Frequently Asked Questions

Are any scholarships available?

Yes, there are some part-fee scholarships. Visit our website to find out more.

Are there additional fees for block taught modules?

There are no additional tuition fees for block taught modules, however students must pay all personal expenses such as travel, accommodation and food.

Can Durham University Business School send emails directly to my personal email account?

No. All Online MBA students are given a Durham email address which will be the principal means by which the University and the Business School contacts you during your programme. It is particularly important that you check it regularly.

How is the programme delivered?

The programme can be studied 100% online with no requirement to come to Durham, OR “blended” where students choose to attend one or more block taught modules. We encourage students to come to Durham for at least one module, if possible, as it helps for networking with cohort peers.

Online Modules are led by Module Leaders and tutors and delivered over a 12-week period, 9 weeks of teaching and 3 weeks of assessment preparation. There are opportunities to interact through live webinars, weekly online activities, discussion forums, industry insights, online group work and recorded video lectures. Webinars happen in real time (via Zoom) and students normally have a choice of dates/times to sign up to, they are also recorded and available on the module site on Learn Ultra should students be unable to participate on set dates. Students will be assigned a tutor for each module and will have email access to the tutor and the other students in the tutor group. Interaction with the tutor and fellow students is also facilitated through the discussion forum for each module. Modules are designed to allow for up to 15 hours of study time per week and students can choose how to fit this in around work and personal commitments. Completion of assessments is included in the 12 weeks.

Block Taught Modules are offered at various times throughout the year. They provide an excellent opportunity to meet fellow students face to face, to meet faculty and the programme team. Most core modules are taught over four days, with optional modules being taught over three days, and all are delivered in Durham except for International Business in Context and New Venture Creation (Taught), offered at overseas locations over a five-day period. Teaching days are normally 9am – 5pm but some may run into evenings to accommodate group work, guest speakers and career skills sessions. The assessments for taught modules are normally due for submission around six weeks after teaching.

Module dates can be found in the cohort timetable. Dates for options will be confirmed in the October prior to Year 2 studies when option modules are chosen.

Does the final degree certificate indicate that the MBA was studied online?

No, the final certificate is the same as that awarded to full-time students.  It will simply state that Durham University has awarded an MBA. If a student requests an official transcript of marks, the module title includes whether the module is online or taught.

How do I reset my password if I have forgotten it?

You can reset your password by visiting MyDigitalDurham.

How do I send my passport/driving licence for verification to obtain full access to all the Durham University online services?

Please scan or take a photo and email your passport photo page/ driving licence to the Learning & Teaching team at business.omba@durham.ac.uk

How does the college system at Durham University work?

All postgraduate students are members of a college throughout their time at Durham University, including those who study online. Students starting the Online MBA in the next intake will be allocated to the same college. Your college provides an environment which encourages and supports your studies and personal development, and links you to an international network of current students and alumni.

How is the programme assessed?

Assessment for each module differs and may include essays, assignments, projects, business reports, case analyses, learning logs, presentations, online exercises, and case study based exercises. There are no invigilated exams.

I have completed the Online Joining Form but have yet to hear from the Learning & Teaching Team about how to proceed with my registration.

We are currently processing all student applications for the current intake and will contact you as soon as possible to confirm your registration. Please contact the Learning & Teaching Administrator at business.omba@durham.ac.uk if you have any specific queries.

I have professional qualifications; can I gain an exemption to any MBA modules?

Exemptions are not offered on the Durham MBA, students must study all modules and the final project.

I may need to withdraw from the programme, what should I do?

If you feel you may need to withdraw from the programme, please email business.omba@durham.ac.uk to set up a call with the programme team. There may be other options to explore, such as a suspension of studies. If you feel that withdrawal is the only option, then please be aware of the following:

You will be charged tuition fees for any University term, or part term, when you have been a registered student. The date of withdrawal is used to calculate fees. If you have already paid all fees, a refund will be calculated on this basis.
If you have successfully completed at least 60 credits from the programme, the Board of Examiners will consider an exit award. Please see programme regulations for further information.
It may be possible to return to the programme later but only within 5 years of the date of withdrawal and this is at the discretion of the Programme Director, who will assess the modules you have already successfully completed, and any changes to the programme content during that time.
Fees may increase each year. If you return to the programme later, tuition fees for that year of re-entry will apply.
If you hold a scholarship and withdraw from the programme you lose the scholarship. If you return to studies you cannot get the scholarship reinstated.

Is there an introduction period?

There are two weeks allocated to the online Welcome & Orientation programme, delivered through Learn Ultra. This should take between 5 – 10 hours and can be studied at any time. The materials remain on the programme site throughout year 1 of the programme so that students can refer to it if any queries arise later. Through week 1 students will attend three live webinars that last for 1,5 hours each. Students will then work on various activities and prepare for the formative assignment into week 2. The formative assignment does not count towards the MBA but allows students a practice run at an assessment to gain valuable feedback to help with future assessments. This is due for submission on the first day that the first core module starts and is completed in a students’ own time.

Useful contacts

MBA programme related questions – business.omba@durham.ac.uk

What are the fees and the payment structure?

Please see the fees and funding section of the website here.

What is my ‘anonymous code’?

You can view your anonymous marking code (Z code) by accessing Banner Self Service. All written summative assessment is submitted anonymously, so you must use your Z code to replace your name on all submissions. Instructions on how to submit summative assessments are available during Welcome and Orientation and can be found on each Learn Ultra course site.

Your code is normally generated during the first few weeks of your programme. Your Welcome & Orientation formative assignment is submitted with your name, it is not anonymous.

What is my ‘Banner ID’?

Your Banner ID or Student Number is a 9-digit code that identifies students on the University’s online systems. It always begins with the digits ‘00’ and is the reference number you should include when contacting the office.

What time commitment is expected from me?

We advise students to allow approximately 15 hours per week of study time per 20-credit module and 7,5 hours per week of study time per 10-credit module. This includes reading from the recommended texts, taking part in group discussions and activities online, attending webinars and preparation for assessments.

When can I expect to be invoiced for the first year?

Your invoice will be raised within the first three months of the start of your programme then again at the start of Year 2. It is sent to you directly from the University’s Finance team (studentbilling.query@durham.ac.uk). You will be enrolled before the start of term regardless of whether or not you have received your invoice.

Important Note: For those students that are awarded a scholarship it is critically important that you enrol into the next academic year when you are requested to do so by the University as this has an impact on the correct information being shown on your Year 2 invoice and will avoid issues going forward.

How do I request a receipt for my payment?

The University Cashier team provide receipts for payment and can be contacted at finance.cashiers@durham.ac.uk

When will I have access to the module sites on Learn Ultra?

Online module sites (courses) are made live at the start of each term. We have four terms each year for the Online MBA programme as we also teach over the summer. You will be notified when these sites become live. Any pre-reading will be posted on the module site.

Strategic Consulting Project

What is the purpose of the Strategic Consulting Project?

It helps ‘mature’ your thinking and allows you to link concepts from various areas of the modules.
It can indicate your skills in applying academic concepts to practical situations.
It demonstrates your self-development and abilities in organising your ideas/work.
It demonstrates your ‘soft skills’ – working with others, problem solving etc., as well as ‘hard’ skills.

What are the aims of the Strategic Consulting Project?

To contribute to the overall aims of the programme by providing students with the opportunity to conduct an in-depth investigation at an advanced level of an issue or a business challenge which is applicable to an industrial, commercial, public sector or charitable organisation. The positioning at the end of the programme is intended to promote integration of material covered in the core and elective phases.
To provide a consulting report based on specific research question(s) relevant to the investigated strategic issue, problem of challenge.
To analyse the strategic problem, issue, or challenge, using appropriate structure, research methodology, tools, and techniques to be included in the strategic consulting report.
To equip students with the appropriate quantitative and qualitative research methods knowledge and skills to enable them to undertake a research project at Masters level, as the strategic consulting project should normally involve undertaking empirical research.
In case you are an Entrepreneurship specialised student or interested in setting your own business, the strategic consulting project can be utilised to create your own new venture and develop your new business plans and ideas.

What are the credits and assessments for the Strategic Consulting Project?

The Strategic Consulting Project is worth 60 of the 180 credits for the MBA, so is a particularly important part of the programme.
The formative assessment is feedback on a draft of one chapter of the Strategic Consulting Project.
You are required to deliver a written strategic consulting project of 12,000 words maximum.

What support will be available as I work on the Strategic Consulting Project?

Webinars will be offered to the cohort and you will be allocated an individual supervisor to provide guidance throughout the study period, including one-to-one consultations.

How do I get started?

Students can choose to pursue a Strategic Consulting Project in two ways, either by working with a host organisation, or, for entrepreneurship specialised students or students interested in setting up their own business, by creating their own new venture and developing their new business plans and ideas.
The topic (which is formally approved by the Module Leader on behalf of the Chair of the Board of Examiners) should be one that is suitable for in-depth investigation.
Consulting projects of this nature have typically been based in a wide variety of organisations, including profit-seeking companies in both manufacturing and the service sector; nationalised industries; public agencies and local authorities; non-profit seeking organisations; multinationals and companies seeking to internationalise; and owner-managed small firms.
Consulting projects can be self-sourced by students, using their own network, to build on their experience in certain areas of expertise or to develop their understanding of certain sectors they are interested in exploring for future career opportunities.