Flexibility is at the heart of the Durham MBA (Online) as you can personalise your programme to meet your career goals. You can study fully online, complete some of your learning at Durham, and undertake relevant optional modules.
The Durham MBA (Online) will enhance your key business and leadership capabilities to enable you to achieve your career aspirations whilst you continue in full-time employment, so you can apply what you learn directly into the organisation you work for.
The international diversity of our students, alumni and faculty will give you the ability to network virtually 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 optional International Business in Context module.
The programme, which runs over two academic years, 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
6th in the world, 4th in Europe, 3rd in the UK (Financial Times Online MBA Rankings 2024)
7th in Europe, 4th in the UK (QS Online MBA: Europe 2023 )
Key Timings for your Online MBA
The Online MBA commences on Monday 24 March 2025.
Online Modules are led by module Leaders and tutors and delivered over 12 weeks - nine weeks of teaching and three 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 you will 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 you be unavailable on the set dates.
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.
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 which are offered at overseas locations over a five-day period.
Programme structure
You will study the following core modules:
Accounting, Finance and Economics
Leading and Managing People
Marketing
Sustainability and Ethics
Operations and Technology
Strategic Management
Strategic Consulting Project
Pathway-specific modules:
You will study two of the following option modules.
Consultancy: Management Consultancy and Project Management
Entrepreneurship: New Venture Creation
Technology: Business Analytics and Technology, Forecasting and Innovation Analytics
International Business in Context
Core modules:
These are the foundation of your programme – establishing the management knowledge, understanding and research skills every leader needs.
Accounting, Finance and Economics examines the economic and financial contexts in which organisations operate and develops your skills in the application of economic analysis to the way a business makes decisions and addresses planning. You will look at a range of business management functions such as accounting, evaluating financial performance, working capital evaluation, financial planning, investment decisions and financial risk management.
Leading and Managing People develops your understanding of leadership and management in organisations and the processes and practices around contemporary human resource management. The module also considers issues such as organisational behaviour including motivation, ethics and sustainability, the skills and requirements for leadership and managing change and the processes associated with human resources such as recruitment, reward and recognition.
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. Looking at areas such as marketing environment, buyer behaviour, market research and segmentation, targeting and positioning (STP) you will develop an understanding of how customers acquire products and services, how to segment markets and position brands and the principles of the marketing mix framework.
Operations and Technology develops your understanding of operations and technology management within organisations and explores the factors that govern operations management decisions.
Strategic Management aims to broaden your understanding of the strategic management of organisations and the impact of the wider external environment by examining how companies attempt different business and corporate strategies to achieve or maintain a competitive advantage. You will gain a knowledge of strategy formulation and implementation under conditions of changing industry competition, firm resources, and technology.
Sustainability and Ethics looks at the impact of sustainability and ethical issues on organisations and considers the role and purpose of business and other organisations in society. It also considers the roles and impacts of business ethics, corporate social responsibility, risk management and compliance, and governance.
Strategic Consulting Project is an advanced in-depth investigation of your choice into an issue or a business challenge which is applicable to an industrial, commercial, public sector or charitable organisation. It also teaches you the appropriate quantitative and qualitative research methods knowledge and skills to undertake a research project at masters level.
Personalise your programme
Our MBA programme includes a combination of core modules and specialist pathways, giving you the opportunity to develop your knowledge, skills and capabilities and specialise in specific areas most suited to your own professional needs.
Consultancy Pathway
This pathway will enable you to build your consultancy capability by critically examining the complexities of managing projects in a business context including planning, monitoring, quality control and closure. You will explore the intricacies of leadership, culture, change and motivation of project teams. You will also have the opportunity to work within a company where you can put your knowledge and theory into practice.
Entrepreneurship Pathway
The Entrepreneurship pathway is designed to provide you with the knowledge, skills and capability of management and corporate entrepreneurship, including the ability to create your own new business venture. You will also have the opportunity to attend master classes run by industry experts, as well as receive one to one mentoring from experts in the industry.
Technology Pathway
As the role of technology continues to increase in importance to the world of business, this pathway will enhance your in-depth knowledge of business-analytics techniques and give you a critical insight into technology innovation. On this pathway you will increase your range of skills to interpret results and the relevance of them for your company. You will also develop the ability to choose appropriate techniques to apply to challenges and fully understand the role of technology as a game changer in terms of creating new products or markets.
The Durham MBA (Online) is delivered by leading academics through a mixture of video content, tutor-facilitated discussion, directed reading and reflective activities with opportunities for self-assessment and peer-to-peer learning. The course includes around 15 hours per week of independent study outside of contact hours.
While you can choose to study fully online, there is also an option to choose blended study where you can attend University-based teaching sessions for a number of modules.
The virtual learning platform provides 24-7 access to your learning materials and enables you to fully immerse yourself in the learning experience. You can also take part in live webinar sessions and group discussions that will be facilitated by course tutors.
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, reflective journals, presentations and portfolios. You will also complete a business project, which is worth one-third of your final mark.
Depending on the pathway selected you may also complete a business report or produce an analytical project.
Entry requirements
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. Where applicants use both written and spoken English in their daily work, we may be able to accept an employer letter confirming this as an alternative to a formal language test.
This course includes online activities, you will need a computer with reliable internet access. Our recommended operating systems are Microsoft Windows 7+ or Apple Mac MacOSx 10.9+.
We recommend a minimum 1 Mbps internet connection but a greater bandwidth (up to 8Mbps) will provide a better experience for some resources and events. If relying on an employer’s internet connection, be aware that firewall restrictions and policies may exist that prevent access to all or part of the course.
You will need:
Recommended web browser Windows: Internet Explorer 11+, Chrome 39+, Firefox 34+ MAC OSX: Safari 8+, Chrome 39+, Firefox 34+
The ability to open and edit Microsoft Office documents (e.g. Microsoft Office, OpenOffice or access to Googledocs)
Flash player
JAVA
Ability to open .pdf documents (e.g. Adobe Reader)
A headset or headphones and microphone
To participate fully in some online events students should have a webcam and to access some tools and resources you may need the ability to install software.
As well as your online application, please submit the following:
Your CV or resume including: full details of previous employment, dates of employment, main duties and responsibilities, salary per annum (in £ sterling) and any periods of unemployment including dates and an explanation
Copy of your degree certificate (where appropriate)
Copy of your English test results (where appropriate)
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
Application Deadlines
In order to join the March 2025 cohort on Monday 24 March 2025, you must submit your application by Monday 3 March 2025. Any documentation to meet outstanding conditions must be submitted by Monday 10 March 2025. You must accept your offer and your offer be unconditional by Monday 17 March 2025.
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 part-time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort. The fee listed above is for the first year of the course only.
Fees shown are for one year. Total fee will depend on the length of your programme. All fees are subject to annual increases. For more information please visit the Tuition Fees page www.durham.ac.uk/postgraduate/finance/tuition
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
Management and Marketing
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.
Facilities
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.
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