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MBA|Postgraduate Taught

Master of Business Administration

Entry year
2025/26
Entry requirements
2.1
Duration
1 year (Full-time)
2 years (Part-time)
Places available
TBC (Full Time)
TBC (Part Time)

The Queen’s MBA brings together the academic excellence of one of the UK’s leading research Universities, with the innovative spirit of Belfast. The programme is aimed at professionals looking to take the next step in transforming their careers.

The Queen’s MBA challenges you to develop as a leader with the adaptive skills and lateral, entrepreneurial thinking you need to shape your future. Progressing through the programme you integrate core business and management concepts including strategy, marketing, operations, corporate finance, economics and accounting, whilst the programme also offers you the chance to deepen your knowledge in the emerging areas of business analytics, technology and social innovation. There is a strong emphasis on integrating theory and practice developing ‘mindsets’ and experiential learning. Through a series of leadership development workshops you will develop the insight and self-awareness required for effective leadership in a local and global context.

The Queen’s MBA is AMBA accredited. Fewer than 300 business schools globally hold this prestigious award. AMBA accreditation denotes the highest standard of achievement in postgraduate business education. The School is also EQUIS accredited, indicating the high-standard of business education that our students will receive.

Master of Business Administration highlights

Industry Links

Real-world consultancy project option. Students can choose an MBA project tailored to their interests. Students spend time working with the client organisation to deliver effective solutions. Full training and academic supervision are provided.

Consulting Challenge: As part of a team students work with partners from industry to solve practical business challenges incorporating ideas from class, preparing an Executive Board presentation at the end.

Career Development

Integrated career development: one-on-one coaching, personal CV analysis, career advice and interview skills training.

Leadership Skills: A year-long programme of workshops provides training in personal development, emotional intelligence, challenging conversations, coaching and conflict resolution. Individual coaching to help students identify and work on their career / personal development challenges.

William J. Clinton Leadership Institute: Our team at Riddel Hall, Belfast brings world-class facilities, leading academics and industry experts together to deliver a high end portfolio of executive education and leadership programmes.

Student Experience

A world-class environment: Belfast and her surrounds boast many cultural and sightseeing gems, offering an easy base for exploring Ireland and the UK.

A recognised postgraduate degree from a top UK university: Dubbed Ireland’s Oxbridge, Queen’s is the UK’s 9th oldest university and forms part of the elite Russell Group – the UK’s Ivy League.

Integrated teaching: Research-led teaching by key faculty with real-world business experience and international research reputations. The Queen's MBA offers an innovative teaching style in line with international best practice. Academic topics are integrated through experiential learning, developmental ‘mindsets’ and the latest insights from external speakers and leaders in residence.

World Class Facilities

The Queen’s MBA is delivered in the beautiful setting of Queen's Business School (QBS) at Riddel Hall which features excellent facilities. QBS has recently undergone an innovative expansion that establishes a benchmark of global excellence for one of the top business schools in the UK and Ireland. A stunning new 6,000 square metre building, adjacent to the listed red-brick Riddel Hall has been designed with the latest digital infrastructure for media lecture capture, TED Talk provision and collaborative breakout sessions.

Fostering an enhanced social and educational experience the new state-of-the-art QBS venue boasts a 250-seat tiered educational space; 120-seat Harvard style lecture theatre; 150-seat computer laboratory; breakout study spaces; FinTrU Trading Room; a café, and a Business Engagement and Employability Hub.

Career Development

We give students opportunities to develop their career and enhance their network through regular networking events with classmates, alumni, academics and industry leaders.

There is a Leaders in Residence series of lectures, delivered by leading international academic and business experts which enables students to network and develop links with organisations from the private, not-for-profit and public sector. Students are also invited to attend Catalyst Inc meetings and gain automatic membership of the MBA Association of Ireland granting access to a range of additional networking opportunities, events and inter-university competitions.

Students will have an opportunity to network and engage with our MBA alumni at various events.

Student Experience

Students choose a path through the programme that allows them to gain strong generalist knowledge of core areas including Strategy, Leadership, Finance, Accounting, Marketing and Operations Management, plus a targeted and practical specialism in their chosen area of expertise: Sustainability and Social Innovation, Global Technology Innovations, International Business Negotiations or International Study option.

As part of your everyday education at Queen’s, you’ll put theory into practice and gain hands-on experience via team projects and live client challenges. You will develop and enhance your skills in relation to collaboration, communication, leadership, problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking and reflective learning.

Student Testimonials

Course Structure

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Course Introduction

During the year, modules build upon each other with each focused on developing a distinct mindset.

Semester 1

Leading Transformation in a Digital World (Core)

Accounting for Managers (Core)

Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century (Core)

Marketing Management (Core)

Operations Management (Core)

Academic Skills (Core)

Semester 2

Global Economic Environment (Core)

People Management and the Future of Work (Core)

Leading and Influencing in Organisations (Core)

Corporate Finance (Core)

Strategic Management Research Project (Core) (Semester 2 & 3)

Semester 3

Sustainability and Social Innovations (Elective)

Global Technology Innovations (Elective)

International Business Negotiations (Elective)

International Study (Elective)*

*Please Note: Students who wish to pick the International Study elective will be required to apply for a place and there will be an additional cost to participate in this particular elective.

People teaching you

Course Director

Queen's Business School

Teaching Times

In a typical week for a full time student you will have between 15-22 contact hours of teaching. Part time students will have between 5-12 hours.

Learning and Teaching

The teaching and learning methods aim to achieve a balance between theory and practice. These methods include lectures, tutorials, seminars, problem- centred techniques such as case studies, computer/software practical demonstrations and applications, non-book media (videos and podcasts), individual research, oral presentations, group projects, online discussion forums, industry visits and practitioner workshops.

This combination allows students to have a high degree of involvement and participation in the learning process. Specific details are provided in the Programme Specification, including details on assessments.

E-Learning technologies

Information associated with lectures and assignments is communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Canvas. A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the degree programme through the use of, for example, interactive support materials, podcasts and web-based learning activities.

Assessment

Assessments associated with the course are outlined below:

  • A combination of written examinations, continuous assessment and an MBA project. Continuous assessment methods include: individual and group essays, reflective essays on problem-solving within professional experience, case study reports, presentations and assessed challenges incorporating ‘board level’ presentations.

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Modules

Modules

The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study (2024/25). Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year.

  • Year 1

    Core Modules

    Corporate Finance (10 credits)

    Optional Modules

    International Study (20 credits)

Entrance requirements

Graduate

Normally a 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in any discipline. Applicants with qualifications below 2.1 Honours degree standard may be considered on a case-by-case basis if they can demonstrate appropriate relevant professional experience.

Applicants should have a minimum of three years’ quality professional experience. Internships, a sandwich year, part-time or temporary work will not be considered.

Applicants must provide a full and up-to-date Curriculum Vitae including a full work history. The work history should include the employer’s name and address, job title and brief description of duties and responsibilities, as well as the start and end dates for each period of employment.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 15th August 2025 for courses which commence in late September. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal prior to the deadline stated on course finder. Notifications to this effect will appear on the application portal against the programme application page.

Please note: international applicants will be required to pay a deposit to secure a place on this course.

Admission under the Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) may be considered for this course. The University's Recognition of Prior Learning Policy provides guidance on the assessment of experiential learning (RPEL). Please visit the link below for more information.
http://go.qub.ac.uk/RPLpolicyQUB

International Students

Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.

English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

  • Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
  • Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

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Careers

Career Prospects

Introduction

The MBA features a specific year-long career development programme encompassing individual career coaching alongside practical skills such as CV analysis and development, interview skills and networking strategies, to ensure graduate employment potential is maximised. Students from this programme have entered a wide variety of industries including education, finance, insurance, scientific research, transport, manufacturing, and business startups.

For further opportunities to enhance your studies and career prospects please see the school website.
https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/queens-business-school/student-opportunities/

Employment after the Course

Graduates from this programme have secured roles with employers such as Deloitte, Citi, Danske Bank, Aflac, BT, TCT Group, CME, Belfast City Council, RBC, and many more. Typical roles include director, senior manager, management consultant, and founder.
https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/careers/

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI) 1 £25,000 (less a £10,000 discount for 2025 entry)
Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 £25,000 (less a £10,000 discount for 2025 entry)
England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 £25,000 (less a £10,000 discount for 2025 entry)
EU Other 3 £28,000 (less a £6,000 discount for 2025 entry)
International £28,000 (less a £6,000 discount for 2025 entry)

1EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.

2 EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.

3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.

All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

More information on postgraduate tuition fees.

Additional course costs

The fee quoted above for the MBA relates to a full year and will be reduced accordingly if you are studying part time.

Students have the option to undertake a consultancy project for their dissertation and are responsible for funding any travel, accommodation and subsistence costs.

Terms and Conditions for Postgraduate applications:

1.1  Due to high demand, there is a deadline for applications. 

1.2  International applicants will be required to pay a deposit to secure their place on the course. The current mandatory tuition fee deposit payment is £1000 International (Non- EU & EU except ROI). 

1.3  This condition of offer is in addition to any academic or English language requirements.

Read the full terms and conditions at the link below:
https://www.qub.ac.uk/Study/postgraduate/tuition-fees/deposit-refunds-policy/

All Students

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.

Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.

If a programme includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.

Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.

There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.

How do I fund my study?

The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study. Tuition fee loan information.

A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas (excluding Initial Teacher Education/PGCE, where undergraduate student finance is available). Criteria, eligibility, repayment and application information are available on the UK government website.

More information on funding options and financial assistance - please check this link regularly, even after you have submitted an application, as new scholarships may become available to you.

International Scholarships

Information on scholarships for international students, is available at www.qub.ac.uk/Study/international-students/international-scholarships.

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How to Apply

Apply using our online Queen's Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Apply now

Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study.
Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions.

Download a prospectus