ESSEX BUSINESS SCHOOL
THE ESSEX
MBA
Business as usual? NOT AT ESSEX
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“ Your MBA is about
your future and your career opportunities. The ways of doing business will keep on evolving and the world will keep changing at an ever-faster pace, so the MBA you choose should be one that looks to the future, not to the past.
”
Graeme Proudfoot Managing Director, Invesco EMEA
B The Essex MBA
Contents 2 Welcome to Essex Business School
4 Spirit of entrepreneurship 6 Studying for your MBA 8 Course structure 10 Compulsory modules 12 Core modules 13 Optional modules 14 Your future career 16 Connected to business 18 Essex experience 20 Applications and fees
Our new home is a leading example of sustainable construction through its zero carbon design, build and management, reflecting our lasting commitment to sustainable business practices.
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Welcome to Essex Business
“
Thank you for your interest in Essex Business School (EBS) at the University of Essex. Our University is one of the finest universities in the world for studying the social and economic sciences, which means that you can be assured of world-leading expertise in your studies. At the same time, EBS is a mid-sized school fostering a supportive learning environment meaning you will always be more than a number to us. The majority of our teaching is carried out by full-time research active staff, so you can be sure to benefit from a research-led education which gives you access to academics at the forefront of their field.
A proud member of
What also sets EBS apart is that we place a strong emphasis on sustainable management. In the aftermath of the economic crisis, there has been growing concern that business schools are producing “Rambo Managers” who maximise short-term returns, but sooner rather than later wreck the organisations they are entrusted with managing. Studying at EBS means that you will be provided with the knowledge and skills to manage effectively both in making organisations survive and work better in an increasingly challenging global environment. I hope that I will be able to welcome you to EBS in the new academic year.
”
Professor Geoffrey Wood Dean of Essex Business School
2 The Essex MBA
School
Incorporating a winter garden, an Eden-style dome, and a rainwater pond, our custom-designed building has its own micro-climate that contributes to the passive heating and ventilation strategy keeping it cool in summer and warm in winter.
Essex Business School sits at the heart of the University of Essex, which is top 5 in the UK for social science research. We’re a growing, ambitious and entrepreneurial community of more than 2,000 students, academics and practitioners from across the world.
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AND RESEARCH ¢ Essex
is ranked second for student satisfaction and EBS achieved an overall satisfaction rate of 90% (NSS 2015)
¢ We’re
ranked in the UK’s top 25 for research excellence. More than two-thirds of our research is rated ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ (REF 2014), thanks to our team of world-leading academics
We are proud to be a truly international business school with two-thirds of our students, and nearly half our staff coming from outside the UK.
¢ As
You are encouraged to be active members of our community to ensure you develop skills and values which ensure lifelong personal and professional success.
¢ We
Champions of responsible management and sustainable business, we use creativity and innovation to drive organisations forward and make them better places to do business. We celebrate debate and discussion, and give you license to take intellectual risks, so that as well as learning ‘how’, you can challenge ‘why’.
a member of our nearly 500-strong postgraduate community you’ll learn from and be supervised by researchers who are at the forefront of their fields are ranked in the UK’s top 20 business schools by the Chartered Association of Business Schools
¢ Essex
is known for its excellence across the social sciences and we bring this expertise to the study of business, bringing a fresh perspective to the challenges facing businesses today
BUSINESS AS USUAL? NOT AT ESSEX essex.ac.uk/ebs 3
Spirit of entrepreneurship Essex has the highest number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME's) in the UK, meaning you are ideally located for launching your business or gaining inspiration to take back home.
At Essex Business School, we create individuals who innovate, think and act strategically and apply entrepreneurial talent to their future careers. For those professionals who would like to run their own business, or take on a management or leadership role in enterprises and corporations of all sizes, we will launch you on your journey.
“
I am very excited to have been appointed as the Director of The Essex MBA at Essex Business School. South East England has a strong track record of sustainable start-up businesses and that helps drive the twin focus of The Essex MBA – entrepreneurship and sustainability. These themes are the key drivers of our MBA and underpin all elements of the course. They should not be simply items on the business agenda, they reflect the way modern business is done, permeating all business issues. Our aspiration is to develop socially responsible entrepreneurs delivering sustainable businesses. But we are not a school focused only on South East England and Greater London, we have a truly international faculty and we attract students from all over the globe. This brings a wealth of expertise and experience into the classroom and creates a dynamic learning environment where students learn as much from each other as they do from faculty. That is why we are careful about the students we select for the Essex MBA; you must be able to develop, based on the foundation of your own experiences, but also use those experiences to help develop your colleagues. If that describes your abilities, then I’d love to talk to you and personally introduce you to Essex Business School; please do get in touch. Professor Nigel Pye MBA Director
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”
Graduate view As Carbon Change Adviser at “ the University of Essex, my job is to
Essentials for business Over 90% of employees work for SME's. This means that most business leaders have very close contact with most of their people and so need a broad range of skills to help their business excel. To help these businesses thrive The Essex MBA focuses on key themes of innovative entrepreneurship and sustainable international business.
develop the strategy that will improve our environmental performance. I was attracted to The Essex MBA because of the modules linked to sustainability alongside the traditional MBA modules.
An innovative approach To stand out, businesses need to develop new offerings or deliver their offerings in new and innovative ways. While innovation is essential to success, new ideas are only the start. We will help you develop the entrepreneurial spirit and approach that helps you think and work in a new paradigm and embed the innovation in your business.
The international backgrounds of people on the course brought new perspectives to my learning and working. Making the University a greener place to work involves a high degree of performance management. Taking the modular study pathway, the knowledge and experiences I gained from my MBA are now directly benefiting me in my role at Essex.
Sustainable future All too often businesses think of sustainability and internationalisation as additional things to be done or considered. We believe both are fundamental to any modern business. Sustainability makes sense to the planet and to the shareholders when integrated into the everyday approach of your business. Many businesses have demonstrated that sustainable initiatives are not only good environmentally but they also reduce overheads and deliver shareholder value. No business can ignore the opportunities and challenges of internationalisation, whether it is through suppliers or customers; taking an international dimension must become the norm for modern business. We will help you plan a sustainable, resilient business model.
Daniel Dempsey Modular MBA, 2014
”
OUR CURRENT COHORT OF 26 HAS STUDENTS FROM 12 COUNTRIES: ¢ BANGLADESH ¢ CHINA ¢ HONG KONG ¢ INDIA ¢ JORDAN ¢ RUSSIA ¢ SERBIA ¢ TAIWAN ¢ THAILAND ¢ TURKEY ¢ UNITED KINGDOM ¢ UNITED STATES
Male 14 Female 12
STUDY MODE 4 modular 1 part-time 21 full-time
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Studying for your MBA The Essex MBA is a full-time course studied over twelve months. During the autumn term you will focus on compulsory modules, and in the spring term you continue with further compulsory modules, while also choosing from a range of optional modules based on your interests and professional ambitions. During the summer you will work on your final project to complete The Essex MBA.
Student view
What’s involved?
My background was as a software “ engineer for Accenture but I’m now focusing on growing the family business. The course will expand my knowledge in the areas of marketing and developing a new venture. I came to Essex with an aim to gain both theoretical and practical knowledge and to increase my confidence by working in wider teams. Through doing my MBA, Essex has given me the platform to interact with people from various countries and this has helped me to gain insights into different cultures. In group activities we see examples from all over the world. Akshita Jain Full-time MBA, 2016
”
In an average week you should expect to spend 21 hours in lectures or seminars, and an additional three hours in workshops facilitated by practitioners on company visits. It is anticipated that you will spend 16 hours undertaking personal research, group work and other activities as directed by the module leader. Module examinations usually take place in May.
Encouraging innovation The Essex MBA is designed to increase your existing knowledge and professional experience, as well as helping you develop new management skills. We also want to encourage innovative ways of looking at and solving problems. You will explore key theories in the area of business management and learn how to apply these and how they relate to current business scenarios. Our MBA students join us from a wide variety of professional and international backgrounds and are often looking to achieve different things. Some are looking to rethink their career strategy by changing industry or career path, while others are looking to the MBA as a way to help them progress to a more senior role. Our strength in the areas of entrepreneurship and innovation also attracts students that may have the responsibility of taking over a family business or who may have an idea for a new business that they wish to launch. All are united by a desire to learn, develop and achieve their ambitions.
Part-time and modular study The part-time MBA pathway is studied two days a week over two years. If you’re based locally, you can opt to follow a modular pathway, allowing you to complete the course in a minimum of 36 months over a choice of three-five years. You are invited to contact our MBA Director to identify the most appropriate study mode for you.
6 The Essex MBA
COURSE AT A GLANCE Autumn term Compulsory modules ¢ B usiness Research Methods and Skills ¢ B usiness Strategy ¢ G lobal Entrepreneurship, Innovation Management and Social Responsibility ¢ I nternational Marketing Strategy ¢ Managerial Finance and Accounting ¢ S ustainable Operations
Spring term Compulsory modules ¢ D eveloping Business Plans ¢ I nternational Business Environment ¢ M anagerial Economics ¢ P eople and Organisations Core module ¢ V enture Academy: Creating and Growing a New Venture Optional modules Choose two from: ¢ C onsulting to Organisations: Depth Psychology Approaches ¢ Leadership and Business Performance ¢ P ublic Sector Management ¢ S ocial Entrepreneurship, Social Innovation and Social Impact ¢ S upply Chains and Logistics Management
Student view I was attracted to Essex Business “ School by the chance to be with like-minded entrepreneurs, the dedicated, brilliant, modern facilities and the opportunity to conduct excellent research. Eventually I’d like to secure a highlevel managerial role in an established corporation and take the skills that I learn there to promote my own future business ventures whilst continually involving myself with the academic and start-up communities across the technology sector. Derek Guimond Full-time MBA, 2016
”
Summer term Core module ¢ M BA Project: Dissertation or Comprehensive Business Plan
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The Essex MBA: course stru Week 1
Induction week
Immersion activities ¢ Academic
and professional learning skills ¢ Adaptive thinking ¢ Critical problem solving and communication ¢ Networking skills ¢ Short group project ¢ Team working ¢ Working with academic module leaders
Autumn term
Spring term
(Weeks 2-10) October to December
(Weeks 16-25) January to March
Autumn-term modules
Spring-term modules
Business Research Methods and Skills (15 credits) Business Strategy (10 credits) Global Entrepreneurship, Innovation Management and Social Responsibility (10 credits) International Marketing Strategy (10 credits) Managerial Finance and Accounting (10 credits) Sustainable Operations (10 credits)
8 The Essex MBA
Developing Business Plans (10 credits) International Business Environment (10 credits) Managerial Economics (10 credits) People and Organisations (10 credits) Venture Academy: Creating and Growing a New Venture (15 credits)
ucture Summer term/Vacation (Weeks 30-50) April to September
Revision lectures Weeks 30-32
Exams Weeks 33-36
MBA Project (40 credits) Weeks 37-50
MBA Project Draft Submission Date: Week 45
Plus two optional modules from the following list:* Consulting to Organisations: Depth Psychology Approaches (10 credits)
MBA Project Final Submission Date: Week 50
Leadership and Business Performance (10 credits) Public Sector Management (10 credits) Social Entrepreneurship, Social Innovation and Social Impact (10 credits) Supply Chains and Logistics Management (10 credits)
KEY Blue: compulsory modules ¢ Aqua: core modules ¢ Red: optional modules ¢
*PLEASE NOTE Due to timetabling constraints, there are certain combinations of electives which may not be possible.
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Compulsory modules Student view
AUTUMN TERM Business Research Methods and Skills
I'm Operations Manager at Oaks “ Hospital, a leading private healthcare company. My decision to start The Essex MBA was largely because I want to underpin my experiences as a senior with the necessary qualifications. I’ve expanded my horizons immensely since joining EBS; the cohort is lively and diverse and I enjoy the group sessions and projects. Being based locally I can access the expertise and University facilities easily and avoid a long commute to London. The modular pathway gives me the flexibility I need to maintain my demanding role whilst setting me up for my future career. Nick Ratcliffe Part-time MBA, 2016
”
The effective manager and leader makes decisions based on the available evidence. However not all evidence should carry equal weight, some should carry no weight at all. This module will help you understand sources and the quality of data that will form the basis of this evidence. We look at qualitative and quantitative methods of data gathering and analysis to help ensure that evidence-based decisions are effective. This module will also prepare you for your MBA Project and encourage you to think about the key issues of method, research design and analysis.
Business Strategy Business strategy is the means by which an organisation achieves its long-term aims. This module will consider the components of strategy, their external and internal influences, what makes a successful strategy and the pitfalls to avoid. You’ll be encouraged to reflect on the nature of business strategy, the approaches to strategy development, the implications of strategic choices, stakeholder interests and the wider context of strategy. Informed by our internationally recognised research, we also consider how strategy delivers a sustainable and ethical business.
Global Entrepreneurship, Innovation Management and Social Responsibility As you complete The Essex MBA you will need realistic ideas for engaging with new business creation and growth in different environments. This module focuses on the formation of new businesses, innovative growth, and their impact on economic and social development in different environments. You will acquire a critical understanding of economic, sociological, psychological and managerial theories of enterprise creation and development and how they apply in practice in the world of business and other organisations. We provide the critical, theoretical underpinning for the study and investigation of enterprise development and the critical components of entrepreneurship.
International Marketing Strategy
Our part-time or modular students, that are combining study alongside work, can immediately benefit from the critical reflection encouraged and developed on the course.
10 The Essex MBA
A sound understanding of marketing strategy is essential for all modern managers. This module provides the foundations of the marketing concept and market orientation for international operations and examines issues related to internal and external environments for strategy-making, across borders. We will focus on strategic and functional aspects of international marketing activities of firms of varying sizes and industries, and integrate insights of strategy from international marketing literature. You will gain a critical awareness of the facets of international marketing both from the strategic and functional point of view.
Managerial Finance and Accounting
People and Organisations
All managers, whatever their discipline, must understand their sources of capital and how their money is used. This module enables students to understand how to finance their organisation, assess shareholder value and control their organisation based on key financial statements. We will consider the key issues of current debate and while not creating fully fledged financiers or accountants the module will enable managers to ask the right questions and understand the answers.
You will be encouraged to think and reflect upon the nature of managing people and organisations. This module covers many of the key human aspects of management that are, so often, taken for granted and in so doing provides you with an understanding of core issues that shape the management of organisational performance. We invite you to analyse workforce issues that will shape your own management practice.
Sustainable Operations Most of us manage some sort of operation, whether it is the main function of the organisation or processes in a supporting function. This module will equip you with the skills to manage operations in a sustainable way that helps deliver the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit. We introduce a range of models that help you manage a range of operations from high volume batch processing to low volume bespoke businesses. We consider both production and service organisations and address the increasing blurring of the distinction between the two.
SPRING TERM Developing Business Plans This module covers the critical, practical and transferable skills associated with the development of sustainable business plans. We focus on the four stages of development of an effective and practical business plan: causation and ideas generation; articulation and development; consolidation and implementation; and evaluation. You will develop skills to formulate clear and coherent ideas about planning for people, technologies, markets, finance, the environment, ethics and sustainability. We will examine the plan from the different perspectives of the entrepreneur, investor, customer and wider community.
International Business Environment This module will give you a sound global outlook and an advanced understanding of the external context within which international businesses operate. It will help you take advantage of the opportunities and challenges by entrepreneurial firms, both large and small. We’ll introduce you to key international trade theories and practices, and apply this to the study of entrepreneurship. We examine the external challenges facing international firms; in particular economic, financial, political, legal, technological and cultural challenges.
Managerial Economics
What’s the difference between core and compulsory modules? A compulsory module is a module that must be studied. A core module is a module that must be studied and passed.
Graduate view As a Senior Civil Engineer, my “ experience in the field and corporate boardrooms has provided me with a blended perspective gleaned from negotiations with vendors and contractors and with teams on a variety of projects. My experience as a CSR committee member gave me the opportunity to learn about the relevance of sustainability in business today. Modules relating to sustainability, innovation and entrepreneurship make The Essex MBA unique. In today’s dynamic economy, it is wise to make organisations sustainable and innovative for the long run. Samiran Kumar Das Full-time MBA, 2015
”
Managerial Economics is the application of economic theory to business management. It lies on the borderline between economics and business management. In this module you will develop a critical understanding of how economic concepts can be used to solve business problems. We examine decision making and forward planning as an efficient means of attaining a desired end, such as profit maximisation. The focus of the module is theoretical and it will enable you to examine the different economic concepts which can be used to analyse business situations.
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Core modules Student view
SPRING TERM Venture Academy: Creating and Growing a New Venture
I'm an economist but my “ long-term goal is to become a manager within the banking industry or start my own business venture. Having an MBA will give me the knowledge and confidence to apply for senior management positions both globally and also within domestic markets. The main factors that prompted me to choose The Essex MBA were the ranking of the University of Essex and EBS, and the scholarship incentives available for international students. I love studying here in this modern, beautiful building. Across campus there are great facilities, it’s an inspiring place to create something new. Alexander Malygin Full-time MBA, 2016
”
To successfully create and run your own enterprise you’ll need a solid basis in order to succeed and achieve sustainable growth. This module focuses on the development process, from start-up to early-stage growth of new ventures. We critically examine and organise different forms of learning, skills development, and aspects of creating and managing new and entrepreneurial (especially technology-based) ventures. We give you the chance to develop critical and transferable skills associated with the creation and growth of new business ventures and cover the essential processes associated with new venture creation.
SUMMER TERM MBA Project This module allows you to demonstrate your understanding of a management problem, the relevance of empirical research and how these might be applied to the problem, and the implications of the findings of your research. You develop, integrate and apply the concepts, skills and techniques acquired during the MBA programme in addressing a management problem or issue. You will be assigned a project supervisor with extensive research experience in your chosen subject area. After you have completed your core, compulsory and optional modules you will proceed to this final stage of your course. You will be required to complete one of the following in the summer term: Dissertation - using robust research methods and tools to explore specific business issues of your choice or Comprehensive Business Plan - a structured business planning document for a new or growing business
ASSESSMENT
MBA Project You will undertake a project which relates to your interests, professional experience or future ambitions, having learned the necessary research skills during the Business Research Methods and Skills module.
12 The Essex MBA
Assessment for each taught module usually consists of a combination of two-or three-hour examinations and coursework. Coursework takes the form of individual written essays, group projects and presentations. The Business Research Methods and Skills module is provided to support you with your final MBA Project.
Optional modules SPRING TERM Consulting to Organisations: Depth Psychology Approaches
Public Sector Management
You will study approaches to observing organisational process, the role and stance of the consultant, models of organisational change, interpersonal dynamics in teams, approaches to relational data collection, a variety of consultancy models informed by gestalt, complexity and psychodynamic perspectives and the process of negotiating, contracting and concluding consultancy assignments.
We look at the key issues associated with the challenges of service transformation in delivering vibrant, engaging and cost effective public services. This module is set against the background of a range of new challenges facing leaders across public services organisations during a period of reductions in funding and rising expectations of service users. We will take you through a journey which is designed to empower you to take a critical and practical approach to the challenges of transforming large and small organisations across the public sector.
This module will equip you with a critical understanding of the nature and design of consultancy engagements and develop an understanding of a range of depth psychology models of organisational change processes.
Social Entrepreneurship, Social Innovation and Social Impact
Leadership and Business Performance So you can emerge as an effective leader, we offer the practical skills that you can use in your workplace. This module provides a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the behavioural, values, culture and psychological frameworks. It’s taught and facilitated by experienced practitioners who all have been deeply active in both the research and practical application of the methodology. You will earn how to identify the factors which differentiate outstanding from average organisational performance, and develop an appreciation of the critical levers which drive and facilitate change and value in a business.
We focus on critical new developments relating to the social aspects of business. They include the emergence of social entrepreneurship as a new form of enterprise; the growth of social innovation as a legitimate form of development of new products and services and the social impact of business investment decisions. This module will enable you to acquire a critical understanding of theories and practice of social entrepreneurship, social innovation and social impact.
Supply Chains and Logistics Management In the modern world it is supply chains that compete for and deliver business opportunities, not individual organisations. This module will consider how supply chains are formed, managed and made sustainable. It will also look at the details of logistics, considering the options for lean and reactive supply chains that meet fluctuating customer demand. Through a variety of lectures projects and simulations, you will understand why supply chains are so crucial to delivering responsive, flexible business solutions.
“ Having this broad-based intense education will give you a competitive advantage. ” Bhaskar Dasgupta Programme Director, HSBC
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Your future career As a business school we have strong links with industry and an excellent reputation when it comes to graduate employment. Workshops within our School and through the University’s Employability and Careers Centre will help you make the most of the skills and experience acquired during your time at Essex Business School.
EMPLOYABILITY AND CAREERS CENTRE While you study you may be thinking about the new direction you want your career to take, and to aid you in this we have a dedicated Employability and Careers Centre to help you with any issues related to employment, training or choice of career path. The Centre is staffed by experienced professionals who offer a range of services during your studies and for three years after you graduate, including: n access
to student careers advisers for free, confidential and impartial guidance n careers-related information resources including publications, websites, and national newspapers n a series of free workshops to improve your job-hunting skills n careers events to introduce you to prospective employers n online jobs pages with current vacancies n advice on making applications and going for interviews n telephone or email support from our Internship Officer Whatever your needs, you will find a friendly and professional approach to your requirements. In addition to this the EBS Learning Team supports Essex Business School students to maximise your academic learning and provide advice on your career options. The Team offer individual consultations and group workshops to help you maximise your potential both at the University and in your future career.
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Alumni – a life-long network of friends and colleagues As a graduate of Essex Business School, you will automatically become a member of both the University of Essex and Essex Business School’s alumni associations. Together these two associations encompass more than 85,000 former students who live and work in more than 130 countries around the world. Many have gone on to distinguished careers in industry, commerce, politics, the public sector and academia. Others have built solid business reputations through growing their own companies, developing voluntary and not-for-profit organisations, and working for the benefit of the wider community.
MBA graduate destinations: n 2K n BT n Citibank, India n Dinamo Solutions n University of Essex n Virtusa UK Ltd n Westminster Council n Self-employment (start-up businesses)
Graduate view I’m Associate Manager at Virtusa “ UK Ltd. My role involves business
“ Competition for jobs is greater
than ever. Quality employers are becoming more and more rigorous with recruitment as the talent pool grows, both in the UK and internationally. Having an MBA is a clear indication of commitment to learning and specific interest in business. Quite simply, an MBA can make you more employable so I’d suggest it’s more important now than ever.
analysis, identifying business improvement opportunities and collaborating with senior staff on a daily basis. I play an instrumental role defining and realising customer experience benefits, using industry standard benchmark techniques and operational bottom line financial savings. I could not have reached this position without my MBA. With the knowledge and skills I gained it was wonderful to graduate with the chance to excel in my chosen career. Farha Aman Full-time MBA 2012
”
”
Maria Stanford Human Resources Director, Selfridges, and Essex alumnus essex.ac.uk/ebs 15
Connected to business Your MBA is about your future and the career you will carve out. During your career new challenges will emerge, new technologies will be invented, new businesses will be formed and the ways of doing business will keep on changing. Our aim is to educate socially responsible and forward thinking individuals who can look to the future and add value to the businesses in which they operate. Our colleagues on the Advisory Board and many business leaders work with the academic staff to ensure The Essex MBA reflects current and future business needs. At Essex we take the best of management theories and practice and give you the knowledge and the skills to adapt them to the present and the future needs of organisations. During your year on The Essex MBA you will meet many successful business people from the entrepreneurial and corporate worlds. This is what business will value: MBAs who can adapt to an ever-changing world; MBAs who have practical experience and MBAs who know what drives success. in a sustainable way. This is what The Essex MBA will give you and your career.
Bhaskar Dasgupta Programme Director, Payments and Cash Management Sales Transformation Programme, HSBC “EBS’s international student body provides a great background and diversity in classroom discussions. Coupled with the high quality of very experienced staff who will offer you guidance and expertise on various elements of business, these great aspects are complemented by the proximity to London and the South East of England which provides a good link with financial institutions. An MBA is very beneficial indeed to people who want to work in business. My MBA provided me with a good grounding on all the elements required to be successful in business, whether it be finance or human resources, strategy to production management, marketing to quality control.” Formal and informal spaces have been designed to encourage collaborative working and to bring academic expertise, student innovation and business experience together.
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Craig Mackey Deputy Commissioner Metropolitan Police Service and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute. “You will be studying in an outstanding environment. As well as benefiting from all of the facilities of the University’s Colchester Campus the new Essex Business School building offers opportunities to expand links with local and national businesses. As an MBA student, your learning environment will have a significant impact upon your study experience and will enrich your time at the Essex Business School.”
Philippa Stokes HR Director, Integration and Land and Sea Employee Relations, Rolls Royce “When the job market is highly competitive, it is important to have a strong differentiator. In the eyes of recruiters and employers, an MBA demonstrates a high degree of commitment, motivation and drive. Companies need people who are more strategic – yet pragmatic and capable of translating strategy into action – and also able to analyse complex information quickly. Recruiters are also likely to value knowledge of rapidly changing global markets, and the ability to work as part of a multicultural team, which are strong differentiators of The Essex MBA.”
We offer a tailored approach to Executive Education; from a place on an existing MBA module to a course run in the workplace, EBS help businesses invest in and get the most from their people.
ACCESSING KNOWLEDGE Essex Business School enjoys long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with organisations in the corporate, public and third sectors in order to enhance your learning experience and your future as a business graduate. Collaboration with local, national and international industry is crucial to achieving our mission of educating business leaders of the future.
Graeme Proudfoot Managing Director, Invesco EMEA “The Essex MBA is designed to reflect current and future business needs, and brings in industry experts with a range of international viewpoints so that you are given the knowledge, the skills and the networks to be able to respond to the future needs of organisations and your own future goals. That is valuable both to you, and to businesses.”
HOW WE CONNECT WITH BUSINESS: n E BS
is based in the Knowledge Gateway research and technology park on our Colchester Campus. It is set to become the location of choice in the eastern region for knowledge-based enterprises in science, technology and the creative sector n Drawing on our global reputation for analytics and data science and outstanding support for SMEs, it's set to employ 2,000 people n We use our specialist knowledge to help industry develop new products, or to look at ways of re-imagining what they already do via knowledge transfer partnerships n We regularly run networking events with local and national companies to build relationships that result in jobs for our graduates, student placements and research projects
Parkside Office Village – our hotspot for small businesses
Computer-generated illustration of our planned Innovation Centre
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Essex experience Essex Business School spans both the Colchester and Southend campuses. The Essex MBA is based at the University of Essex’s 200 acre parkland campus, in Colchester. We are located less than an hour from the heart of London’s finance and business district. You can reach London Stansted Airport in around one hour giving you direct access to other European hubs.
YOUR NEW HOME ¢ Our
Study pods and innovation booths provide an inspiring base for your group-working. Collaborative working is intrinsic to the School's approach and will benefit you far beyond the classroom.
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£21m landmark building offers an innovative and unique setting for teaching business at our Colchester Campus ¢ Ours is the first zero-carbon business school in the UK and has its own micro-climate that will keep it cool in summer and warm in winter ¢ Dedicated EBS Student Services Team for support and enquiries ¢ A light and spacious lecture theatre, with seating for 250-students ¢ Bespoke working space for postgraduate and research students ¢ A café with adjacent sun terrace ¢ Bloomberg Terminals offering direct use of Bloomberg data, information and analytics
SILBERRAD STUDENT CENTRE Our brand new £26m student centre delivers leading-edge facilities and enhances our commitment to putting your Essex experience at the heart of everything we do. You will benefit from the open-access 24-hour Learning Hub, providing a technology-rich study space for creative and group working, new IT facilities including touchdown access. The Student Services Hub is a ‘one-stop-shop’ for all your accommodation, income, registry and student support needs and provides a mixture of quiet study, IT places, group study and social seats.
Colchester Campus Home to over 10,500 students from more than 130 countries, our Colchester Campus is the largest of our three sites, making us one of the most internationally diverse campus universities on the planet – we are the world in one place. With shops, street markets, restaurants, banks, a theatre, a nightclub and a hairdresser, you’ll find everything you need within easy access. Overlooking the lakes and parkland, the Albert Sloman Library has six floors of e-resources, research and specialist materials, and of course, a whole lot of books! It’s the perfect, friendly environment for quiet reading or study. Go online for the complete picture of life in and around our Colchester Campus and a chance to see our award-winning accommodation through our students’ eyes. u www.essex.ac.uk/life
EBS trading floor
Local area Steeped in history with a modern and dynamic outlook, Colchester is a thriving regional business centre which is becoming increasingly recognised as an exciting and modern town with a diverse cultural, arts and entertainment scene.
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Applications, fees, and scholarships Standard entry requirements
Start dates
You are required to have an undergraduate degree with a 2.2 or higher. If you are an international applicant, please email pgadmit@essex.ac.uk for further details about the qualifications we accept.
Our full-time MBA programme begins in the first week of October 2016 and finishes in mid-September 2017. Applications for the 2016 programme are now open and early application is recommended.
You should also have three years relevant, professional work experience, post-graduation (evidenced by your CV and employer references).
Tuition fees and scholarships
If you have an undergraduate degree below a 2.2 or you do not have an undergraduate degree at all, we will still consider your application. We will typically ask you to have at least five years of relevant managerial experience. You will also be asked to submit an essay (2,000 words) outlining a range of business situations which you have experienced and identifying what you have learnt from them.
English language requirements For our MBA, if English is not your first language, we require IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component.
£17,500 (for 2016 entry). For 2016, we are offering scholarships worth £5,000 to students who are funding their own studies. You will automatically be considered for this scholarship and a fee discount of £5,000 will be applied to those who are eligible for the award.
Pre-sessional English If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that will enable you to start your course without retaking IELTS. You can study a pre-sessional pathway with our International Academy before the start of your main course at Essex.
All offers are subject to a satisfactory interview. You will be invited to an interview in person or via Skype with our MBA Director. For international applicants, this will take place over Skype. This will also give you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the programme and it will be a chance to meet the MBA Director.
Supporting documents ¢ Transcripts
of your university-level studies to date personal statement (500 words) outlining why you would like to undertake our MBA programme and what you hope to gain from it ¢ An up-to-date CV ¢ Two references. Normally one from an academic referee, and a second from an employer ¢ A
For non-English-speaking international applicants: ¢ English language qualifications (if you have received your test results) ¢ Essay if required (as outlined above)
Applications Our online application form takes about 20 minutes to complete. u www.essex.ac.uk/pgapply You must also provide your supporting documents (see list above), which you can upload to your online application portal. 20 The Essex MBA
YOUR BUDGET As a postgraduate student living on our Colchester Campus for a 50-week academic year, we expect you to need £8,750 - £12,000 to cover your living costs. An estimate of living costs for an Essex MBA student living in a single room on campus is shown below. Living cost Per year (50 weeks) Accommodation £3,755 to £6,868 (single campus room) Food (£50 per week) £2,500 Books and stationery £600 Clothing, toiletries etc. £600 Local travel £400 Leisure £600 Miscellaneous £400 Total £8,855 to £11,968 Average £10,411
FUTURE PLANS New for 2016 entry, MBA Museum Management is a unique degree among Anglo-American universities. It combines a solid grounding in business with the specifics of managing museums and galleries, curation and art history. Find out more and apply online. u www.essex.ac.uk/see/mba-museum-mgmt We're developing a suite of specialist MBA’s catering for a range of careers. We're also in the process of applying for AMBA accreditation for our MBA and whole school accreditation via AACSB. Keep checking the website for updates. u www.essex.ac.uk/ebs/mba
Student view I was keen to study my MBA “ at EBS as it provided me with the unique opportunity to learn about business from very experienced and knowledgeable professors coupled with a scholarship opportunity. Alongside my studies I play for the University basketball team competing in National leagues which I enjoy immensely. Once I complete my MBA, my goal is to work for a top international company. I hope that an MBA degree from Essex Business School will help me to land my dream job. My ultimate goal is to have my own business. Vladimir Vukovic Full-time MBA, 2016
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This brochure has been prepared in March 2016. Although correct at the time of going to print, it is for the general guidance of prospective students only, as modules may be subject to change.
essex.ac.uk/ebs 21
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