Purpose and overview of the Strathclyde MBA

The Strathclyde MBA is based on collaborative learning – students share work experience, knowledge, understanding and skills. While the Strathclyde MBA draws on a number of specialist areas, we do not aim to train specialists. Rather, our purpose is to develop you in diverse areas of management. The MBA will shape and guide you as reflective, open-thinking, adaptive learners. This is facilitated through enhanced understanding of the interplay of theory and practice in management. The structure and content of the Strathclyde MBA reflect all these aims.

The Strathclyde MBA is a 180-credit programme comprising four stages, namely; The Reflective Practitioner, Making the Business Work, Strategic Management for Sustainable Success and Personal Development.

This stage has three themes – The Learning Manager, Governance and Managing – All of which are designed to respond to the increasing emphasis in the business world on corporate social responsibility and professional practice.

Making the Business Work:

This stage examines key disciplines of management. In order to be a successful and adaptive manager, you need to be aware of the disciplines necessary in organisational processes and working life. This stage takes you through a range of management fundamentals and processes which are operated by specialist units in large organisations, via six distinct sections:

This stage will develop your ability to work as a manager in a modern organisation by introducing you to a wide range of tools, techniques and theories relevant both to daily management and strategic change. Classes in this stage will help students deal with organisational ambiguity and uncertainty, planning for the future of the business, and strategy making through the following sections:

There are three sections within this stage.

Strategic Consulting in Practice

This class aims to provide you with the opportunity to apply and test your learning. You will have hands-on experience of working on a live organisational issue provided by a real-life client organisation, giving an insight into the uncertainties of managing yourself, the task of strategy making and expectations of the client.

Elective classes

You are then invited to choose two elective classes from a wide range of subjects. With a pool of over 120 academic experts across a wide range of specialist departments in SBS, this usually means there are more than 25 elective subjects, all taught by experts. While some of these elective subjects are available on a part-time or flexible learning basis, many course members take advantage of the extensive range of electives offered as one-week units at SBS each year during June and July.

Subject to availability, these full-time weeks in Glasgow facilitate a ‘fast-track’ through the programme from a part-time study perspective. More importantly, attendance gives you an excellent opportunity to learn alongside a group of like-minded, international colleagues. To reflect the latest management thinking, the subjects are revised annually. For a full list of the electives on offer, contact our admissions office.

MBA Project

This part of Personal Development gives you the opportunity to examine in depth a managerial, organisational or environmental issue of your choice over an extended period of time, allowing you to put into practice the knowledge and skills acquired during your studies. The project is an integral part of the MBA programme and must be completed satisfactorily before you are eligible to graduate. It provides an ideal opportunity to build on what you have already learned. The primary aim is to reinforce your learning in an area of your choice, and you will be encouraged to undertake projects within organisations. Whenever possible, we will assist you in identifying appropriate organisations or contacts. The final Project Report will be 13,000-16,000 words.

The overall process of the Strathclyde MBA is summarised as follows: