University of Cambridge: Programme Specifications MASTER IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

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1 University of Cambridge: Programme Specifications Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this programme specification. Programme specifications are produced and then reviewed annually by the relevant faculty or department and revised where necessary. However, we reserve the right to withdraw, update or amend this programme specification at any time without notice. Further information about specifications and an archive of programme specifications for all awards of the University is available online at: MASTER IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 1 Awarding body University of Cambridge 2 Teaching institution Judge Business School 3 Accreditation details None 4 Name of final award Master 5 Programme title Business Administration 6 JACS code(s) N200 7 Relevant QAA benchmark statement(s) Business and Management 8 Qualifications framework level 7 (Masters) 9 Date specification was produced/ 20 May 2009 last revised 10 Date specification was last reviewed 4 May 2011 Educational aims of the programme The Cambridge Masters of Business Administration (MBA) is a taught one-year full-time programme of Cambridge Judge Business School. The aim is to produce graduates who demonstrate intellectual rigour and who are skilled in the practice of management and core business principles in finance, strategy, marketing, operations, accounting, innovation and human resources within a global context. The skills and knowledge acquired on the MBA are achieved through a collaborative ethos the core value of the Cambridge MBA. Aimed at the leaders of tomorrow, the Cambridge MBA is an intensive and highly practical programme. Real team consulting projects ensure that the Cambridge MBA is relevant and at the leading edge of business developments. While it has a general management focus, the School s international students and faculty members ensure that the programme equips students for the global business environment. Elective courses and individual projects allow students to customise their programme to suit their needs, interests and future employment aims. More information is available at Programme outcomes Knowledge and Understanding The overall learning objects of the Cambridge MBA involve transformational career development through: 1) acquisition of core technical skills; 2) advanced skills and practical experience in areas of specialisation; 3) accelerated personal development; and 4) concentrated international and cross-sector business experience. Page 1 of 7

2 Programme Structure and Content The overall MBA is divided by three main organizing principles: 1) Foundational Learning: problem framing, tools and methods of analysis 2) Business Modelling: understanding the organisation 3) Boardroom: understanding the broader context in which organisations operate This design gives students a clearer progress from first obtaining a clear grounding in core areas of finance, marketing, statistics, management practice and general analytics before moving on to apply this learning to understanding the organizational context and finally understanding how the organization operates within the larger global context. Students are expected to perform group work for their consulting projects, and to attend Leadership Seminars and Careers activities, on a concurrent basis. There are 17 taught core courses and more than 75 elective choices of which students must complete 5 to graduate. Additionally, students must complete a concentration, summer activity, 2 group consulting projects and the Careers programme for a total of 132 credits. Concentration Scheme The Concentration scheme includes eight areas of specialisation with the aim of providing students with a more in-depth and integrated way to explore a specific sector interest. The eight Concentrations are: Beyond for Profit Cultural & Arts Management Energy and the Environment Entrepreneurship Finance Health International business Strategy and Marketing Consulting Each Concentration requires students to complete electives in the area of specialisation, attend coach nights held by their respective coaches experts in the area and complete a Capstone project. Summer Activities Summer Activities take place in the final months of the MBA (29 June-26 August) and provide students with the opportunity to study a topic that excites their personal or professional interest. Summer activities for 2011 include: Advanced Negotiations Skills Workshop Dissertation/Case Study Doing Business in Korea Trip Seoul, Korea Doing Business in Russia Moscow, Russia IGNITE Facilitator with the Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning Individual Project/Internship Mandarin for Business Cambridge Comes to Silicon Valley trip Silicon Valley, USA Start-Up Chile Santiago, Chile Page 2 of 7

3 Details of the programme structure and content are available on the Cambridge Judge Business School web site ( Within the larger University Located in the heart of Cambridge, Cambridge Judge Business School encourages students to take advantage of the larger knowledge-base in the University with such groups as the Cambridge University Entrepreneurs (CUE), Cambridge University Technology and Enterprise Club (CUTEC), Biotechnology Club and Cambridge Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (CfEL). The MBA Programme also supports university-wide events such as the Silicon Valley Comes to Cambridge. Teaching and Learning Teaching is done mostly through interactive classes, seminars, case study discussions and workshops. There is also individual and small group tutoring for projects and assignments. The amount of student time spent in various learning methods is given below: Case Studies 30% Lectures 40% Experiential Learning 13% Simulations 2% Projects/Dissertation Research 15% Assessment Individual Assignment: 66%, Group Assignment: 21%, Class Participation: 2%, Attendance: 11% Cases used overall on MBA: roughly 150 Given the collaborative ethos of the programme, the programme requires much teamwork where projects and presentations are carried out in groups of 4-5 students. The groups are internationally diverse with students from varied sector backgrounds. They are intended to apply their management skills learned in the core course, Management Practice, to these real live case studies of leading and working in groups. Such skills are now required in the global business world to which these students will return upon graduation. Marking Standards for the Cambridge MBA As of , students must obtain 126 credits with an average grade of at least 50 to graduate with an MBA degree. In addition, students who obtain less than 40% in any of the six subjects examined by written examinations will be re-examined in those subjects (although their initial mark from the first examination will stand and enter the calculation of the minimum 50% average grade for the MBA as a whole). Students who fail to demonstrate that they have attained at least the minimum 40% standard on re-examination will be required to complete additional work specified by the Examiner/Assessor, working in conjunction with a TA. The following guidelines are followed by markers in assessing individual pieces of work. Page 3 of 7

4 Mark of less than 40% A mark in this range reflects chronic weaknesses in all aspects of the work submitted. Mark of 40 49% A mark in this range indicates significant short-comings. Such short-comings may be demonstrated by failure to understand and/or reproduce relevant concepts, or the inability to provide anything other than a rudimentary application of these ideas to practical problems. Mark of 50 59% A mark in this range suggests competence with the core ideas, but with limited critical analysis, depth or insight in the application of the ideas. Work in this range is likely to be of a general and descriptive nature in qualitative subjects, or to contain some significant errors in quantitative subject. Mark of 60 69% A mark in this range demonstrates considerable fluency with the ideas and concepts, a clear ability to think critically and/or to apply the ideas effectively and appropriately to practical or hypothetical scenarios. Mark of 70 79% A mark in this range reflects some special distinguishing features in terms of originality, depth of analysis or insight in qualitative subjects; substantially correct analyses in quantitative subjects. Mark of 80% or more A mark in this range is only awarded for work showing genuine flair and originality of an exceptional nature in qualitative subjects, or outstandingly precise work in quantitative subjects. All student work is assessed using these criteria. Students are assessed through a combination of examinations, written project submissions, class assignments of various kinds, and a number of presentations. The combination of assessment techniques provides a well-rounded assessment of students abilities. The importance of individual performance in the MBA as in many work situations is acknowledged in this scheme. For more on assessment, see section 4 in the Student Handbook in Appendix 14. Page 4 of 7

5 Assessment Scheme A combination of assessment methods is used to ensure a high academic standard and to enhance the collaborative nature of the programme. The formal examinations and individual work allow sufficient assessment and feedback to maintain intellectual rigour and provide opportunities for individual improvement. We also award termly director awards for academic merit during the year and a final director s list of the top 10% of students overall on the MBA at graduation. Additional awards are given for the best dissertation and the highest marks in finance, management science and management practice. Requirements for the award of the degree The method of delivery of course material ranges from lectures and case studies to experiential learning and team projects. A combination of written examinations, coursework, elective assignments, group projects and an individual dissertation form the assessment for this programme. A student's final result is calculated as a weighted average over all assessed components. Students must complete 126 credits in total. Each course comes with a weight of credits which will go towards their overall mark on the MBA. So, for example, the Management Practice course is worth 10 credits in comparison to Marketing which is worth 4 credits; as such, Management Practice will have a larger weight on their overall mark. Indicators of quality In 2008, the MBA was successfully reaccredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA) until 2013 and included in the School s General Board report for the University. In 2007, the School was awarded full Equis accreditation from the European Foundation for Management Development. The School also received a 5 in the last Research Assessment Exercise. The significant growth and enhanced reputation of the Cambridge MBA is reflected in the latest business school rankings which place Cambridge alongside the very best in the world. Learning Support Overall The MBA Programme offers many tools for students to learn about themselves better with such exercises as the Myers Brigg and Belbin test on team and work roles. We also offer a distinct Management Practice course that requires students to reflect on themselves and to explore issues which might affect their management styles. The results of these exams are discussed in class and also in one-on-one sessions with Career advisors. For the Consulting Projects, students are given supervision sessions with faculty to go over any work related or personal problems related to their projects. In terms of classes, the MBA Office offers support classes in such areas as Finance, Accounting and Management Analysis. Page 5 of 7

6 Students also receive support services through their specific colleges and the wider university community. This is unique in Cambridge for they can find support services through their faculties, their colleges and their university. Personal Development The MBA Office provides many sessions on personal development through the Careers Services including such course as Presentation Skills, Interview Practice, Myers Briggs indicators and Communication Skills. Language Skills Students have access to the University Language Centre and the English for Academic Purposes Pre-professional Programme in August-September. Students can also join language and cultural college societies which are university-wide. We also added the option to take a language course for summer activity credit. We sponsor a course in Mandarin for Business which is a 40 hour course. School facilities The School s learning resources include a computer room, common room, and library housing business and management books, journals and electronic resources. There are also a number of other libraries in Cambridge which house business and management information. MBA students also have their own syndicate room and project meeting rooms. Evaluating and improving the quality and standards of learning The MBA is the responsibility of Cambridge Judge Business School. Responsibility for the quality assurance of teaching and learning is delegated to the MBA Teaching Committee. The School participates in the University s quality assurance and enhancement system: 1 External Examining: the MBA has three external examiners who submit a report which is considered by the MBA Teaching Committee and the Management Studies Syndicate. Action in response to reports includes, where appropriate, revisions or adjustments to the programme and its delivery. 2 Course approval: the School is required to obtain the approval of the Board of Graduate Studies and the General Board s Education Committee before any significant changes to courses are made. 3 General Board Internal Review: all the School s activities, including the MBA were reviewed by the University s General Board in In addition, MBA students complete online feedback on all courses. The student representatives also attend the Teaching Committee meetings to voice any concerns of the class. The results are analysed and acted upon by the MBA Programme Manager and MBA Director. Page 6 of 7

7 Employment The Cambridge MBA Career Service takes a highly personalised approach to career development, providing guidance and support to enable students to achieve their career goals and connect with global employers. During the programme, we provide a range of resources: Self-assessment tools Skill development workshops (CV and cover letter preparation, industry and company research, job search strategy, networking skills and interview practice) One-to-one advisory and feedback sessions with sector experts Extensive online tools and resources Online job posting platform and online CVs Employer presentations and site visits, skill sessions and networking During the first and second terms, our week-long Career Development Programme provides more concentrated assessment and skills development. The individualised focus of the programme enables students to clarify and refine their goals more effectively, and implement their Career Action Plan more efficiently. Our student-focused approach to career development, links with global recruiters and close relationships with our alumni network around the world helps students explore their futures and secure a successful outcome from the MBA. An employment report from the class of 2008/09 is available at Page 7 of 7