MBA programme structure

The six core (compulsory) modules of the Oxford Brookes Global MBA give you insights into the key areas of business and what it takes to build, lead and think strategically in an organisation. In addition, across the core modules there is emphasis on the themes of enterprise, sustainable development and digitisation.

These six modules are complemented by a Professional Development spine, providing you with the tools to reflect on how to get the most out of your MBA journey and beyond.

In turn, as you build your insights, you select two optional modules (one for exempted ACCA members) that allow you to explore areas of interest in more detail. You can create your own themed pathways for your MBA in, for example Strategy, Marketing or Digital, or you can opt for one of our pathway awards: MBA with Enterprise, MBA with Business Analytics or MBA with Advanced Accounting and Finance.

Finally, you undertake a final 'capstone' project (consultancy project, research dissertation or business start-up venture) to help you bring your new insights together in a major project that is of interest to you as you set out your future direction. 

MBA Modules

Development and Support

Induction

Personal and Professional Development

Integrating Residential Workshop 1

Integrating Residential Workshop 2

Client Project

Core Modules

Driving Excellence through Marketing and Operations

Analysing and Designing Organisations

Developing Enterprising and Impactful Leadership

Global Strategy under Uncertainty

Accounting for Decision Makers

Innovation, Creatively and Enterprise

Elective Modules

International Business in Practice study trip

Beyond Marketing

Business Analytics for Decision Makers

Business in Emerging markets

Contemporary Issues in Accounting and Finance

Creating a New Business Venture

Digital Transformation and Leadership

Enhancing Entrepreneurial Capabilities

Independent Study

International Business Aspects

Project and Contract Management

Strategy and Corporate Finance

Capstone: Proposal and Project

MoE

Final MBA Project. Choose from: Dissertation, Individual Consultancy, Group Consultancy, Business Start-up, Design

Key to Modules:

  Development and Support   Core Modules   Elective Modules   Capstone: Proposal and Project

Core modules

The Global MBA has a backbone of compulsory modules that all students take, providing each and every one with key insights into business, enterprise, strategy and personal leadership. These core elements complement the optional elective modules in the programme. Taken together, these core modules, elective choices, and your choice of topic in a final MBA project help you build your expertise in a themed pathway through the MBA.

These modules cover the principle areas of focus in international business and enterprise, together with the help to build your leadership and strategic thinking capabilities:

Professional Development module

The core modules are complemented by a Professional Development module and career support to help you choose your pathway through the MBA and identify options for your future career beyond your MBA journey.

Elective Modules

The Oxford Brookes Global MBA offers you the opportunity to learn more about specific areas that appeal to you through a choice of elective modules. This allows you to build themed pathways through your MBA in a sector or specialism you currently work in, aspire to work in or have a particular interest in. Electives are regularly updated to maintain relevance to the global business environment.

Electives are delivered through a blended mixture of on-campus and online learning. You choose two elective modules, with exempted ACCA members choosing one elective.

Building a themed pathway as part of your MBA journey

The Oxford Brookes Global MBA provides you with the leadership skills, strategic thinking, and overall insights that you would expect to build and manage a complete business organisation. The flexibility of the programme, choice of electives, and the scope to choose your own final MBA project topic also allows for personalised themed pathways through your MBA in a sector or specialism you currently work in or aspire to work in. Your personal Academic Advisor and our tutors can help you shape your personal pathways. The table below shows the three pathways we offer as named awards (if you opt-in), as well as some example of other pathways:

Themed pathway
Pathway themes Core Modules Electives Capstone project
Example pathway: Global Strategy Leadership
  • Developing Enterprising and Impactful Leaders
  • Global Strategy under Uncertainty
  • Digital Strategy & Leadership
  • Business in Emerging Markets
  • Consultancy Project
  • or Dissertation
  • or Design Project
Example pathway: Marketing
  • Driving Excellence through Marketing and Operations
  • Beyond Marketing
  • Business Analytics for Decision Makers
  • Consultancy Project
  • or Dissertation
  • or Design Project
Formal pathway: MBA with Business Analytics
  • Driving Excellence through Marketing and Operations
  • Innovation, Creativity and Enterprise
  • Business Analytics for Decision Makers (compulsory)
  • One of: Beyond Marketing, Digital Transformation and Leadership, Contemporary Issues in Accounting and Finance or Creating a New Business Venture
  • Any, related to Business Analytics
Formal pathway: MBA with Enterprise
  • Innovation, Creativity and Enterprise
  • Developing Enterprising and Impactful Leaders
  • Global Strategy under Uncertainty
  • Creating a New Business Venture (compulsory)
  • One of: Enhancing Entrepreneurial Capabilities, Digital Transformation and Leadership, Business Analytics for Decision Makers or Business in Emerging Markets
  • Business Start-Up
  • or Design Project
Formal pathway: MBA with Advanced Finance and Accounting
  • Accounting for Decision Makers (ACCA exempt)
  • Strategic Accounting & Finance
  • If not ACCA, one of: Digital Transformation and Leadership, Business in Emerging Markets, or Business Analytics for Decision Making
  • Any, related to advanced Finance and Accounting

The Final MBA Project

Finally, you will undertake a ‘capstone’ final project to help integrate your learning, apply the key insights you gain from the MBA in practice, and provide an opportunity to develop deeper expertise as well as actionable insights in an area of interest for your future directions. This project can take the form of one of a Research Project (Dissertation); Consultancy Project; Business Start-up; or Design Project.

For your capstone projects, an individual supervisor will be appointed to help advise you on your project on a one-to-one basis.

Students are encouraged to undertake projects of direct interest and relevance to themselves, and examples of past final MBA ‘capstone’ projects demonstrate the wide diversity of our students’ interests.