Cardiff Business School MBA Programme

Transcription

1 Cardiff Business School MBA Programme

2 01 01 Cardiff Business School: Ranked amongst the Best Business Schools in the UK Cardiff Business School has an international reputation for its research excellence. The latest UK Government Research Assessment Exercise has ranked the School fourth in the UK in terms of its research quality. 70% of the School s research is ranked either world-leading or internationally excellent. The School is ranked 2nd in the UK in terms of the proportion of its research which is world-leading (the highest possible category). The School uses research-led teaching across its full portfolio of Specialist Masters programmes. This means that our faculty members teach students the cutting-edge expertise needed to forge a successful career. Research Assessment Exercise st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 11th 15th Source: Times Higher Education University Business Schools London Business School Imperial College Cambridge Cardiff Warwick Lancaster Bath LSE Oxford King s College London Strathclyde Manchester Leeds Nottingham Cranfield

3 01 Why Cardiff Business School? Introducing Cardiff Business School A Reputation for Excellence Cardiff Business School is ranked 4th in the UK for its research excellence. The School has recently become a member of both the American-based AACSB International, The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and of the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD EQUIS). A Global School in the UK The faculty of Cardiff Business School come from 28 countries, our current students come from 60 countries and our alumni represent 120 countries, reflecting the School s global approach to its work and its international stature. The School s international reputation allows faculty and institutional collaboration with other leading universities overseas. World Class Faculty The School attracts world-class faculty who occupy key positions in their respective fields, in the leading international business and research associations and membership bodies. Faculty are on the editorial review boards of many of the leading academic journals. Recognition for Outstanding Research The School is ranked 2nd in the UK for the amount of its research which is world-leading second only to London Business School. At the Frontier of Business Decision Making The School makes a useful contribution to both policy and practice on a local, national and international level, with research informing organisations such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the United Nations, the Treasury, the Department for Trade and Industry and the Department for Communities and Local Government, and working on consultation projects for blue-chip, global firms. An Excellent Learning Environment Postgraduate students join a community of over 1000 postgraduates specialising in Taught Masters programmes and our MBA. The diversity of our student body directly informs teaching and experiences are shared from all over the globe. In excess of 160 million has been invested to provide modern and well-equipped facilities, ensuring a first-class environment in which to live and study. A brand-new, state-of-the-art Trading Room is available to all our students, giving them practical expertise in the financial markets. Cardiff is one of the few UK universities to provide a dedicated facility for postgraduate students. The Graduate Centre offers additional academic and social facilities and a centre for the broader postgraduate community. Excellence in Teaching In the last Teaching Quality Assessment exercise, teaching at Cardiff Business School was assessed as excellent. Our knowledge, experience and research underpins teaching on all of our postgraduate programmes, informing our students of valuable ideas and practices at the frontier of global business developments. A Career Head-start Graduates of the School are placed on excellent career tracks across the range of business and management careers in firms and government organizations. Regular recruiters of our students, to name a few, include KPMG, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, HSBC, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley and Unilever. One of the Best Universities in the UK The School is part of Cardiff University, itself a Russell Group institution (the UK s equivalent to the North American Ivy League). An Attractive Location The University is based in and around Cardiff s magnificent city centre, alongside the National Museum and Galleries of Wales, and boasts much fine parkland. A compact campus means that the town centre, Students Union, Business School and Halls of Residence are in easy walking distance of each other. The Capital City Advantage The fastest growing capital in Europe, Cardiff is two hours by train from London and was recently named the most desirable city in which to live and work in the UK. This dynamic city boasts the Millennium Stadium, the National Assembly for Wales, the cultural Wales Millennium Centre and hosts major sporting events, world class concerts, film festivals and much more. Both the coastline and mountain ranges of Wales can be easily explored from the capital. 01 Students outside the Julian Hodge Building.

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5 03 Why Cardiff Business School? Welcome 02 Contents 03 Welcome from the Dean 04 Learning with Us 06 Introducing the Cardiff MBA Programme 07 MBA Programme Structure 08 The MBA Programme 14 Cardiff: The University 16 Cardiff: The City 18 Your Environment 20 The Graduate Centre 20 Accommodation 22 International Students 24 Careers 26 The Faculty of Cardiff Business School 27 Applying to Cardiff Business School Students enjoy the sunshine outside Main Building. 02 The Aberconway Building 03 Professor George Boyne. Cardiff Business School: An Education for Life Here at Cardiff we have been providing a business education for some 140 years: a heritage of which we are proud and through which we have developed a reputation as one of the leading business and management schools in the UK. Our purpose at Cardiff Business School is to provide an education for life. We give our students the analytical and business skills that will stay with them for a lifetime, helping them to progress in their careers and contribute to society. We are currently ranked 4th in the UK for the quality of our research, according to the Research Assessment Exercise undertaken by the UK government. In terms of the proportion of research categorised as world-leading, we are 2nd in the UK. Our faculty members bring their research expertise to the classroom. The knowledge, experience and research of my colleagues underpins the teaching on all of our postgraduate programmes, informing our students of valuable ideas and practices at the frontier of global business developments. The School is constantly developing. We were among the first to provide a Master of Business Administration programme some 28 years ago and continue to update and to innovate within our suite of postgraduate degree programmes, equipping tomorrow s business people with cutting-edge expertise. Our programmes challenge students academically whilst giving them the knowledge needed to succeed in a global business arena. We provide dedicated careers support throughout the course of your studies and once you graduate. Facilities like the School s Trading Room help to enhance your skills, and our annual careers programme gives you the opportunity to network with recruiters from leading international firms. We have also recently established a new employability centre that will allow our students to compete effectively for the best jobs As a postgraduate student at Cardiff Business School, you will contribute to a vibrant community of over a thousand graduates from over 60 countries. In addition to the seminars, lectures and workshops you attend as part of your programme, you will be invited to attend guest lectures given by the internationally renowned scholars and policy makers who visit us. The whole spectrum of activities offered by the Students Union and Graduate Centre will be open to you to enjoy, and all of the resources of Cardiff University will benefit you both when you study with us and when you become one of our alumni when you leave. Our students find living and studying in Cardiff, itself a friendly and prospering city, to be both rewarding and enjoyable. I hope that this brochure provides you with the information that you need to join us at Cardiff. I wish you every success with your studies and look forward to welcoming you to our School in the future. Professor George Boyne Dean

6 04 Why Cardiff Business School? Learning with Us Learning with Us 01 An Innovative Programme Cardiff Business School continually re-evaluates its programmes to ensure that they cater for the requirements of tomorrow s business leaders. The Cardiff MBA programme is designed to provide present and aspiring managers with the cutting-edge tools and techniques that will enable them to deal with the challenges, complexities and dynamism of an increasingly volatile global business environment. Excellent Teaching In the most recent Teaching Quality Assessment performed by the UK government, teaching at Cardiff Business School was assessed as Excellent. You will be taught in the way that best suits your programme, ranging from lectures, seminars and tutorials to industry visits. Case-based teaching will allow you to work with real-life examples of contemporary business practice, drawn from the activities of internationally renowned organisations. Small group work enables you to develop your skills of teamwork and helps you to understand the dynamics of intra organisational groups. A thriving, stimulating environment As a student of CBS you ll become a member of a thriving postgraduate community postgraduate students join us every year from a range of backgrounds and with experience of different cultures and working environments. The opportunities to extend your learning are endless, from accessing dedicated postgraduate resources to attending guest lectures and seminars given by speakers of international repute. Facilities such as our new Trading Room give you the opportunity to learn practical skills to put you ahead in the career marketplace. A Global Perspective Cardiff Business School is a global school located within the UK and as such aims to give our students a global perspective. Our programmes are designed with this internationalisation in mind and focus on preparing you for a multicultural business environment, equipping you with the skills you ll need to succeed within it. A supportive network Before you arrive in Cardiff, you will be assigned a faculty member who will act as your Personal Tutor, onhand to help with any academic issues you might encounter during your studies and to supervise your progress. A dedicated Student Support and Disability Officer is available within the School to advise on matters such as finance, regulations and to help you navigate the support services available both within and outside the University. A view to the future Whilst our programmes will provide you with the business knowledge needed for you to excel in your chosen area of business, we also provide a range of career services dedicated to helping you find graduate employment after graduation. Alumni benefits Our relationship with our students doesn t end when they graduate. Cardiff Business School increasingly provides networking and social opportunities for graduates when they leave us through our growing number of alumni chapters and industry-specific groups. An online alumni portal provides jobs boards, discussion forums and the opportunities to post profiles to enable global networking. We hold events both in the UK and other countries worldwide. We keep our graduates up-to-date with developments at the School through our magazine Synergy, which is available to alumni for use in sharing their news with their contemporaries. 02

7 03 01 Students working at Cardiff Business School. 02 Main Building. 03 The School provides excellent library facilities. 04

8 The Cardiff MBA new outlooks 01 The Aberconway Building. 02 Resource Centre, Main Building The annual MBA dinner.

9 07 The MBA Programme An Introduction Turning theory in practice A truly international programme with practical outputs, the Cardiff MBA will equip you with the insight into business practice you need for your future in a changing global environment. A thorough grounding in business theory The programme will provide you with detailed knowledge of the theories at the core of business management. You can choose one of five specialist pathways or select your own combination of electives for a general MBA that reflects your particular interests and strengths. Practical experience of business processes As part of the MBA programme you will complete an integrated business plan, with input from experienced external business practitioners. Rather than complete a traditional dissertation, the course concludes with a business project. This gives you the chance to showcase your theoretical knowledge in a simulated, practical environment. An education for life As well as equipping you with the knowledge foundation you need to excel in the business world, the MBA will develop your interpersonal skills, your business intuition, your sense of entrepreneurship and your ability to tackle everyday challenges, within a supportive environment of friendly competition and collaboration. The MBA will provide you with: The competence and the confidence to apply new knowledge to key areas of business and management The ability to solve practical management problems by turning theory into practice An understanding of working in an international, global, multi cultural, diverse environment Developed communication, self-management and time management skills The Cardiff MBA: Key Facts 350 students in a cohort A 12 month programme, running from September to September 4 stages of study: Foundation, Application, Specialisation and the Business Project 16 elective modules in the specialisation stage, covering 5 key management functions 6 pathways to choose from: Marketing & Strategy, Human Resource Management, Accounting & Finance, Operations Management & Logistics, International Management and General

10 08 The MBA Programme The Cardiff MBA The Programme The Cardiff MBA programme consists of a set of core subjects studied in the Foundation and Application stage, a choice of optional pathways and an individual Business Project. During the Application Stage, students will undertake a Business Plan that is group based, giving you the opportunity to develop team working skills. and Assessment Operations by external Management business and leaders Logistics.. will give you an opportunity Pathways to test your are ideas structured and to so develop that you further can choose understanding carefully-packaged of the subject dynamics combinations of business. to develop knowledge in specific areas of business, linked to that chosen in the Application phase. The Cardiff MBA recognises that today s business managers need to have a broad and thorough understanding of all the key global business issues as well as expertise within their chosen business sphere. The MBA will allow you to explore, analyse and apply both general and function-specific theories, concepts and techniques to the challenges and complexities that you will face in your career. Phase 1 Foundation Stage (core) September to December Study Skills Financial Analysis and Control Organisational Behaviour Marketing Economics and the Business Environment Operations Analysis Phase 1 Phase Foundation 2 September to December Application Stage (core) January to March Designed to give you a strong grounding in the basics of business management, the Foundation phase introduces you to the core components Financial Management that make organisations function. You ll understand the resources Human Resource that an organisation Management requires, the processes that control organizational Marketing Management operations and the approaches through which organisations Strategic Management relate to their internal and external environments. It International also develops Business the study skills you will need to complete your MBA Group study Business successfully. Plan Phase 3 Specialisation Stage General MBA 3 Electives (any combination from the Elective list below) Study Skills Financial Analysis and Control Organisational Behaviour Operations Analysis Marketing and Strategy Pathway Marketing Human Resource Management Pathway 1 Lead Elective (core) International Business 1 Lead Elective (core) Marketing Research Strategic HRM + Business Project + 2 Electives from: Advances in Strategic Management Consumer Behaviour Global Marketing E-Business + Business Project in a Marketing and Strategy area + 2 Electives from: International Management Management Consulting Management of Change Management in Emerging Economies + Business Project in a HRM area Like most international students, I was a little apprehensive about studying abroad. But the multicultural environment makes Cardiff one of the most desirable cities to live in. The Business School has an international reputation, excellent library facilities and a good teaching staff. Mitali Chitre

11 09 The MBA Programme 01 The Julian Hodge lecture theatre. 02 Cardiff Business School grounds The opportunity to specialise The school offers different optional pathways: Marketing and Strategy, Human Resource Management, Accounting and Finance, Operations Management and Logistics, and International Management. The opportunity to specialise Increasingly, MBA students want to focus their studies on specific areas of business and management. The School offers different optional pathways: Marketing and Strategy, Accounting and Finance, Human Resource Management, Phase 3 Specialisation Marketing and Stage Strategy April Pathway to June Phase 4 The Business Project June to September Choose Specialisation one pathway Stage from Core the six pathways below: Specialisation Stage Electives Individual 10,000 word written Specialisation report. Stage Project Marketing Research 2 Electives: Two from Advances in Strategic Business Project in a Marketing Management, Consumer Replacing Behaviour, the Global traditional dissertation, and Strategy the area Business Project provides Marketing and E-Business the opportunity to test the theories you have learnt in a simulated, practical environment. Human Resource Management Pathway Phase 3 continued Specialisation Stage Specialisation Accounting and Stage Finance Core Pathway Strategic 1 Lead Elective HRM (core) Corporate Governance + 2 Electives: Specialisation Operations Management Stage Electives and Logistics 2 Pathway Electives: Two from International HRM, Management 1 Lead Elective Consulting, (core) Management of Strategic Change Operations and Management Management in Emerging Economies + 2 Electives: Specialisation International Management Stage Project Pathway Business 1 Lead Elective Project (core) in a HRM area International Management + 2 Electives from: Managerial Finance Accounting Multinational Financial and Finance Management Pathway International Sustainable Business Lean Operations Specialisation Stage Core Specialisation Stage Electives Corporate + Business Governance Project in Accounting 2 + Electives: Business Project Managerial in an Finance Operations and and Finance area Multinational Management/Logistics Financial Management area Global Marketing International Sustainable Business Management in Emerging Economies Multinational Financial Management Specialisation Management Stage Consulting Project Business Project in an Accounting and + Business Finance Project area in an International Management area Operations Elective Modules Management and Logistics Pathway Advances in Strategic Management Specialisation Strategic HRMStage Core Strategic Marketing Operations ResearchManagement Corporate Governance Strategic Operations Management Consumer Behaviour Electronic Business Specialisation Global Marketing Stage Electives 2 International Electives: International Management Sustainable Business, International Purchasing Sustainable Logistics Business and Materials Management Consulting Management in Emerging Economies Management of Change Specialisation Managerial Finance Stage Project Business Multinational Project Financial Operations Management Management/Logistics Lean Operations area

12 10 The MBA Programme The Cardiff MBA The Programme Phase 1 Foundation September to December Designed to give you a strong grounding in the basics of business management, the Foundation phase introduces you to the core components that make organisations function. You ll understand the resources that an organisation requires, the processes that control organizational operations, and the approaches through which organizations relate to their international and external environments. It also develops the skills you will need to complete your MBA study successfully. (For topics covered see page 8). Phase 2 Application January to March The Application phase provides you with the opportunity to advance your thinking and knowledge by developing and applying the core themes studied in the Foundation phase. This phase focuses on the strategic business context, the development of organisational human capital, the management of the marketing function and the analysis and control of financial and business operations. Business Plan You will undertake a business plan that is group based, giving you the opportunity to develop team working skills. You will work in an international, multicultural team where you will solve complex business problems, integrating the skills and knowledge gained in other modules. Each member of the group takes on a formal leadership role for a period. The task requires groups to identify and plan the first five years of a start up business. The group business plan will involve input from external business mentors, giving you the opportunity to test your ideas and to develop further understanding of the dynamics of businesses. Judges in previous years have included the senior managers from Golley Slater, Eversheds, the Welsh Government and the Cardiff Devils. A list of topics covered in the application stage can be found on page 8. Phase 3 Specialisation April to September Students choose 1 lead elective: Corporate Governance International Management Marketing Research Strategic Operations Management Strategic Human Resource Management and two other electives from within one pathway or from a combination of pathways. Phase 4 The Business Project Replacing the traditional dissertation, the Business Project provides the opportunity to test the theories you have learnt in a simulated, practical environment. Knowledge from across the subjects studied in the Foundation and Application phases will be integrated within this project, the final part of the Specialisation period. Teaching faculty from across the Academic Sections of the School will be involved in the project part of the programme. You will be supported by a member of faculty who will act as your internal project mentor throughout the duration of the project.. 03 The Business Plan has been a fantastic opportunity to roll our sleeves up and put theories into practice with very little guidance. Being given the chance to pitch out ideas to successful entrepreneurs and answer direct questions from them is certainly a test of nerves and has made it a very memorable experience. Daniel Jermin

13 11 The MBA Programme 01 Tutorial session at Cardiff Business School. 02 Students have access to a number of 24 hour computing facilities. 03 The University boasts excellent library and resource facilities. 04 Students benefit from state-of-the-art IT facilities Elective modules Advances in Strategic Marketing This module explores the nature of contemporary strategic marketing to promote a deeper critical understanding of conventional strategy approaches and emergent ideas arising from new paradigm challenges. Creativity is applied to engender innovation in strategy, existing Western strategy frameworks are challenged, and risk, implementation, knowledge and time are examined as key drivers in creating 21st century strategies. Consumer Behaviour This module builds on the knowledge gained from the core Marketing module by providing an insight into why consumers behave the way they do, including the psychological, social and cultural underpinnings of consumer choice. A good understanding of the main influences that affect consumers is essential to managers, since most marketing activity is based on beliefs about buyer behaviour. The aim of the module is to provide participants with a critical knowledge of the relevant buyer behaviour theories, enabling them to develop successful marketing strategies. Corporate Governance This module analyses the conflicts of interests that may emerge in corporations. These conflicts of interests include those between the providers of finance and the management, those between the shareholders and stakeholders, and those between different types of shareholders such as the large controlling shareholder and the minority shareholders. The module reviews a range of ways of preventing or mitigating these conflicts of interests. The module adopts a strong international perspective. Electronic Business Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have transformed both the way in which businesses now operate internally and the way in which businesses interact with other businesses and their customers. Electronic business is the term used to describe this interest in the transformation potential of ICT to increase the performance of business. This module focuses on the key business issues associated with ebusiness and ecommerce and develops sufficient understanding of the technical issues to enable the student to discern the significance of ICTs to modern business. Global Marketing In this module we examine the ways multinational enterprises develop their international marketing strategy. We explore the stages of globalization and we use case study methodologies to deepen students understanding of a number of themes. Topics include: the nature and importance of global marketing; firm internationalisation; standardization and adaptation in global markets; the importance of market research and information utilisation in global marketing strategy and global marketing strategy in the new millennium. International Management The aim of this module is to provide students with an understanding of the key cultural, national and organizational issues that impact on the management function in a global business environment. Active involvement in seminars, case-analyses and discussion groups will enable discipline specific intellectual and transferable skills to be developed. International Sustainable Business The module examines the way in which business is responding to the challenges posed by recognition of the need to become sustainable. Among the topics covered are: sustainability as a concept; life-cycle analysis; industrial ecology; ecological foot-printing; corporate social responsibility; the sustainable consumption and production movement; and bio-mimicry. The module reviews policy measures affecting business and sustainability, and provides case studies of the more sustainable businesses currently trading. Examples will be drawn from a wide range of industries. Elective modules continue overleaf 04 In a one-year programme, Cardiff Business School has done a tremendous job because I personally believe the methodology of combining theory with practical case studies is very well-balanced. Hamza Javaid

14 12 The MBA Programme The Cardiff MBA The Programme continued Elective modules continued from previous page Lean Operations This module aims to enable students to develop a comprehensive understanding of the techniques involved in Lean Operations and value stream management. The student will examine lean tools and techniques - the concepts, practice and the competitive benefit of continuously improving processes and value stream management. We then examine how to take these lean tools and techniques and adapt them to achieve a lean enterprise and develop the international and global supply chains. The elective aims to synthesise the academic theory with a strong appreciation of how to use the lean tools and techniques to develop the value streams encountered in all businesses. Management Consulting The Management Consulting module provides students with practical skills for the consulting world by engaging them with real-life consulting dilemmas. The module is based on a series of cases from the lecturer s extensive consulting experience and tutorials from the leading management consultancies around the world. The course uses the Harvard Business School Case Method which is deployed by most major consulting firms when recruiting candidates. Management in Emerging Economies Management in Emerging Economies provides students with a practical insight into the fast-growing Southern economies that are changing the face of the global economy. Throughout the world, companies from formerly marginalized economies are finding and exploiting market niches and transforming both their own countries and the traditional picture of multinational development. The module looks at the keys to success at the corporate, national and international policy levels. It examines why some development approaches succeed and others do not, and explores some of the challenges faced by operators in emerging and developing economies. Management of Change The aim of the elective is to describe and analyse the way organisations change and the role of managers in change processes. Students will be introduced to relevant theories and practices relating to change management and utilize various case studies and other exercises to put these to use. The elective focuses on how to diagnose the problems associated with major changes in organisations, combines understanding of major theories of change with recently developed techniques of change management, and critically appraises the relevance of a variety of change management approaches to different sectors of the economy. Students are encouraged to conceive the role of manager as reflective practitioner and question their own underlying assumptions and much conventional wisdom. Managerial Finance The Managerial Finance module builds upon the Financial Management core module and aims to provide students with a more advanced knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and applied techniques of managerial finance. The topics covered are: working capital management and sources of short-term funds; financial strategies; capital investment decisions under conditions of risk and uncertainty; investment appraisal and capital rationing; inflation and its impact on investment appraisal; portfolio theory and the Capital Asset Pricing Model; mergers and acquisitions; Efficient Market Hypothesis; long term funds and the cost of capital and dividend policy. Multinational Financial Management The module examines key financial management issues faced by multinational corporations in undertaking international operations. Topics covered will include: an introduction to exchange rates and foreign exchange markets; issues involved in raising finance locally and internationally; foreign exchange exposure measurement and management; international derivatives and hedging; foreign direct investment; international investment decision-making processes, project appraisal in global companies; political risk; international working capital management; and international corporate governance. The Cardiff MBA is a comprehensive, well-organised and exciting experience. As an international student, one gets to interact with colleagues of diverse cultures and professional backgrounds. This broadens the scope of learning and provides an international business perspective. The faculty is always eager to help in both academic and personal matters. Cardiff as a city provides both top-quality education and a vibrant student life. Mohammad Fahad Shahid

15 13 The MBA Programme Lecture facilities at the Julian Hodge Building. 03 Main Building Elective modules continued from previous page Marketing Research The aim of this module is for participants to develop the knowledge and skills required to design, implement and evaluate commercial marketing research projects. The module will thus equip participants with the skills required to conduct and appraise qualitative and quantitative marketing. Strategic Human Resource Management The aim of the module is to link human resource issues with the strategies of firms and to deploy an explicitly international approach. The skills learned in the module will be transferable to a range of managerial activities both within firms and internationally. Strategic Operations Management The ability to manage businesses correctly and effectively in an increasingly complex marketplace is of increasing importance to many organisations. Strategic Operations Management provides students with a highly informative and practical knowledge base in which to develop, analyse and practise operations management theory in a range of different operational situations. Through a range of case studies, discussion groups and practical exercises, this module examines a range of general strategic operations issues such as: defining a robust operational strategy to enable company growth; defining customer value and developing quality systems products and services; re-engineering business processes in order to become leaner, more agile and responsive to customer demands; and how Strategic Operations Management extends into company supply chains in order to achieve a seamless flow of products and services. Teaching A key feature of the new Cardiff MBA programme is the emphasis on case-based teaching and learning. Students will work on cases which have been carefully developed to reflect the theoretical issues covered in the individual modules as well as practical business issues and problems. Typically, there will be formal lectures and these will be supplemented by small group teaching, where the key themes from the lectures are discussed in syndicate groups of between 12 and 14 students. There will also be the opportunity to attend additional surgeries where further support for the quantitative subject areas will be offered in a small group environment. Assessment The Foundation and Application phases will both be assessed by a combination of assignments and examinations. The exception is the group business plan, which is a 7000 word report. The elective modules within the Specialisation phase will be assessed by a combination of assignments, project and examinations. The Business Project of the Specialisation phase will be assessed by an individual report of 10,000 words. 03 My experience of Cardiff as a cosmopolitan city and the Cardiff MBA is priceless. The interaction with people from diverse cultures, and the knowledge acquired from a wide array of subject areas, has made me better equipped for the challenges of the global economy. Chioma Mbanugo

16 14 Why Cardiff Business School? Cardiff: The University Cardiff: The University Cardiff University is recognised in independent government assessments as one of the UK s leading teaching and research universities Cardiff has established itself as the front runner in Welsh higher education it is a match for most rivals in teaching and research and the overall performance is amongst the best in Britain. The Times Good University Guide Cardiff is surely one of the best deals going: tip-top academically, still not the hardest to get into and a fantastic extra-curricular scene. There s no excuse to leave with just a degree listed on your CV. The Virgin Alternative Guide to British Universities

17 15 Why Cardiff Business School? Cardiff: The University More online at: 03 The University has an outstanding location amidst the parks, Portland stone buildings and tree-lined avenues that form the city s civic centre. Unusually for a civic university, the various academic buildings, libraries, Students Union, many of the student residences and the city centre are in short walking distance of each other, saving you time and money. More than 150 million has been invested in the university estate since 2002 to provide new and refurbished facilities of the highest quality. Cardiff is a member of the Russell Group of Britain s leading research universities. Its research excellence creates a stimulating environment for teaching, ensuring that students are exposed to the very latest thinking and the most modern technology and equipment is available. The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education recently awarded the University its highest endorsement possible, following a thorough institutional review of its academic programmes and standards. The student population is drawn from a variety of backgrounds, from Wales, the UK and world-wide. It has some 20,600 undergraduate and 6,000 postgraduate students. There is an almost equal balance between male and female students. International students comprise 17% of the total student population. Government performance indicators show that students are more likely to succeed in their studies than students at other UK universities. Currently, 95% of students successfully complete or transfer, better than many similar universities and better than the UK national average. With a strong academic reputation and excellent facilities, Cardiff continues to go from strength to strength. 01 Cardiff University Main Building. 02 Cardiff s Civic Centre. 03 The University has a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. The Guardian University Guide

18 16 Why Cardiff Business School? Cardiff: The City Cardiff: The City Cardiff is one of Europe s youngest capital cities. Compact, green, friendly and full of life, it provides a first class environment in which to live and study. As the capital city of Wales, Cardiff has an impressive range of leisure, sporting and cultural amenities, many of which are of an international standard. The city boasts world-class concert venues in Cardiff International Arena and the Wales Millennium Centre, and the Millennium Stadium provides the focus for international sporting events. It has an Olympic standard white-water rafting centre and the SWALEC cricket stadium plays host to international test matches, including the Ashes. Culturally, Cardiff is well catered for with the National Museum and Gallery of Wales, several theatres and the historic Cardiff Castle which, set in parkland, occupies the centre of the city. The city has a vibrant shopping centre, numerous cinemas and restaurants and great pubs and music venues. The recently extended St David s Shopping Centre is now one of the busiest shopping centres in the European Union with nearly two hundred shops, stores and restaurants. The development of Cardiff Bay is a major attraction and is home to the Welsh Assembly. Cardiff is a compact city with large areas of parkland and good local transport. Unlike many other cities, it offers easy access to the countryside, coast and mountains. The Brecon Beacons National Park is only a 30-minute drive from Cardiff and the Glamorgan Heritage Coast is within easy reach. The city is also easily accessible by road or rail from other parts of Britain. Cardiff combines the practical advantages of a small, friendly, inexpensive city with the cultural and recreational amenities of a successful and modern capital. Such is the quality of the Cardiff experience that in a recent survey a large majority of students said they would like to live in the city after graduation. Most of the University s academic schools are housed in handsome stone buildings set around two parks and within strolling distance of the River Taff, which flows south into Cardiff from the Brecon Beacons National Park. The Business School is a ten minute walk from the city s main shopping and entertainment area. Come and see for yourself Cardiff benefits from excellent road and rail links with Britain s other major towns and cities. London, for example, is two hours by train, and the M4 motorway links both the west and south of England, as well as west Wales. Travel to the Midlands and the North is equally convenient. The journey by road from Birmingham, for example, takes only two hours. The main coach and railway stations are both centrally placed and Cardiff also benefits from an international airport. More online at: Dublin Belfast Holyhead Glasgow M90 Aberdeen Edinburgh Liverpool M6 M6 Newcastle Upon Tyne A1 Leeds Hull M62 Manchester Birmingham Cambridge M42 A470 M1 A1(M) M50 Harwich Swansea M4 London Bristol M4 CARDIFF M25 M3 M2 Dover M5 Southampton Plymouth Gatwick Heathrow Distance to London 124m / 199km 2 hours by train A1 Don t just take our word for it Cardiff is the epitome of cool, pulsing with a creative energy and relaxed atmosphere that complements its youthful heritage. The Lonely Planet Cardiff is popular with students offering all the attractions of a large conurbation without such high prices as students experience elsewhere. The Times Good University Guide

19 17 Why Cardiff Business School? Cardiff: The City More online at: The Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay. 02 Cardiff s Civic Centre. 03 The Millennium Stadium in the heart of the city. 04 View of Wales s beautiful coastline. Wales Tourist Board Cardiff is the up-and-coming cosmopolitan British city, a place jam-packed per square yard with some of the best drinking, dancing and shopping outside London. Virgin Alternative Guide to British Universities

20 18 Why Cardiff Business School? Your Environment Your Environment We will provide you with the facilities that you need to excel in your studies and the skills that you need to get the most from your learning environment. 01 The largest academic school of Cardiff University, the Business School caters for 2,600 students within outstanding on-site facilities. The School is accommodated in the Aberconway Building, a modern, purpose-built development located just a short walk from the attractive parks and gardens of the civic centre. Equally close are the social facilities offered by the Students Union, the Graduate School and the university s sports complex and playing fields. Facilities The Business School houses all of the facilities needed to deliver high calibre programmes. The School has invested in a 460 seat lecture theatre and resource centre on the Aberconway site, whilst the Aberconway Building provides seminar rooms and lecture theatres fitted with state of the art IT and Audio Visual facilities. The School s new Trading Room gives all students the opportunity to develop practical expertise in dealing on the Stock Exchange. Libraries The Business School library is located onsite in the Aberconway Building, ensuring that students are close to the resources they need. The School invests heavily in library provision, investing 300,000 in 2007 to facilitate a full refurbishment of its resources. The School s library holds multiple copies of key texts and over 60,000 books. It subscribes to over 1800 national and international journals and newspapers providing the most recent updates in business thinking and e-books. As a business school student you will be able to borrow books from the Aberconway library and 14 other libraries throughout the University including 24-hour facilities at some locations. The library service is fully computerised and it is possible to locate books, check availabilities, place reservations and view lists of items which you have borrowed remotely. A virtual librarian service is available from Monday to Friday 9-5pm for any questions you may have. Online A wide range of electronic information is available from the library of Cardiff Business School, including business information, census records, scientific data and the full text of newspapers and other publications. The online study resource Learning Central is becoming increasingly important to our students. Password protected access gives students access to lecture notes, reading lists, discussion boards, supporting study materials and an increasing number of lecture recordings. Additionally, Cardiff Business school provides students with access to three key databases in the area of finance: WRDS (Wharton Research Data Services), Thomson Datastream and Thomson One Banker. Together these resources provide students with access to an enormous range of financial and economic data to support their studies and professional development at Cardiff. Computing Adjacent to the Business School is a 24-hour resource centre housing 260 networked computers, with computer teaching laboratories provided for online teaching and lectures. Students at the School have free access to over 500 computers at any time. Your user name and password will allow you to log in to University facilities which include a large number of software packages, including the latest spreadsheets and statistical packages. Databases, word processing and graphics packages are made available to enable you to produce reports and dissertations to a professional standard. Help, advice and training are available for students from the University s Computing Centre and a number of locations offer 24 hour computer access. Postgraduates can also access the IT facilities of the Graduate Centre. Staff/Student Panels To ensure that the opinions of students are heard the business school has a number of staff/student panels, consisting of teaching faculty and elected student members who meet to discuss academic issues. Any issues that you feel need attention can be highlighted to your student representative who will raise the query with the panel. This feedback means that each programme is constantly reviewed to ensure it provides the best programme of study available for students

21 01, 02 Aberconway Library. 03 Students work in one of the School s cafeterias.

22 20 Why Cardiff Business School? The Graduate Centre The Graduate Centre Accommodation Cardiff is one of the few universities in the UK to have a dedicated facility for postgraduate students. Cardiff University attaches considerable importance to providing good quality accommodation for its students. 01 The Graduate Centre provides students with the space and resources to work, discuss, debate and socialise in purpose-built surroundings. It is also the hub for the postgraduate student events programme and is home to the Graduate Schools, which encourage students from complementary academic schools to connect with each other on social and academic terms. The Centre has a dedicated IT room featuring the latest resources. A coffee lounge provides brochures and information about exploring the local area and provides free access to the internet through designated work stations. There is also a reading room, a Café Bar and two conference rooms which are available free of charge to postgraduate students for seminars, group work or discussions. Graduate Events Throughout the year staff in the Graduate Centre also organise a variety of social and academic related events for graduate students. These include an induction programme to help new students find their way around the campus and city, and workshops on topics such as time and stress management, presentation skills and career development. Social events range from discos to day trips, many of which are planned by postgraduates themselves. The Graduate Centre is situated within Cardiff University Students Union Building, one of the biggest and best Students Unions in Britain, with an outstanding entertainment programme and range of facilities. The building is home to the Union bookshop, several food outlets, nightclub and bar, shops, a games room with video arcade, full size snooker tables, pool tables and satellite TV. For more information on the Graduate Centre, please visit For more information on the University s Graduate Schools, please visit For more information on the Students Union, please visit In recent years, the University has invested over 40 million in student accommodation and, as a result, is able to offer some of the highest quality accommodation in the British university system. Approximately 75% of our 4,700 study/bedrooms now offer students en-suite shower/toilet facilities and all have high speed internet connections. The accommodation is distributed between a range of modern and traditional halls, flats and houses. All overseas postgraduates, including those from the EU, are guaranteed a single occupancy place in University residences. Only after demand from this category has been filled can UK postgraduates be considered; UK students are therefore advised to seek private sector accommodation. There are twelve halls of residence which are open to postgraduate students. These include a fully-catered hall of residence, Aberdare Hall, which provides breakfast and evening meals Monday to Friday. Some halls provide an evening meal option during weekdays. The self-catering halls provide the facilities necessary for you to prepare your own meals according to your own timetable, tastes and budget. Postgraduate Plus Two halls of residence offer Postgraduate Plus options which comprise flats exclusively reserved for postgraduate students. These come equipped with bedding, crockery and kitchen utensils, a television and a computer network connection point. Accommodation for Couples A small number of family flats are available for first year students. You should not bring your family to Cardiff until suitable accommodation has been secured. The Residences Office will be able to provide regularly updated lists of flats and houses available in the private sector. Applying for Accommodation If you are a single EU or international student, once you have been offered a place to study at Cardiff University you will automatically be sent a Residences Guide and will able to apply online for accommodation. Further information on University-owned accommodation and the application process is available at Private Accommodation (UK students only) In addition to allocating University-owned student accommodation, the Residences Office also offers help to students seeking privately owned accommodation and maintains a regularly updated list of lodgings, bedsits, flats and houses which are available for rent. Advice on tenancy agreements and other aspects of living in private sector accommodation is available via the Advice Centre in the Students Union. The Postgraduate Recruitment Office and Graduate Centre also run a House Hunting event in August each year to assist all new postgraduate students who are looking for single or shared rented accommodation in Cardiff. For further information, please see If you are looking for private accommodation, you are strongly advised to visit Cardiff before the start of session.