MBA (Top-Up)

Summary

Study level
Award
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

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.

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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. 

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Course details and modules

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.

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

Modules

  • Business Transformation Project

How do we assess you?

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:

  • Case studies
  • Proposals
  • Dissertation

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. 

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

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 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.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this MBA (Top-Up) course, we need to see that you have:

  • 120 credits at Level 7 in a broadly-based business/management award, such as a Postgraduate Diploma in Business, or an equivalent international qualification.

English Proficiency

  • If your Level 7 qualification was taught in English, this can serve as your proof of English proficiency. If you studied outside the UK, your institution may be able to provide a medium of instruction letter demonstrating that your Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma was taught in English
  • Alternatively, an English Language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.5 (no less than 6.0 in each component) if English is not your first language.

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.
 

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

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

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.

What will I gain from completing this degree?

After graduating, you’ll have: 

  • Demonstrated you can apply knowledge and skills at a strategic level
  • Undertaken activities that have improved your own organisation
  • Used your personal development and planning skills to contribute to society and the workplace
  • Used your problem-solving skills to find innovative solutions
  • Shown genuine deep knowledge in your chosen specialist area
  • Taken a world view, demonstrating that you understand global issues, diversity and ethical questions
  • Developed your communication skills

What can I do after Arden University?

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.

Industry skills

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

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. 

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. 
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.