Master of Business Administration MBA

• We have a brand-new unique curriculum, integrating practitioner and academic teaching throughout the core subjects, with a strong focus on individual development and employment skills and a curriculum that addresses the key issues that challenge businesses of the future.
• We offer both a one-year full-time programme with mostly weekday classes and a two-year part-time executive programme with classes at weekends. There are two intakes each year for both programmes, in September and February.
• The Kingston MBA is a generalist MBA with options for specialisation. The programme has 10 core modules with a suite of electives which offer a chance to specialise. Students are required to choose four elective modules.
• The Kingston MBA is unique in that each of the core modules is led by both an academic and a practitioner which maintains academic rigour in teaching the latest theory while allowing you to put what you learn into practice, looking at real-life business issues.
• Careers and professional development is at the heart of our MBA. The careers support package is integrated into the programme for both full-time and executive participants. You will do a series of preparatory workshops and be introduced to specialist sector advisers. The MBA programme has a dedicated career coach who works with the students and you will have opportunities for one-to-one meetings with her. The MBA Careers Week is an integral part of the MBA timetable. The MBA Careers Week is designed to offer students insight, training, new perspectives and strategies for their own individual jobsearch.
• Our curriculum is led by values. We want our MBA graduates to be able to successfully tackle the issues that will affect businesses in the future, including best practice, business ethics and corporate social responsibility. These values are incorporated into all our modules.
• Our proximity to central London means you can be at the heart of one of the world's most important and vibrant cities within 25 minutes. It also ensures that our links with professional bodies and business and industry are strong.
• The Kingston MBA is the top-ranked MBA in Russia and our UK participants can choose to study some or all of their elective modules in Moscow.
• Our links with business and industry through our seminar and lecture series, our active MBA alumni and our international week of activities for all MBA participants offer you many opportunities for networking. The group study experience and work-based assignments help your personal development and leadership skills. This award is one of the few UK and international MBAs accredited by the Association of MBAs. Successful completion also confers eligibility for membership of the Chartered Management Institute.
• When joining Kingston you are given lifetime membership of the Association of MBAs (AMBA).

Find out more about how this course is structured and assessed.

Kingston Business School offers a number of bursaries for our MBA students for both February and September start dates. Find out more about this and other funding opportunities for the Kingston MBA. Find out more...

The Kingston MBA is a highly flexible programme of study. You need to gain 180 postgraduate credits overall, but you select your modules from a wide range of possibilities. This means you can specialise in the areas which are the most relevant for your career now, and for the career path you want.

How your 180 credits break down:

• 90 credits: choose nine core modules (each worth 10 credits) from the core modules list.
• 30 credits: choose four elective modules (each worth 7.5 credits) from the elective modules list.
• 60 credits: your final piece of work will be your MBA Project – a specialised piece of research and a consulting report (dissertation). This substantial piece of work will be the culmination of all your learning on the MBA. You will have one-to-one supervision for module and can carry out the project on any topic of your choosing.

Elective modules: please note that this list is indicative. Option modules will only be run if enough students wish to study them and therefore not all of these will be run every year.

Core modules

• Financial Management

• Financial Management

  This module will help you develop and enhance your critical understanding of a range of topical issues associated with financial management. You will do this by reviewing and analysing the position and performance of organisations as revealed in their financial statements and stock market indicators in the case of listed companies or key performance indicators in the case of not for profit organisations. In addition you will explore recent theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence concerning financial management issues in the academic literature. You will then translate this knowledge into practical context. You will engage with a broad range of issues, from financial reporting, through accounting for management decision-making in the short and long term, to considerations of decision making in the context of responsible capitalism and accounting for and with sustainability issues.

  
   
• International Business Environment

• International Business Environment

  This module introduces the concept of the international business environment and how it can be analysed for strategic decision-making. You will investigate how differences in economic, technological, cultural and ethical factors play roles in the development of strategy by organisations. You will examine the geo-political factors between US, Europe and emerging economies such as China, India, Russia and Brazil and assess their impact on the future development of international business trends.

  You will explore the significance of the international business environment and the impact of key factors on it. You will learn to apply appropriate micro- and macroeconomic concepts that underpin key business factors and affect an organisation's environment to evaluate risks that affect organisations in international contexts. This module also examines and evaluates the impact of shifts and changes in these factors on organisational performance in advanced, emerging and transition economies.

  
   
• Marketing in a Digital World

• Marketing in a Digital World

  Marketing is an essential business skill for all organisations in both the private sector and in the public (not for profit) sector. Marketing is the management discipline which identifies and tracks customer and consumer expectations and needs, then gears the organisation to meet those needs.

  Today, marketing strategy and practice is dominated by technology, more specifically by the Internet, which continues to transform the ways in which marketing is practiced. For example, the Internet is not a one way broadcast medium but allows for two way communication between marketers and customers.

  This module introduces the concept of marketing at both a strategic and tactical level, to business professionals drawn from across the business disciplines such as Marketing, Sales, Purchasing, Production, Logistics, Finance, IT, HR etc, and offers insights to fundamental marketing principles and practice. It then compares and contrasts traditional marketing practice with more contemporary marketing issues.

  
   
• Operations Management

• Operations Management

  This module will examine the strategic contribution that effective Operations Management can play within organisations. You will look at how the operations functions within both public and private sector organisations can successfully integrate with other organisational features, and evaluate and differentiate key operational processes in both service and manufacturing sectors.

  You will develop an understanding of innovation, creative and entrepreneurial approaches to improving and developing operations, and propose and substantiate operational improvements within a given operational context.

  
   
• Organisational Behaviour and Leadership Development

• Organisational Behaviour and Leadership Development

  This module will introduce you to a systemic approach to identifying, understanding and analysing macro-, meso- and micro- issues which have significant implications for the successful management of people and organisations. You will look at the best methods to produce appropriate, detailed recommendations for organisational implementation.

  In addition to the organisational focus, you will also focus on your own leadership development needs which may be required to achieve such organisational objectives, and thus progress your career.

  
   
• Responsible Management

• Responsible Management

  Managers face major challenges in the globalised and rapidly changing business environment. In this module you will reflect on your prior management experience, aspects of the programme so far, and the cultural contexts which you have worked in. That experience (and the experiences your classmates bring to discussions) will provide a basis for learning from differences, and developing leadership.

  Responsible management involves going beyond the legal minimum, for example in corporate social responsibility. Management is located in an ethical context, and with the long term perspective of sustainability. There is a central role for knowledge, and in particular tacit knowledge. Managers need to develop skills in dialogue, and the orchestration of reflection.

  
   
• Strategic Decision Making

• Strategic Decision Making

  The success of an organisation depends on the ability to make fast, widely-supported and high quality decisions on a frequent basis. Many such decisions affect the long-term ability of the organisation to succeed and remain sustainable.

  This module looks at a mixture processes which social and economic organisations can use to assimilate and process information; interpret their environments and imitate and differentiate themselves from others and learn by doing so.

  Students will examine a number of conceptual and analytical approaches and models to understand the assets and capabilities of an organisation and its relationships with suppliers, customers, regulatory bodies and other firms. This module will then consider the issues involved in understanding and designing strategic options.

  
   
• Strategic Information Systems Management

• Strategic Information Systems Management

  Strategic Information Systems Management is concerned with how organisations use information systems to add value. In particular you will look at how information systems have moved from day-to-day support activities to play a critical role in the strategic direction of an organisation. This module emphasises the need to take a balanced perspective that includes business, technology and people's views, as well as a global view that is necessary in a modern international setting.

  This module initially focuses on the strategic approaches that are appropriate to a technology-driven world, then looks to methods that can exploit those technologies. You will critically examine the management, development and use of information systems/ information technology (IS/IT) by considering some of the key areas of concern to organisations, eg system development strategies, e-business, managing knowledge, IS benefits and the impact of emerging technologies.

  
   
• Strategic Execution and Implementation

• Strategic Execution and Implementation

  This is a 'capstone' module and it complements the strategic decision making module. On this module explores how organisations can translate strategy into action. It will help develop your ability to engage with the challenges involved in implementing strategy.

  Strategy changes are often necessary to ensure sustainable success in a rapidly changing environment. The module will introduce a number of ideas about how to execute strategy and understand and relate it to different activities of the organisation. You will examine how the implementation relates to an organisation's different strategic options in terms of people, processes and technology.

  
   
• MBA Project

• MBA Project

  This module will take place at the end of the course and is the culmination of everything you have learnt so far. You will select an issue affecting an organisation and carry out an independent research project with one-to-one support from your adviser.

  You will begin with taught sessions on business research methods and supported activities to help you develop your individual project. You will identify a suitable topic, how to position the research among existing literature, and design an effective methodology. Your tutor will help you select appropriate methods for data collection and analysis, the operational aspects of writing a proposal and a report.

  You will carry out your research in an organisation of your choice. For full-time students this is an opportunity to make contacts and colleagues in the field of your choice by carrying out this consultancy project for them. For executive students this is an opportunity to make a real difference in the organisation you currently work in.

  
   

Option modules (choose four)

• Business Forecasting and Modelling

• Business Forecasting and Modelling

  This module is designed to extend your understanding of the different methods and techniques used in strategic and tactical forecasting and business modelling. You will learn to apply relevant modelling and analytical techniques to strategic decision-making in businesses and organisations. You will learn to construct effective forecasts and interface these with real business problems and strategies. For this reason a large proportion of this module's teaching time will be spent in computing labs, where you will practice applying modelling methods to business problems.

  
   
• Corporate Finance

• Corporate Finance

  Finance is based on a set of simple and intuitive core ideas and principles. A thorough understanding of finance is essential for corporate survival and success. Mastering the principles of corporate finance not only advances personal career prospects but also offers students an exciting intellectual challenge.

  This module is designed to offer a unique combination of major cotemporary theoretical and empirical developments. There is a substantial quantitative element in this module and students will find it useful to refresh their knowledge of maths and statistics knowledge. The coursework requires students to explore a real-life case study by collecting relevant data from the Datastream and other sources.

  
   
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation

• Entrepreneurship and Innovation

  Every organisation requires innovation in that every organisation has a need to "make new things happen". This may be to create profit and wealth, or it might involve a social innovation of benefit to a particular community. Both are required by an economy to ensure the prosperity and wellbeing of its citizens.

  Entrepreneurship is a pattern of behaviour capable of application to all types of organisations – public sector, not-for-profit and commercial organisations. It can therefore be taught in the classroom up to a certain point.

  This module gives a solid grounding in the concepts and function of both entrepreneurship and innovation within organisations and nations today. Entrepreneurship is defined using the management approach as a characteristic pattern of management behaviour, which has innovation outcomes.

   

  
   
• Global Business

• Global Business

  This module will enable you to analyse the key factors determining competitiveness in different economies and make appropriate strategic recommendations. 

  You will learn how to interpret the significance of the complex system of rules affecting international organisations and construct models and frameworks dealing with different circumstances. Studies are divided into three main sections – the global business, the evolution of global industries, and global business strategy.

  
   
• Management Consultancy

• Management Consultancy

  This module will help to develop your understanding of the management consulting industry from the client's perspective, including the reasons why organisations hire consultants, how they choose between competing firms and how they can extract better value from the consultants with whom they work.

  This module will focus on the strategic issues facing consulting firms, including branding, changes in the client-consultant relationship, and the internal challenges. You will examine the consulting process in practice, including the tools and techniques used by consultants, managing projects and clients and handling problems.

  
   
• Management of Change

• Management of Change

  Why organisations change? And can we manage change? Change is a defining feature in contemporary organisations and poses key challenges and questions for all sorts of organisations and their members. This module examines what people mean by change, how organisations change and whether change is manageable at all. You will study the complexities involved and see how change becomes an essential component in the study of organisation and the improvement of its activities and relationships – with its members and the wider community. All of these exciting issues are explored in this module focusing on both the epistemological and ontological aspect of change.

  This module will develop your understanding of the major theories and concepts underpinning approaches to change management, and enhance your ability to act as a change agent within organisations.

  
   
• Public Service Management

• Public Service Management

  This module explores the current challenges facing who work with and within public and nonprofit organisations. It aims to support managers by helping them develop a tool kit to address these issues. This module draws on the considerable expertise of professional practitioners in the field, who will also be actively involved in the teaching and delivery of the module and the supervision of the coursework.

  This module is also supported by the Public Service Management Interest Group, which is a Kingston Business School Alumni association. Through the expertise of working professionals in public service management you will gain direct input from a wide range of practitioners and expand your professional network.

  
   
• Project Management

• Project Management

  This module aims to provide you with a solid grounding in the theory and practice of project management. You will focus on the technical and commercial knowledge and skills necessary to manage projects within time and budget constraints and to a desired quality.

  You will examine case studies and become familiar with project management software (MS Project). Nearly half of the teaching time for this module is spent in computer laboratory practical work to give you a solid skill base in this increasingly popular business area. 

  
   
• Strategic Operations Management

• Strategic Operations Management

  This module will introduce you to the nature and scope of Strategic Operations Management within private and public sector operations in both service and manufacturing environments.

  This module focuses on the strategic view of an operation and the decisions that influence the configuration of its resources. This focus builds upon the models and concepts you will have learned in the Operations Management module and will develop your ability to examine and explore 'the bigger picture' when considering operational issues within your organisation.

  
   
• Strategic Project Management

• Strategic Project Management

  This module will introduce you to project management and the role of project managers in an organisational environment. This encompasses a number of strategic issues such as time planning, cost and quality planning when resources have to be shared amongst a number of demanding projects. This module will also pay careful attention to risk management and the range of issues which can arise in the course of managing projects.

  You will look at case studies and examples of successful and unsuccessful project management from real life situations, and use group discussion to examine the rationale for using different approaches. You will examine the subjective nature of project management, in contrast to the scientific approach of project planning, and develop methods to overcome barriers to effective project management. 

  
   
• Winning and Retaining Customers

• Winning and Retaining Customers

  This module introduces you to the core concepts of customer acquisition and retention, and analyses them in the context of customer relationship management and key account management.

  You will examine the importance of segmentation, multi-channel architecture and new communications media in the process of winning and retaining customers. The module analyses the marketing and financial metrics that need to be used to ensure effective management of the customer/business relationship. Classes will cover a mixture of formal lectures, case studies discussion and exercises.

  
   

The Kingston MBA course run in Moscow has been ranked number one in Russia in the prestigious 'Secret Firmy' rankings table ('Company Secrets'). The programme gained the top scores for teaching excellence, challenge, practical relevance and theoretical knowledge.

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The Kingston course is accredited by the Association of MBAs.

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• value for money
• flexible modes of attendance
• a convenient location close to London

Find out more about the Kingston MBA at our open forum:

• Visit the Business School website for upcoming events

A distance learning version of the Kingston MBA is also available.
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