Postgraduate Course

Master of Business Administration: The Essex MBA

How to apply

Overview

The details

Course: The Essex MBA

Start date: October 2025

Study mode: Full-time

Duration: 1 year

Location: Colchester Campus

Based in: Essex Business School

Ready to take your career to the next level and make an impact?

The Essex MBA is for ambitious professionals, entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders who are eager to deliver sustainable business solutions and build a future they believe in.

At Essex Business School, we cultivate your talent and empower you to think faster and smarter. Whether you want to sharpen your strategic thinking, enhance your leadership, or develop an entrepreneurial mindset, this MBA equips you with the skills and insights to thrive in today’s fast-paced business world.

Push Your Potential

The Essex MBA goes beyond a degree. You’ll gain hands-on experience in key business areas like strategic marketing, sustainable operations, and finance. With a focus on globalisation, sustainability, and innovation, you’ll develop the edge to lead and drive change.

Real-World Learning: Director’s Workshops

Our Director’s Workshops are immersive, one or two-day sessions that bring theory to life through expert presentations, group activities, and collaborations with business incubators. Explore topics like personal branding, risk management, and business creation, all tailored to real-world challenges.

Business Planning and Consultancy Weeks

During Business Planning and Consultancy Weeks, you’ll work with professionals to bid for, run, and deliver a project over five days, applying what you've learned in a real business context, refining your skills, and standing out from your peers.

Start Strong, Graduate Stronger

Your MBA journey starts with a week focused on networking, teamwork, and adaptive thinking. It ends with the Capstone, where you’ll complete a dissertation, business plan, or consultancy project tailored to your goals.

Become a Leader for a Sustainable Future

Gain the knowledge, skills, and behaviours to lead responsibly, navigate challenges, and shape the future of business. Are you ready to make your mark?

Flexible study options

If you'd prefer to study your Essex MBA part-time, there are three options for you to choose from. You could study part-time over two years, part-time over three years, or you could choose our modular pathway which is the most flexible option, allowing you to take your modules in any order and complete your MBA over 5 years.

Our part-time and modular options give you the most amount of freedom to complete your MBA alongside your existing employment, running your own business, and other life commitments.

Scholarships and discounts

At Essex Business School, we are proud to support the best MBA candidates through our Essex MBA Dean's Award offering fee discounts of 10% and above.

Professional accreditation

Accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA).

The Essex MBA is accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA) making Essex Business School among the top 2% of business schools in the world. AMBA describes its accreditation as the “gold standard” for management training around the world and is highly respected by managers and leaders globally. The AMBA affiliation can add huge value to your MBA qualification.

Read about our most recent success with our 5-year re-accreditation by AMBA.

Essex Business School is also accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Why we're great.

Our Director's Workshops take you out of the traditional classroom to apply your learning to current business issues
Accredited by AMBA, making Essex Business School among the top 2% of business schools in the world
At Essex Business School we have a global outlook on sustainable and ethical business

Our expert staff

Our world-class MBA tutors have both academic and extensive private sector experience and are at the cutting-edge of research in business ethics and corporate social responsibility; organisation studies; leadership and strategy; finance and banking; risk management; and international management.

The programme is led by our MBA Director Dr James Fowler who says, '‘The MBA is an intense programme where we pack a lot in, but the changes I see in people are remarkable. I'm committed to respecting you as a professional, and ensuring you get value out of the time you spend with us through participating in real-time, experiential learning. That's what transforms MBAs' beliefs about themselves, allowing them to instil confidence in others. United with exposure to new people and networks such as our Alumni and Director's Workshop programme, it’s a winning combination."

As well as support from academic staff, our MBA recruitment team will be in regular contact and can answer any non-academic questions you have. Throughout your course, you benefit from a personalised and supportive learning environment where help is always at hand.

Specialist facilities

The Essex MBA is taught at our Colchester Campus in the unique and inspiring Essex Business School, the first zero-carbon business school in the UK.

You benefit from exceptional facilities, including:

an MBA Syndicate Room exclusively for MBA candidates, offering space for group work, meetings and presentation preparation
a virtual trading floor with Bloomberg Financial Market Labs giving you access to industry-standard financial data and analytics
a beautiful winter garden, which gives the building its own micro-climate

Our building is located at the heart of the Knowledge Gateway, the research and technology park on our Colchester Campus. The Knowledge Gateway also incorporates Parkside Office Village, an SME hotspot, and the Innovation Centre, which is home to the University's Start-Up Hub. These provide significant opportunities for you to network, undertake consultancy projects and develop your own entrepreneurial ambitions with businesses at the cutting-edge of their fields.

Your future

Studying with us on the Essex MBA is an excellent investment in your future career. We connect you with the latest developments in business by bringing in practitioners from leading companies to talk about contemporary business issues as well as experts in the MBA graduate jobs market. Throughout your course, you benefit from our professional links, such as:

we connect with business incubators to see first-hand the issues of getting your own business off the ground
we run regular networking events with resident businesses on the University's Knowledge Gateway to build relationships that can result in jobs, internships and research projects for our candidates and graduates
we encourage MBA candidates to use The Capstone to produce a business plan to launch their own new venture, with the expert support of the Essex Startups team at the University's Innovation Centre
our modules feature business simulations overseen by local entrepreneurs who can share their experiences for the benefit of our candidates
our bespoke MBA Futures programme provides candidates with an understanding of the MBA job market and an insight into the recruitment and selection practices used by employers our candidates may wish to target after completing their MBA.

Our MBA candidates have gained posts in a range of businesses, including large corporations, and have used their qualification as the catalyst to start their own businesses. Read our alumni profiles to find out more.

"I feel like an MBA is a growth journey, it is not just meant for people who want to go into management. It’s meant for everyone. It’s a journey that helps you to understand the whole system of managing a company. It teaches you to look at the bigger picture from birds eye view while working on the minuscule details. You get to balance and juggle between different activities and teams. I am studying things that I never even thought I would come across which are essential.

At the start it was a little difficult to cope with, coming from a professional life and getting back in to the habit of being a student but I think I am doing well now."

Parina Jain, full-time MBA candidate, 2020

Entry requirements

UK entry requirements

A 2:1 degree in any subject.

You are also expected to have an absolute minimum three years' of good quality, relevant, professional work experience, post-graduation, at the course start date. You must also evidence that you have experience managing people, projects or budgets, that you have been able to progress in your career so far and/or that you have been involved in additional entrepreneurial or community focused activities.

Once you have applied, your experience will be assessed individually against these criteria before a decision is made on whether your application will be progressed to the interview stage.

If you are a non-standard applicant (which is typically an applicant who has an undergraduate degree below a 2:1, or an applicant who does not have an undergraduate degree at all) we require at least five years' of relevant managerial experience. You will also be required to write an essay (max. 2000 words) outlining a range of business situations that you have experienced and identifying what you have learnt from them, linking this to how your MBA studies will support you in similar situations in the future.

All MBA applicants must submit an up-to-date CV. For each professional role, your CV should include: company name, job title, dates of employment, details of your role and responsibilities and an outline of the skills required or learnt in the role. You must also submit a personal statement which is specific to the Essex MBA programme, tells us why you think it the right programme for you and how your work and other experiences will help you to succeed on the MBA.

You don’t need to have completed GMAT to apply for the Essex MBA but we particularly welcome applicants with a GMAT score of 600 and above. If you have completed GMAT, please submit your score as it may strengthen your application and your chances of securing a scholarship.

International & EU entry requirements

We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.

Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please contact our Graduate Admissions team at pgquery@essex.ac.uk to request the entry requirements for this country.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, we require IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum score of 6.0 in all components.

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Additional Notes

The University uses academic selection criteria to determine an applicant’s ability to successfully complete a course at the University of Essex. Where appropriate, we may ask for specific information relating to previous modules studied or work experience.

Structure

Course structure

The Essex MBA is structured around eight core modules, the MBA Essentials, and three further modules, the MBA Toolkit, that leverage Essex Business School's distinct areas of expertise.

You will also have the opportunity to select an elective module, from a selection called the MBA options, that is aligned to your interests and aspirations.

These are followed by the Capstone, which is the culmination of the practical Director's Workshops and business simulations that run throughout the year, and is your opportunity to complete a consultancy project, business plan or dissertation.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website and in line with your contract with us. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

Components and modules explained

Components

Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.

Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.

Status	What this means
Core	You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory	You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.

The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.

Modules

Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.

In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.

Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:

100

The department or school the module will be taught by.

In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.

The module number.

The UK academic level of the module.

A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course.

A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules.

A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification.

The term the module will be taught in.

AU: Autumn term
SP: Spring term
SU: Summer term
FY: Full year
AP: Autumn and Spring terms
PS: Spring and Summer terms
AS: Autumn and Summer terms

COMPONENT 01: CORE

MBA Project

(40 CREDITS)

This module allows you to demonstrate your understanding of a management problem, the relevance of empirical research and how these might be applied to the problem, and the implications of the findings of your research. You develop, integrate and apply the concepts, skills and techniques acquired during the MBA programme in addressing a management problem or issue. You are assigned a project supervisor with extensive research experience in your chosen subject area. You are required to complete either a dissertation or comprehensive business plan.

View MBA Project on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 02: CORE WITH OPTIONS

(20 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 03: COMPULSORY

BE881-7-AU

(10 CREDITS)

View BE881-7-AU on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 04: COMPULSORY

Innovation & Entrepreneurship for New Business Models

(10 CREDITS)

This module focuses on the formation of new businesses, innovative growth and impact of these on economic and social development in different environments. You acquire a critical understanding of economic, sociological, psychological and managerial theories of enterprise creation and development and learn how they apply in practice. We provide the critical, theoretical underpinning for the study and investigation of enterprise development and the critical components of entrepreneurship.

View Innovation & Entrepreneurship for New Business Models on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 05: COMPULSORY

Data and Analytics

(10 CREDITS)

Data and information are critical to the success of organisations. Organisations that manage information effectively can improve efficiency, be more responsive to market opportunities, achieve competitive advantage and operate more sustainably. As organisations seek to develop innovations and grow in a sustainable way, they are looking for better information to guide decisions. This module will explore the role of information and analytics in supporting the development of innovative, sustainable growth strategies and the practical techniques managers can use to design effective information flows.

View Data and Analytics on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 06: COMPULSORY

Strategy

(10 CREDITS)

Business strategy is the means by which an organisation achieves its long-term aims. This module will consider the components of strategy, their external and internal influences, what makes a successful strategy and the pitfalls to avoid. You are encouraged to reflect on the nature of business strategy, the approaches to strategy development, the implications of strategic choices, stakeholder interests and the wider context of strategy. Informed by our internationally recognised research, we also consider how strategy delivers a sustainable and ethical business.

View Strategy on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 07: COMPULSORY

People and Sustainable Organisations

(10 CREDITS)

This module covers many of the key human aspects of management that are, so often, taken for granted. It provides you with an understanding of core issues that shape the management of organisational performance. We invite you to analyse workforce issues that will shape your own management practice.

View People and Sustainable Organisations on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 08: COMPULSORY

Accounting and Finance

(10 CREDITS)

All managers, whatever their discipline, must understand their sources of capital and how their money is used. This module enables students to understand how to finance their organisation, assess shareholder value and control their organisation based on key financial statements. We will consider the key issues of current debate and while not creating fully fledged financiers or accountants the module will enable managers to ask the right questions and understand the answers.

View Accounting and Finance on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 09: COMPULSORY

Markets, Governance and Sustainability

(10 CREDITS)

Managerial Economics is the application of economic theory to business management. It lies on the borderline between economics and business management. In this module, you develop a critical understanding of how economic concepts can be used to solve business problems. We examine decision making and forward planning as an efficient means of attaining a desired end, such as profit maximisation. The focus of the module is theoretical and enables you to examine the different economic concepts which can be used to analyse business situations.

View Markets, Governance and Sustainability on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 10: COMPULSORY

Strategic Marketing

(10 CREDITS)

A sound understanding of marketing strategy is essential for all modern managers. This module provides the foundations of the marketing concept and market orientation for international operations and examines issues related to internal and external environments for strategy-making, across borders. We focus on strategic and functional aspects of international marketing activities of firms of varying sizes and industries and integrate insights of strategy from international marketing literature. You gain a critical awareness of the facets of international marketing both from the strategic and functional point of view.

View Strategic Marketing on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 11: COMPULSORY

The Director's Workshops

(10 CREDITS)

This module is highly varied. It offers series of one day and half day workshops where MBAs meet external and internal speakers from senior managerial positions. As such, it allows MBAs to ground their theoretical knowledge in day-to-day realities. It also provides them with extensive opportunities to improve their ability to speak persuasively in public. This both an essential generic managerial and leadership skill and sets the scene for Business Planning Week.

View The Director's Workshops on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 12: COMPULSORY

The Management of Innovation and Organizational Change

(10 CREDITS)

A comprehensive introduction to the management of innovation and organisational change. You'll be taught the analytic frameworks, diagnostic tools and communication skills required for the management of innovation.

View The Management of Innovation and Organizational Change on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 13: COMPULSORY

Leading with Impact

(10 CREDITS)

So you can emerge as an effective leader, we offer the practical skills that you can use in your workplace. This module provides a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the behavioural, values, culture and psychological frameworks. It’s taught and facilitated by experienced practitioners who have been deeply active in both the research and practical application of the methodology. You learn how to identify the factors which differentiate outstanding from average organisational performance and develop an appreciation of the critical levers which drive and facilitate change and value in a business.

View Leading with Impact on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 14: OPTIONAL

(10 CREDITS)

Teaching

Each module is delivered in a one-week period, including three or four days of module workshops, where you work alongside your classmates to explore case studies, share relevant professional experiences and apply your learning to real business and management situations.

For some modules you may be required or recommended to complete some prior learning before the module begins, making use of Moodle, the University's virtual learning environment.

For other modules you may engage with this content after the module workshops have taken place.

On Moodle, you will find a set of learning resources for each module which may include quizzes, exercises and articles, specially selected by the module leader. You can work through the materials at your own pace, spending more time on areas that you find challenging.

Shortly after the module workshops, you'll have one more group meeting with the MBA teaching team to ensure you have everything you need to begin work on the assignment or assessment for the module.

Although you join the same cohort, the teaching pattern differs depending on your month of entry to the programme:

Full-time students starting in October study taught modules in the Autumn (term one) and Spring (term two), alongside Director's Workshops. During the Summer (term three), you complete your elective module and undertake the main components of the Capstone.
Full-time students starting in January study taught modules in the Spring (term one) and Summer (term two), alongside Director's Workshops. During the Autumn (term three), you complete your elective module and undertake the main components of the Capstone.

Assessment

Assessment for each taught module usually consists of coursework as there are no exams for this programme. Coursework takes the form of individual written essays, group projects and presentations. The Business Planning module is provided to support you with your final MBA Project.

Dissertation

You are required to complete one of the following in the summer term:

dissertation - using robust research methods and tools to explore specific business issues of your choice
comprehensive business plan - a structured business planning document for a new or growing business
consultancy project - you will be linked with a local business and produce a case study of an issue specific to the business

Fees and funding

Home/UK fee

£26,250

The Essex MBA Dean’s Award

Essex Business School is offering tuition fee discounts to students funding their own MBA studies. The School is able to offer fee discounts between 10% - 100% of tuition fee value.

These are available to students funding their own part-time or full-time MBA studies. To earn an award you’ll have to impress during your MBA interview, the most important part of the application process.

Find out more about eligibility and criteria for The Essex MBA Dean's Award.

International fee

£26,250

The Essex MBA Dean’s Award

Essex Business School is offering tuition fee discounts to students funding their own MBA studies. The School is able to offer fee discounts between 10% - 100% of tuition fee value.

Find out more about eligibility and criteria for The Essex MBA Dean's Award.

Masters fees and funding information

Research (e.g. PhD) fees and funding information

What's next

We hold Open Days for all our applicants throughout the year. Our Colchester Campus events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex, and give you the chance to:

tour our campus and accommodation
find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
meet our students and staff

If the dates of our organised events aren’t suitable for you, feel free to get in touch by emailing tours@essex.ac.uk and we’ll arrange an individual campus tour for you.

2025 Open Days (Colchester Campus)

Wednesday 19 March 2025 - Postgraduate Open Evening

Find out more

You can apply for this postgraduate course online. Before you apply, please check our information about necessary documents that we'll ask you to provide as part of your application.

We aim to respond to applications within two weeks. If we are able to offer you a place, you will be contacted via email.

For information on our deadline to apply for this course, please see our ‘how to apply' information.

MBA applicants will be asked to take part in either a face-to-face, online or telephone interview.

Additional Documents

Official transcript(s), in English or a certified translation of your academic results to date, showing marks or grades, must be provided at the time you make your application. (Transcripts are not required from current or previous University of Essex students, or from students who have previously completed a degree at Colchester Institute awarded by the University of Essex).

A personal statement with a 500 word limit to support your application saying why you wish to undertake the course and what you hope to achieve from it. If you require a Tier 4 visa to study with us, your personal statement should refer specifically to your reasons for wishing to study in the UK, and why you have chosen your area of study.

We will also require two references during the application process, one of which must come from a current employer, or appropriate other person, confirming your employment status. Don't worry if you cannot provide references when you make your application, as if we make you an offer you will be able to provide these at a later stage.

Applicants with an undergraduate degree 2.1 or above

Students applying to the MBA with a 2.1 degree or above, must evidence at least three years of managerial experience, post –graduation, documented by your CV.

Applicants without a first degree, or a first degree below a 2.1

Evidence at least evidence at least five years of relevant managerial experience, a significant portion of which should be middle-management level, documented by your CV.

Applicants applying to the MBA without a first degree, or a first degree below a 2:1, need to provide an essay of 2,000 words outlining a range of business situations which the applicant has experienced and identifying what s/he has learned from them. When writing the essay, please consider that the admission team will typically be looking at the ways in which the applicant constructs an argument, is able to reflect on his/her experiences, and is able to indicate how these reflections have influenced, his/her subsequent practice.

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Set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland - Wivenhoe Park and located two miles from the historic city centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded development. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.

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View from Square 2 outside the Rab Butler Building looking towards Square 3

If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360 degree virtual tour allows you to explore the Colchester Campus from the comfort of your home. Check out our accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.

At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.

Find out more

The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications. The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.

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