MBA

Summary

Study level
Award
MBA
Full time
1 year
Part time
1-4 years
Location
Berlin or Online
Faculty of Business

What makes Arden University special?

Education
Education for everyone, everywhere
Whether you're constrained by location, cost, time, or other life commitments, we're passionate about giving you access to higher education that fits into your busy, modern life.
Where to study
You decide how and where to study
We offer a wide range of flexible undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in both our online and blended study modes.
Support
Full support both online and on-site
We're also proud to offer non-standard entry, meaning your work experience and previous qualifications are taken into account when assessing your application.
Employability
Strong focus on employability
You will gain in-depth subject knowledge and transferable skills that employers from a huge range of industries will value. Many of our courses at Arden are also accredited by leading professional bodies in the UK.

Course Overview

This new MBA course has been specifically developed to help new graduates take the next step in their career, even if you have no previous work or managerial experience. By completing this course, you’ll graduate with a full MBA qualification and the competence you need to start a rewarding career in business and management

The ideal option if you’re fresh out of your undergraduate degree or have limited work experience, this course gives you the unique opportunity to use your MBA qualification as a gateway into a managerial role. You’ll develop in-depth industry knowledge of contemporary business operations and the ability to apply emerging trends and innovations to leverage strategic business transformations. Through its focus on the most up-to-date, practice-based learning, the course will help you gain the specialised skills required to start a successful career in today’s dynamic business environment. 

You’ll also be introduced to state-of-the-art virtual business simulations, helping you in responding to the many opportunities and challenges you might face in your future management role. By placing professional development at its core, you’ll graduate from the MBA with the workplace readiness to enter the business world with confidence.

That means that by the end of the course, you’ll have developed the real-world skills needed to lead and manage in today’s agile working environment. While studying at our Berlin campus in Germany you’ll have the time and opportunity to explore job openings across the city, so you can develop even more hands-on skills and break into the European employment market during your time at university.

What it's really like to study at Arden University Berlin
Video • 3 mins

Quick tools

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Career development resources
You'll have online access to a huge range of career development tools from the day you start studying.
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Professional accreditation
This course is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute, supporting your career and connecting you with likeminded professionals. 

Learn more

Course details and modules

This MBA will engage and inspire you through course modules that have been devised by our experienced business and management practitioners to give your studies a ‘real world’ focus. Our use of live client case studies and practice-based learning will build your confidence in making strategic managerial decisions and provide you with in-demand skills for your future career.

Throughout the course you’ll be encouraged to work closely with your peers, exchanging your professional experiences to learn and grow as a group. This will help you establish an international network of fellow professionals with whom you can continue to build inspiring relationships long after your degree comes to a close you complete your studies with us.

You’ll also be taught by an expert and skilled academic team with a diverse mix of business practitioner, consultancy, and research experience, and with some having published in leading-edge academic journals.

Oscar Bustillo

I have enjoyed doing my master’s here because it’s not like a traditional university where you sit in a classroom and a lecturer talks and you write down everything. I like that when we come here there’s actually a discussion and we do a lot of analysis.

Oscar Bustillo
MSc Project Management student, Arden University Berlin

Modules

  • Professional Practice in Business & Management (20 credits)
  • Competitive Strategy (20 credits)
  • Financial Management (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Supply Chain Management (20 credits)
  • Leading People (20 credits)
  • Social Media Marketing (20 credits)
  • Business Project (60 credits)

How do we assess you?

Assessments

Unlike on more traditional business degrees, you won’t be sitting any exams on this course. Assessments on this MBA have been designed to help you apply your learning to real-word scenarios by engaging in live client case studies and business simulations. This means you’ll have the opportunity to align your studies to how you can help transform your future organisation’s operations and functions once you have completed the course. 

Practice-driven

Your course assessments will be practice-driven, drawing from your learning material , while also encouraging discussion and collaboration with your international peers. This modern approach will encourage you to apply your knowledge to new organisational challenges within both local and global contexts.

Virtual simulations

During your studies you’ll have the opportunity to use virtual simulations to predict, model, and scenario build for future business decisions and operations, enabling you to respond to real life opportunities and challenges that may appear in your future managerial or leadership roles. Through these virtual simulations, you’ll have the freedom to try out different solutions within a safe environment, without the potential consequences that could arise from ‘trial and error’ in the real world. This will help you build up confidence in decision-making, preparing you for the hands-on experience of real-world business practice. 

Other assessment methods

Throughout the course you’ll have the opportunity to apply your learning through additional assessments. Designed with industry feedback to meet the needs of today’s employers, each assessment will impart both subject knowledge and desirable workplace skills. These include: 

  • Transformation plan
  • Group work 
  • Negotiated assessment 
  • Personal audit
  • Presentation
  • Critical reflection
  • Portfolio
  • Podcasts/Vodcasts
  • Marketing plan and social media campaign
  • Project/consultancy report

Study options

This course is available to study through Arden’s blended learning study mode at our study centres in Berlin, Germany

The course is also available to students via online learning.

Simon Henry

I’ve found that studying my degree online with Arden has given me a much more comprehensive foundation of knowledge around the topics I don’t often encounter in my work role, including financial decision-making, ethics and strategy. This knowledge will enable me to progress to more strategic roles in the future.

Simon Henry
MBA Online
  

Full time, blended learning

How does it work?

When you choose our blended learning study mode, you’ll have eight hours of timetabled classes spread over two days at our centrally located Berlin campus. This is combined with around 25 hours of independent study, which takes place through ilearn, our university campus in the cloud. ilearn contains all the resources you need to study successfully. You’ll also have access to our online library, BibliU, which contains almost half a million books, journals, and industry literature which you can make use of throughout your studies, removing the need to buy expensive course books in order to study successfully. 

Full time study in Berlin is the best option for students who prefer the structure of regular face to face classes with their tutor and fellow classmates, and is particularly suited to students who are attracted by the opportunity to move to Germany to study, where you can take advantage of the employment opportunities available for overseas students.

Learn more about our Berlin campus


Online learning

How does it work?

Studying this MBA online gives you the ultimate in convenience. You can enrol with Arden from anywhere in the world and study your degree from the comfort of home, without the requirement to attend classes in a physical location.

Our online students study their degree through ilearn, Arden’s university campus in the cloud.  ilearn provides everything you need to study at University. It offers an integrated virtual learning experience, including your virtual classroom, lecture theatre, and online library (which when used along with our supplementary library, BibliU, gives you access to almost half a million books and journals – yours for free while you study with us).

ilearn is also integrated with Zoom, making it easier to chat with your course tutor during your scheduled seminar sessions. You can even integrate our study materials into your Kindle, making it possible to study wherever you have your Kindle handy. 

Studying online doesn’t mean studying alone. As well as receiving regular feedback and guidance from your course tutor, you’ll be studying with like-minded students who you can meet with through our Unitu community, and you’ll have access to community message boards to discuss your course and the topics being raised within it.

We’ve even set up community boards embedded into each of the course modules so you can have discussions with your tutor and classmates on the topics you’re currently learning. 

Learn more about online learning

Entry requirements

At Arden University we consider applications on a case by case basis. If you have significant work experience, have qualifications you have gained elsewhere, or a degree or qualification that isn't a clear pathway to this degree - we are more than happy to discuss your application.

Eligibility

To be eligible for our MBA, you should normally have:

  • A bachelor’s degree at 2.2 or above, or international equivalent. If your degree was completed over 5 years ago, you will be required to submit a CV with your application.
  • Applicants who hold professional qualifications and have 2 years relevant work experience are also encouraged to apply. 

English Proficiency

  • IELTS 6.0 (no less than 5.5 in any element); or TOEFL iBT 60-78; or equivalent
  • Alternatively, evidence you have previously studied in English; a letter to show that the Medium of Instruction was in English can be accepted

We also offer an internal English test for applicants who are unable to provide the above evidence of English proficiency. More information can be found here.

If you don’t have academic qualifications

At Arden University we are more than happy to consider, and positively encourage, an application from you if you have substantial management experience (typically 5 years) and can show us that you have the motivation to study the programme.

Don’t have any of the above?

If you have other postgraduate-level business awards you may be eligible for entry and/or exemptions. This will be assessed on an individual basis.

If you don’t already have a degree, and you’re not quite there with the required amount of work experience, we may be able to offer you a place on one of our undergraduate degree programmes.

Before you start studying

Whilst you can read your study materials on your smart phone or tablet, to make the most of your learning experience, you will need access to a laptop or computer (we recommend one running the latest version of Windows), and a good stable internet connection.

Course fees and funding

Find your country

Use the dropdown above to find course fees and funding information for your country. If you can’t find information for your country in the dropdown, visit our International support page.

Meet the faculty

 Dr Phungmayo Horam

Our business and management faculty in Berlin are a dedicated and passionate group of professionals who are here to help you reach your goals both in and outside of the classroom. Get to know some of our business faculty members before you start your programme by following the link below.

Dr Phungmayo Horam
Academic Lead

Career prospects

The skills you gain on this course will be transferable to the public and private sector, so the opportunities are endless. By providing you with the same competencies as a traditional MBA, this new MBA degree will give you the portfolio you need to demonstrate senior-level leadership, enhancing your CV for current and future employers.

Master of Business Administration (CMI)
Video • 2 mins

What will the MBA do for me?

You’ll graduate from the course with a full MBA and hands-on managerial and technical experience, giving you the tools you need to power successful business management. You’ll also have expanded your knowledge of contemporary business fundamentals and practices, all within a real-world context. Due to this focus on the practical application of your syllabus, you’ll find that the knowledge and expertise you’ve gained is valuable across diverse professional roles.

This course provides you with the valuable opportunity to:

  • Understand and apply the management and leadership skills required to succeed in the contemporary business environment.  
  • Explore the analytical challenges presented by Big Data sets. 
  • Evaluate the contribution of technology to inform the development of innovative strategic plans and competitive advantage. 
  •  Analyse the effectiveness of technology relevant to contemporary business management and transformations. 
  • Develop your managerial and leadership skills

What can I do after Arden University?

This MBA will help you develop the right skills and knowledge to accelerate your career to a senior leadership role in business management, change, and transformation.  Whether you want to join or continue working for an already established business, start your own company, or become a consultant, the course will give you everything you need to explore multiple career paths. Some roles you may want to consider after graduation include: 

  • Marketing Manager
  • HR Manager
  • Business Consultant
  • Management Consultant
  • Business Development Manager
  • Business Operations Manager
  • Product Manager

Industry skills

Career Development Resources

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) promotes excellence in UK management and leadership. The institute aims to boost career development across the management sector and connect you with like-minded professionals across diverse sectors. 
As the CMI possesses a Royal Charter, they are the only organisation in the UK that can award Chartered Manager status to their members – the gold standard in management. They are also active in business policy making across the globe, and ensure that their more than 140,000 members are represented in policy decision making. 
When you graduate from Arden, you’ll have the chance to complete a level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership, helping you fast-track to Chartered Manager status at an additional cost of only £150* inclusive of VAT. Completing this diploma independently can cost upwards of £2,000*.
You’ll also have free CMI Membership throughout your studies, giving you access to a range of additional resources including a mentoring service and invitations to networking events both online and offline. 
* Prices (including VAT) are correct at time of publishing but may be subject to change 

Business Graduates Association (BGA)

Arden University’s Faculty of Business is an esteemed member institution of the Business Graduates Association (BGA), an international quality assurance body of world-leading education providers who share a commitment for responsible management practices and lifelong learning. Membership with the BGA means that Arden University will support its students’ professional growth, allowing them to contribute to an international network in which ‘Leaders Never Stop Learning’.

Career development resources

Once you’ve enrolled with Arden, our careers centre is easily accessible directly from inside our online platform, ilearn. The careers centre is here to help you discover the areas of your academic and professional life that you find most meaningful and rewarding, and then apply this to your career pathway. 
Just a few of the career tools you’ll find in the careers centre include:

  • CV360, which analyses your CV and provides instant feedback for improvement
  • Interview360, helping you practise your interview technique in a stress-free environment and tackle some of the most common interview questions - as many times as you need to
  • Aptitude tests to help your improve your critical thinking, numeric, and logical reasoning skills
  • 100s of interactive courses focused on giving you the skills and confidence you need to excel in your professional life. 
  • My Jobs, where you can search employment vacancies, browse employer profiles by location and, or connect with other employees on LinkedIn.