MBA from UWS | Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration from LEB

Your Qualification

The Award: MBA
Institution: University of the West of Scotland
Interim Award: Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration
Institution: The London Examinations Board and TQUK

The London Examinations Board Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration allows learners to apply to top-up to an MBA from the University of the West of Scotland (“UWS”).  They will only need to complete the UWS Strategic Business Project 

Why undertake the Programme?

  • Enjoy a truly international learning experience with LEB’s PGDBA and the UWS Strategic Business Project
  • Boost your employability and earning power with UK University award
  • Discover and develop inimitable distinct leadership and managerial problem-solving skills
  • Stay at the forefront of innovation through facilitators from world leading organisations and gain excellent research skills

Knowledge Universe is a learning centre of London Examinations Board and the University of the West of Scotland. Candidates that enrol with Knowledge Universe for the Programme will first undertake eight core modules with LEB (earning 120 credits within the UK framework) and be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration by London Examinations Board

On successfully completing the eight core modules, candidates can complete the Strategic Business Project carrying 60 UK credits to be awarded the MBA from UWS

Programme Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the Programme, Candidates will be able to:

  • Demonstrate critical understanding of management theories, current issues of management, and the development of conceptual frameworks to guide their application within organizations.
  • Acquire a strong foundation in key functional areas of business management to enable them to succeed as effective managers/leaders in an increasingly complex and dynamic environment.
  • Acquire and use a range of concepts, tools, and techniques for problem solving and decision-making for analyzing complex and inter-related business scenarios.
  • Demonstrate and apply independent research and critical skills enabling the investigation and evaluation of valid and relevant management issues and practices.
  • Demonstrate initiative, insight, attitudes of responsibility and ethical leadership in the development of the strategic management agenda in the organization the student works in or expected to work in the future.

Admission Criteria for Entry

  • Bachelor’s Degree, or
  • Professional qualification equivalent to a degree + 2 years’ work experience, or
  • Mature candidates with diplomas = 6+ years relevant work experience with two years managerial/supervisory time respectively
  • Mature candidates with without diplomas = 8+ years of relevant work experience with three years managerial/supervisory time

Advanced Standing / Exemptions / Credits Transfer (APL)

Candidates admitted onto the Programme may be considered for any of the above through an assessment of the certificated or un-certificated documents.
The process for making such a decision, known as the Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL), is a matter of academic judgment exercised by the appointed panel considering applications and approvals of APL.

The Eight Common Core Units

Managerial Accounting

Learning Outcomes:

Ability to critically evaluate the informational content of financial and accounting reports and their use as a tool for appraising corporate performance.

Develop an understanding of financial planning tools and techniques and the contribution they make to the achievement of an organisation’s core objectives.

Be able to evaluate the results of financial models used for long term decision making.

Have confidence in using financial terms and language necessary for effective senior management.

Marketing Management

Learning Outcomes :

Acquire a firm understanding of the frameworks and concepts of marketing management; and

Acquire the skills to carry out a full situation analysis and use the findings to develop objectives, formulate strategy and develop appropriate marketing plans

Managing Operations

Learning Outcomes :

Critical evaluation of the operations management philosophies of “push” and “pull”.

Examination of the practicality of the philosophies of flexibility and agility currently being explored by many large organisations around the world.

Development of thinking regarding the manner by which organisations can gain competitive advantage from managing their operations in an innovative and strategic way.

Managing Business Strategy

Learning Outcomes :

Have an awareness of, and become familiar with, academic theories, frameworks, managerial models and techniques that contribute to business strategic planning and management; and

Be able to critically evaluate and apply appropriate strategic models and techniques which may be relevant when considering Candidates’ own organisations’ or industry strategic development

Human Capital Management

Learning Outcomes :

Develop a critical understanding of current and emerging practices in the managing of human capital in organizations; and

Enhance your abilities to increase the contribution of human capital management to long-term corporate success, whatever the specific nature of their managerial role and the industry you are in.

Financial Management

Learning Outcomes :

Have the financial tools needed to make good business decisions with an emphasis on linking corporate finance to other aspects of corporate strategy

Leading Organisation

Learning Outcomes :

Encouraging and developing your knowledge, understanding and skills for strategic leadership of change. Know the challenges faced by managers/leaders in seeking to lead through the use of strategic management, the development of managers and employees for major strategic change, and the development of a high-level organisational capacity for innovation and learning

Project Management

Learning Outcomes :

This module introduces you to the concepts and skills of project management with the following aims:

To examine critically the selective application of specific knowledge to project management and other knowledge to the planning and execution of projects; and

To develop additional skills in the application of project management theory and techniques.

The UWS Strategic Business Project

This is the cornerstone of the UWS MBA Award. It challenges you to integrate your learning from the earlier stages of the programme into a rigorous research project to help you better understand a key business issue.

It is designed to develop your research skills plus knowledge and confidence in designing, developing, compiling and delivering strategic business projects. Working with an identified host organisation, you will investigate and produce recommendations in a practical business environment.

By undertaking the Strategic Business Project through Knowledge Universes, a local project supervisor (approved by UWS) will be appointed to you. Your supervisor will guide and instruct you in qualitative and quantitative research methods and the wider skills necessary to conduct the project. The supervisor will also help in selecting an appropriate topic for the strategic project.

You are required to select a research topic that is of interest to you, that capitalises on your skills and knowledge and will add value to the organisation on which the project is based.

Assessment

Assessment of the Modules: Every month a new module from the eight core modules starts and by the end of the following month candidates are required to submit their assignments for that module.

There are no examinations.

Assessment of the Strategic Business Project: There are two interrelated assessments as follows:

  • The submission of an in-depth project proposal worth 25%; and
  • The final submitted project of between 9,000 and 13,500 words which carries the remaining 75% of the total marks.

Duration

The eight core modules should be completed within 9 months and Strategic Business Project in 3 to 6 months.

Graduation

Learners will have the option to attend the graduation ceremony locally or at UWS in Scotland.