Master of Business Administration

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

Location

Keele University campus

Subject area

Business and Management

Fees for 2025/26 academic year

UK - Full time £14,300 per year.
International - £17,700 per year.
Please note that the 2025/26 fees apply to the May 2025, September 2025, January 2026 and May 2026 start dates.

Duration of study

1 year

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Why study Master of Business Administration at Keele University?

Advance your career and unlock new opportunities with an MBA - highly valued by employers worldwide

Recognised institution with a rich legacy of delivering world-class business education and a large, attractive and safe campus with state-of-art facilities shared with over 50 companies

Expand your skills, potential and networks, and transform your career growth

Prior work experience is not essential with business experience and language support embedded into the programme

Collaborate on live business projects, sharpening the critical thinking and problem-solving skills required in today’s fast-paced business world

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.

Next steps

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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.

Study for an MBA at Keele

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Course structure

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.

Next steps

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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.

Typical offer: 2:2 degree in any subject or a degree level professional qualification Additional criteria apply

Please select your country from the drop-down list below for the full entry requirement information

UK

2:2 degree in any subject or a degree level professional qualification

five years demonstrated, relevant professional experience in management or leadership roles

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

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

60% / 2.4 in a 4-year Bachelor's degree in any subject or 65% / CGPA 2.8 in a 3-year Bachelor's degree in any subject or a degree level professional qualification

five years demonstrated, relevant professional experience in management or leadership roles

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

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

We accept a range of qualifications from Pakistan. Please visit our Pakistan Country Page for more information

or we will consider five years demonstrated, relevant professional experience in management or leadership roles

You will also need an English language qualification (see below)

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

55% in a special bachelor's degree in any subject or a degree level professional qualification

five years demonstrated, relevant professional experience in management or leadership roles

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

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

Second class degree in any subject or a degree level professional qualification

five years demonstrated, relevant professional experience in management or leadership roles

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

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.

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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.

Keele Business School

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Keele Postgraduate Association

Keele University is one of a handful of universities in the UK to have a dedicated students' union for postgraduate students. A fully registered charity, Keele Postgraduate Association serves as a focal point for the social life and welfare needs of all postgraduate students during their time at Keele.

KPA interior

Hugely popular, the KPA Clubhouse (near Horwood Hall) provides a dedicated postgraduate social space and bar on campus, where you can grab a bite to eat and drink, sit quietly and read a book, or switch off from academic life at one of the many regular events organised throughout the year. The KPA also helps to host a variety of conferences, as well as other academic and career sessions, to give you and your fellow postgraduates the opportunities to come together to discuss your research, and develop your skills and networks.

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