Master of Business Administration MBA

On this MBA course you will explore issues that have significant impact within commercial organisations. Your learning will be centred around the key skills, processes and practices of organisational business management, and you will learn through working with others, building on personal experiences, and comparing and contrasting those with others on the course. Together we will propose solutions to real business problems, discussing and critically appraising them with the support of tutors and fellow learners.

Through the MBA you will:

• Develop sound understanding of the skills necessary to undertake a management role in any organisation
• Build the skills of leadership in order to operate effectively and competently in an international context
• Benefit from a supportive platform for critical reflection
• Gain experience in applying academic theories to your real work situations
• Receive excellent personal and academic support
• Have opportunities to gain professional experience

Our course brings together academic theory and research, to support your personal and professional development. This will enable you to share knowledge, relate relevant research, and learn through practical application. It has also been designed to reflect the aspirations in the development of responsible and ethical managers.

Industry engagement is embedded in your learning through:

• Guest lectures and practitioner-led sessions
• Industry-informed case studies and applied assignments
• Aligning your final capstone project with relevant industry contexts
• Professional networking and industry exposure opportunities

MBA with Professional Experience 

Students on the MBA with Professional Experience are expected to engage in experiential activity lasting the equivalent of an academic year. There are currently 2 options available:

Work placement

By undertaking a work placement you will be able to practically apply skills and knowledge developed in the taught modules. We will offer guidance and support and make recommendations with many of our partner organisations.

Enterprise Academy (London only)

The Enterprise Academy uses the university’s expertise to help the development of entrepreneurial skills and knowledge. The objective of this project is to develop a new commercial opportunity.

Discover our Enterprise Academy

How you will study

If you choose to study full time, the course will take 1 year to complete, or 2 years if you choose a year in industry. You will study:

• 4 compulsory modules
• A Capstone Project or Business Consultancy Project (for the Professional Experience route)

You can find out which modules are available in each term in the Course Specifications.

If you choose to study with Professional Experience, the course will take 2 years to complete. If you choose to study part time, the course will take 2 years to complete and the modules will be split across both years.

Modules

Teaching and learning

All modules are delivered through a range of teaching, learning and assessment strategies including:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Workshops
• Global café style learning activities

Each module has a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) where you and other postgraduate students will be encouraged to participate in online debate and collaborative approaches to learning.

Many of our students on this course come to us having been out of formal education for some time, and there is plenty of support with study skills, academic analysis and writing.

The teaching draws on both our research and professional experience. This means your learning is informed by the most current thinking in the subject area. You can find out more about our research and backgrounds by visiting our staff pages.

Assessment

A range of assessment tools are used including:

• Presentations
• Critical essays
• Portfolios
• Reflective journals
• Case study work

Each module tutor will provide opportunities for formative assessment feedback to inform your work prior to submission. Advice will be provided in relation to development, further areas for research, and guidance on how to enhance your subject knowledge.

Qualifications

If your degree is in an unrelated subject, but you can provide evidence of relevant professional experience, your application may still be considered.

International students

If you are an international student you will need to show that your qualifications match our entry requirements.

Information about international qualifications and entry requirements can be found on our International pages.

If English is not your first language you will need to show that you have English Language competence at IELTS level 6.0 (with no skill below 5.5) or equivalent.

International entry requirements

Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL)

If you do not have traditional qualifications, you might be able to provide evidence of professional experience in the subject as an alternative way to meet the entry requirements. This is called Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). Appropriate references and records of employment would need to be presented to support your case for admission. 

Terms and conditions

Our terms and conditions, policies and procedures contain important information about studying at York St John University. You can read them on our Admissions page.

UK

The tuition fee for this postgraduate course in the 2026 - 2027 academic year is:

• £11,000 for 1 year of full time study
• £12,700 for the 2 year course with a placement year

These costs apply to all UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students.

Postgraduate loans are available to help you pay for your master’s course. Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.

Funding opportunities

International

The tuition fee for this postgraduate course in the 2026 - 2027 academic year is:

• £12,000 for 1 year of full time study
• £15,600 for the 2 year course with a placement year

These costs apply to all students living outside the UK.

Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a student visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages.

Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.

International Fees and Funding

Tuition fees

Alumni Scholarships

If you are alumni of York St John University we have scholarships available to help you continue your studies.

Scholarships for alumni

Additional costs and financial support

Course-related costs

While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include purchasing personal equipment and stationery, books and optional field trips.

Accommodation and living costs

View our accommodation pages for detailed information on accommodation and living costs.

London

You will need to consider the cost of accommodation in London. There are many student accommodation options throughout the city. More guidance on finding accommodation in London is available on our dedicated Study in London page.

Where could a Master of Business Administration take you?

This is a highly sought after degree by many of the business world's most notable organisations. In fact, for many companies, it is a requirement if you wish to be employed in a senior managerial or leadership position. You will have an advantage in becoming:

• Business consultant
• CEO
• Director of Higher Education
• Entrepreneur

By studying this course, you will be enabled to improve your ability to work in diverse groups and teams and enhance your project management and decision-making capabilities, which is crucial when leading in business.

The course could also lead you to undertake further Postgraduate study through an MPhil or PhD.

Alumni stories

Visit our YSJ Snapshots blog to see what our past students from across the University have done with their York St John degrees.

Stand out from the crowd with postgraduate study

Far fewer people have postgraduate degrees than undergraduate qualifications. This gives you something extra to set yourself apart in a competitive graduate job market.

Our careers service, Future You, provides support tailored to your ambitions. Through this service you can access:

• Employer events
• LinkedIn, CV and cover letter sessions
• Workshops on application writing and interview skills
• Work experience and volunteering opportunities
• Personalised career advice

This support does not end when you graduate. You can access our expert career advice for the rest of your life. We will help you gain the experience and confidence you need to succeed.