MBA Distance Learning

MBA

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Got a question? Contact our MBA team

Suitable for applications.

Overview

Our Master's in Business Administration (MBA) programme will provide you with the strategic, financial and people skills you’ll need to progress and perform effectively at senior levels.

The programme combines management theory with real business application. From day one you’ll be able to apply new knowledge and skills in your workplace. You will develop a broad foundation of knowledge in core modules, and focus your studies around a particular sector or discipline in elective modules.

The flexibility of the Distance Learning MBA allows you to study from anywhere in the world, with our new Virtual Learning Environment. We provide live online sessions with tutors that help you contextualise your learning.

Our MBA programmes integrate responsible business practices, social inclusion, sustainability and the '3 Ps'; profit, people and planet, into the curriculum. This reflects our ethos of 'doing well by doing good'. You will be equipped to make strategic decisions that consider the impact of all stakeholders. This unique focus sets the Bradford MBA apart from traditional programmes and prepares you to become a future-focused business leader capable of driving positive change.

Our refreshed MBA has been designed with your future employability in mind, and we continue to work with major employers on our MBA Advisory Board and International Advisory Board to ensure our syllabus deals with contemporary issues.

Established over 60 years ago, the University of Bradford School of Management has a rich heritage and an international reputation as one of the innovators in business education. The Distance Learning MBA has been delivered for 25 years and is one of the longest running and most respected global online MBA courses in the world.

Discover more about our MBA programmes with our playlist of previous webinars or join us at our next MBA Open Day webinar.

Professional accreditation

We are proud to be in an elite group of business schools to hold the triple accreditations of Equis, AMBA and AACSB, often referred to as the "triple-crown".

Our School of Management MBA programmes are accredited by the Business Graduates Association making us one of 16 business schools worldwide (only 4 in UK) to have a quadruple crown of global accreditations.

Our MBA module ‘Design for Circularity’ has been shortlisted for a 2026 AMBA award. This follows our MBA students winning ‘Start Up of the Year’ and ‘Student of the Year’ in the last two years. This is an endorsement of the quality of our curriculum and the cohort studying our MBA.

Rankings

In the Financial Times’ 2026 Online MBA Rankings, our Distance Learning MBA ranked 3rd in the world for value for money, and 5th in the world for ESG and net zero teaching.

It also ranked 4th in the world for 'international mobility'. This is based on alumni citizenship and where they worked before graduation and three years later.

It ranked 6^th in the world for career progress. This looks at whether alumni moved into more senior jobs and larger organisations within three years of completing their MBA.

Our online MBA also ranked 2nd in the UK for 'aims achieved', with 79 per cent of alumni saying it helped them achieve their goals studying for an MBA. It is also ranked 4th in the UK for programme delivery.

Our Distance Learning MBA is ranked 20th in the world out of 100 ranked online MBAs in CEO Magazine's Global Online MBA rankings.

As a mother, wife and someone working full-time in a very demanding role, having the flexibility to tailor my learning and study time has enabled me to have a good work/life/study balance.

Tatjana, Distance Learning MBA

Entry requirements

If you'd like a quick view on your suitability and eligibility for The Bradford MBA before you complete a full application, simply send us your CV and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. Please email it to study@mba.bradford.ac.uk

All applications are considered on their individual merits and will be assessed using a collective approach, which takes into account professional status and work experience as well as academic achievement.

Work experience

Candidates must have at least three years’ postgraduate work experience, which can be from any industry, including both private and public sectors, and charitable organisations.

Academic and professional achievements

You should have a good first degree awarded by a UK university or overseas equivalent, or a relevant professional qualification. If you do not have a first degree or professional qualifications you will need to demonstrate significant management or business leadership experience (normally at least eight years). We will also consider an academic recommendation based on interview.

Numeracy and literacy competencies

We will require evidence of numeracy and literacy competencies, and you may be required to complete an authorised online aptitude test such as the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or School equivalent (The Bradford Test).

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, we may need evidence of your proficiency in English through a recognised test (IELTS). You will be required to achieve a minimum score of:

IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no sub-test less than 5.5

Your learning journey

All module information is for 2025 entry, and is subject to change.

First Year

Core

Executive Development & Research Skills (DL) (EDRS)
Management Project
Accounting and Economics for Decision Making
Marketing, Branding and Organisational Strategy
Leadership for Transformational Change
Personal Leadership Skills and Practice

Optional

Entrepreneurial Leadership
Digital Resilience, Innovation and Transformation
Circular Economy: Principles and Strategies
Project Management
Corporate Finance and Venture Funding
Global Supply Chain Management
Contemporary Marketing Communications
Diversity, Scale and Development
Management Consulting
Organisational Sustainability in Practice
Financial Risk Management in European Banking
Digital Health and Informatics
Responsible Innovation
Data Visualisation for Business Leaders
AI for Organisation
Contemporary Issues in Global Business
Design for Circularity
Organisational Agility

Teaching, learning and assessment

Our Distance Learning MBA programme consists of three stages:

Core modules – designed to help you get back in to learning and provide fundamental knowledge of management principles and theory, before leading into an in-depth understanding of specialist topics that are essential and relevant to the contemporary commercial world
Elective modules – designed to help you explore contemporary management topics in more detail
Skills profile modules – challenges you to link your learning to the programme and personal goals, encouraging continued professional development and helping you to build a credible skills profile, linked directly to all the core themes of the Bradford MBA.
Management project – enables you to put the knowledge and skills gained throughout the programme to practical use on a relevant management issue

To help you focus on your career trajectory, the range of subject areas will enable you to assess and find creative solutions to complex issues. Your knowledge and understanding of each subject area studied will be assessed by the most appropriate means.

Learning experiences and assessments are done through the following methods which reflect the tasks and behaviours of senior leadership roles:

individual and group assignments - for example producing actionable plans and advice for your organisation to solve their problems
live online tutorials
various discussion forums
reflective personal reports on shared experience
multimedia presentations
online collaboration, discussion and viva voce
online multiple-choice quizzes
formal examination

How you study

Each module contains study units that you will progress through each week under the guidance of a module leader. This equates to approximately 14-16 hours of study per week. Module content is available 24/7 to supplement live scheduled teaching sessions.

If work or family life is particularly busy we offer flexibility for completion of the MBA in two to three years.

Fees, finance and scholarships

Tuition fee 2025

Home: £21,200
International: £21,200

Additional costs

There will be no additional costs if you study optional modules (including examinations) at our hub in Dubai or our partner institution in Toulouse, other than your travel, accommodation and sustinence costs.

There may be additional costs that you may incur as a student. Though these are not essential to your programme of study you need to be aware of them as a student of the University. A list of the sort of costs you might expect can be found on our fees and finance section.

Financial support

Master's Loan

Applicants from England and Wales can apply for a Master's Loan of up to £12,471 from Student Finance for the 2024/25 academic year over the duration of the course.

Corporate discounts

Corporate discounts are available where organisations enrol multiple employees in the same academic year.

Travel bursaries

Every year a number of travel bursaries of up to £500 are available for distance learning students, to enable them to attend a block elective module at the Bradford campus. The bursaries can be secured on a competitive application basis, and students who are successful can use the funds to contribute towards travel and accommodation costs.

Students that have benefited from a travel bursary have enjoyed the opportunity to visit the Bradford campus and take part in a module in a classroom alongside other MBA students. The travel bursary scheme is enabled thanks to a generous alumni donation.

See our fees and financial support section.

Postgraduate Master's Loan

If you live in England you may be able to apply for a special Government-funded Master's Loan to help pay your tuition fees and living costs. You don't have to pay the loan back until you're earning a certain amount of money.

Scholarships

Every year we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

The School of Management offers a number of scholarships to MBA students from anywhere in the world to help fund tuition fees.

Please note that where candidates are eligible for more than one scholarship they will be offered the one of highest value.

Current scholarships for this course:

Paul Donovan scholarship - £5,000 off second year fees from a small medium enterprise in a Bradford (BD) postcode. This will be awarded in June to a student who has joined in the previous 12 months

Find out more

Related courses

Career prospects

The MBA is designed to enhance future employability and help you to progress in your career.

The Financial Times Global MBA Rankings show that MBA alumni continue to operate in a wide range of sectors with, on average, 20% of them being in board level positions within three years of graduation. Our graduates are ranked 8th in the world for career progression three years after completing our online MBA.

Often students use the MBA as an opportunity to develop the skills to consolidate experience, progress in their current job or industry, or even change career direction.

Career opportunities

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the careers section.

Student with back towards the camera, arms spread, overlooking a sea. The student is wearing a shirt saying 'See the world'.

Study abroad

A study abroad year is a fantastic opportunity to broaden your horizons, build connections with people from different backgrounds and cultures, and strengthen your skills and experience to make you stand out in the job market.

We have opportunities for students to study, work or volunteer in more than 150 countries across the world and will support you every step of the way.

Support for your studies

At Bradford, we’re committed to supporting your success, well-being and future ambitions.

We’re here to provide everything you need to make the most of your time with us, ensuring you not only excel in your studies, but also step confidently into the world of graduate employment.

In addition to the support you receive from your academic tutors, our Student Support Services are here for you throughout your journey - before, during, and after your studies.

Research

The material is research-led with contemporary material for current managerial and business issues. The rationale for the redesigned MBA is that it maps on to the three research centres of the School of Management.

Terms and conditions of study

The University has a set of terms and conditions for all students accepting an offer to study on a course here at Bradford. This is called The Student Contract. This document sets out the Terms and Conditions which apply when you accept an offer of a place on a programme of study at the University of Bradford.

View our Student Contract for further details.

Transparency statement

Information about this programme and its modules has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publication, but changes may occur given the interval between publishing and commencement of teaching. Any change which impacts the terms and conditions of an applicant’s offer will be communicated to them.