Executive MBA (Finance)

Executive MBA (Finance)

Summary

Study level
Award
MBA
Part time
1 year+
Location
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

Recent years have seen the global economy stagger from one crisis to the next, and these circumstances have radically transformed the role of financial management. Senior level finance professionals can now take advantage of greater employability options, in addition to increased opportunities for career progression. This is why the Arden Executive MBA (Finance) has been designed to develop your managerial skills in financial decision-making. Skills that will be in high demand in the labour market for a long time to come. 

This Executive Master of Business Administration degree will help bring out your best qualities as a manager and leader, and will provide you with continuous opportunities to apply what you learn to your current role throughout your time spent studying with us. On the course you’ll perform in-depth analyses of strategic financial management, corporate performance reporting, and personal and business transformation, learning how these areas relate to each other while building your strategic understanding of the commercial environment. 

The Arden Executive MBA (Finance) course has been developed by our highly experienced academic team in partnership with industry experts - all with the needs of future leaders like you in mind. When you complete this course, you’ll do so as a well-rounded, senior professional, ready to take reap the financial rewards of a career in a highly lucrative industry. 

The UK’s number one Executive MBA as ranked by CEO Magazine
Exec MBA 2024

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Professional accreditation
This course is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute, supporting your career and connecting you with likeminded professionals. 

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Course details and modules

Our Executive MBA (Finance) syllabus has been designed to accelerate your career by helping you develop the skills and knowledge demanded by the financial sector. Through this, we’re preparing you for the next step in your career as a senior finance 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. Additionally, if you want to continue your academic development after graduation, our Executive MBA degree provides a strong foundation for further study at PhD level.

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 
  • Analysing Business and Financial Performance
  • Managing Strategic Finance and Risk
  • Business Transformation Project 

How do we assess you?

We’ve designed our assessments to give you a number of different ways to demonstrate your strengths. That’s why you’ll find a variety of methods are used, including:

  • Reports
  • Presentations
  • Proposals
  • Business plans 

Study options

This course is available to students as a fully online programme, which gives you the convenience of being able to study from anywhere worldwide. 

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

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 you need to study with us

Our aim is to make learning as accessible as possible by ensuring that you can study your degree in a flexible and convenient way. That's why we keep our requirements simple. All you need is a laptop or desktop PC (we recommend one running the latest version of Windows), and a good internet connection. Through ilearn, our online university campus in the cloud, you'll be able to access your course calendar, support services, learning materials, and our online library containing thousands of ebooks, as well as tools for creating assignments, keeping notes, and collaborating with other students on your course.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this Executive MBA (Finance) course, you must normally have:

  • A UK Honours Degree at a minimum of second class (2.2) or equivalent
  • 2 years’ suitable work experience

English Proficiency

  • IELTS 6.5 (no less than 6.0 in any element); or TOEFL iBT 90; or equivalent
  • Alternatively, a letter to show that the Medium of Instruction was in English is accepted

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.

We are happy to consider an application from you if you can show us you have the motivation to study this course. 

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

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.

Course fees and funding

Funding and Scholarships

UK students can apply for up to £12,167 funding from Student Finance England fund your studies. 

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

Ready to progress to a senior management role? Our Executive MBA (Finance) degree gives you with the skills you need, from strategic thinking, to personal transformation, to change leadership. Whichever stage of the economic cycle we find ourselves in, the specialist attributes you will develop on this course are highly valued by private and public sector organisations alike. 

What can the MBA (Finance) do for me?

If you’re already working in a professional role and looking to take the next step to senior management, the Executive MBA (Finance) will help you to develop and demonstrate the skills you need. Whilst studying, you’ll:

  • Demonstrate your planning, problem-solving and strategic-thinking skills
  • Become a confident communicator in all business scenarios
  • Develop your financial management knowledge and skills
  • Develop deep knowledge in your chosen specialist area
  • Develop the ability to take a wider-world perspective on issues such as diversity and ethics
  • Completed projects and activities that have had a positive impact on your organisation

What can I do after Arden University?

Where do you want to go next? Our Executive MBA prepares you for senior and leadership roles, whether you choose to stay with your current employer or embark on a fresh challenge. 

Industry skills

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

This course awards a CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management & Leadership Practice *

The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) promotes excellence in UK management and leadership. 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. With 140,000 members, the institute aims to boost career development across the management sector and connect like-minded professionals.

As an Arden student, you’ll 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. 

Upon completion of this CMI-accredited course, you will be awarded CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management & Leadership Practice. 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 CMI qualification and a clear pathway to full Chartered Manager status.

*Upon completion of your course, the CMI award and level of chartered status awarded will depend on your level and length of study, whether you entered your course with Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL) or if any compensation is applied on your modules throughout the duration of study. If this criteria applies to you, you may receive one of the 2 different levels; an Award or Certificate.

The Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs (IOEE)

Arden University is an approved IOEE Centre of Excellence, highlighting our commitment to staying at the forefront of education and industry standards. We continuously update our services to meet market and student needs and offer IOEE membership to our staff, students, and learners.

This course awards the IOEE Professional Extended Diploma in Business Innovation and Growth

The Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs (IOEE) is the first learning institute dedicated to developing and recognising enterprise and entrepreneurial skills. Arden University has been recognised as an IOEE Academy and our courses are accredited. This demonstrates our commitment to enterprise and equipping students with the skills needed to set up and run their own business, work in a small enterprise, or bring entrepreneurial skills to a larger organisation.

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 receive free membership to the ILM for a year after your graduation, 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. 

enterprise incubator

Arden Enterprise Incubator

As an Arden University student, you’ll have access to the Arden Enterprise Incubator (AEI) online platform to support you in the area of entrepreneurship. Whether students are exploring the idea of setting up their own company or need help and guidance launching or growing an existing business, the AEI provides everything students need to kick start their entrepreneurial journey, as well as to support and empower them along the way.

The AEI has a wealth of resources available including monthly master classes, boot camps, podcasts, blogs, external events, and mentorship. Mentors include Arden University lecturers and industry experts so our students receive the very best support and expertise.

LinkedIn Learning

All Arden students will have free access to LinkedIn Learning through the Library Portal. LinkedIn Learning is a video-based online learning platform offering over 16,500 expert-led courses across a wide range of subjects including business, technology, and creative skills.

With LinkedIn Learning, you can:

  • Pursue curated learning pathways aligned with our curriculum and your career goals.
  • Add value to your LinkedIn profile by showcasing your newly acquired skills.
  • Personalise content based on skills relevant to your chosen career path, interests and prior learning.