Executive MBA

Summary

Study level
Award
MBA
Full time
1 year
Part time
1 year+
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

The driving force behind the Arden Executive MBA is to transform professionals like you, by encouraging you to disrupt conventional ways of thinking to gain the competitive edge in your industry. Rooted in a learning-by-doing methodology, our Executive MBA degree places an emphasis on directly applying what you learn on the course to your day-to-day role, allowing you to demonstrate immediate impact in your organisation. 

The Executive MBA prepares you for the challenges of modern leadership by focusing on the development of holistic management skills that you can apply to a range of business functions. You’ll cover topics including personal and business transformation, ethical leadership, and implementing strategy. You’ll also have the chance to complete your own original research project in an area of business that drives your passion for success. 

All of this has been designed to bring out your best qualities as a manager and future leader. You’ll be encouraged apply what you learn on the course to your current role, giving you an immediate taster of how your new skills can help you go on to outperform the competition. What’s more, the Arden Executive MBA course has been developed in consultation with our international alumni and leading UK employers, so you can be confident that your studies will focus on the skills you need to gain today to become a leader of tomorrow.

We also offer MBA pathways focused on finance and data analytics, as well as a specialised MBA to help those without work experience break into the world of business management.

Explore postgraduate Business degrees
Video •

Quick tools

Explore your modules
Explore your brochure
Download the course brochure to take a look at your course modules and syllabus content.
Download brochure
Fast track your career with Arden
Career development resources
You'll have online access to a huge range of career development tools from the day you start studying.
Learn more
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

Our Executive MBA syllabus has been designed to accelerate your career by helping you develop the skills and knowledge demanded by the industry you want to work in. Through this, we’re preparing you for the next step in your career as a senior professional. During the course you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with classmates and fellow professionals with a breadth of experience, helping you build your international business network.

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

Modules

  • Competitive Strategy
  • Leading Global Teams and Organisations
  • Financial Management
  • Contemporary Marketing Communications Planning
  • Managing Digital Transformation and Innovation 
  • Project Analytics 
  • Business Transformation Project

How do we assess you?

We’ve planned our assessments to give you a variety of ways to demonstrate your strengths. This includes writing case studies and reports, delivering presentations and creating proposals. Alongside these, you’ll also have the opportunity to carry out your own original research project relating to a management issue that’s relevant to your role and organisation. Ideal if you learn best by putting your new knowledge into practice in real-world scenarios.

Pathways

We provide the opportunity to substitute the 'Managing within a Competitive Environment' and 'Leading Transitions' modules to focus on a specialised degree in finance or data analytics.

Executive MBA (Finance): Develop your skills in financial decision-making with the 'Analysing Business and Financial Performance' and 'Managing Strategic Finance and Risk' modules.

Executive MBA (Data Analytics): Develop deeper insights into the data that drives business success and disrupt conventional ways of thinking with the 'Analysing Big Data' and 'Managing Cloud Based Business Solutions' modules.

MBA: If you don’t meet the entry requirements for our Executive MBA degree because of limited work experience, take a look at our MBA course, which has been designed for those with limited or no previous work or managerial experience. 

Study options

This course is available to study full time through our blended learning study mode at our campus in Berlin, Germany.

The course is also available to students via online learning. This gives you the convenience of being able to study worldwide, providing you with the same high standards of teaching but with lower tuition fees.. 

Abdulrahaman Usman

As a mature student the key factors that I wanted when deciding which university was best for me was quality content, a flexible learning schedule, and programme accreditation. During my research I found that Arden really stood out, and I could study without having to give up my job.

Abdulrahaman Usman
Master of Business Administration

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, Perlego, 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 course 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 access to our Library Portal. The portal includes an extensive digital library including thousands of journal titles, eBooks, and academic and industry databases which you can use to research your assignments and projects. All of these materials are provided to you free of charge, and contain all the research information you’ll need to complete your degree 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 you 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 likeminded 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.

What if I don't have any management experience? 

Take a look at our MBA course

Standard entry requirements

To be eligible for the Masters in Business Administration, we need to see that you have:

  • A UK bachelor’s degree at second class level (2.2) or an equivalent international qualification
  • 2 years of work experience in a management role (take a look at our MBA if you don’t have this)

English proficiency

  • IELTS 6.5 (no less than 6.0 in any element); or TOEFL iBT 90; 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
  • Candidates applying to study at our Berlin campus require IELTS 6.0 (no less than 5.5 in any element); or TOEFL iBT 60-78; or equivalent. Free English language support is also available at the Arden Berlin campus. 

We also offer an internal English test for applicants who are unable to provide an English Proficiency letter. More information on this can be found here.

Don’t have prior work experience?

For those without prior work experience, we have an MBA programme that could be the perfect fit. Arden’s MBA has been designed to help students like you not only complete a full MBA, but also use their qualification as an entryway into a management position.

Non-standard entry requirements

We’re happy to receive an application from you if you have substantial management experience (typically 5 years) and can show us that you have the motivation to study this programme. 

We’ll ask you for a personal statement that demonstrates your ability to study this course. We may also want references and evidence of relevant experience.

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

Funding and Scholarships

You can apply for a loan of up to £11,836 from Student Finance England to fund your studies. UK students in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are also eligible for postgraduate loans. 

If you’re an international student, we have a number of Regional Offers that can help you save money on your tuition fees.

Refer a Friend

When you help a friend or family member to study with Arden through our Refer a Friend programme, both you and the person you refer will receive a £500 Amazon e-voucher or £500 tuition fee credit.

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

Professor Dilshad Sheikh

Here at Arden University we strive to provide a fresh and unique approach to your business and management education. With ideas and experiences taken from employers and thought leaders across the world, we give you the opportunity to put proven business skills and techniques into practice during your studies. I look forward to welcoming you to the Arden University family.

Professor Dilshad Sheikh
Dean of the Faculty of Business

Career prospects

A Master of Administration degree is still the gold standard for employers looking for leadership potential. Our modern, international learning approach means your CMI accredited MBA will give you the edge in the eyes of employers all over the world. Whether you want to progress with your current organisation or to take on a new challenge, the Arden MBA provides the tools you need to unlock your full potential. 

What can the Arden Executive MBA degree do for me?

You’ll gain a wide range of leadership and management skills by completing this course. Best of all, because the focus is on adopting broader perspectives and taking a wider view of business issues, you’ll find these skills are transferable to a range of different roles. Whilst studying, you will:

  • Demonstrate that you can apply your knowledge and skills at a strategic level
  • Complete projects and tasks which have a positive impact on organisational strategies
  • Develop confident communication skills and adapt these to a variety of settings and contexts
  • Use problem-solving skills to find innovative solutions to business challenges
  • Develop in-depth knowledge combined with confidence in your chosen specialist area

What can I do after Arden University?

Graduates of our MBA degree go on to a variety of different senior roles within national and international organisations. You may decide to progress with your current employer or to embark upon a fresh challenge with a new organisation – the flexibility of the skills you’ll gain on this course mean your options are open.

Industry skills

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

This course awards a CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice.

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. 

The CMI is the only organisation in the UK that can award Chartered Manager status – 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. 

You will have free CMI Membership throughout your studies, giving you access to a range of exclusive resources, mentoring services, and networking events.

Upon completion of one of Arden University’s CMI-accredited courses, you will be automatically awarded CMI Foundation Chartered Manager (fCMgr) status. This recognises you have the skills needed to be an effective manager, helping you stand out from the competition and start your management career journey - with a clear pathway to full Chartered Manager status.

The Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM)

This course is accredited by the Institute of leadership and Management (ILM). You'll graduate with an ILM Level 7 Diploma in Leadership and Management.

The ILM is a professional membership body for leaders and managers, with a mission of inspiring great leadership through qualifications, training, and cutting-edge research. The institute is a globally recognised mark of quality for its members and provides valuable insights through its vast industry links and publications.

As an Arden student, you’ll have free membership to the ILM throughout your studies, giving you access to over a thousand comprehensive learning resources, including webinars, videos, leadership assessment tools, a dedicated e-learning tool, careers advice, and networking opportunities.

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) membership.

Arden University is a member of the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). AACSB International is a global association of leaders in education and business dedicated to supporting and advancing quality business education worldwide.

This membership reflects the fact that Arden University has successfully matched the high standards required by the AACSB, and enables the sharing of ideas and the exchange best practises between global business schools. Membership also gives our faculty members access to in-depth data and research to support the development of our courses and teaching methods, ensuring that we are able to provide you with the best possible university experience.

Business Graduates Association (BGA)

The BGA is a membership and quality assurance body. As a member, Arden University have signed up to the BGA Charter, committing their institution to responsible management practices and lifelong learning, positively impacting their students, communities, and the economy. This shows our students that we are demonstrating responsible management ourselves, as well as it being a central theme that runs through our own courses.

As Arden University is a member of the Business Graduates Association (BGA), students will receive complementary BGA student and graduate membership. Through this membership, current students will have access to the BGA Career Development Centre, packed with interactive tools, e-learning content, partner discounts and the latest job opportunities. This is a lifetime access, which means students will continue to have access to these services even after they graduate.

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.