Master of Business Administration (MBA): Cyber for Business Leaders

Why choose this course?

Multi-disciplinary business innovation and leadership to manage your people, operations, finance and data security are the driving forces behind our brand-new Kingston Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Cyber for Business Leaders.

In the fast-moving cyber world, there is an ever-growing demand for professionals with a strong understanding of both business and cyber security. The active engagement of non-technical management, as well as an overall commitment to building a cyber security culture within organisations is paramount.

Build a tailored MBA, whether you work for a large organisation or are planning your first start up. High-quality, informed teaching will give you practical skills, help you make effective business decisions, think creatively and find solutions to real-life challenges.

Cyber, sustainability, ethical business and data management are incorporated into all modules. Kingston University has a strong focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership and managing change, and offers a digital cyber and innovation hub, an incubation programme, and a co-working space.

Mode Duration Start date
Full time 1 year January 2025
September 2025
Part time 2 years January 2025
September 2025
Full time 2 years including professional placement January 2025
September 2025
Main Location Penrhyn Road and Kingston Hill

The Kingston MBA

Reasons to choose Kingston University

  • An MBA at Kingston will develop your personal capacity and leadership skills, and help you build a career plan to meet your ambitions.
  • This innovative course combines both business and digital intelligence, giving you a competitive advantage in the job market.
  • You will have the opportunity to explore additional learning opportunities through industry-leading cloud security training on AWS Foundations, and professional cyber for business certification such as the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate.
  • Kingston Business School is one of only 5% of the world's business schools to be accredited by AACSB International.

MBA at Kingston University

Course leader Pauline and former student Barbara talk about the MBA at Kingston.

About the Department of Strategy, Marketing and Innovation

The Department of Strategy, Marketing and Innovation comprises passionate and enterprising academics from a diverse range of backgrounds. Our undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications bring together research, practitioner insights and teaching expertise in the disciplines of marketing, international business, entrepreneurship, strategy and innovation.

Our courses are truly experiential, providing you with opportunities to undertake company visits, attend networking events and hear best practice from industry guest speakers.

What you will study

Through the MBA we aim for our students to actively analyse, question, interpret and innovate. This course will prepare you to identify and embrace potential opportunities whilst developing your creative capacities, digital intelligence and collaborative approach in order to be successful in different environments.

Part I

Part II

Year 2 (optional)

Part I aims to develop a foundation in general management, including skills and perspectives across business function areas. It includes eight integrated subjects which develop your understanding of theory and practice to enable you to achieve a corporate perspective of their enterprise. You will also study two specific cyber-related modules that will equip you with essential knowledge and skills in cyber security and leadership.

Core modules

Big Data and Business Analytics

15 credits

This module is designed to introduce business students to the exciting world of business intelligence and big data science with a particular focus on its use to inform strategic decision-making policies. Today's managers need to understand where and how to use business intelligence and big data analytics, to allow them to utilise new sources of customer, product, and operational data, which coupled with data science will allow them to optimise key business processes and KPIs.

Organisations and Management in a Global Context

15 credits

This module introduces you to a systemic approach to identifying, understanding and analysing macro, meso and micro issues, set within the global context, which have significant implications for the successful management of organisations and the people within them to produce appropriate detailed recommendations for organisational implementation.

Financial Management

15 credits

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 to be found in the academic literature and then you will work to make sense of these in a 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.

Operations Management

15 credits

This module is core on the MBA. The module introduces you to the nature and scope of operations management within private and public sector operations in both service and manufacturing environments. The module explores operations strategy, process and capacity issues, supply chain management and improving operations.

Digital Marketing Practice

15 credits

The module aims to provide aspiring senior managers with an appreciation of the likely multidisciplinary impact of digital transformation on the overall customer experience and the need to develop future marketing executives possessing the necessary skills and capabilities, namely IT skills, to comfortably communicate across the different business functions ensuring that all digital platforms achieve optimal customer centricity.

Responsible Management

15 credits

The module provides a critical understanding of the concepts of business ethics, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and stakeholder management and enables you to analyse, evaluate, and formulate business decisions in the light of ethical and societal considerations. It will enable you to manage organisations and your activities in a socially responsible way through the ability to evaluate CSR practices as applied to various business issues.

Strategic Management

15 credits

This module is a core module for the Master of Business Administration. The module explores how an organisation could develop widely supported and high quality decisions in a manner that would ensure its ability to succeed and remain sustainable. The module also helps you to learn how to translate a strategy into action in organisations and engage with the challenges that the implementation of strategy brings about in order to ensure sustainable success in a rapidly changing environment.

To achieve this we will be examining a number of conceptual and analytical approaches and models to help us understand the assets and capabilities of the organisation, and its relationships with suppliers, customers, regulatory bodies and other firms. Following on from this analysis we will consider the issues involved in understanding and designing strategic options and introduce a number of ideas as how the execution of strategy should be understood and related to different activities of the organisation that relate to the implementation of its different strategic options in terms of people, processes and technology.

Enterprise and Innovation

15 credits

Students learn the necessary skills to build and scale a successful business. This includes how to develop ideas, build prototypes, and understand what customers truly want. The focus of the teaching and student experience is around hands-on learning and entrepreneurial activity. Students are given the opportunity to attend guest lectures with practising entrepreneurs and intrepreneurs to gain practical understanding towards making innovation happen. Support will be given through the Kingston University flexible office space for entrepreneurial start-ups, drop in advice, training and challenges.

Assessment is through coursework, presentations, business prototypes and completion of the entrepreneurial process.

Cyber for Leaders

15 credits

This module equips you with essential knowledge and skills in cyber security, focusing on its practical application in business contexts.

You will explore techniques that are crucial for safeguarding sensitive information and systems in business operations. Through critical analysis, you will identify and assess security weaknesses, network and system threats, and resulting risks associated with common infrastructures used in business settings.

Emphasising ethical and legal considerations, you will also engage in critical discussions regarding the professional implications of cyber security in business practices.

Organisation Leaders in Cyber

15 credits

This module is designed to develop your skills so that you are equipped to take on business leadership roles in the realm of cyber security; making informed decisions, implementing best practices and responding effectively to emerging threats.

You will learn to apply effective methodologies to assess, evaluate, and manage the information security needs of business organisations. You will also develop and implement tailored cyber resilience strategies to enhance business preparedness and response to cyber incidents.

By the end of the module, you will be confident in tackling cyber security challenges and contributing to a secure and resilient business environment.

Part II aims to develop further practical management skills through the delivery of the Management Consultancy Project.

Running throughout your MBA studies the Career and Leadership Journey module aims to support you in your personal and professional development whilst refining your executive leadership and professional skills.

Core modules

Management Consultancy Project

30 credits

This is a core module in the MBA programme. The module consists of taught sessions on theory and practice of management consulting, as well as business research methods and a set of activities to support MBA candidates in the development of their consultancy project. As such it looks at the relevant business research and analysis instruments and processes of sourcing and delivering consulting work. Perspectives of both consultant and client in a typical engagement are considered. The material provides solid theoretical and practical background to those wishing to pursue management advisory work on a professional basis.

Career and Leadership Journey

0 credits

The Career and Leadership Journey module runs throughout your studies at Kingston and aims to support you in your personal and professional development through an emphasis on the refining of leadership, teamworking and the acquisition and refining of executive and professional skills. It also aims to prepare Senior Apprentices to meet Behavioural Standards for their End Point Assessment (EPA). The module builds on the recommendations of joint research undertaken by the Chartered Association of Business Schools (ABS) and the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) aimed at meeting the growing demands from employers for business schools to produce more professionally adept managers and leaders. You will develop a number of valuable transferable skills via a series of workshops, each focused on a different aspect of your leadership, managerial and professional development, and help you develop as an individual those areas of most relevance to you. Throughout your journey you will also be able to track and assess your own individual progress. Module workshops and other activities are delivered by a range of academics and practitioners.

This professional placement year is optional. It takes place after the full time MBA year. It allows students to do a 12-month work placement as part of their course. The work placement is an assessed part of the course and is therefore covered by a Student Route visa.

Find out more about the postgraduate work placement scheme.

Core modules

Professional Placement

120 credits

The Professional Placement module is a core module for those students following a masters programme that incorporates an extended professional placement that follows completion of the first 180 credits of taught modules and project or dissertation. It provides students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in an appropriate working environment, and to develop and enhance key employability skills and subject specific skills in their chosen subject.

It is the responsibility of individual students to locate and secure a suitable placement opportunity; this will normally involve one placement which must be completed over a minimum period of 10 months and within a maximum of 12 months. The placement must be approved by the module leader prior to commencement to ensure its suitability.

Three students sitting together.

International Fortnight

All Kingston MBA students come together for our annual International Fortnight. Taking place on campus, during International Fortnight you will study and socialise with other MBA students. Building on the knowledge you've gained so far on your course, you will immerse yourself in your choice of specialist elective modules and hear from inspiring guest speakers. Previous attendees have also had the opportunity to take part in exciting company visits.

Entry requirements

We advise that candidates apply for the Kingston MBA as soon as possible – it can take longer than you think to get organised to start your MBA. We accept admissions throughout the year, so you can join the next available group of students when you are ready.

Specific MBA admissions criteria

Committing to an MBA is a huge, life-changing decision. We want your experience on the Kingston MBA to be challenging, enjoyable and rewarding, so making sure we select both the right students and the right mix of students is extremely important. We use a set of admissions criteria to determine if a student is ready to take on an MBA. The criteria help us to make sure that you can successfully complete the MBA, and that each cohort of students will work together successfully as a team.

  Area  Requirement You need to provide:
 Academic
 
First degree or recognised equivalent from a professional body. Certified copy of your degree, transcripts, or letter of award.
We also consider applications from individuals with considerable management experience but no first degree. Evidence of alternative professional development and achievement.
Work experience Minimum of three years' relevant work experience for the full-time programme or five years' managerial experience for the executive programme.  
English proficiency Very proficient written and spoken English. Applicants whose first language is not English are expected to meet our requirements for English language proficiency (see below for details).
Motivation The MBA is a big commitment. We need to know you have thought about the opportunity and the consequences of studying. Personal statement (750 words maximum) within application form.

Interview to discuss the suitability of the MBA for you.

Admissions process

After receiving a candidate's application form, the first stage in our admissions process is to confirm that the candidate meets the criteria listed in the table above. So it is crucial for you to send us all the evidence and documents we require.

If you meet the minimum requirement for this programme your application will be considered further and you may be invited to an interview. This is either a face-to-face meeting over telephone or via Skype.

We will be in contact with you throughout the admissions process, after your initial application, so you know what the next step is on the route to your MBA.

International

All non-UK applicants must meet our English language requirement, which is Academic IELTS of 6.5 overall, with no element below 6.0. Make sure you read our full guidance about English language requirements, which includes details of other qualifications we consider.

Applicants who do not meet the English language requirements could be eligible to join our pre-sessional English language course.

Applicants from a recognised majority English speaking countries (MESCs) do not need to meet these requirements.

Country-specific information

You will find more information on country specific entry requirements in the International section of our website.

Find your country:

Teaching and assessment

Guided independent study (self-managed time)

When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the online virtual learning platform.

Support for postgraduate students

As a student at Kingston University, we will make sure you have access to appropriate advice regarding your academic development. You will also be able to use the University's support services

Your workload

A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.

One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 180 credits across a year (typical for a postgraduate course) would equate to 1,800 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.

  • 27% scheduled learning and teaching

The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.

Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.

How you will be assessed

Assessment typically comprises exams (e.g. test or exam), practical (e.g. presentations, performance) and coursework (e.g. essays, reports, self-assessment, portfolios, dissertation).

Year 1

Professional Placement

Year 1
  • Coursework: 84%
  • Practical: 16%
Professional Placement
  • Coursework: 100%

Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. Depending on optional modules chosen, this breakdown may change.

Feedback summary

We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.

Your timetables

Each student receives a personalised timetable. This is usually available after you have completed your online enrolment, which is typically accessible one month before the start of your course.

Class sizes

You will be part of an intimate cohort of students which provides dedicated academic guidance and advice and the opportunity to build a life-long network of colleagues. Some modules are common across other postgraduate programmes therefore you may be taught alongside students who are on these courses within the Business School.

Kingston Business School Accreditations

Kingston Business School holds the prestigious international accreditation by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) in recognition of the excellence of its business education. This accreditation has been earned by just 5% of the world's business schools and recognises the high quality and standard of our business degree offerings.

AACSB Accredited logo

Kingston Business School: be who you want to be

At Kingston Business School we lead

Course accreditation

The Kingston MBA has been accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA) since 1984 – one of the first UK MBAs to achieve this endorsement. Joining Kingston's MBA programme opens the door to lifetime membership of the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and a global alumni network.

The AMBA is the leading accreditation body in the UK and is receiving increasing recognition across Europe. It provides an independent, international verification of quality which assures employers that our MBA is well respected and up to date.

Association of MBAs Accredited logo

Who teaches this course?

You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on this course. The team includes senior academics and professional practitioners with industry experience. The following group of staff members are currently involved in the delivery of different elements of this course. This pool is subject to change at any time within the academic year.

Course fees and funding

2025/26 fees for this course

Home 2025/26

  • Master full time £25,000

International 2025/26

  • Master full time £25,000

2024/25 fees for this course

Home 2024/25

  • MBA full time £25,000

International 2024/25

  • MBA full time £25,000

Tuition fee information for future course years

If you start your second year straight after Year 1, you will pay the same fee for both years.

If you take a break before starting your second year, or if you repeat modules from Year 1 in Year 2, the fee for your second year may increase.

Fees for the optional placement year

If you choose to take a placement as part of this course, you will be invoiced for the placement fee in Year 2. Find out more about the postgraduate work placement scheme and the costs for the placement year.

The Kingston MBA Scholarship

We are proud to offer a tuition fee scholarship of £3,000 to self-funded candidates, who will be considered automatically following a formal offer of a place on the programme.

If you have any questions about the scholarship, please email the Course Director, Pauline Parker.

Other scholarships

There is also a range of University-wide postgraduate scholarships that candidates for the MBA may be eligible for.

Find out more on the Postgraduate scholarships page.

Additional costs

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs not covered by tuition fees. Students will need to consider these costs when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.

Textbooks

Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment.

Computer equipment

There are open-access networked computers available across the University, plus laptops available to loan. You may find it useful to have your own PC, laptop or tablet which you can use around campus and in halls of residence. Free WiFi is available on each of the campuses. You may wish to purchase your own computer, which can cost from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.

Photocopying and printing

In the majority of cases written coursework can be submitted online. There may be instances when you will be required to submit work in a printed format. Printing, binding and photocopying costs are not included in your tuition fees, this may cost up to £100 per year.

Travel

Travel costs are not included in your tuition fees. However, we do have a free intersite bus service which links the campuses, Surbiton train station, Kingston upon Thames train station, Norbiton train station and halls of residence.

Additional costs (course specific)

Please note that the MBA programme at Kingston so far has been a fully-financed programme for its participants. All core text books and company visits are included.

If you decide to do a study exchange at one of our partner institutions, you will need to pay for your own travel and accommodation.

Students who choose to take opportunities for supplementary certificates may incur costs for the exam. For example we offer project management though ILX. Kingston University funds the teaching but not the exam.

After you graduate

Graduates will be empowered to advance their careers in a variety of ways, according to the individual's career aspirations. Many of our MBA alumni use the knowledge gained from the course to help them operate more effectively at a higher level of senior management, either within their existing industry, or taking the opportunity to transition into a new role/ sector.

Others use these skills to successfully set up their own business, or expand into a consultancy role within an existing firm, or by setting up their own.

This course will also support graduates to become leaders that have a profound understanding of the cyber security challenges, but also have an insight into the state-of-the-art tools, technologies and methods prevalent in the industry to prevent and tackle cyber security issues, in real-time.

Our MBA Alumni

Upon graduation you'll be joining an elite network of Kingston MBA alumni linking you up with future business colleagues and your next job role. We take great pride in the success and stories of our MBA Alumni:

Mike Adamson

CEO, British Red Cross is MBA Alumni

Tony Ball

MBA 1996 Alumni Chief Executive, BSkyB, 1999–2003

Veronika Peshkova

Public Diplomacy Foundation & Goodwill Ambassador, UNIDO

Mike Dobby

Deloitte partner and VC MBA alumni 1995

Andrew Haines

Chief Executive, Network Rail studied part-time to complete his Kingston MBA

Dua Al Saadi

Team Lead Supervisor, Qatar Islamic Bank and formerly Financial Services Manager, EY

Life on this course

City of London trip

Students visited Guildhall with a tour of the City of London art collection, the Roman amphitheatre and church. Students also toured Bloomberg's state-of-the-art building, met stakeholders and experienced a superb demonstration and talk.

Students taking part in the Satellite Hackathon

Satellite Hackathon

MBA, Law and Engineering students collaborated to design innovative sustainable products and pitch to a local satellite company. Concepts included the monitoring of green spaces in urban rooftop settings and predicting the movement of plastic pollution-bergs on shipping routes.

attendees of the Next Generation Report at the Houses of Parliament

House of Lords event

Students were given the opportunity to network with MPs and business leaders as part of the launch of the Next Generation Report, published by The Entrepreneurs Network and Youth Business International, which examines the entrepreneurial aspirations of the next generation and what they need to succeed.

Experiential visit

Our students met the Commercial Director, Financial Director and HR Director of Historic Royal Palaces. They had a fantastic insight into running a complex company and the impact of Covid on the business.

Networking events for students and alumni

The Kingston MBA students joined an MBA alumni event at Level39, a great location for start-up businesses, where they met a range of companies.

Leadership events

We held a leadership event called Decision Impossible. Students participated in activities to test their current skills in decision making, teamwork, communication, critical and creative thinking, problem solving, negotiation and working under pressure.

Study exchange abroad

Students can take on an elective module in a different cultural setting and experience different approaches to learning. We have partnerships with Rennes School of Business, France and the Professional School of Business and Technology in Kempten, Germany.

What our MBA students say

The Kingston MBA helped me transition from an engineer to a senior management position. The course experience goes beyond the carefully designed modules that cover all aspects of business; students are also given practical opportunities to apply theory to real business cases.

The Management Consultancy Project involves extensive collaboration with a client and provides the opportunity to critically analyse their organisation with a systemic approach, apply models and help them to evolve in changing environments.

There is a platform to build long-term relationships with a group of outstanding professionals and lecturers from various industry, education and cultural backgrounds. Everyone shined their light on me, and I could see the sparks in all our discussions inside and outside of the classroom.

Alumni can benefit from extensive workshops and networking events that uncover and reflect the latest developments from a range of industries, which I am sure I will continue to benefit from moving forward.

Hengzhi Lu

Hengzhi Lu

Studying the Kingston MBA has undoubtedly made me more assertive and self-assured. The entrepreneurial environment in Kingston Business School is inspiring, and the professors encourage you to view things from different perspectives, which is crucial in the modern business world.

I strongly believe that the way the MBA is taught is closely aligned with current corporate standards and as such, it has allowed me to implement what I have learned into my business strategy, with a clear vision about how I can progress in my career.

I joined the MBA as a doctor with plans to set up a tertiary health care hospital in my hometown in India; I now feel that I am equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to achieve my goals.

Photo of Dr Panna Manhas

Dr Panna Manhas

The Kingston MBA provides practical leadership and management skills, membership of a diverse learning community and global alumni network, and importantly; it provides a credential that sends a signal to the marketplace.

An MBA is not just about the knowledge you pick up, but the people you meet, the places you visit and the networks you create. I count my MBA journey as one of my greatest life experiences.

My MBA cohort allowed me to work closely with an extremely talented group of people from a broad range of industry sectors, geographies and backgrounds. When writing my MBA dissertation on ‘IT integration in mergers and acquisitions' I established a number of unique and interesting relationships, strengthened my professional network, and was presented with opportunities to attend and speak at a number of industry events.

Photo of Declan Burke

Declan Burke

The MBA has been highly influential for expanding my career options. Before joining Kingston, I had never considered opening my own business, but I have adopted an entrepreneurial mindset which has led me to launching my own consultancy company.

One of the most useful elements of the course is being able to base the assignments through the lens of my own business, which has helped me to develop key skills within risk analysis, time management, marketing, leadership and strategic planning.

The Management Consultancy Project was a great experience which involved working on a real-life brief for a world-leading pharmaceutical company. I enjoyed dissecting the brief, conducting primary and secondary research, and creating actionable insights for the client.

The staff at Kingston are very approachable, flexible and supportive. They organise a range of events and visits from guest speakers, which has allowed me to grow my professional network and receive invaluable advice from other professionals.

MBA student Barbara Salvador smiling at camera

Barbara Salvador

A key part of the MBA involves analysing businesses from different points of view, which gives you a stereoscopic vision. This ability allows you to see the problem holistically, find solutions that suit all stakeholders and maintain a strategic focus simultaneously. This approach has helped me multiple times in my career, which has noticeably accelerated since studying at Kingston.

I have found communicating and networking with fellow students a highlight of the course. Each individual has a profound personality and is a real professional in their field. Our teamwork has allowed us to overcome the challenges in solving business cases, developing product ideas, and creating marketing, financial and operational strategies. As well as developing my knowledge and skills, I also expanded my professional network and built friendships with like-minded people.

I can confidently recommend the Kingston MBA to anyone who wants to master the art and science of business administration.

Anton Kiselev

Anton Kiselev

My time at Kingston University has been incredibly rewarding. The campus environment is green, aesthetically designed, and highly stimulating. I often find myself in the library, surrounded by views of the trees, reading books recommended by my teachers. It's the perfect setting to dive into my studies.

One of my highlights has been Dr. Pauline Parker's approach to teaching MBA students. Her blend of theory and practice is spot-on, and her focus on self-awareness as a foundation for success has been truly eye-opening. She goes above and beyond to support her students, taking the time to understand our challenges and providing tailored resources to help us grow. I've already felt positive momentum toward my goals, and I'm confident that I'll have made significant strides by the end of this course. The individual attention from all the professors here is remarkable. Every one of them has taken a personal interest in my progress, which has helped me stay on track.

Kingston offers plenty of networking opportunities—there are over ten monthly events to connect us with potential employers or foster our personal and professional development. Overall, my experience at Kingston has been incredibly positive, and I'm excited to continue this journey.

Padmashree Ghangale

Padmashree Ghangale

Course changes and regulations

The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Course changes explained.

Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.

Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.