Executive MBA

Programme structure

On our Executive MBA, you will study eight required modules, three elective modules plus one international elective module of your choice and have the option to undertake either a strategic consulting project or dissertation, as well as having the opportunity to attend networking and careers events. 

Required modules

Your Executive MBA will feature eight required modules, designed to expand your knowledge in the core aspects of management and leadership.

Your first two modules, Organisational Behaviour and Strategic Advantage, will build the foundations of your knowledge. You'll begin by looking at the organisation, its place in society, and the people in it. You’ll then take a broad view by examining the firm and how it is embedded in both its social and competitive environment.

Next you’ll cover the core activities that make up the key functions of an organisation: Operations Management, Corporate Reporting and Decision Making, Financial Management and Marketing. This stage will provide you with an in-depth understanding of these functions from both a theoretical and practical point of view.

Your final two required modules, Leadership and Innovation and Strategic Entrepreneurship, will arm you with the knowledge, skills and confidence required to lead change effectively within an organisation.

We’ve also integrated social and environmental sustainability across all the required modules, allowing you to address this complex, multidimensional subject from different angles depending on the discipline in which it is contextualised.

Elective modules

You will choose four elective modules from a wide choice to customise your MBA and achieve your aims. The elective modules may be offered at the University of Warwick campus, at WBS London or overseas in a non-UK location. To support you in gaining international experience, one of your four elective modules will be a required overseas module.

Consultancy project and dissertation

You will have the choice to undertake either a strategic consulting project or traditional dissertation.

The strategic consulting project focuses on practice and is based in an employment setting while the Dissertation is more academic with a focus on theory, but is still highly relevant in the world of business.

Specialisms

Alongside the MBA’s core backbone of building all-round business acumen, you can choose to specialise your MBA within entrepreneurship, strategic leadership, or healthcare by selecting certain electives and basing your dissertation within your chosen area. 

Organisational Behaviour

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Strategic Advantage

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Operations Management

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Corporate Reporting and Decision Making

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Financial Management

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Marketing

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Leadership

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Innovation and Strategic Entrepreneurship

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Entrepreneurship

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Digital

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Finance and Accounting

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Global Business

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Sustainability

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Management & Leadership

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Healthcare

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Marketing

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Strategy

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Operations

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HRM & Corporate Responsibility

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Alongside the MBA’s core backbone of building all-round business acumen, you can choose to specialise your MBA within entrepreneurship, strategic leadership or healthcare by selecting certain electives and basing your dissertation within your chosen area. 

You will initially study your eight required modules, which are then followed by elective modules, two of which will be in your chosen specialism (three for the Healthcare specialism). You will also undertake your dissertation in your chosen specialist area, supervised by an appropriate member of faculty. 

On completion, you will gain a letter of acknowledgement from the Dean of Warwick Business School to confirm your success in your chosen specialism. 

Strategic Leadership Specialism 

This specialism will enable you to step into strategic management and organisational leadership positions. You will develop your own leadership style to manage people and organisations and will be able to implement business strategies to lead organisations through technological and market changes. 

By choosing the Strategic Leadership Specialism you will: 

  • Master your leadership capabilities and understand the field of leadership, the concept of strategic advantage and how both are essential for an organisation to be successful 

  • Explore the characteristics of the implementation process, its opportunities and the difficulties that arise from putting strategic objectives into practice 

  • Draw on philosophical writings and strands of psychology to obtain insights into individual motives, choices and actions in order to make wiser choices of judgement. 

Choose a minimum of two modules from: 

  • Strategy & Practice (WL)
  • Leadership & the Art of Judgement (WL)
  • Strategic Leadership Development (L)
  • Digital Transformation (L)

Entrepreneurship Specialism

This specialism will enable you to make calculated decisions between seizing opportunities and managing risk. Whether you want to set up your own business or develop your entrepreneurial mindset within a large corporate or an owner managed business, we will equip you with the innovative skills to find creative solutions to day-to-day problems. 

By choosing the Entrepreneurship Specialism you will: 

  • Develop your entrepreneurial mindset, attitude and skills to enable creative problem-solving in business 

  • Understand the main conceptual frameworks that have shaped research and practice on innovation and creativity 

  • Review the financial, control and investment opportunities faced by rapidly growing companies in entrepreneurial settings. 

Complete both of the following modules: 

  • Entrepreneurial Finance (SF and W)
  • Entrepreneurship & New Venture Creation (WL)

If you choose to take the Entrepreneurship specialism as part of your MBA, the dissertation will give you the opportunity to dive deeply into a new business idea, tackle an existing issue or use the opportunity to help launch your own venture.

Healthcare Specialism

This specialism will appeal to both clinical and healthcare management professionals across the healthcare sector, who are looking to develop both their general leadership capabilities, and their sector-specific understanding. 

Whether you’re a clinician on the frontline under increasing pressure to deliver effective results for patients, or a manager required to deliver efficient services under tight budgetary pressures, the modules can give you the skills and confidence you need to take on a healthcare leadership role. 

By choosing the Healthcare Specialism you will: 

  • Deepen your knowledge of theories around health systems and apply critical thinking to strategic issues related to health organisations 

  • Build your leadership capabilities within the healthcare industry to implement change management initiatives 

  • Broaden your understanding of the growth in digital innovation in healthcare and consider key factors impacting on digital healthcare solutions. 

Complete all three of the following modules: 

  • Digital Innovation in the Healthcare Industry (W)
  • Improving Health Systems* (L)
  • Strategic Leadership for the Healthcare Industry (L)

The modules listed in this section for each specialism are elective modules that are part of specialism requirements. 

Key
L - delivered at WBS London
SF - delivered in San Francisco, California, USA
W - delivered at Warwick campus
WL - delivered at both Warwick and WBS London

Please note that these modules are illustrative and subject to change.
*new title subject to approval

You will have the choice to undertake either a strategic consulting project or traditional dissertation.

The strategic consulting project focuses on practice and is based in an employment setting. You will work as part of a group on the project with 10% of your assessment being based on group work and 90% based on an individual consulting report. This is your opportunity to consolidate everything you have learnt and apply it to a real business. Academically, it tests your ability to apply your learning to real management issues. Professionally, it may well open the door to your next career move.

If you choose to undertake the dissertation option, although more academic with a focus on theory, it is still highly relevant in the world of business. It will demonstrate that you can assimilate your learning, take multiple perspectives on a business issue and explore your subject thoroughly.

Previous participants have explored:

  • Driving improved operational performance in a high growth dynamic and high-tech environment for Williams Advanced Engineering
  • Business strategies for digital solutions for GE Healthcare
  • The future of mobility: What it means to be customer focused in sub-Saharan Africa for Ford Motor company
  • The future role of own brand products for the Co-op.

How we teach

Required modules are taught in four-day blocks Wednesday to Saturday, at our University of Warwick campus, giving you the chance to escape the pressures of your job and truly immerse yourself in the modules.

Around four weeks before each module, learning materials are provided via our bespoke online learning environment, my.wbs. Typically, each module will consist of approximately 30 hours preparation and pre-reading, 27 hours of academic delivery and 40 hours writing the assignment(s). Your learning will be assessed through a variety of methods including individual written assignments, case study analysis, group work presentations and reports. 

On campus learning - On campus you will participate in lectures, work as part of a syndicate group, and prepare group assignments. You’ll have the chance to carry on the conversations outside of the classroom as you socialise with your fellow MBA students, and feel a real sense of camaraderie through your shared experience. After teaching has finished, you will have four weeks to complete an individual assignment. 

Online learning - Through my.wbs you will be able to access excellent interactive resources, online study materials and e-books, full-text articles from a wide range of business and management journals and the excellent University of Warwick library including many databases, and over 30,000 full-text electronic journals. If you choose any online electives, you will use our virtual classroom, wbsLive for lectures with Q&As, tutor-led seminars, or focused revision sessions. Sessions are recorded and available to view later. 

Creativity - We take a creative approach to teaching, using film, drama, business simulation software and role-play on different modules during the course. This allows you to apply your learning to real life scenarios, try out new leadership techniques and generate creative responses to challenges. By building your leadership and management skills, you can increase your confidence and prepare for any scenario. 

Learning facilities  

At WBS we have a dedicated MBA study space which includes a lecture theatre, seminar rooms, individual and group work areas as well as a lounge with refreshment facilities.  

Spread over five floors, the Library houses 1.2 million printed volumes and 13 kilometres of archives. Every year they add around 1.1 km of stock. Over 30,000 electronic journals are currently received and more than 56,000 electronic books. The Library houses various workspaces enabling group and private study. 

Where modules have a core text book, you will have access to it online via your VitalSource digital bookshelf, providing you with immediate access.

Whilst studying for your MBA, we make it easy for you to network with other students through our bespoke online learning environment, my.wbs.