Master of Business Administration

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.

Complete the online application form

Note:

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.

• 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. This gives you the opportunity to discuss your choice, and visit the School and Durham City. We hold several MBA open events throughout the year where we arrange interviews.

Book a place on an open event

If you are an overseas applicant and are unable to attend an interview in person, we can arrange an interview for you via Skype or telephone.

Postgraduate Admissions Office - Tel: +44 (0)191 334 1000.

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.

English language requirements

Full Time Fees

The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of full time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).

Please also check costs for colleges and accommodation.

Key to your career

Whatever your interests, you’ll find our careers team is one of the most useful resources to support you on your way to your target career. Now more than ever, it’s the skills you’re able to demonstrate in addition to your academic abilities that will make you shine in a fiercely competitive jobs market.

That’s why our facilities and services are designed to complement your course and help you develop essential professional and practical skills – from personal resilience and self-awareness to CV writing and interview techniques.

We work in partnership with the University's Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre to connect you with events, organisations or individuals to help kick-start your career.

One-to-one career support

As a Business School Masters student, you can take advantage of one-to-one appointments with a specialist Masters Career Consultant to help you with specific issues, from finding a route into your career to applying for your dream role.

Career development programme

Our Career Development Programme has been designed alongside our core academic programme to help you achieve your career goals and develop the skills that employers are looking for.

This starts at the beginning of Term One with our Careers Weekend. This weekend will provide insight and enable the development of essential career management skills. Covering a wide range of topics, the event will support career planning, facilitate skills development and enhance your knowledge of the full recruitment cycle. The weekend will be actively focused on identifying, preparing and securing employment opportunities throughout your studies.

Sector specific presentations

Our Career Insights sessions are delivered by external professionals with expertise and knowledge of their particular sector which provide insights into working in areas that are popular with our students.

Previous guest speakers have delivered presentations on working in banking, professional services, and management development programmes within international companies.

Business Projects and Placements

The business project or placement is a great way to gain practical work experience and develop consultancy skills. We can help you choose from a range of regional, national and international organisations of different sizes in different sectors or you can source your own project – some target an organisation they’d like to work for. However you tailor the project, it will help you to put new knowledge and skills into practice and influence real life business issues.

International opportunities

We’re proud of our strong international connections. Helping you get an inside perspective on global business is a key part of the programme. That’s why you’ll have the opportunity to go on the optional International Study Tour to a European destination in March/April. This self-funded, one-week programme is a great way to immerse yourself in the country’s business environment, providing the chance to make new contacts and helping you stand out in the competitive jobs market.

If you are interested in carrying out research or a business project in an international location for your dissertation, we may also be able to connect you with our international partner institutions.

Support for International Students

We recognise that many of our students will progress their careers outside of the UK once they finish their studies, and our career development programme is designed with this in mind. We offer events focused on career opportunities in China and are continually developing relationships with international recruiters.

If you’re an international student interested in working in the UK after your studies, the careers team works closely with Durham University's Student Immigration & Financial Support Office to provide you with information related to immigration. Their advisers are dedicated to helping our students understand the requirements and restrictions of their visas during their studies and can provide limited advice on post-study visa requirements.

You can access English language support from English Language Centre.

Online resources

Through the Career Development Programme you will have access to a huge range of career resources including an interview simulator with a bank of interview questions, a CV builder, and our international Jobs Board.

Alumni career support

You can continue to make the most of our specialist career development advice after you graduate, including on-going one-to-one support from our Masters Career Consultants, workshops in our key locations, and continued access to our online career resources.

Our Master's programmes consistently appear in top independent rankings for both quality and reputation. Taught by a world-class faculty and supported by international-quality research, these intensive one-year, full-time programmes help you develop the analytical and practical skills employers value. Study with us and you’ll be part of an elite business school with triple accreditation.

Staff

For a current list of staff, please see the Business School website.

Research Excellence Framework

• Ranked joint 1st in the UK for Internationally Excellent and World-leading research impact (REF 2014).

Facilities

You will be taught at Durham University Business School, one of the longest established business schools in the UK, in state-of-the-art facilities. The School is also one of an elite group of institutions in the UK to be accredited by all three major business accreditation bodies – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business(AACSB), the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS).

Start your application now.