The Durham MBA will transform your career by enhancing your key business and leadership capabilities, enabling you to excel in a fast-moving global business environment.
Combining theory and practical business experience, the Durham MBA will advance your knowledge and capabilities within a personalised career pathway closely aligned to your own professional aspirations.
The Durham MBA is continually enhanced to ensure you perform at the cutting-edge of your profession. Both challenging and inspirational, the programme will take you on your journey to achieve your career goals.
The international diversity of our students, alumni and faculty will give you the ability to network with people from across the world, and from a wide-range of business sectors. You will be able to enhance your global business experience through the International Business in Context module.
The programme, which runs over one academic year, has been developed to reflect the modern realities of an energetic corporate and commercial environment and equip you with key strengths such as analytical thinking, global awareness and effective communications skills.
World-class Business Education
78th in the World - Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2024
16th in the World for Career Progression - Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2024
9th (UK) 31st (Europe) 101st-110th (Global) - QS World University Rankings 2024
2nd (UK) 4th (Europe) 10th (Global) - Corporate Knights Better World MBA 2023
Key timings for your Full-time MBA
The Full-time MBA commences on Monday 25 September 2025
It is delivered 100% on-site at the Business School. You will attend lectures Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm and take part in programme-related activities in the afternoon.
There are two weeks allocated to the Welcome & Orientation programme.
During week one you are introduced to the programme, the wider University, and the MBA team.
During week two you will do various activities with your cohort and prepare for the formative assignment.
Course structure
Year 1 modules
Core modules:
Accounting and Finance
looks at the financial tools of accounting and finance, in particular, the techniques of financial statement analysis and investment appraisal. You will gain an understanding of the factors affecting the financial planning and risk assessment of a firm and of financing and capital structure decisions.
Applied Strategic Management
studies how companies employ different business and corporate strategies to achieve or maintain a competitive advantage. It does so by providing real-world scenarios in which to apply strategic thinking through live strategic projects. You will gain an in-depth understanding of formulating and implementing strategy amid changing competition, resources and technology. Specialist techniques for analysing the competitive and contextual environment are also studied.
Economics for Global Business
enables you to acquire and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of those elements of economic analysis that are relevant for managing in the global economy. The module aims to develop your skills in the application of this economic analysis in business decision making and planning.
International Business in Context
involves a visit to a company overseas. The visit aims to develop your awareness of business and management issues internationally and enhances your ability to function effectively in the global business environment. You will learn to understand the value of national culture and language in the way business operates.
Leading and Managing People
aims to increase your effectiveness as a leader. It will develop your understanding of the nature of leadership and management in organisations and the key issues in the theory and practice of applying them. The module also looks at change management and studies the range of contemporary processes and practices for the management of human resources.
Marketing
explains the function of marketing, its application in commercial contexts such as business-to-consumer and business-to-business trading and the main issues it faces. You will explore the relationships between buyers and sellers and the role of marketing in the acquisition of products and services, the segmentation of markets and the positioning of brands. You will also look at recent developments in marketing thinking, including relationship marketing, services marketing and the impact of digital marketing. The module also considers the ethics and sustainability issues in areas such as customer data, communication messages, sales practices, purchasing behaviours, and managing global supply chain relationships.
Operations and Technology
introduces the key concepts, theories and methods in operations and technology management and explores the factors that govern operations management decisions. The module presents tools and methods for understanding and managing costs, speed, flexibility, dependability and sustainability.
Strategic Consulting Project
provides you with an excellent opportunity to gain real and relevant career experience by carrying out an in-depth investigation into a business issue or challenge in an industrial, commercial, public sector or charitable organisation. You will work with a real organisation and analyse and evaluate the issue while applying the knowledge and skills you have acquired in the classroom.
Sustainability and Ethics
develops your understanding of the impact of sustainability and ethical issues on organisations and explores global sustainability in a business context. You will analyse the role and purpose of businesses and organisations and their impact on other parts of society. You will explore trends in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, risk management and compliance, and governance.
The Boardroom Exercise
offers one of the most challenging but rewarding aspects of our MBA. It features a real-life simulation of a boardroom and gives you the opportunity to apply learning from modules to a senior management team’s activities in an international organisation. You will enhance your analytical and critical thinking and strategic management skills and will be able to network with a number of different business professionals to develop key business relationships.
Accreditation
Careers & Professional Development CPD
The Careers & Professional Development CPD module is an integral part of your MBA journey. Designed by identifying what global MBA recruiters demand and in consultation with MBA alumni, you will build and explore the skills and capabilities needed to elevate your global career. Your key leadership capabilities will be honed and enhanced through your tailored MBA experience to provide you with the practical knowledge and training you need to succeed. You will also have the opportunity to personalise your development by assessing your own skill levels, setting challenging goals and creating an individual action plan.
The module will contribute to the overall aims of the MBA programme by offering you opportunities to develop your skills and capabilities in the areas of leadership, digital, global and sustainability and ethics. Our International, Engagement and Careers team provide a dedicated personal consultancy service to all MBA students and graduates. Whether you’re looking to advance your career within your current function or sector, or switching career path, they will support you throughout your programme and beyond.
The Durham MBA is delivered by leading academics through a combination of sessions that include lectures, workshops, case studies, and individual and group presentations. Some sessions are given by invited speakers who are experts in their relevant field.
The MBA includes a high percentage of independent study outside of the timetabled contact hours, this planning and preparation will help you contribute to smaller group sessions and gain the most value from the course.
Assessment
Assessment is rigorous and is carried out using a range of tools designed to analyse your knowledge and skills. These include essays, case analyses, examinations, individual and group reports, presentations, portfolios and a business project. Depending on the pathway selected, you will also complete a business plan or produce an analytical project.
Entry requirements
What do I need to apply?
Candidates must be able to demonstrate at least three years’ continuous post-graduation work experience, in one or more positions with significant managerial responsibility.
First or Upper Second Class Bachelors Degree, or international equivalent (applicants who do not meet this requirement will be required to submit a portfolio of evidence demonstrating capability in areas such as management experience, critical thinking skills and communication skills).
additionally, applicants whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate evidence of proficiency in English language as follows: a recent test score of 7.0 or above in IELTS with no element below 6.0, 102 or above in TOEFL IBT with no element below 23 or an alternative University approved English language test. Further details can be found at Direct Entry Band C - Durham University.
How do I apply?
You will need to complete an online application form.
Only files of type .doc, .docx, .gif, .jpg, .pdf, .png, .rtf are permitted to be uploaded. The maximum file size is 5MB.
Application Deadlines
As there is a high demand for this programme with a finite number of places available, we operate a staged admissions process with application deadlines throughout the year. Due to the competition for places we give preference to applicants who exceed our minimum professional experience requirements and/or from high ranking institutions with grades above our minimum entry requirements.
If you apply before the application deadline for a particular stage, as shown below, you will normally receive a response on or before the Decision by date. In some instances, it may be necessary for us to roll your application forward to the next round.
Application Deadline
Decision Deadline
Round 1
13/11/24
22/01/25
Round 2
19/02/25
16/04/25
Round 3
16/04/25
11/06/25
Round 4
11/06/25
06/08/25
All deadlines are 23:59 UK time (GMT)
Applications for each stage open immediately after the deadline for the previous stage
Whilst we aim to give you a decision on your application by the listed date, due to the high volume of applications that we receive, this may not always be possible.
Applications received after our final application deadline will be considered at our discretion if places are still available.
All offer holders will be automatically assessed for a scholarship and if successful will be notified by separate email within 14 days of receiving an offer.
Please note that we may issue a small number of offers to exceptional candidates in advance of each deadline.
The University is under no obligation to make an offer of a place on the programme to any applicant, nor is the University obligated to fill all spaces available on the programme.
Interviews
If you are successful at the initial review stage, we will invite you to attend an interview via Microsoft Teams, which forms a key part of the admissions process. This gives you the opportunity to discuss both your academic background and managerial work experience and ask any questions you may have about our MBA, the wider University, or life in Durham
College membership
All students of Durham University will become a member of one of our Colleges. Here is more information about what college membership means to our students. Once you have accepted your postgraduate offer, the Accommodation and Allocations Office will contact you with further information regarding how to express college preferences. You can also apply for college accommodation if you wish to.
The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase and are expected to rise throughout the programme of study. The fee listed above is for the first year of the course only.
Our postgraduate programmes with a focus on employability fully equip you with the skills and industry insight to embark on a successful and rewarding business career.
The knowledge and understanding you develop reflect the Department’s values of sustainability, wellbeing and equality of opportunity across the globe.
You gain a combination of analytical and practical skills that employers value, such as independent thinking and problem-solving, and are able to enhance your people skills that are essential in business and much sought after by employers.
Department information
Business, Marketing and Management
Our Department sits within the prestigious Durham University Business School. It offers a significant academic opportunity to gain the vital skills to become a successful business leader or to carry out further research and make a major contribution to a sustainable business future.
Our Business, Management and Marketing programmes are delivered by the Department of Management and Marketing, one of four departments at Durham University Business School (alongside the Department of Accounting, Department of Economics and Department of Finance).
The School is one of the UK’s longest established business schools and one of an elite group of institutions in the UK to be accredited by all three major bodies – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS).
We consistently rank highly in independent league tables for both the quality and reputation of our Department, with teaching delivered by a world-class academic community that includes experienced business professionals and researchers who work across a wide variety of business disciplines.
We recruit students from around the world onto our postgraduate programmes. Our students take part in live business projects, internships and placements as part of their studies, enabling them to apply their knowledge to practical challenges in the most forward thinking companies. We have an active alumni network of more than 36,000 graduates in over 140 countries.
You’ll be taught across the university campus by world leading academics from the Business School. You’ll have access to the Business Schools modern, spacious meeting rooms and study areas.
The university campus is within walking distance of the historic centre of Durham, a city with UNESCO World Heritage Status. Resources include up-to-date financial information and online databases. In addition, you’ll have access to Durham University’s prestigious libraries and archives.
Apply
Start your application now.
You can save your application and complete it later.
/prod01/channel_3/business/media/durham-university-business-school/study/individual-course-and-cta-images/Scholarships.png)
/prod01/channel_3/business/media/durham-university-business-school/study/individual-course-and-cta-images/N1T517-Brochure.png)
/prod01/channel_3/business/media/durham-university-business-school/study/individual-course-and-cta-images/Business-School-Entrance.jpg)
/prod01/channel_3/business/media/durham-university/external-location-photography-/city-shots-/Students-walking-from-Cathedral-.jpg)
/prod01/channel_3/business/media/durham-university-business-school/study/individual-course-and-cta-images/What-Our-Students-Say.png)
/prod01/channel_3/business/media/durham-university-business-school/study/individual-course-and-cta-images/Contact-Us.png)
/prod01/channel_3/business/media/durham-university-business-school/study/individual-course-and-cta-images/Management-Programmes.png)
/prod01/channel_3/business/media/durham-university-business-school/study/individual-course-and-cta-images/Course-N2PB09.png)
/prod01/channel_3/business/media/durham-university-business-school/study/individual-course-and-cta-images/N1T717.png)