global Executive MBA admissions requirements. Check the application deadlines and ensure that you have prepared all the necessary application documents.
Contact us when you are ready to start the application, and we will provide support for your application.
Stage 1: Application
- Apply through the university application portal
Register for an account and select to apply for the Global (Executive) MBA. - Upload your supporting documents with your application
You will need to prepare and submit the following documents with your application to our executive MBA programme:
- CV/resume
- Degree documents (including English translation if applicable)or
- Supporting evidence for APL if you do not have a degree
- The application form includes an essay question about your senior leadership experience
- Provide a reference
Two professional references are required.
You will be asked to include the contact details of your referees in the MBA application form. When your application has been submitted, we will email your referees with a link to complete our official online MBA reference. The reference form is a simple questionnaire that is quick to complete and automatically uploaded to the admissions system when submitted.
- Take an Admissions Test
Please contact our Admissions Team for access to the Manchester Admissions Test website.
Stage 2: Interview
The MBA Admission Committee will review complete applications, and successful candidates in the initial review will be invited to present to an interview panel.
If successful, you will be offered a place after the interview. Decisions are made by the consensus of the MBA Admissions Committee.
Admission support
Our MBA Admissions team aims to provide a friendly and professional service. We will advise you through every stage of the admission process.
If you have any questions during the application process, please don’t hesitate to contact us by email: mbaenquiries@manchester.edu.sg or by telephone: +65 6226 0761.
FAQs
What makes Manchester executive MBA programme stand out from others?
Manchester Global Executive MBA stands out for its focus on senior professionals, offering an 18-month accelerated pathway for seasoned managers and executives. The programme provides skills to lead through uncertainty, innovate in a changing business landscape and tackle complex business challenges.
The diverse global study locations, experiential learning and a blend of online and face-to-face teaching also contribute to the uniqueness and the modernity of the executive MBA programme.
Can you work full-time while completing an executive MBA programme?
Yes, the Global Executive MBA is designed for working professionals. It follows a part-time structure and combines highly-participative online learning with five global workshop residencies. This allows you to fit your studies around work, home or other commitments while still benefiting from face-to-face teaching during workshops.
Are there opportunities for international exposure during the executive MBA programme?
Yes, the Global Executive MBA provides significant international exposure. There are four core workshop residencies during this executive MBA programme. Held in Manchester, Dubai and Singapore or Hong Kong, these workshops expose participants to diverse international business cultures. You can also choose elective courses at any of our global study centres to gain a well-rounded global perspective.
What is the application process, and what are the key deadlines for admission?
The application process for the Global Executive MBA involves several stages, from registration and submission of supporting documents to an admissions test and an interview. You can check the key dates and deadlines above in the APPLICATION PROCESS section. For any questions on the application process, the MBA Admissions team offers support. You may reach them via email (mbaenquiries@manchester.edu.sg) or telephone (+65 6226 0761).
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Duration
18 months |
Intake January & July |
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FEES
£47, 142.50 inclusive of GST. Please contact us for various discount schemes & scholarships available. |
Application deadline
Last Monday of November for January intake. Last Monday of May for July intake. |
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Learning Mode Part-time, blended learning: workshop residentials + online learning |
Location
Core courses: Manchester + Dubai + Hong Kong + online Elective courses: Dubai, Hong Kong, Manchester, Shanghai or Singapore + online |
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Contact mbaenquiries@manchester.edu.sg (+65) 6226 0761 |
The Association of MBAs – market-driven and international in focus. Ours was the first distance learning MBA to be accredited for the maximum five years.
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business – focuses on overall quality and continuous improvement. 16 UK schools have achieved this accreditation.
The European Quality Improvement System – the accreditation arm of the European Foundation for Management Education (EFMD). It emphasises internationalism and real world relevance, which is synonymous with Alliance MBS’ values and positions.
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