THE KINGSTON MBA DEVELOP YOUR STRATEGIC INSIGHT AND LEADERSHIP www.kingston.ac.uk/mba
WELCOME In the organisations of the future where creativity and innovation, business ethics, corporate social responsibility and governance will play an increasingly important role, you will need a keen strategic insight and an open mind to succeed. The Kingston MBA will both challenge and inspire you, giving you the tools and mindset to achieve, personally and professionally. Studying for an MBA is a life-changing experience and, for more than 30 years, we have succeeded in helping ambitious and talented individuals do just that. Many of our alumni now hold senior management positions in small, medium and multinational companies, within both the private and public sectors and across the globe. Many others have established their own enterprises. I look forward to welcoming you onto the programme and helping you fulfil your potential. Dr Kent Springdal MBA course director My Kingston MBA was probably the single biggest step I took in transforming my career prospects: partly because of the great business grounding it gave me, but also because it gave me confidence that I could hold my own in a diverse business environment. Andrew Haines Chief executive officer, Civil Aviation Authority 2
One of the Top 50 MBA programmes in Europe Ranked the best MBA programme in Russia AMBA-accredited since 1985 3
THE MBA FOR YOUR CAREER The Kingston MBA is a modern, career-focused general management programme with strategy and leadership at its core. From that base, you can specialise in areas of particular relevance and interest such as international marketing, corporate finance, change and creativity or several other options. It is designed for people looking to enhance their business management skills. Whether you want to boost your career, or change direction, our programme offers study options to suit. STUDY TO SUIT YOU You can study full-time on campus for one year or study part-time over two years with our executive programme, delivered at weekends. This latter route can appeal to busy executives preparing for senior or board-level roles, as well as small business owners looking to expand their business knowledge and networks. Both routes are also open to professionals from non-business backgrounds wanting to move into managerial positions. WITH FLEXIBILITY Change happens. That s why our flexible course structure allows you to switch between the fulltime and executive programme should your circumstances change while studying. 4
RANKINGS, RECOGNITION AND ACCREDITATION The Kingston MBA is regularly ranked highly by international bodies. It is in the Top 50 in Europe (QS) and ranked as the Top MBA in Russia by the leading newspaper Izvestia. Kingston itself is one of the top Business Schools in London, the heart of global business. Association of MBAs (AMBA) Since 1985 the Kingston MBA has been accredited by AMBA, the world s leading accreditation body for postgraduate business education programmes. We were the first business school in the world to receive triple accreditation from AMBA across our portfolio of general management masters and doctoral courses. Our Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is one of the first three DBA programmes internationally to receive accreditation from AMBA. Chartered Management Institute (CMI) The CMI offers successful Kingston MBA graduates full professional membership (MCMI) without the need to undergo the normal admission assessments. DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER Your professional development is at the heart of our MBA and careers support is integrated into the programme. Our career development package is tailored to your needs, regardless of whether you are a full-time or executive participant. A dedicated careers coach who works exclusively with our MBA participants will ensure you receive a personalised service through workshops and one-to-one meetings; we can also arrange introductions to specialist sector advisers. Within the MBA itself, the Leadership and Professional Development module includes career planning and management, interview techniques, industryspecific job targeting and continuing professional development (CPD). This module runs throughout the duration of the Kingston MBA. 5
THE BUSINESS SCHOOL FOR YOU Awarded Excellent Business School status since 2008 by Eduniversal and located in southwest London, Kingston Business School is the cornerstone of Kingston University, one of the most popular universities in the London area. A GREAT PLACE TO STUDY We re at the heart of the University s leafy Kingston Hill campus. Once part of a country estate some of its landscaped gardens and the large Victorian house are still visible Kingston Hill provides a fantastic green and safe backdrop to your learning. Three miles from Kingston town centre and 40 minutes to central London, we are ideally placed in one of London s safest and happiest areas (source: Metropolitan Police and Rightmove, respectively). HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL STAFF Many members of our academic staff are active in professional practice and acknowledged as experts in their field. In terms of impact, almost ninety per cent of our research was deemed as world-leading or internationally excellent under the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014). More than 30 nationalities are represented across our academics, bringing a global perspective to the classroom. SUPERB FACILITIES Part of an ongoing 130million infrastructure plan, the Business School building opened in 2012 and provides some of the best facilities for business teaching in the country, including dedicated MBA facilities. For example, Kingston is one of only a few UK universities to have a Bloomberg trading room, so you can experience first-hand the trading techniques used by asset management companies, investment banks, hedge funds, banks and central banks. The Bloomberg room also provides real-time business information relevant to students of any business discipline, making it an excellent all-round resource. The Nightingale Learning Resource Centre contains a dedicated business library and 24-hour access during term time. The University also provides access to free Wi-Fi, thousands of student-facing PCs, and hundreds of thousands of books, journals and other printed materials. WITH A CLEAR BUSINESS FOCUS For more than five years, Kingston University has been recognised as one of the best universities for graduate start-ups in the UK. In 2014, Kingston Business School secured a Small Business Charter Award in recognition of the role it has played in helping to kick-start British enterprise. We also have strong support in place to help turn your business idea into reality. In addition to the opportunities to develop your business on the MBA, we also offer the services of our specialist Entrepreneurship Programme. AND A GLOBAL VIEW At Kingston you can expand your network and globalise your experience. The MBA programme attracts high calibre students from a range of industries, backgrounds and countries, bringing a wealth of knowledge and understanding of how business is carried out in many sectors around the world. INTERNATIONAL TEACHING During the specialisation phase of the programme, you can take part in a study exchange to Moscow, where the Kingston MBA is taught at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. A reciprocal exchange sees Russian students visit Kingston Business School. You can also undertake elective modules in Berlin as part of your MBA, through our study exchange agreement with the Berlin School of Economics and Law. 6
Ultimately, the MBA taught me not to be afraid of presenting, of questioning, of expressing an opinion or of pursuing a new career. Louise Halliday Head of Marketing and Digital at Royal Albert Hall; and Kingston Business School Advisory Board member 7
STRUCTURE AND DELIVERY PHASE 1 FUNDAMENTALS The first phase of the MBA programme focuses on developing advanced business skills and perspectives across the main business function areas. Core modules International Business Environment Strategic Information Systems Management Organisations and Management in a Global Context Leadership and Professional Development Financial Management Operations Management Marketing Practice and Principles PHASE 3 IMPLEMENTATION Management Research Project The MBA programme culminates in the MBA Management Research Project, allowing you to apply your new-found skills and knowledge to the analysis of a specific business problem or issue of relevance, i.e. linked to your career goals or working with a business or addressing an issue related to your own business. There is also an opportunity for those wishing to develop a business plan to do so. All MBA projects are supervised. The elective modules and the project of your choosing comprise half of the taught component of the programme, allowing you to tailor your Kingston MBA to suit your needs. For module descriptions, visit www.kingston.ac.uk/mba Responsible Management Strategic Decision Making Strategic Execution & Implementation PHASE 2 SPECIALISATION The next phase allows you to focus on a specialist area of interest, or one that relates to your career ambitions or industry. Indicative modules may include: Business Forecasting and Modelling Corporate Finance International Marketing Entrepreneurship and Innovation Winning and Retaining Customers My classmates come from all corners of the world, from diverse industries and cultures; the teamwork is remarkable. Gerhard Strydom, MBA student HR business partner, financial services Change and Creativity Management Consultancy Top Management Team and Corporate Governance Public Service Management Strategic Project Management Global Immersion Innovation Finance 8
Modules are delivered by a mix of academics and business professionals, which gives a good balance between theory and practice. Marcin Osiecki, MBA student Senior finance manager, pharmaceuticals 9
10
PRACTICAL LEARNING BUSINESS SIMULATION EXERCISE An online experience that puts you in charge of a fictitious company, competing against teams from around the world to devise the best business model. INTEGRATED CASE STUDY Working as part of a group you will analyse a particular business problem and must make the best proposal to solve it against rival groups on your programme. SKILLS WORKSHOPS All MBA students have a variety of workshops to choose from, allowing further specialisation in topics of relevance. Options currently include Crisis Management, International Negotiation and Communication Skills. GUEST LECTURES As well as learning from Kingston University staff, your teaching will be supplemented by visiting academics, leading figures from the world of business and our esteemed honorary doctorate recipients. Previous talks have been given by: Greg Dyke Chairman of the Football Association, Former BBC Director General Lord Hastings Global Head of Corporate Citizenship, KPMG Karen Hamilton Global VP Sustainable Business, Unilever Willie Walsh CEO of International Airlines Group (IAG) LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER You will meet and work alongside fellow students and academics, drawing on a wide range of skills and experience. In addition, our carousel method of delivering modules allows different cohorts of students to be taught together so that, for example, those who join in January could study some modules alongside those who join in September. This will give you the benefit of an even wider range of contacts and knowledge to learn from. The key for me was that all the Kingston assignments were related back to a real work environment, so they were relevant and useful, rather than purely academic. Mike Adamson Chief Executive, British Red Cross 11
AFTER YOU GRADUATE As an MBA graduate, you will gain lifelong membership of our worldwide alumni network of more than 170,000 members, in key locations worldwide. The Kingston University Alumni Association encourages you to keep in touch with your student contemporaries, network with other former students and enjoy numerous services and benefits. LIFELONG BENEFITS The opportunity to study further modules as a part of your CPD at no cost* Invitations to Kingston Business School networking events to enable you to establish contacts with other Kingston alumni International networking events in countries such as, Russia, India, Thailand, China and the USA Access to masterclasses, guest lectures and discounts on short courses to help you continue to develop your skills and knowledge Access to careers and employability services Access to the Kingston University Alumni and Business School social media groups on LinkedIn and Facebook Regular e-newsletters to keep you up to date on news and events, networking opportunities, volunteering and special offers Access to Kingston University s four learning resources centres Discounts at selected retailers and the University s fitness centre *You can study one module for free every three years. If you wish to take the module assessment, there is a 10% alumni discount. I always knew Kingston had a solid reputation; what I did not know was that the Kingston MBA would turn me from a project manager to a director, then a managing director and now an entrepreneur. Imran Khan Managing director, Investment Software Limited 12
13
FIND OUT MORE AND APPLY For more information about the Kingston MBA, please visit www.kingston.ac.uk/mba or email mba@kingston.ac.uk MBA briefings We host regular on-campus MBA briefings where you can meet our course team and current students, view the facilities at our Kingston Hill campus and get a better feel for how you fit with Kingston Business School. See our website for details. Entry requirements The Kingston MBA is a postgraduate, postexperience qualification. We welcome applications from those who: possess a first degree or equivalent qualification, and have a minimum of three years relevant work experience at senior or managerial level, or five years experience for the executive programme. We also consider applications from individuals with appropriate management experience but no first degree. International applicants will be subject to the University s normal entry procedures for equivalence of qualifications. If English is not your first language, you will be required to demonstrate your written and verbal proficiency by achieving a recognised qualification, such as: IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 or above with no element below 6.0; or TOEFL ibt score of 88 overall with minimum scores of Reading = 20, Listening = 19, Speaking = 21, Writing = 20. If you do not meet the above criteria, we may be able to consider your application if you can provide alternative evidence of your ability to complete the course. If you are in any doubt as to your candidacy, you are invited to contact the course team for an informal discussion. All eligible applicants will normally be invited for an interview, although alternative arrangements may be made in the case of international students. How to Apply To apply online, visit www.kingston.ac.uk/mba If you have any questions about your eligibility or the application process for the Kingston MBA, email mba@kingston.ac.uk Funding your study As well as new loans being made available for postgraduate study in England, Kingston offers a variety of options to help fund your studies. MBA scholarships are available and can be applied for once you have received an offer of place Fees can be paid in instalments Kingston alumni are eligible for a 10% discount on course fees Conditions apply, visit our website for more details. Disclaimer Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this brochure is correct at the time of going to press. Please note, however, that Kingston Business School reserves the right to change aspects of its course provision as may be deemed appropriate in accordance with University regulations, policies or procedures. 14
15
Kingston Business School Kingston Hill Kingston upon Thames KT2 7LB mba@kingston.ac.uk +44(0) 20 8417 5203 16 www.kingston.ac.uk/mba BL(16.115)B