THE ASTON ONLINE MBA

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
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03 | About Aston University Online

04 | Our Ethos

05 | The Aston Online MBA

06 | Programme Details
07 | Programme Highlights

07 | Programme Admissions

08 | Core Curriculum

09 | Pathways

10 | MBA Project

2 Aston University Online Master of Business Administration studyonline.aston.ac.uk • +44 808 168 5253
 ABOUT Aston University is located in Birmingham, England. The university was

ASTON
founded in 1895 and has been a university since 1966. Ranked the 33rd
Most International University in the World (THE Most International Universities
Table), Aston University has established its online programmes to support
individuals in the United Kingdom and internationally who are seeking

UNIVERSITY
student-centred programmes tailored to their professional experiences
without the need to attend classes on campus.

ONLINE We are committed to providing a quality, career-focused education designed

to expand and enhance your career opportunities. In the last 20 years, Aston
University has consistently been ranked annually as one of the top universities
for employability— 80th in the World (QS Graduate Employability Rankings).
OUR STORY With a 100 per cent online virtual learning environment, you can access
modules at your convenience and attend classes taught by the same
faculty who teach courses on campus. Complete your postgraduate degree
programme in a timely fashion that is in sync with your professional life while
gaining perspective and knowledge from fellow classmates from around
the globe.

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 ABOUT ASTON UNIVERSITY ONLINE

OUR ETHOS
QS Stars Rating for
Excellence 2016
Our focus brings real benefits — delivering social mobility by helping students
acquire the skills, confidence and knowledge they need to succeed in business,
industry and the professions, enabling them to explore and fulfil their individual
potential.

Our scholarship is focused on translating world-renowned research into applicable

benefits for the economy and society, and for our local and global communities as Accredited by AMBA,
well. At Aston, we are dedicated to developing people and ideas that will shape AACSB and EQUIS

the businesses and communities of tomorrow.

The dedication, talent and drive of Aston’s people underpin Aston’s current and
future success. We are, and will remain, friendly, informal and open; a culturally
diverse community in which staff and students continue to learn from, and
celebrate, individual differences. These qualities make Aston a great place to The Economist
work, study and collaborate. Good Value MBAs 2014

Sustainability and social responsibility are issues our staff, students and
stakeholders feel passionately about. They are central to how we work at Aston
and how we relate to the world around us. Sustainability and social responsibility
are based on ethical values and defined by the idea of economic, social and
environmental obligations to our range of stakeholders, regardless of their
Aston’s MBA is Ranked
background or circumstances. Tier One by CEO Magazine

Our mission is to be the UK’s leading university for business, enterprise and the
professions, where original research has a profound and lasting impact on the
world around us.

Aston’s Online MBA is

Ranked 37th globally

Top 20 QS Distance Leaning

MBA 2017

Student Satisfaction
- National Student Survey

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THE ASTON ONLINE

MBA
The Aston Online MBA is an advanced business degree that is designed
for working professionals who want the highly ranked and triple accredited
Aston University Business School experience in a flexible and personal
online format. It’s a comprehensive online MBA programme for ambitious
professionals who are ready to take the next step, gain the ability to think
like a leader, make decisions and execute what they’ve learned in the
real-world.

64.5% Business #1 in the

average School triple UK for
increase in accredited Return on
graduate by AACSB, Investment.
earnings. AMBA and
Equis.

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 ONLINE MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

ONLINE MBA PROGRAMME DETAILS

Aston University Online’s virtual learning environment captures the internationalisation of today’s businesses and
professionals. Aston has a rich history spanning more than 20 years’ experience in helping off-campus students
achieve their personal and professional goals within Aston’s programmes. As an Aston Online MBA student, you will
be assigned a personal Student Success Advisor available to ensure that while you are online, you are fully connected
to Aston University.

Aston University’s Online MBA is tailored to help professionals take the next step in their careers in positions of
leadership, senior management and establishing themselves as industry innovators. Students maintain their
professional lives while taking modules 100 per cent online when it is most convenient for them.

THE MBA MODULE CREDIT BREAKDOWN

90 Credits
100%
 Online Core
Modules 

30 Credits
7-Week
 Courses Pathway
Modules 
180 CREDIT HOURS
• • •
9 MODULES
• • •
£18,700.00
(EU/UK/INTERNATIONAL)

1-Week 60 Credits
 Assessments MBA Project 

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 ONLINE MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

ONLINE MBA PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS

The Aston Edge Entrepreneurship

The Aston Edge is part of the Online MBA programme, Gain the skills necessary to start a successful
developed to work in tandem with the core curriculum. You small business or to innovate within an existing
will build a portfolio and gain critical skills such as innovation, organisation.
managing organisational change, solving complex problems
and adapting to multiple work environments. Finance:
Focus on financial management decisions, the
characteristics of different forms of finance,
and the linkages between organisations, the
Multiple Pathways financial markets and financial strategy.
Choose a particular pathway from a number of options to
tailor your degree to your professional needs.
Global Business:
Learn about the global business environment
and how it influences business decisions and
behaviour.
MBA Project
The MBA project is the cumulative product of coursework
combined with practical application to a number of business Organisational Development:
scenarios. Multiple project types are available and can Gain the critical knowledge and skills to
potentially be sourced by your current employer. You have identify and navigate key organisational
four blocks (six months) to complete the major project. development issues, including ethics and
hr resource management.

ONLINE MBA PROGRAMME ADMISSIONS

Admissions In addition, applicants must have three years of

To enter the online programme, applicants need one of the postgraduate work experience and two references,
following: one from an academic referee and one from a
current or previous employer.
•  A good UK honours degree or an equivalent overseas
degree recognised by Aston University, together with International Students
3 years of management experience, OR International students require an official academic
•  If you do not have a honours degree or equivalent, you transcript with an official English translation of
may be considered on 7+ years management/progressive university grades.
leadership experience, clearly detailed in your CV.
•  If you do not have management experience and are International students whose native language is
looking to enhance your business skills, Aston offers an not English will need to satisfy English language
Online MSc in Business and Management. requirements of the University.

For further information please contact us on

+44 808 168 5253

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 ONLINE MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

CORE CURRICULUM

90 Credit Hours Total

• Measuring and Enhancing Financial Performance
15 Credits
The module aims to enable students to understand and interpret a range of
financial statements and other financial information organisational stakeholders
use to aid decision-making in relation to the allocation of capital. The importance of
having a breadth of
• Creating and Delivering Customer Value — 15 Credits
The module aims to develop skills and competencies necessary to critically understanding cannot
analyse organisational marketing options and contribute to strategic marketing be underestimated, and
decision-making.
really only an MBA gives
• Designing and Managing Operations, Systems and Processes — 15 Credits you that. The flexibility
The module aims to provide an understanding of the role of operations to study when I want
management and how it contributes to business competitiveness.
to and how I want to has
• Crafting Organisational Strategy — 15 Credits been a major advantage.
The module aims to enable students to analyse strategic issues facing a variety
of different organisations using appropriate concepts, frameworks and models to Phil Bromley,
inform strategic decision-making. director/consultant, RQRA

• The Global Economic Environment — 15 Credits

This module introduces students to fundamental concepts in economics to help
them develop an economic perspective on business decision-making in a wide
range of contexts and applications.

• Leading Complex Organisations — 15 Credits

The module aims to introduce theoretical and real-world perspectives on leading
modern complex organisations, including consideration of the complexity of
behaviour, processes, systems and cultures.

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 ONLINE MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

PATHWAYS

Entrepreneurship Pathway Finance Pathway

Gain the analytical and strategic skills necessary to start a Focus on the key principles and challenges of financial
successful small business or to innovate within an existing management decisions, the characteristics of different forms
organisation. of finance, and the linkages between organisations, the
financial markets and financial strategy.
• D iscuss the key theories of entrepreneurship and the stra-
tegic practice of entrepreneurship. • Identify and analyse the financial problems faced by firms
• Evaluate the growth and market potential of existing and in their financial and economic environments.
new business opportunities. • Use financial tools to provide effective solutions to
• Prepare a feasible and sustainable plan for the creation organisational challenges.
of a new business venture based on a clearly identified • Critically evaluate financial theory in the identification of
commercial opportunity. effective solutions to organisational challenges.

Entrepreneurial Strategies — 15 Credits Business Finance — 15 Credits

This module aims to equip students with the analytical and Examine the key principles and challenges of financial
strategic skills necessary to start a successful small busi- management decisions, the characteristics of different forms
ness. It also aims to contribute to an entrepreneurial culture of finance and the linkages between organisations, financial
among Aston postgraduates and encourage students to markets and financial strategy.
consider entrepreneurship as an alternative to employment.
 trategic Management Accounting — 15 Credits
S
 egal Challenges: Starting an Innovative Business —
L Master the strategic tools and techniques accounting
15 Credits managers use to plan and control a range of international
This module aims to provide students with an understanding organisations in the private, public and not-for-profit
of intellectual property law, copyright, patents, trademarks, sectors and the behavioural problems encountered during
designs and know-how. The module will allow them to the process.
recognise what intellectual property rights exist, who owns
the rights, how to protect them and how to enforce them.

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 ONLINE MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

PATHWAYS

Global Business Pathway Organisational Development Pathway

Develop a systematic understanding of the fundamental Gain the critical knowledge and skills to successfully
aspects of the global business environment that influence identify and navigate key organisational development issues,
business decisions and behaviour. including ethics and human resource management.

• E xplore the opportunities and challenges involved in the • D emonstrate a critical understanding of global business
operation of multinational enterprises. ethics issues and related concepts such as CSR,
• Assess the economic, political, social and cultural influences sustainability, human rights.

on the operation of multinational enterprises. • Utilise advanced techniques from the field of human
• Evaluate the entry and organisational strategies of resource management to succeed as a global organisation.
multinational enterprises using key theories from • Understand how environmental changes impact upon
international business studies responsible management decisions in the fields of global
business ethics and human resource development.

International Business — 15 Credits

Develop a systematic understanding of the fundamental  lobal Business Ethics — 15 Credits
G
aspects of the global business environment that influence Gain the critical knowledge and skills to successfully identify
business decisions and behaviour. and navigate global business ethics issues.

International Operations — 15 Credits  earning and Talent Development — 15 Credits

L
Gain awareness of the range of issues that, within an Understand how different management functions can be
international context, constitute a holistic approach to the enhanced through human resource development (HRD)
design and management of operations systems taking into initiatives and how HRD relates to business strategy and
considerations their social and environmental impacts. effectiveness.

- or -

International Marketing Management — 15 Credits

Develop insight into the special requirements for successfully
conducting international marketing activities. Evaluate the
impact of environmental changes on international marketing
strategies.

PROJECT

MBA Project The module aims to enable students to apply relevant

• Core element of programme theories, frameworks and tools introduced throughout the
• Culmination of all skills learned programme and develop the research and/or consultancy
• Ideal portfolio piece to show current or potential employers competencies of students in the investigation of a
management/organisational issue or new venture opportunity.

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11 Aston University Online

Updated_08/11/18 Master of Business Administration studyonline.aston.ac.uk • +44 808 168 5253