Hull Executive MBA (EMBA) course

Qualification	Part time
EMBA	2 years

About the course

Our vision is to shape, inspire and equip the new generation of socially-responsible leaders to manage ever more complex challenges in a Net Zero and digitally-transformed world.

Recent world events demand a seismic change in the way we live and do business.

There is an urgent need for inspiring, informed leaders to future proof their organisations and ensure a successful, just and sustainable world.

From the COVID-19 pandemic to Industry 4.0, successful organisations across the world have recognised the need to become ever more innovative, creative and resilient. They embrace disruption and complexity. They are agile, inspiring and socially responsible role models.

With these tough but necessary challenges comes an intensified demand for proficient and socially responsible business leaders, who can shape a fairer, brighter, sustainable future. Professionals who, of course, fully understand the essential business functions of strategy, marketing, supply chain management, financial decision making and other operational competencies but, also, the awareness and responsible behaviours needed to support employees and shareholders while accelerating company growth and prosperity.

Whether you are leading complex change to address the challenges of disruption, or an entrepreneurial business owner wanting to drive creativity and innovation, choose the University of Hull - experts in sustainability and social justice - to study for an world-class Executive MBA (EMBA) and be part of a powerful, diverse network of socially responsible leaders driving change across the world.

Driven by our vision, the Hull Executive MBA focuses on three core themes:

1. Leading Responsibly
Leaders must adapt their behaviours, recognise the responsibility they hold, and discharge it skilfully, sustainably, ethically, and responsively.

2. Embracing Disruption and Complexity
With the rapid pace of change and disruption, future-focused leaders need to embrace change and be equipped to handle tomorrow’s complex challenges.

3. The Power of the Network
Leaders will be part of a powerful diverse and inclusive global MBA network, helping to unleash their talent and maximise leadership potential and performance.

Our Executive MBA is fully accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), a leading professional body for managers and leaders. This means that on successful completion and graduation, all our EMBA students will automatically gain an additional qualification alongside their degree – the CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice – as well as being eligible for the CMI Fast Track route to becoming a Chartered Manager.

What you'll study

The Hull Executive MBA has been co-designed and crafted with our valued industry partners to blend cutting-edge thinking with industry best practice. It will equip modern leaders with the knowledge, tools and behaviours to handle tomorrow’s challenges, embracing disruption and displaying strength and resilience.

Major topics, which will be delivered by internationally recognised speakers and academics across the EMBA programme include:

Ethics, Sustainability and the Environment: driving towards achievement of Net Zero
Industry 4.0, Complexity and Digital Disruption: future-proofing through digitisation
Internationalisation: developing global mindsets
Diversity and Inclusion: ensuring accessibility for all
Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Creativity and Systems Thinking: new ways for new world challenges

How you’ll study

The course has been designed to enable you to study flexibly and fit around work and other commitments. It is studied part-time over two years on campus at Hull, with each module taught over four days. You also get the added benefit of a range of complementary online resources and support to enhance your learning experience.

We also offer an online Global MBA for individuals who would prefer to learn off-campus

Compulsory modules

All modules are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.

MBA Orientation & Leadership Catalyst

No matter who you are or where you’re from – we know you’ve got the potential to be a brilliant leader.  

We’ll start with an overview of the programme, but after that, it’s all about you – your experience, your skills, knowledge, behaviours, and your aims. 

You’ll reflect on and analyse your journey so far, using academic literature, inspiring case studies, and personal research to pinpoint areas to develop, skills to hone, and measure your growth throughout the course and beyond. This new level of self-awareness will provide a solid footing as you discover your own leadership style and unique place in the business world. 

Right from the get-go, you’ll be developing vital study skills and training in essential systems. As well as a strong academic and theoretical approach, you’ll explore fundamental principles of leadership, including growth mindsets, decision-making, and persuasion.

This module won’t just help you get the most out of your course; it will prepare you for your own transformative leadership journey. 
The Global Economic Environment

The world has been turned on its head and organisations have been forced to rapidly adapt to survive. Take a look at the wider global economic environment and its impact on business performance.  

Equipped with a knowledge of the concepts, tools, and approaches needed to view business through a critical economic lens (micro and macro), explore how global events and trends including AI development, cryptocurrency, the pandemic, and climate change affect decision-making and the way businesses and ventures function.  

You’ll develop a global mindset, learn how the market works, and the power individuals and communities have to influence the global economy.  
Strategy Making in a Complex World

We might not always be able to predict the future, but we can prepare for it.  

Every successful business has a clear strategy. It sets out their vision, their mission, and their direction, ensuring each moving part of the business works towards the common goal.  

But what happens when things go wrong? By understanding that organisations function within a far larger context – one where ecological, economic, and social systems interconnect; where disruption and challenges are often out of our immediate control – we can begin to develop a holistic understanding of complex systems to create more informed and effective strategies.

Strategy is only relevant in context, and you’ll be encouraged to relate your studies to your own organisational context throughout.

Not only will you gain a sound theoretical understanding of complexity, and how a systems thinking approach improves planning and decision making, but you’ll pick up the tools and practical techniques to form your own strategies in the real world. And with responsible leadership at our core, you’ll be assessing risk and strategic decision making for ethical and social value each step of the way. 
Marketing in a Disruptive Digital Era

In this volatile business landscape, disruption is the norm. Organisations have to be ready and willing to break the status quo. This could mean shaking up their entire business model or revamping their service or product, and it will almost always involve adapting how they reach their customers.

In this highly interactive module, you’ll gain real, hands-on experience. You’ll get to grips with the marketing platforms and analytic tools to understand how organisations use the very latest data and harness the most disruptive digital trends to build sustainable growth for stakeholders.

You’ll learn how to critically evaluate an increasingly competitive, online, and distraction-filled marketplace and identify key trends. You’ll understand the importance of reaching customers with the right product at the right price, at the right time, and through the right channels. By combining insight into the complete brand planning process with the University’s vision for a ‘fairer, brighter, carbon neutral future’, this module will inspire sustainable marketing plans that meet the needs of the organisation, the customers, and the environment – we call this Total Marketing.
Accounting, Finance & Corporate Social Responsibility

Accounting impacts every single aspect of a business.  

In this module, you will learn to understand, interpret, and communicate in the language of numbers. Get to grips with the fundamentals of accounting and finance, and learn how to apply these principles ethically. You will explore the pivotal role they play in planning and commercial decision making, culminating in the ultimate success of an organisation or venture.  

You’ll pick up the practical skills needed to work as an effective manager. Learn to think critically and make complex data-driven decisions, including understanding and analysing financial statements and business cases, appraising investment opportunities, and benchmarking, to inform your future leadership and strategic decisions.
Leadership Behaviours and Psychology

Take a step back and learn how to be a reflective and transformational leader capable of leading your organisation through unprecedented change.To succeed and prosper in today’s business world, organisations themselves need to continually embrace change in order to: deal with new technologies; respond to shifting customer demands; identify new innovation opportunities; respond appropriately to other business critical issues; shape internal cultures; operate complex networks.

Leadership and Business Psychology enables you to reflect on your leadership behaviours and style, examining new ways of working in volatile, uncertain, chaotic and ambiguous environments. We also examine how the environment around us influence the decisions we make (as leaders) and tasks we focus on. Also you will understand what it takes to be an ethical and socially responsible role model with a reputation for sustainable development in a global supply chain community. Acting with integrity and promoting an ethics, inclusivity and cultural diversity.
Global Talent Management and Human Resource Management

People: your business’s most valuable resource.  

In this module you’ll gain a profound understanding of people management within a complex, shifting, and increasingly globalised context.  

Split into three main parts, it covers the principles of human resources management, global talent management, and organisational culture. From this, you’ll develop helpful people management strategies to apply to your own real-life experiences – giving you the tools to become a responsible and ethical leader.  

From recruiting and managing talent in a global market, to committing to corporate social responsibility; from creating diverse and supportive cultures, to the implications of the psychological contract; and from workforce health and wellbeing to the global paradox; this module covers the full breadth of theories and practices relating to talent and human resource management.  
Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Never before has responsible and ethical supply chain leadership been so important to organisations and the world economy. Recent events such as the global pandemic, modern day slavery, the energy crisis and climate change have really ‘shone a spotlight’ on the importance and impact of supply chains in making a difference.

You will learn from academics and high global profile speakers, gain an in-depth understanding of: supply chain strategy and design, sustainability; how to analyse and design effective supply chain operations; how to use data models and simulation games to solve problems and inform decisions/scenarios; exploring the role of warehousing and transport in modern supply chains; procurement; operations management; risk, resilience and project management.

You will become an ethical role model with a reputation for sustainable development in a global supply chain community. Acting with integrity and promoting an ethical, inclusive and supportive culture.
Digital Transformation and Information Security

The emergence of Industry 4.0 has meant businesses need to rely on technology now more than ever.  

Explore themes in pioneering technologies and learn to think critically about how technology can be used – and abused – in an organisation or project. 

No previous technical experience is required as you’ll be introduced to cybersecurity from a management perspective, discovering the methodologies used to protect businesses from insider and outsider information security threats.  
Developing an Entrepreneurial Organisation

How do you build an entrepreneurial business? 

Learn from leading innovators themselves to discover the importance of entrepreneurship and adaptability in a rapidly changing, technology-driven environment.  

You’ll gain the knowledge and framework to create solid entrepreneurial strategies to help businesses thrive in the real world. You’ll develop the confidence to lead by example, encouraging a company-wide entrepreneurial mindset and culture of creativity and innovation.  

You will be able to identify opportunities for growth and change, how to adapt and build a more dynamic business, and how to evaluate risk and measure entrepreneurial success.  
MBA Project and Consultancy

Put everything you’ve learnt to the test.  

This is an exciting opportunity to apply your learnings to a true-to-life consultancy project for an existing client in a supportive, low-stakes setting or lead a project within your own organisation. 

Now fully equipped with the advanced tools and knowledge, you’ll carry out high impact, relevant practitioner-based research and use your findings to generate solutions.

Harness your ability as a manager and develop valuable consultancy skills as you design, deliver and manage each aspect of your project; from research, analysis and diagnosis, to presenting your proposals and reporting. 

Aiming to be as realistic as possible, this project will prepare you for the real-life challenges you’ll face as a professional and will help deliver return on investment back to your organisation or client. 
Leadership Springboard

This module represents the final touch point for you on your leadership journey and before you officially become an exclusive member of our lifelong MBA alumni and community. Crucially this module comes last in the programme, after submitting your Major project & Consultancy, but before graduation, to prepare you for your onward journey and to reflect on what you have achieved on the MBA programme. For instance, Where am I as I exit the programme? Did I achieve my plan? How have I developed?

Leadership Springboard will actively engage and challenge you to reflect deeply on your own personal leadership journey on the MBA programme and your career plan moving forward. This module is a ‘springboard’ to prepare you for future employment and career opportunities.

Assessment

Most modules are assessed by individual assignments, such as essays and work based reports. Some modules will be assessed by examination, and some may require group project work and the delivery of a presentation.

Course assessments are categorised into two types – formative and summative.

Formative assessments refer to the peer and tutor feedback you’ll receive. It may be delivered formally or informally, and is used in a developmental way to assist your learning - but it does not contribute towards the final mark of the module.

Summative assessments are used to formally measure your capabilities against the learning outcomes of each module. Summative assessments may include the following: 

Writing on key topics such as COP26, Industry 4.0 and their impact on businesses  
Presenting business cases or strategic business proposals 
Coaching and mentoring focused assessments
Self-reflective writing and career plans for employability post MBA 
Presenting business cases or strategic business proposals

On successful completion of all modules, students will undertake an end-of-programme major project focusing on a business and management topic of their choice.

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Where you'll study

The location below may not be the exact location of all modules on your timetable. The buildings you'll be taught in can vary each year and depend on the modules you study.

Hull Campus

Click to view directions on Google Maps

Fees and funding

Home (part-time): £19,900 (total cost over 2 years). Financial assistance may be available in some circumstances.

A new system of postgraduate loans for Masters degrees in the UK are now available. They provide up to £10,609 for full-time and part-time taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas. For more information, visit our Postgraduate Loans page.

EU/International (part-time): £19,900 (total cost over 2 years)

International applicants may need to pay a tuition fee deposit before the start of the course. Visit our tuition fee deposit page for more information.

International Scholarships and Bursaries

For a list of all scholarships and bursaries for international students, please visit the International Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Scholarships and Bursaries

The University offers a range of scholarships to help you with your studies.

For more information, please visit the Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Entry requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants should normally possess

A minimum of 3 years appropriate and relevant post graduate work experience
An good undergraduate degree (normally 2:1 or above) awarded by a UK university or comparable overseas institution, or an equivalent professional qualification
Non-native English speakers must have a minimum of IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.0 in each skill)
As this is a part-time programme, the restrictions for those who come to study in the UK using a part-time visa are more restrictive than those studying on a full-time course. If you would like more information about these restrictions, please contact CAS@hull.ac.uk

Applicants without an undergraduate degree or equivalent professional qualification

Applicants who do not have a degree or equivalent professional qualification but meet the other eligibility criteria may submit a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate that they can benefit from, contribute to and succeed on the Executive MBA programme. The applicant should have completed approximately seven years of full-time appropriate work or professional experience.

A portfolio may include, for example, details of significant work projects carried out, information about strategic analyses undertaken (for example, budgets and strategic forecasts), company reports, or other contributions to policy formulation and implementation. The portfolio might also include information about other courses taken, and training and development programmes attended.

The aim is to demonstrate that the applicant’s business knowledge and experience are sufficient to allow them to fulfil the academic requirements of the Hull Executive MBA.

Eligible candidates must also submit

A University of Hull postgraduate application form, completed and signed
A current detailed CV
A 200-word personal statement indicating what you hope to gain from the Executive MBA and the contribution you would make to the programme
Two good certified work references
Proof of qualifications to date

Interview

As the final stage of the application process, applicants who have satisfied all other conditions will be interviewed by Business School staff, either by telephone or in person. The interview also provides an opportunity for the applicant to ask questions about particular aspects of the Executive MBA, and to receive further information about the programme of study.

In order to ensure our students have a rich learning and student experience, most of our programmes have a mix of domestic and international students. We reserve the right to close applications early to either group, if application volumes suggest that this blend cannot be achieved. In addition, existing undergraduate students at the University of Hull have a guaranteed ‘Fast Track’ route to any postgraduate programme, subject to meeting the entry criteria.

In order to ensure our students have a rich learning and student experience, most of our programmes have a mix of domestic and international students. We reserve the right to close applications early to either group, if application volumes suggest that this blend cannot be achieved. In addition, existing undergraduate students at the University of Hull have a guaranteed ‘Fast Track’ route to any postgraduate programme, subject to meeting the entry criteria (excluding Social Work).

International students

If you require a student visa to study or if your first language is not English you will be required to provide acceptable evidence of your English language proficiency level.

This course requires academic IELTS 6.5 overall, with 6.0 in each skill.

See other English language proficiency qualifications accepted by this University.

If your English currently does not reach the University's required standard for this programme, you may be interested in one of our English language courses

Visit your country page to find out more about entry requirements.

Future prospects

The Hull EMBA is much more than a qualification – it is your gateway to a world of opportunities.

The University careers team, together with our dedicated Student and Graduate Centre for Professional Success, will make sure you maximise your chances of success, helping you develop that all-important edge.

While studying for your Hull EMBA, you will be able to access a variety of resources which will provide you with opportunities to develop skills that are highly sought by today's employers and our AMBA accreditation, means you automatically have additional access to a wide range of member benefits – including events, career development advice and online resources – as well as to the wider expertise, insight and thought leadership of the worldwide MBA community

You will be encouraged to build valuable networks with an array of contacts – from business leaders to independent consultants and alumni.

Career development advice
At Hull University Business School we are committed to providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to improve your chances of success. The Student and Graduate Centre for Professional Success supports you throughout your time here and beyond.

Enhancing Professional networks
Not only will you enhance your networks via those you study alongside, you will also have opportunities to take advantage of professional networking events, and by becoming a student member of our global alumni community.

Our alumni community
Support does not end at graduation and our global community of more than 35,000 Hull university Business School alumni, which includes nearly 10,000 MBA graduates. Our graduates range from senior managers to chief executives, working in organisations such as Credit Suisse, General Electric, Hewlett Packard, HSBC, Rolls-Royce and Johnson and Johnson pharmaceuticals.

The Executive MBA
for the Future

About the course