The Cardiff Met MBA Advanced Entry Programme On Campus Enables students with a suitable Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management to enter the dissertation phase of the MBA On Campus programme
Located in the beautiful city of Cardiff, the 2010 Guardian and Times Good University Guides rank Cardiff Met amongst the top modern universities in the UK. Cardiff Met was also recently ranked as the top University in the UK for two years running for the quality of its international student experience by the International Student Barometer (ISB). The MBA is delivered by the Cardiff School of Management, one of Cardiff Met s five academic schools and with approximately 1000 students, the course is one of the largest in Europe. It is an internationally recognised and respected qualification attracting students from the public and private sectors in the UK and Overseas. If you have a suitable Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management which has been approved by the School, you are able to apply for direct entry to the dissertation phase of the MBA programme. It is a popular choice with individuals committed to developing their careers in senior management and who therefore need an understanding of all the major functions of business and management, and an acute awareness of key contemporary management challenges of global competition and climate change. This course will build on your previous postgraduate studies and work experience and enable students to achieve a Masters qualification. The course is delivered at our 20 million state-of-the-art campus in Cardiff and is a full time course but it offers students the flexibility to study around existing commitments. Students on the MBA advanced entry programme have full access to all of the University s outstanding services such as the International Student welfare support team, personal tutors and the Careers service as well as our extensive academic, IT, library, leisure and sports facilities. The MBA Programme is designed to both challenge and support students and encourage them to explore ideas and develop knowledge and personal qualities, all which provide the students with the best chance of succeeding in the increasingly complex and fast changing environment of today s job market.
Welcome from the Dean In a challenging and complex economic climate, there is an ever-increasing demand for managers with the requisite skills, understanding and acumen to tackle the difficult demands facing organisations of all sizes. If you aspire to make a significant contribution to managing and leading at a strategic level in the real world, this is the course for you. Our MBA is benchmarked against the best of those offered by modern universities in the UK and tested with major employers and leading professional institutes for real world relevance. I hope you decide to join us at Cardiff School of Management and I look forward to helping you gain an internationally renowned qualification and the skills and knowledge to make an immediate impact in the workplace. Professor David Brooksbank Dean of the Cardiff School of Management
TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT All advanced entry students join the MBA programme at the dissertation phase and complete a compulsory research methods module and a dissertation. Students are taught via a combination of lectures and small group seminars as well as supported by the Blackboard VLE. This presents students with the opportunity to engage with, discuss and develop the themes and subjects and also ensures that students enjoy quality contact with their tutors. THE RESEARCH METHODS MODULE This module provides a comprehensive introduction to research as practiced in business and management disciplines. It provides an overview of the key quantitative and qualitative methodologies required to undertake, evaluate and present a small scale research project, while helping students to build appropriate strategies for reviewing literature and developing a coherent set of aims and objectives for a research study. The module covers the major research methods (observation, surveys, case studies, interviews and action research), the implications of applying them, the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data and the presentation of findings. It identifies how to develop research questions/hypotheses and how to produce a robust and realistic research proposal and research design considering issues of data validation, triangulation and reliability. THE DISSERTATION Building on the Research Methods module, students will produce an independent research project of approximately 10,000-15,000 words in length. It is an intellectually challenging piece of individual management research which provides students with the opportunity to explore and produce an in-depth management study of particular interest to them. Students are required to: Critically evaluate major schools of thought within relevant management theory Discriminate between research methods in order to make appropriate selections in conducting management and organisational research Translate theory into practice through the study of its application in the real world Undertake empirical research in this area Draw conclusions about the implications of the results for managerial decision-making Despite being an independent research project, students are supported throughout the whole process by the team of dedicated Cardiff School of Management Supervisors. All students will be assigned a Personal Tutor who will provide regular feedback and advice on the student s progress.
Case Study: Elton Lima, Pune, India The focus of my dissertation is the implementation of leadership models in sales environments of financial institutions in India. In today s competitive business environment, few disagree with the fact that effective leadership is a vital factor in any organisation's success. My endeavour is to further prove and reinforce this current core vitality of Business Management from a practical perspective. My dissertation exposes and analyses the weaknesses and barriers that are faced by a leader and makes recommendations based on widely-researched leadership models and theories. The process behind the development of my dissertation has sharpened my analytical skills and innovative thinking. This experience of passionate research has changed my outlook on a leadership in business management and set a benchmark upon which I will improve my leadership skills. The dissertation was intellectually challenging requiring tremendous dedication and hard work. It was, however, also extremely enriching and I benefited enormously from the constant input and support of my supervisors.
ENTRY POINTS The course has three entry points per year in early Autumn, Winter and Summer TUITION FEES 3,650 MODE OF STUDY Students are normally required to attend classes in Cardiff for five face to face sessions distributed over the entire length of the course to enable them to undertake the Research Methods module as well as schedule meetings with their supervisors. All students will be provided with additional support via email and telephone. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS All students must achieve the basic education requirements of Cardiff Met. In addition, MBA Advanced Entry applicants should also: Possess a good degree from a recognised University equivalent to a Class 2.1 UK Undergraduate Degree. (Students who do not meet this requirement may be considered if they have proof of significant relevant work experience at managerial level.) Possess approved Level 7 post graduate diploma in Business and Management The programme is delivered in English and as such candidates will be asked to undertake an English test equivalent to IELTS 6.0 in all components. HOW TO APPLY To apply for the MBA Advanced Entry On Campus programme, complete a Cardiff Met international application form which can be downloaded from the Cardiff Metropolitan University website: www3.uwic.ac.uk/english/international/prospective/ pages/howtoapply.aspx *To join the MBA advanced entry programme at Cardiff Met, it is very important that students have studied the right material during their postgraduate diplomas. Students must have successfully completed a postgraduate diploma (commensurate with 120 Masters level credits) recognised by the Cardiff School of Management. For information about courses that are accepted for this course, please contact the International Office or an official Cardiff Metropolitan University Education Consultant.
THE APPLICATION FORM MUST BE RETURNED WITH ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION BY POST TO: The International Office 200 Western Avenue, Cardiff, CF5 2YB Or Faxed to: +44 (0)29 20 416928 Or scanned and emailed to: overseas@cardiffmet.ac.uk Alternatively, the documentation can be scanned and emailed to: overseas@cardiffmet.ac.uk