New MBA degree apprenticeship programme

Essex Business School is launching a new degree apprenticeship programme in the autumn and is hosting an open evening so local employers and potential students can find out more.

The two-year course, which will lead to a Master of Business Administration (MBA) qualification, starts in October, with a second intake planned for January 2020. It enables working professionals to study part-time, while continuing their day job, with the tuition fees paid by the Government, so there is no upfront cost to the participant or their employer.

Professor Nicolas Forsans, Director of the MBA programme at the University of Essex, explained: “The government is really trying to push apprenticeships as a way of people gaining meaningful qualifications while working, so any employer with a payroll bill of over £3 million can use their apprenticeship levy to upskill their managerial and leadership talent, at no cost to them.

“This makes it a really good option for many businesses as it means they can develop their staff, while at the same time individuals gain the knowledge, self-confidence and skills they need to succeed in business, without racking up any student debt. It is a fantastic opportunity for professionals to graduate with an MBA – the world’s most respected business and management qualification - for free.

“In this programme the workplace sets the context for learning, and so the key benefit to the employer is that everything the apprentice learns on the MBA will be immediately applied in the workplace. We facilitate that through two significant work-based projects and through individual assignments which are all work-based. The course not only covers all the MBA essentials that have become standard in a respected MBA programme, but also the Essex MBA toolkit that equips apprentices with the skills to lead innovative projects while managing change in their organisation.”

The open event is being held in the Silberrad Student Centre at our Colchester campus on Thursday 13 June, from 4pm until 6pm. The event is free, but those wishing to attend should register online on Eventbrite.