In the current uncertain business climate, there’s never been a better time to add value to your existing qualifications. The MBA (Top-Up) is a globally recognised qualification that gives you the opportunity to build on your prior academic qualifications to unlock enhanced career prospects. In just a few months of study, you’ll join the ranks of MBA-level professionals and will have the skills you need to apply for senior management roles in practically any industry.
In fact, on Arden’s MBA (Top-Up) degree course, we go far beyond the standard business and management curriculum. While studying with us, you’ll learn everything there is to know about the development and implementation of business strategies, how to manage and sustain large organisations and steer them to success, and how to be an influential and respected leader in your chosen industry.
During this postgraduate top-up degree course, you’ll also study a wide range of management disciplines - with ideas, experiences, and case studies taken from organisations and thought leaders across the world. You’ll have the opportunity to put your learning into practice from the moment you start studying, creating an immediate impact on your career trajectory and providing lasting value to your organisation.
This top-up master’s degree is designed for practising managers who are looking to take the next step up in their careers. When creating the course modules, we listened to our graduates and alumni and worked with experienced industry leaders to produce a well-rounded, innovative course of study for students.
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.
A big part of your online MBA (Top-Up) work will be the opportunity to create and take ownership of a detailed piece of research relating to a management issue. To back your development, Arden will provide you with academic support to make sure you have the skills and resources you need to successfully complete the assessments. Your tutor will also be able to give you suggestions and tips for improvement - and help you learn how to apply your newly-acquired skills to real life settings. A variety of methods are used to assess your progress, allowing you to demonstrate your strengths as you study. These assessments include:
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.
Our aim is to make learning as accessible as possible by ensuring that you can study 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.
To be eligible for this MBA (Top-Up) course, we need to see that you have:
If you don’t already have the required qualifications for this MBA (Top-Up), Arden may be able to offer you a place on our full MBA programme. You can also explore our MBAs.
If you’re an international student, we have a number of Regional Offers that can help you save money on your tuition fees.
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.
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.
By graduating with an MBA (Top-Up) degree, you’ll be setting yourself up to take on senior leadership challenges in any organisation or business, both in the public and private sector. An MBA (Top-Up) qualification will equip you with the skills you need to progress to a senior management role in diverse industries all over the world. The specialist skills you’ll possess after graduating are highly valued by employers, giving you a competitive edge in the job market.
After graduating, you’ll have:
So where will your career take you next? Our MBA (Top-Up) gives you the scope to take on new and exciting challenges while preparing you for senior and leadership roles in any industry of your choosing.
This course awards a CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management & Leadership Practice and offers CMI Foundation Chartered Manager Status *
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 Certificate in Strategic Management & Leadership Practice and gain CMI Foundation Chartered Manager 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
As an IOEE Centre of Excellence, we foster an entrepreneurial culture among our students. We are dedicated to supporting their continuous growth by promoting enterprising thinking and practical entrepreneurial skills.
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: