MBA (one year)

MBA with Business Placement (two years)

Portsmouth Business School

MBA

Welcome

www.port.ac.uk/mba2 Welcome

For over 25 years, the Portsmouth MBA has provided a stimulating and potentially life-changing learning experience for professionals from across the globe.Our enterprising AMBA accredited MBA engages learning through a range of teaching strategies, thereby allowing you to gain the maximum benefit from an integrated and high quality programme. It is our philosophy to recruit talented individuals who can make an active contribution within a vibrant learning environment, so that you can reach your potential and realise your career ambitions.

As one of the largest business schools in the UK, our dedicated academic staff have a significant track record of research and consultancy experience, providing depth to our cutting-edge MBA programme. We include a range of work-based experiences within the curriculum such as industrial visits, guest speakers and a business consultancy project. For those students wanting an extended period of work experience, we offer a valuable MBA with Business Placement programme. The work placement of up to one year provides an opportunity to consolidate as a practitioner the skills and knowledge you have acquired, and to enhance your career profile.

The Portsmouth MBA experience is exciting and challenging, and draws out the best in students working individually and within groups. Our programme is outward-facing and together we analyse the current challenges being experienced by businesses today in the face of increasing global competition.

With top quality teaching, high student satisfaction and outstanding facilities, the University of Portsmouth is a great place to study. We were delighted that we were ranked in the top two per cent of universities worldwide in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings published in 2014.

The city of Portsmouth provides a friendly and enjoyable place for students from across the world to study. It has a range of attractions, including a rich historical maritime heritage, a large leisure and shopping complex, and plenty of sporting activities.

If you would like to explore the idea of joining our MBA programme, I’d be delighted if you could contact me (details on back cover).

Dr David HallMBA Director Portsmouth Business School

www.port.ac.uk/mba 3 Programme overview

Programme overviewThe Portsmouth MBA is accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA), the leading accreditation body in Europe and, increasingly, across the world. Accreditation provides an independent and internationally recognised certification of quality and assures that the MBA programme is of continuing relevance to contemporary issues in management education.

Our MBA curriculum comprises the following elements:

• the Portsmouth-based taught programme

• UK and overseas residential study components

• a series of master classes on specialist topics

• a UK-based real-life Group Consultancy Project

• the Research Project (MBA one-year students)

• the Work-Based Learning Project (MBA with Business Placement students)

We also have a guest speaker programme where other academic and business luminaries share their research, experience and thoughts.

The Portsmouth MBA is a truly international experience, designed to help you operate successfully in a global business environment. The diversity of nationalities among students, the inclusion of overseas residential periods – plus the integrated dimension between the full-time and part-time Executive MBA programmes – allows for learning in a genuinely multi-cultural environment. Additionally, access to our MBA Alumni Association means that students and graduates can develop excellent networking alliances which prove invaluable years after their degree.

In addition to helping you to leverage your strengths, develop new business skills and prepare for the challenges of managerial leadership, the undertaking of an MBA is a journey of personal discovery. Portsmouth Business School is not a final destination, but an important turning point that prepares you for the opportunities that lie ahead. Your future career path begins with a reflection of who you are, what you want and where you would like to go, and you will be encouraged to regularly evaluate your personal progression, improved business skills and, importantly, your own work and reward values.

Students’ MBA experiences can be as distinct as their personalities, talents and ambitions, so you will find the University of Portsmouth provides a highly supportive, friendly, and vibrant environment. We believe in an ‘open-door’ approach where help and guidance for students is always available. You will also find the Portsmouth MBA will generate a real sense of camaraderie, adding to the supportive environment of the programme.

www.port.ac.uk/mba4 Programme description

Programme descriptionThe full-time MBA programmes at Portsmouth are designed for applicants who have at least three years of experience working in IT, finance, operations, marketing, administration or similar roles at a supervisory or managerial level, and who wish to broaden their skills, or start a new business. The MBA is a one-year programme whilst the MBA with Business Placement lasts for up to two years and offers students an extended business placement where, as part of the course, you will complete a project for a UK or international company.

The programmes will immerse you in the latest thinking on strategy, change management, business operations, accounting, finance and law. This is achieved through the fundamental elements of the course, namely the taught programme, residentials, master classes, the group consultancy project and a research project (on the MBA) or a work-based learning project (on the MBA with Business Placement).

5 Programme structurewww.port.ac.uk/mba

Programme structureYear One Year

Two*

Autumn Teaching

Mid-September – Christmas

Spring TeachingJanuary –

Easter

Autumn and SpringA

ssessment P

eriod

Post Assessment

Developing Organisational

Capability (including the

UK Residential)

Sustaining Organisational

Value

Master Class Topics (subject to change) • Creativity and Problem Solving

• Sales Management

• Innovation

• Entrepreneurship

• Consultancy

• Strategic Information

• Balanced Scorecard

• Project Management with PRINCE2

• Outsourcing

• An Inspirational Workplace

• Emotional Intelligence

• Organisation Learning from Failures

Group C

onsultancy Project

Plus fo

rO

ne-year MB

A students – R

esearch Project

Two-year M

BA

with B

usiness Placem

ent students – Work-B

ased Learning P

roject. Applying R

esearch and Consultancy S

kills within a

Supervised O

rganisational Placem

ent

Strategic Management and Master Classes (including the Overseas

Residential)

Strategic Leadership, Culture and Change

Professional Development (for MBA with Business Placement students)

Consultancy and Research Methods

*MBA with Business Placement only

The taught programme

Developing Organisational Capability explores finance, marketing, operations, innovation, law and corporate social responsibility, and how they influence and improve the overall management of an organisation. The learning strategy is group-based and emphasises the integration of disciplines.

Sustaining Organisational Value explores the future orientation of the organisation with further development of finance, operations, quantitative approaches to decision analysis, information systems, digital marketing and sales management, as well as specialised areas of marketing.

Strategic Management and Master Classes address key issues that shape organisations, their orientation, transformation and change in complex and uncertain business environments. Behavioural and economic concepts of organisations and their business contexts are explored.

Strategic Leadership, Culture and Change aims to develop your analytical and decision-making skills in complex strategic situations. The unit introduces key aspects of the organisation

and managing people, emphasising the pivotal role occupied by organisational structure, technology, culture and its operation across local and international contexts.

Consultancy and Research Methods operates in two phases. The taught part of the course covers techniques used in management research, quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis and consultancy intervention. After the taught element you will operate as part of a small team to apply and develop your consultancy skills with a Group Consultancy Project in a host organisation, usually at Board level.

MBA Professional Development (for students on the MBA with Business Placement) prepares students to undertake a work placement with an employer based in the UK or overseas. Students explore the nature of different management cultures and investigate potential sponsoring organisations in preparation for interview. The creation of a personal development plan will be necessary.

6 www.port.ac.uk/mbaProgramme structure

Residentials offer a blend of academic lectures, industrial visits and evening entertainment. Our UK Residential focuses on leadership development and team effectiveness. The overseas residentials reflect on areas such as leadership, economic development, and the impact of national culture on business. Industrial visits involve plant tours and briefings from senior managers on how their corporate strategy has changed and why. Evening entertainment allows you to relax and get to know your fellow students in an informal atmosphere. They will be part of your professional network for the future.

The Master Class Conference brings together students, alumni, our senior researchers and guest speakers to explore in-depth specialist knowledge of a number of chosen subjects and is delivered in intense six-hour sessions per subject. These range from creativity and problem solving to innovation, corporate governance and sustainability. Your master classes are delivered by nationally and internationally-recognised members of staff and visiting speakers who share their up-to-date experiences of leading-edge areas of business and management. As an MBA alumnus you will be invited back every year to join in our Master Class Conference.

The Group Consultancy Project, which you undertake for a UK company, will bring your theory to a real-life organisation in which you will analyse problems and propose solutions to senior management. Working in a team (of usually three course members) with a supervisor and a client, this project will provide you with valuable experience to add to your CV.

For MBA (one-year) students the Research Project allows you to focus on an aspect of strategy that most interests you. You are free to develop your own research and thinking in an independent project. It comprises an individually assessed dissertation which involves you proposing a topic, and once this proposal is approved, you undertake a literature search, research scheme and then discuss the issues, draw conclusions and make recommendations for further study in an 8,000-word report.

For MBA with Business Placement students the Work-Based Learning Project is an extended independent study unit with substantial investigations within a company trading in the UK, the student’s home country or another country subject to normal visa requirements. The project develops a significant area of professional practice in the business administration or related area. Students will actively seek an appropriate work placement supported by the Portsmouth Business School Placement Office.

Should students not secure a placement by the required deadline, they will be transferred to the MBA (full-time) and will be required to complete the MBA Research Project rather than the MBA Work-Based Learning Project.

Lectures Tutorials Independent Study

Monday 6 hours 1 hour 1 hour

Tuesday - - 8 hours

Wednesday 7 hours - -

Thursday 3 hours 2 hours (MBA with Business Placement students)

5 hours (MBA students) / 3 hours (MBA with Business Placement students)

Friday 3 hours - 5 hours

Example weekly timetable during the taught programme

7 www.port.ac.uk/mba Case study

Now the director of two companies, Colvill Banks and Whitecrow Research, which last year made a net profit before tax of $2 million on a turnover of $6 million and employ several hundred people worldwide, Prems Srampical attributes much of his success to the skills acquired while studying for his MBA.

‘I joined Portsmouth in September 2003 and knew I was joining a good school. I liked the course Portsmouth was offering, which had two residential programmes and projects in real companies as part of the curriculum. I chose to do an MBA because, whilst I’d had a few years’ work experience after my bachelors degree and although I was doing well managing a team of over 150 people, I felt I needed to hone my business and management skills. I was young and knew that this investment up front would help me further down the line. I thought the Business School was a great place to study and, more importantly, network. I also love the city – so much so that six years after leaving university I still live in the area, despite the fact that I have to travel to London to meet clients three days a week.

The course helped me work and collaborate with people from different cultures in class. My companies have clients across different continents and I feel that the joint projects undertaken with people from Asia, Europe and America during my time at the Business School have helped me to understand clients better.’

Prems is clear about the value of a year’s paid placement for students. ‘This is a great opportunity for Portsmouth’s MBA students. It’s a competitive world now wherever you live, and gaining a year of paid business experience will strengthen their CVs considerably.’

Prems Srampical

8 www.port.ac.uk/mbaLearning environment

Learning environmentThe University offers extensive support to help students achieve their goals. This support includes a dedicated Business School librarian, advice from experienced personal tutors, and academic and mathematical skills development.

Library

Our award-winning University Library houses thousands of information resources. As well as an extensive range of text books and journals, students also have access to thousands of journals online as well as microfilm and online newspapers. There are wireless connections throughout the library and laptops available for loan. The library is open from 8am to midnight every day during term-time. Remote access is available 24/7.

IT services

While studying at Portsmouth you will have access to extensive computing facilities, all running the latest software for specialist and general computing. We have open access areas around the campus with the latest equipment and excellent support, a free and extensive wireless network and 24-hour IT support. Our Student IT Support Centre offers free help with any IT issue, large or small.

We also have a dedicated student website where you can find news updates, links to student services and details of your timetables, exam grades and library loans. When you arrive you will be given your own Google email account and 5GB of ultra fast storage. Your Google account means you can keep in touch with your fellow students, share your work online and access our virtual learning environment, where you will find resources and activities for your course.

International student support

We recognise and understand the needs of our international students when facing cultural changes. Our International Student Advisers are available to provide advice and support, and help you settle into life in Portsmouth. They provide assistance with visa extensions, police registration appointments and any pastoral issues. The International Student Advisers also arrange social events and coach trips and a regular newsletter. Additionally, there is a comprehensive range of student services to help with your studies, your accommodation requirements, your health and wellbeing and support if you find yourself in any sort of difficulty.

www.port.ac.uk/mba 9 Academics who teach on the programme

Some of the academics who teach on the programme

Director of the MBA Programme Dr David Hall brings with him substantial management experience of the challenges faced by organisations as they respond to change and seek to improve performance.

Professor of Operations and Asset Management Ashraf Labib’s main interests lie in the fields of operational research and decision analysis.

Professor in Accounting Lisa Jack’s research on management accounting in the UK agricultural industry ultimately advises policy makers, promoting fair returns for all in the food supply chain.

Professor James McCalman is a senior academic with executive and leadership experience in the private, charity and higher education sectors. He has driven several change and transformation projects.

Dr Beth Rogers is an Honorary Fellow of the Sales Performance Association and a member of the Academic Senate of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Previously Beth was Business Development Manager with an international IT company.

Principal Lecturer James Rowe has worked in higher education for over 18 years following an earlier career in commercial engineering. His main interests are in strategic management, leadership, and culture and change.

Paul Trott is Professor of Innovation Management and his book Managing Innovation and New Product Development is now in its third edition. He is also co-author of the Penguin Business Directory.

Dr Michele Lundy is the Course Leader for the Executive MBA programme and her expertise lies in statistics and operational research. She has over 20 years’ experience of working for major financial institutions.

www.port.ac.uk/mba10 About Portsmouth Business School

About Portsmouth Business SchoolWe are one of the largest and most successful business schools in southern England. This broad academic offering across most business, management and legal subjects provides a wealth of expertise in all of our teaching. Our research capabilities inform our teaching with the latest business thinking. Additionally a number of our academics have written text books which are recommended reading for postgraduate students across the United Kingdom. All of this contributes to a rich learning experience on the Portsmouth MBA – you’ll be taught by senior academics who have spent many years working in industry at the top of their fields.

The University of Portsmouth Business School is based in the purpose-built Richmond Building in the centre of the city. We are a large and vibrant community of several thousand students from all over the world. We are proud that most of our programmes have been recognised by professional institutions including accreditation by the Association of MBAs (AMBA). We are also an Accredited Centre for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Facilities

Our students can benefit from a state-of-the-art learning environment. Our teaching rooms range from lecture theatres with a 300-student capacity to smaller rooms and computer laboratories, all with modern audio-visual facilities.

www.port.ac.uk/mba 11 Case study

As a result of completing a full-time MBA at Portsmouth Business School Jórunn has set up her own travel company, which specialises in holidays to Iceland.

‘I studied for an undergraduate degree in Iceland, my home country, and was desperate to go abroad to study further. I have family in the south of England so finding the right course for me at Portsmouth was absolutely perfect. The city is ideal, it’s not too big and it’s not too small – so it’s great if you’re a foreigner as you soon get to know your way around.

‘If it wasn’t for the MBA I’d never be running my own business. The course really makes you think outside the box. My tutor was incredibly supportive and made me feel that I could really achieve whatever I set my sights on. I started to think about setting up my own company when I was mid-way through and the more I learnt the more it cemented my decision.

‘I set up my travel company, All Iceland, with my business partner and we started trading last year. The business is expanding rapidly and doing well. The travel industry is an exciting place to be and I feel the MBA has prepared me well to face the constant challenges that crop up when running your own business.’

Case study

Jórunn Jonsdottir MBA graduate

www.port.ac.uk/mba12 Alumni • Career prospects

Career prospects We will coach you in developing your career through a tutorial programme and help you to build an interactive resumé describing your background, academic development, work achievements and specialities via a CV, testimonial video and soft skills profile. This will further equip you to demonstrate your suitability for a senior management role when you graduate. Career development is embedded into the curriculum and includes addressing such issues as management leadership and inter-cultural awareness. Additionally interview techniques, negotiation and a job search seminar are delivered by Portsmouth Business School and AMBA.

Placements Office For students on the MBA with Business Placement programme, our dedicated Placements Office will help and support you during your year in industry.

Careers and employment serviceWe are committed to giving our graduates the important employability skills that business demands. Our specialist in-house recruitment team works with employers to give our students valuable work experience and volunteering opportunities as well as place our graduates into jobs, particularly within small to medium sized companies.

As an international student at this University you have access to the full range of services and facilities that our careers and recruitment service offers. You can find out more about what we offer by visiting www.port.ac.uk/careersandrecruitment.

AlumniOnce you have completed the programme and graduated, your association with the University of Portsmouth needn’t end there. The Portsmouth MBA boasts an alumni membership stretching across the world. Our members work in a wide variety of organisations and industries, collectively representing a vast pool of knowledge and experience.

Being a member of the Alumni Association brings all sorts of benefits including MBA-specific careers and networking opportunities, and invitations to various events such as our Hot Topic Seminars and the Master Class Conference. You may also be eligible for membership of the Institute of Management at the most prestigious grade of Fellowship.

13 Case studywww.port.ac.uk/mba

Juliet combined study for a Master’s in Human Resource Management and work as a Sales and Marketing Manager for US multi-national corporation Seaboard Marine in the Cayman Islands. She then decided to take a year out to undertake the MBA.

‘I wanted to do something internationally recognised, with real currency, which was also challenging and well taught. Having just completed my Master’s in Human Resource Management which was taught by Portsmouth academics in the Cayman Islands, I knew how good the teaching was and the MBA seemed like the next logical step.

‘The MBA programme is AMBA accredited, which is crucial for me as it gives the course real gravitas. I decided to do the MBA full time so I could immerse myself completely and this has really paid off. The studies have been challenging, stressful, infuriating at times, but above all it has been fun! It takes a huge amount of focus but the support you get is superb. Staff are accessible and accommodating from day one.

‘I have learned so much at Portsmouth and will be leaving with deep business knowledge, which I can’t wait to put into practice. Studying here has also opened my eyes socially and politically – it was terribly exciting to be here during the general election and I now know much more about British politics and social characteristics.

‘The MBA is a great experience and whether I return to my role in the Cayman Islands or pursue work in the UK, I know I’ll see the benefits immediately.’

Case study

Juliet OsbourneMBA student

www.port.ac.uk/mba14 Portsmouth – the city

Portsmouth – the cityPortsmouth is a compact island city on the south coast of England with excellent transport links. Just 90 minutes by direct train from the centre of London, Portsmouth is also within easy reach of Heathrow, Gatwick and Southampton Airports. As a busy ferry port, it is a gateway to the continent with regular sailings to France and Spain.

The size of the city contributes to its friendly atmosphere, and it also makes it easy to walk from place to place. Just a short walk from the city centre, you can enjoy a breath of fresh air and fantastic sea views on Southsea seafront. Four miles of beach are backed by the green spaces of Southsea Common, great for meeting friends, picnics in the summer as well as running, cycling and football. The Common also hosts a range of activities throughout the year including a kite festival, running events and live music.

Sailing, windsurfing, or walks in the countryside are all available in the local area. Portsmouth itself is totally flat, meaning that you can reach all parts of the city by bicycle with little effort.

Portsmouth Business School is less than a five-minute walk from Gunwharf Quays, a large shopping and entertainment centre. This includes a cinema, ten-pin bowling alley, numerous designer outlet shops and restaurants, and is the site of the Spinnaker Tower, one of the tallest viewing towers in Britain.Portsmouth is a cosmopolitan city with a vibrant nightlife, a football club, many different shopping opportunities and a great selection of restaurants, pubs and nightclubs to explore.

Travelling from Portsmouth, you can be out in open countryside within a short amount of time, with the South Downs National Park close by, and the New Forest National Park which is no more than an hour away.

Portsmouth

Channel Islands

LondonBristol

Cardiff

Birmingham

LiverpoolManchester

Newcastle

EdinburghGlasgow

PlymouthSouthampton Airport

Isle of Man

Guernsey

Jersey

Ferries to France

Ferries to Spain

15 Portsmouth – the citywww.port.ac.uk/mba

Ease of transportation

The campus is situated in the centre of the city, in close proximity to a railway station and is served by most city bus services. The majority of our full-time students do not use cars in Portsmouth as it is such a compact city with excellent public transport facilities. Bicycles are a popular form of transport in Portsmouth as the terrain is virtually flat.

Accommodation

The University has a number of halls of residence in busy and quiet locations, both catered and self-catered. Halls offer a range of services including free broadband and access to digital TV, which can be viewed via your computer and a Freewire telephone service. For more information on halls and other accommodation options, please visit www.port.ac.uk/accommodation.

MD9502 1014

University of Portsmouth Business SchoolMBARichmond BuildingPortland StreetPortsmouth, HampshireUnited Kingdom PO1 3DE

T: +44 (0)23 9284 4888 F: +44 (0)23 9284 4059E: mba.admissions@port.ac.ukW: www.port.ac.uk/mba

Further informationFor more information about the Portsmouth MBA, please visit www.port.ac.uk/mba.Students from overseas will find the pages at www.port.ac.uk/international very useful.

Entry requirementsA good honours degree (or equivalent) and at least three years of postgraduate work experience at a professional or managerial level. IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) with a 6.0+ score in each element. Students will be required to complete a Personal Statement.

How to applyPlease use the University of Portsmouth online application form, which can be found at www.port.ac.uk/postgraduate.

FeesTo find out the current tuition fees for our MBA programme, visit www.port.ac.uk/mba.

ScholarshipsThe Master of Business Administration scholarships are open to UK, EU and international self- funding applicants. For further information, please visit www.port.ac.uk/mbascholarships.

In addition to our MBA, Portsmouth Business School offers specialist postgraduate programmes across subjects such as economics, finance, forensic accounting, human resource management (we are a Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Accredited Centre), law, leadership (accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management), marketing, project management (accredited by the Association of Project Management), and risk management. We also offer general business programmes such as MSc Business and Management, which is designed to appeal to newly qualified graduates with an interest in business but limited management experience.