Programme Specification

Executive MBA
School: York Business School
Subject area: Business Management
Entry from academic year: 2024-45
in the month(s) of: September
Awarding institution: York St John University
Teaching institution: York St John University
Delivery location: York St John University:
• York Campus
• London Campus
Programme/s accredited by:
Exit awards: Postgraduate Certificate Business Administration
Postgraduate Diploma Business Administration
UCAS code / GTTR / other: Not applicable
Joint Honours combinations: Not applicable
QAA subject benchmark statement(s): Subject Benchmark Statement for Business Management (June
2015)
Master’s degree characteristics (September 2015)
Mode/s of study: Full-time for 18 months

Non-standard period of study as follows:

• Part-time for 3 years
Language of study: English
Paired with foundation year No
Study abroad opportunities: No
Placement year opportunity: No

Introduction and special features

The executive MBA has been designed to support your career progression, preparing you to carry out
senior strategic roles successfully or to build your own business. You will study with a cohort of
experienced professionals drawn from a range of industries, building your network and giving you insights
into best practice. As a consequence, you will explore issues that have significant impact within
organisations by working with others and building on both personal individual experiences and comparing
and contrasting with those of cohort members. You will carry out projects and assignments designed to
help you apply the theories, tools and techniques you learn.

Much of the learning is developed through the establishment of collaborative learning communities of
programme participants and tutors and you will become part of that community of learning. Your
understanding is developed around the key skills, processes and practices of business, leadership and
management. Solutions to real problems are suggested, discussed and analysed within the learning
community with the support of tutors and fellow learners.

You will develop a critical understanding of the issues relating to business and management, which will
enhance your ability to maximise individual and organisational potential. The executive MBA brings
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together relevant contemporary academic theory and research with practical understanding of activities
within organisations. This will be developed by enabling you to share knowledge, relate this to theories
developed from relevant research, and learning by practical application. Through the development of an
integrated and critically aware understanding of management in the context of contemporary business
issues, the programme involves you in a demanding process of personal and professional development.
The executive MBA programme is built around your need to undertake a programme of development suited
to becoming a leader and manager and this involves you in developing a critical appreciation of the issues
and complexity around the present and future business environment and the need for strategies of
sustainability in business and society.

Special features of the programme include:

• Flexible approach to enable you to make the best use of your time
• Blended approach to teaching and learning which will provide you with a range of online materials
and on-campus workshop support
• Online lectures, specially tailored to help you develop your critical thinking and innovative leadership
skills
• Assessment methods used to mirror organisational based activities
• Opportunity to work with a range of experienced managers and professionals, both as tutors and
peers
• Provides a supportive platform for critical reflection, through the application of academic theories to
your real work situations
• Potential to learn from other experienced managers and professionals participating in the
programme
• Participation in active and supportive forums drawing on practical expertise

Admissions criteria
You must meet the University’s general entry criteria for postgraduate study. In addition, you must have:

• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, achieved at Class 2:2 or above, from an approved University or
Institution
and
• Current or recent work experience (within the last three years) appropriate to enable you to
contribute to the programme

The University, in exceptional cases, reserves the right to interview applicants directly to help clarify their
eligibility, as appropriate. When this is the case, interviews would normally be conducted virtually.

If your first language is not English, you need to take an IELTS test or an equivalent qualification accepted
by the University (see https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/international/how-to-apply/english-language-requirements/).
You might be able to demonstrate English Language capability through work based references.

If you do not have traditional qualifications, you may be eligible for entry on the basis of Recognition of prior
learning (RPL).

Programme aim(s)
The overall aim of the programme is to develop your critical understanding and self-awareness of the
issues relating to business and management, so that you may develop your own leadership skills and
knowledge, and develop both your individual and organisational potential. You will be supported as you:

• Develop critical awareness and understanding of the key concepts of leadership, management,
organisational strategy, and national and organisational culture

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 • Develop the ability to connect theory with practice in creative and innovative ways and reflect upon
the learning involved as well as the outcomes
• Develop critical awareness and understanding of the impact that leadership, management, strategy
and culture can have within organisations
• Develop and enhance life-long learning skills and personal development in order to work with self-
direction and originality
Programme learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the programme students will be able to:

Level 7
7.1 Demonstrate in-depth, specialist knowledge and mastery of techniques relevant to the study of
opportunities and challenges of business management
7.2 Demonstrate an advanced and critical understanding of concepts, information and techniques
informed by knowledge at the forefront of the study of contemporary business issues within the
context of society
7.3 Demonstrate a systematic, integrated and critically aware understanding of business management,
leadership, and team working
7.4 Critically reflect and evaluate management, leadership and team working skills and take a proactive,
independent and self-reflective role in working and developing professional relationships with others
7.5 Formulate a critical awareness of current issues in business management informed by contemporary
research and practice
7.6 Demonstrate a deep knowledge and critical understanding of organisations, context and response to
changes in the global business environment
7.7 Extrapolate information critically and creatively utilising appropriate decision making techniques in
order to extract meaning and understanding, solve problems, and identify and evaluate options in a
world of uncertainty and imperfect information
7.8 Design, conduct, analyse and disseminate an extended independent piece of research or business
related project from inception to completion
Programme structure
It is intended that a blended delivery model will be adopted which consists of the use of online resources
(video and text based) and workshop style seminars, which will reflect and build upon the online learning
materials.

The programme is designed to be roll-on and, to facilitate this, the taught modules are delivered in a linear
order and students may commence the programme in October, January, April and July.

Full-time delivery (18 months)

Module status
compulsory non-
Credits

or optional compensatable or
Level

Term

to take compensatable
Code Title C or O NC or X
Executive Perspectives on Innovation,
MBB7012M 7 1 30 C X
Change and Leadership
Organisational Design and Strategic
MBB7013M 7 2 30 C X
Thinking
MBB7014M 7 3 Enterprise and Entrepreneurship 30 C X
MBB7015M 7 4 Strategic Resource Management 30 C X
MBB7020M 7 3-4 Executive Capstone Project 60 C NC

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Part-time example for delivery (typically 3 years)
Module status
compulsory non-

Credits
or optional compensatable or

Level

Term

Year
to take compensatable
Code Title C or O NC or X
Executive Perspectives on
MBB7012M 7 1 1 Innovation, Change and 30 C X
Leadership
Organisational Design and
MBB7013M 7 2 1 30 C X
Strategic Thinking
MBB7014M 7 3 2 Enterprise and Entrepreneurship 30 C X
MBB7015M 7 4 2 Strategic Resource Management 30 C X
MBB7020M 7 1-3 2 Executive Capstone Project 60 C NC

Learning, teaching and assessment

The programme is designed to meet the needs of professional participants with appropriate current or
recent work experience who wish to add a level of theory-based understanding to the knowledge they have
gained through experience. The programme delivery is based on principles of adult learning, recognising
that participants are likely to bring a large amount of experience and knowledge to the group, and can
share this with each other. The style of the programme is participative and resources for learning explicitly
include the knowledge, experience and skills of all participants and staff.

Some participants may not have been engaged in formal education for some time, and may never have
studied social sciences at postgraduate level: support with study skills, conventions of academic analysis
and writing will be available for you from the first module, and will continue throughout the programme.

A key part of the philosophy of the programme is that by bringing together relevant academic theory and
practical experience, you can enhance your deep understanding of these elements, and develop yourself
as an individual and as a leader.

All modules are delivered utilising a range of teaching, learning and assessment strategies including
lectures, seminars, a guest speaker programme, tutorials, workshops and global café style learning
activities. All modules are assessed through a programme of work undertaken whilst studying for the
award. A range of assessment tools are used including presentations, critical essays, portfolios and
reflective journals and case study work. Each module tutor will provide opportunities for formative
assessment feedback to inform your work prior to submission.

You will receive detailed feedback on assessment to help you develop and continuously improve your
performance whilst on the programme. Advice will be provided in relation to development, further areas for
research and guidance on how to enhance your subject knowledge.

Students of York St John University will receive the opportunity for study support including academic writing
and research skills to enhance employability and career development in the field of business management.

Progression and graduation requirements

The University’s general regulations for postgraduate awards apply to this programme.

Any modules that must be passed for progression or award are indicated in the Programme Structure
section as non-compensatable.

Internal and external reference points

This programme specification was formulated with reference to:

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 • University mission and values
• University 2026 Strategy
• QAA subject benchmark statements
• Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications
• York St John University General Regulations for Postgraduate Awards
• QAA Master’s degree characteristics (September 2015)
• Principles for Responsible Management Education (Prime): Inspirational Guide for the
Implementation of Prime

Date written / revised: 4/6/21

Programme originally approved: 23/02/18

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