Master of Business Administration MBA

Overview

Our 12-month, full-time Master of Business Administration programme offers you a carefully structured and immersive experience.

Our hallmark is purposeful transformation. We teach situated practical theory, so you can see the potential application of everything you learn. You'll develop the capabilities needed to thrive and succeed in any industry or entrepreneurial venture.

You'll hone your skills in:

• leadership
• critical thinking
• communication

Using these skills you'll work to improve your practice and performance in real-life applications. Your Newcastle University MBA journey is designed to provide you with the opportunity to:

• enhance your self-awareness
• integrate and apply your learning
• develop your consulting skills
• contribute to, and lead, diverse teams

You'll emerge:

• more confident and capable
• better equipped to drive sustainable change within your organisation
• ready to excel in your career

Our MBA careers package offers you a range of information and resources. These work hand-in-hand to support you:

• in the classroom
• in maximising opportunities from networking
• through dedicated 1:1 support.

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

 

What you'll learn

You'll begin your Newcastle University MBA journey by developing a comprehensive understanding of business and management.

Then you'll start to prepare for the key challenges of business in the 21st century and the changing landscape of the future. You'll choose two electives, which will:

• develop your skill set
• enhance your knowledge of emerging business trends and thinking

Finally, you will apply your learning through a range of projects. You'll learn experientially , with opportunities to:

• integrate your knowledge
• develop your self-awareness
• enhance your personal management style

Throughout the programme, business professionals will contribute to your teaching and learning experience. You’ll be able to attend industry-led events and join in intensive leadership and personal development challenges.

You'll also have the option to take part in international experiences. You could attend lectures at one of our partner business schools, or work with global businesses.

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

Course content changes

Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

 

Developing your core skills

Core modules

• NBS8122 - Accounting and Finance
• NBS8124 - Marketing
• NBS8126 - Strategic Management
• NBS8128 - Transitions in the Global Political Economy
• NBS8159 - Organisations and People Management
• NBS8496 - Digital Transformation

Business in Action

Discover the practical challenges in business. A series of immersive, time-bound activities provide deep learning opportunities. Develop your consultancy, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Investigate and analyse real-life challenges faced by business leaders, and devise practical solutions.

Preparing you for global business

You will study:

• NBS8489 - Business Analysis for Decision Making
• NBS8497 - Entrepreneurship
• NBS8493 - Corporate Social Responsibility and the challenge of Ethical Business

And choose two electives, one from each of the below groups, to suit your interests:

Group A

• NBS8495 - Emerging Economies: Challenges and Opportunities
• NBS8498 - Managing for Innovation
• NBS8013 - Leading Organisational Change

Group B

• NBS8096 - Finance and Investment
• NBS8634 - Digital Marketing
• NBS8123 - Strategic Human Resource Management

Personal Development Experience

Embrace new challenges that will lead to real personal growth. Learn from constructive feedback provided by practitioners, industry experts, academics and your fellow students.

Making an impact

Boardroom Challenge

Leverage your new knowledge and leadership skills from the Business Analysis for Decision-Making module. This is an opportunity to start thinking like a director. Learn what it means to present a thorough business case to corporate executives. It’s more than education and training, it’s about developing the language, positioning, value and confidence that makes you ‘boardroom ready’.

Management Consultancy Project

Work with a live client on this team-based consultancy project. You'll undertake a project with a team of fellow Newcastle University MBA students. Together, you will work on a brief offered by a live client to address a current business issue.

Transforming your business thinking

Individual Project

Apply your learning to:

• a corporate consultancy project
• an entrepreneurial business plan, or
• a research project

Throughout the programme, business professionals contribute to the teaching and learning experience. You’ll be able to attend industry-led events and join in intensive leadership and personal development challenges.

How you'll learn

Delivery and teaching methods

You will learn through engagement with a variety of the latest and most effective research-informed pedagogical approaches, including traditional lectures and seminars, as well as live case studies, group projects, and immersive experiential activities.

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Case study
• Essay
• Professional skills assessments
• Oral examination
• Oral presentation
• Portfolio
• Problem-solving exercises
• Report
• Research proposal
• Written examination
• Written exercise

Additional assessment information

Corporate projects

Your corporate projects give you the opportunity to explore in practice the challenges and opportunities experienced by organisations. Projects are sourced across a variety of organisations and industries to give you exposure at a regional, national, or international scale.

Management consultancy project

Build on the consultancy and business skills you have learnt through the programme. On this project you'll:

• work with your fellow students as a consulting team to respond to an organisation's project brief
• present a series of recommendations in response to the organisation’s objectives and deliverables

Previous projects have included:

• a marketing and internationalisation strategy for an environmental products manufacturer
• a social media-led sales and marketing strategy for a healthcare organisation
• a business growth model for a social enterprise

Individual project

The Newcastle University MBA culminates in a final project drawing together the entirety of your MBA learning. This includes an executive summary and a set of credible recommendations derived from your research and written for a management audience.

You can choose from a range of project options:

Research project

Similar to a traditional dissertation, you'll:

• report on an in-depth research project
• analyse a business issue of interest and relevance to you

Corporate consultancy project

You'll:

• analyse and evaluate a current business issue with an external organisation
• apply for a project with one of our corporate partners, or source your own project from an organisation of your choice

Entrepreneurial business plan

If you are planning to start your own business, you can choose to write a comprehensive business plan as your final project.

Student support

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• peers
• academics
• personal tutors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

 

Our staff

• Dr Lucy Hatt (Degree Programme Director)
• Dr Wee Chan Au
• Professor Tom McGovern
• Dr Xin Li
• Professor Iain Munro
• Dr Rebecca Casey
• Jo Clark
• Dr Peter Edward
• Dr Chiara Marzocchi
• Professor Stephen Procter
• Professor Stephen Chen
• Professor Gabriele Vosseberg

Note: This list is provisional and subject to change.

Your development

Global opportunities

The global marketplace is increasingly competitive. Employers are looking for leaders with the knowledge, ability and ambition to shape the future of global organisations.

The Newcastle University MBA enables you to develop a global perspective with a range of international opportunities.

Business Networking

Develop your business networking skills and practise in a supportive environment with our valued business partners. On average 60% of jobs are not advertised, so networking is an essential skill.

Learning Expeditions

Take part in international experiences, comprising:

• insights and learning from global businesses
• topical lectures
• cultural immersion opportunities

Appreciate the challenges of global business and apply your MBA learning in international environments.

Business Competitions

Compete in Global Business Competitions with peers from other high-ranking universities. You'll work virtually across time zones and continents with learners from our global partner institutions. Together you will solve live business challenges and meet virtually with corporate clients. You'll benefit from academic mentors in the participating partner institutions.

Leadership Insights

Our School-wide Employability Programme adds further value to your learning experience. It offers:

• inspiring keynote speakers
• interactive workshops
• networking opportunities with prominent global leaders

Learn a language

All eligible students are offered in‑programme English language teaching. This is tailored to the Newcastle University MBA learning requirements. In addition, the University’s award‑winning Language Resource Centre offers free language learning in over 150 languages via self-study materials.

Alumni Connections

You can tap into our extensive Global Alumni Network. Reap the benefits throughout your study, as well as exclusive benefits and services once you graduate. Gain insights from alumni through guest lectures, mentoring and company visits.

*These opportunities change from year to year, as we take advantage of new opportunities. We have described a representative selection for illustrative purposes only.

Your future

Career direction

Newcastle University MBA graduates work in a variety of roles and sectors following their graduation. The routes and choices MBA graduates go through vary depending on individual preferences. Some choose to advance in their previous areas, while others change career direction.

Recruiters of MBA graduates from our latest cohorts include:

• Amazon
• Nissan
• Sage
• TfL Transport for London
• Harper Adams University
• Irwin Mitchel
• Accenture
• Version 1
• Greggs

Recent Newcastle University MBA graduates have secured job roles including:

• Director of Web and Digital Services
• Associate Director Risk Management
• Finance Manager
• Financial Planning Analyst
• General Manager
• Produce Manager
• Change Consultant
• Content quality assurance specialist
• Business Change Manager
• IT Analyst
• Mechanical Engineer
• International Officer
• Career support

Careers support for MBA Candidates (current students) is integrated into the programme.

We support you not only during your programme, but also once you've graduated. Extended careers support is available to MBA candidates. This is provided by the programme's MBA Career Consultant, as well as the wider Business School careers support team .

Support includes:

• Appointments with the MBA programme Careers Consultant
• MBA-only extracurricular careers sessions
• resources to support with applications, CV, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles
• practice interviews sessions
• leadership and industry expert guest speaker series
• annual School-based Careers Conference and university-wide recruitment fairs

Further support is available through online resources, such as:

• membership of AMBA (Association of MBAs)
• GoinGlobal International careers platform
• Access to MBA Exchange (an MBA-specific careers platform)
• LinkedIn Learning

We work with you to help you understand your:

• skills
• motivations
• career drivers
• target career goals

We'll use this intelligence to plan your career development strategy.

This includes:

• 12-month personal and professional transformation module
• Leadership Strengths profile and assessment
• building a personal brand to aid employability.
• application, CV and cover letter feedback and development support

We’ll support you to develop your career action plan. If you need to research sectors and employers, develop a business plan, or build your connections, we do this through:

• personal development experience
• business start-up support
• online resources, including GoinGlobal and MBA Exchange
• business networking
• sector insights with employer events and presentations

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

Facilities

Newcastle University Business School is one of the largest Schools in the University. We have over 3,500 students representing over 80 nationalities. This valuable network extends beyond our current students to include:

• regional, national and international leaders
• over 34,000 alumni in our network, spanning over 150 countries
• leading professionals and practitioners from industry

The Business School is the gateway to Newcastle Helix - an innovation hub and community that brings together industry leaders, businesses and top researchers.

Our facilities include:

• flexible conference room with panoramic views across the city
• Wi-Fi enabled connectivity throughout the building, including three computer clusters housing over 120 PCs
• four large lecture theatres and over 25 seminar and teaching spaces, providing comfortable teaching and group study space
• dedicated Student Hub and Quiet Space, providing a balanced mix of study space for group work or quiet, individual study
• contemporary café
• employability hub to support your career aspirations
• Bloomberg Room to give you a real feel for the trading room floor
• Experimental and Behavioural Economics Lab, a state-of-the-art research facility for conducting studies in experimental economics and economic psychology

The Frederick Douglass Centre at Newcastle Helix also offers further study and learning spaces. This includes a 750 seat auditorium – the largest in the University.

Find out more about Newcastle University Business School

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

PGR Home fee note

Home fees for research degree students

For 2024-25 entry, we have aligned our standard Home research fees with those set by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The standard fee was confirmed in Spring 2024 by UKRI.

For 2025-26 entry, we will be aligning our standard Home research fees with those set by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The standard fee will be confirmed in Spring 2025 by UKRI.

 

Tuition fee increases

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination
• graduation

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

Deposit

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

Funding deadlines

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding

Find funding available for your course

Select your country

How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.

Apply Online  

Open days and events

Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually

Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events