Master of Business Administration - MBA
Industry engagement is at the heart of our MBA, equipping you with the skills and experience to be both career ready and a future leader who can thrive in today's competitive business world. Our practical and immersive programme is focused on working directly with businesses, collaborating on real-world business challenges, and gaining invaluable insights through hands-on experience. You’ll develop advanced business expertise, sharpen your critical and creative thinking, and develop ethical, sustainable business practices - empowering you to progress with confidence into your business career and a forward-thinking business leader ready to make an impact.
Month of entry
- September, January, May
Mode of study
- Full time
Fees for 2026/27 academic year
- UK - Full time £14,700 per year.
International - £18,200 per year.Please note that the 2026/27 fees apply to the September 2026, January 2027 and May 2027 start dates.
Duration of study
- 1 year full-time, or up to 2 years with Placement
This course is no longer accepting applications from international students for the 2025/26 academic year.
Why study Master of Business Administration at Keele University?
Course summary
From day one of our comprehensive MBA programme, you’ll collaborate directly with companies, gaining practical insights and refining your expertise to excel as a business leader. The MBA has a strong emphasis on strengthening your abilities to understand the ‘big picture’, think strategically and develop the abilities to solve complex, real-world problems whilst at the same time gaining hands-on knowledge and practical skills tailored to meet industry demands and ensure job readiness.
Business engagement opportunities include live projects such as developing marketing strategies for a start-up or undertaking financial analysis to support business expansion potential. As Keele Business School is based on a science and business park, you'll be able to interact with nearby organisations, including those based in our Smart Innovation Hub, which is also home to the Business School.
You’ll benefit from participation in interactive industry workshops, seminars and the MBA Companions Scheme, where expert business professionals work closely with you and mentor you throughout the programme.
Explore the core principles of business operations and enhance your understanding by applying these concepts through hands-on collaboration with organisations. Your professional communication and negotiation skills will be developed, and you’ll focus on building your potential as an effective leader. This includes building the skills to set strategic direction, make informed decisions, and navigate complex business dynamics.
Learn to build, inspire, and lead diverse high performance teams by mastering organisational dynamics, strategic workforce planning, and fostering an inclusive and collaborative culture. You'll examine the importance of innovation and change within a digital age, and you’ll learning how to achieve excellence through managing operations, finance, marketing and addressing sustainability issues.
Our MBA offers three capstone project routes to further develop your practical work experience and skills. You could work on a consultancy project with an external company, use your entrepreneurial skills to create a strategic business proposal to solve a real industry challenge, or undertake a research project.
Keele Business School ranks among the Top 40 globally for sustainability
Keele Business School’s MBA programme has been recognised as one of the top 40 worldwide for its focus on sustainability.
Global recognition
Ranked 32nd in the Corporate Knights 2024 Better World MBA ranking, we’re proud to empower future leaders to make a positive impact.
Read moreStudy for an MBA at Keele
Course structure
If you choose the 'with Placement' route, you will complete a 6-12 month placement module after the taught element of your programme.
Modules
The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods, as well as student voice. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.
Master of Business Administration module structure
Compulsory modules
Understanding Business Contexts and Initial Practical Experience
In this module, you will explore the core principles of business operations and strategic thinking, gaining a comprehensive understanding of business structures, functions, and the wider market context. Through direct engagement with real businesses, you will gain early exposure to practical environments and challenges. This module sets the foundation for your MBA study, helping you connect theoretical concepts to real-world applications and providing the essential context for the rest of your learning on the programme.
Advanced Business English Communications
This module will provide you with the specialist knowledge and academic skills to successfully engage with your studies as well as the professional communication skills you will require if you wish to pursue a career in business.
Strategic Leadership for a Sustainable Business
Strategic Leadership for a Sustainable Business builds your potential as an effective leader with a strong ethical foundation, emphasising sustainable practices. This module focuses on strategic leadership skills that enable you to guide organisations responsibly while embedding sustainability into core strategies. Learn to set strategic direction, make informed decisions, and navigate complex business landscapes. Gain hands-on experience with negotiation and influencing strategies to engage stakeholders effectively and ensure you are prepared to lead with integrity, confidence, and a commitment to sustainable outcomes.
Innovation and Change Management in a Digital Age
Embrace the fast-paced world of digital transformation and innovation. This module equips you with the tools to manage and inspire change, foster creativity, and understand the impact of disruptive technologies on businesses. You’ll learn to balance innovation with sustainability and gain practical insights into creating environments that thrive on adaptability and continuous improvement.
Achieving Excellence through Managing Operations
Achieving Excellence through Managing Operations equips you with the skills needed to make informed strategic decisions and manage resources efficiently. This module covers key operational and marketing areas, including budgeting, financial modelling, supply chain management, and performance evaluation using both financial and non-financial metrics. You will learn to oversee procurement and align marketing strategies with operational goals to maximise efficiency and sustainability. Gain practical expertise in managing and promoting organisational processes to contribute to operational excellence and drive value throughout the organisation.
People and Culture: Building High-Performance Organisations
Discover what it takes to build and lead high-performing, diverse teams. This module focuses on organisational dynamics, strategic workforce planning, and fostering an inclusive culture. Develop the ability to motivate and guide teams, implement effective coaching and mentoring, and create an environment that values well-being and collaboration. This module prepares you to become a leader who inspires trust and resilience.
Capstone Project
Apply everything you’ve learned throughout your MBA in a comprehensive capstone project. Choose to work on a consultancy project with an external organisation or create a strategic business proposal to solve a real industry challenge. This hands-on project allows you to showcase your strategic thinking, leadership, and innovative problem-solving abilities, giving you a significant edge as you enter the professional world.
Entry requirements
The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don't see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications.
Typical offer
Please ensure that you read the full entry requirements by selecting your qualifications from the dropdown menu below. This will include any subject specific, GCSE/Level 2 Maths, and English language requirements you may need.
Please select your country from the drop-down list below for the full entry requirement information
UK
Bangladesh
60% in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in any subject from a public university or CGPA 2.8 in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in any subject from a private university or a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's level professional qualification
or
five years demonstrated, relevant professional experience in management or leadership roles
We don’t accept degrees from certain universities, please see our Bangladesh Country Page for more information
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Canada
70% or C or a GPA of 2.5 in a degree (Ordinary or Honours) in any subject or a degree level professional qualification
or
five years demonstrated, relevant professional experience in management or leadership roles
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
China
70% in a degree in any subject or 65% in a degree in any subject from a '211' university or a degree level professional qualification
or
five years demonstrated, relevant professional experience in management or leadership roles
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Ghana
Second class degree in any subject or a degree or a GPA of 2.5 level professional qualification
or
five years demonstrated, relevant professional experience in management or leadership roles
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
India
55% or CGPA 6/10 in any degree of three years or longer or
a degree level professional qualification
or
five years demonstrated, relevant professional experience in management or leadership roles
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Kenya
Second class degree in any subject or a degree level professional qualification
or
five years demonstrated, relevant professional experience in management or leadership roles
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Nepal
Nigeria
Second class degree in any subject or a degree level professional qualification
or
five years demonstrated, relevant professional experience in management or leadership roles
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Pakistan
South Africa
Second class division 2 / 60% in a Bachelor's degree with Honours in any subject or Second class division 1 / 70% in an Ordinary Bachelor's degree in any subject or a degree level professional qualification
or
five years demonstrated, relevant professional experience in management or leadership roles
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Sri Lanka
Uganda
Second class degree in any subject or a degree level professional qualification
or
five years demonstrated, relevant professional experience in management or leadership roles
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Zimbabwe
Pre-Master's in Business
The Keele University International College offer a one semester Pre-Master's in Business programme for international students who do not meet the traditional entry requirements for a postgraduate business degree at Keele University.
Please visit the Keele University International College for more information on how to apply, entry requirements and course details.
English language requirements
All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from Group G.
References
Normally, you will need to provide at least one academic reference to support your application unless you have been out of study longer than two years. If it has been more than two years since you last studied on a degree-level programme, you will normally need to provide an employment reference instead. For more information about Academic References, please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages.
Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose
Please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages for guidance on what to include in your personal statement.
Recognition of Prior Learning
The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process which enables applicants to receive recognition and formal credit for learning acquired in the past through formal study or work and life experiences.
RPL can also be requested for admission onto the start of a programme in lieu of the admission requirements. For more information, see our Recognition of Prior Learning web pages.
Professional qualifications and work experience
The majority of our courses will consider relevant work experience and/or professional qualifications at the appropriate level, as an alternative to an undergraduate degree for entry. The work experience should be for a sustained period and at a suitable level, based within a relevant sector to your chosen course.
Admissions staff will review your work experience and/or professional qualifications during the assessment of your application to ensure suitability in terms of relevancy, level and appropriate learning outcomes.
General information
The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application. For international students, find out how we work with approved agents as part of our admissions process.
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Postgraduate funding and scholarships
Fees
Please note that the 2026/27 fees apply to the September 2026, January 2027 and May 2027 start dates.
Funding
Whether you're continuing from undergraduate study or returning to education, our dedicated financial support team is here to help.
Please note, if your course offers a January start date, the January 2026 start date falls in the 2025/26 academic year. Please see the tuition fees archive for the 2025/26 fees.
Planning your funding
It's important to plan carefully for your funding before you start your course. Please be aware that not all postgraduate courses and not all students are eligible for the UK government postgraduate loans and, in some cases, you would be expected to source alternative funding yourself. If you need support researching your funding options, please contact our financial support team.
Scholarships
To explore the different funding options and support available to you please refer to our postgraduate bursaries and scholarships webpages.
For continuing students, fees will increase annually by RPIX, with a maximum cap of 5% per year.
Additional costs
You may incur optional costs which can enhance your learning experience (e.g., fieldwork or specialist equipment). Details are outlined below. For general information, see the university's additional costs information.
- travel/subsistence for client visits or business engagement you choose to undertake
- discretionary project expenses (e.g. travel for interviews, data purchase)
- optional UK/international study visits (including travel, accommodation, insurance)
- optional professional memberships/certifications, competitions, conferences, printing, and any premium software or equipment you elect to use are also at your own cost.
Funding or subsidies may occasionally be offered but are not guaranteed and may change vary from year to year. The School may amend or withdraw optional activities if needed necessary.
Co-located with businesses
As a Keele Business School student, you will study alongside innovative companies that are based in the Business School building, a hub for fostering networks and linking with industry.
Keele Business School is located at the heart of the Keele University Science & Innovation Park, one of the leading developments of its kind in the UK. The Park offers companies a business environment that provides an innovative research culture, combined with academic expertise and the University’s specialist resources, with a variety of opportunities for students to get involved, from internships, knowledge exchange partnerships, and student enterprise initiatives.
Teaching, learning and assessment
How you'll be taught
This MBA is delivered primarily in person with most of the teaching taking place on Keele University campus and this is supplemented with web-based learning via the Keele Learning Environment (KLE). Some activities such as field trips or visits to organisations may occur off campus, giving your direct exposure to real work environments.
The programme is structured into eight week blocks enabling you to focus intensively on one module at a time. There are six weeks of teaching, followed by two weeks of support to help you prepare effectively for assessments. Your first module will introduce you to the fundamentals of business activity, giving you the foundation on which to progress to more advanced, specialist areas of management and leadership.
The culmination of the programme is the capstone project which allows you to integrate and apply what you’ve learnt on the programme and demonstrate your ability to lead and manage.
How you'll be assessed
You will be assessed using a wide variety of methods which reflect the breadth of the knowledge, skills and practical application you will have developed on the programme and includes both summative and formative assessments. These will be focused on authentic real-world business scenarios, problems and issues. Assessment methods may include case study analysis, strategic business reports and proposals, presentations and group projects and reflective journals and essays.
