Teaching starts 27 January 2025

Apply by 9 December 2024 to begin your studies in January.

Apply now

Join our online MBA Global and change the way the world does business.

Explore forward-thinking and disruptive approaches to business alongside your international peers.

We’re the only ancient UK university that offers an online MBA Global.

Take advantage of all the flexible benefits of online study, and join a diverse cohort of students of different cultures, ages, and levels of experience from around the world.

Mirroring the vibrant atmosphere found in leading global organisations, this MBA Global supports you in developing your skills in:

  • leadership
  • innovation
  • change management
  • strategy development
  • marketing
  • business research, and
  • accounting and finance.

Learn with us anywhere, no student visa required, on this programme that fits around full-time work.

You’ll earn a respected MBA Global degree from the EQUIS accredited University of Aberdeen Business School.

Choose the University of Aberdeen for your online MBA Global

We’re EQUIS accredited

Join a Business School that’s EFMD EQUIS accredited, placing it among a select group of globally recognised institutions.

Over 525 years of excellence

You’ll graduate from the fifth-oldest university in the English-speaking world, founded in 1495.

Fits around full-time work

This degree fits around full-time work, with flexible hours and 24/7 study access.

Outstanding student feedback

We’re ranked 1st in Scotland for student positivity for both Business Studies and Management Studies in the National Student Survey 2024.

What you’ll study

You can choose to study for a:

  • Masters (180 credits)
  • exit early with a Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
  • exit early with a Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits), or
  • start with one of the short courses that make up this degree (15 credits).

You can build your way to a qualification one short course at a time.

How you’ll study

Online learning

This distance-learning MBA Global is delivered flexibly, 100% online.

You can learn with us anywhere, with no need for a study visa, and manage your study hours to suit you.

Your teaching

Teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It holds all the materials, tools and support you’ll need in your studies. Take a look around MyAberdeen.

You can access your learning materials on computer, smartphone and laptop, 24 hours a day. You’ll find a range of resources at your fingertips, including:

  • videos
  • live online webinars
  • reading materials
  • discussion boards with colleagues and tutors
  • the online resources of our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library.

Live online webinars

You’ll have eight live online webinars in each course that’s part of the MBA Global.

In these live sessions you’ll have direct interaction with tutors, giving you a more personal online learning experience. The webinars are central to your learning, and your participation in them counts towards your final grades.

Ahead of webinars, you may be asked to study some online materials, post questions to your tutor online, undertake multiple-choice quizzes or other tasks. You may also be asked to work in small groups to prepare for some of the live sessions.

Your tutors

You’ll learn from experienced academics and researchers from the University of Aberdeen’s Business School.

Assessments

All your assessments for this degree will be delivered and completed online.

Live online webinars

Each 15-credit course in this degree features eight online webinars. Webinars are live and scheduled to last for around one hour.

Webinar times will be organised flexibly at the start of each course. Your course coordinator will consider everyone’s circumstances and time zones before setting up webinar times.

Study hours for online courses

To study part-time, we recommend you take a maximum of 30 credits per term. Students typically take one or two 15-credit short courses per term.

15 credits

  • Around 150 hours of study and assessment time to complete.
  • You’ll study 10 – 15 hours per week per term.

30 credits

  • Around 300 hours of study and assessment time to complete.
  • You’ll study 15 – 20 hours per week per term, plus more at assessment times.

This is an indicative guide to the time required for a typical student at this level to achieve the learning outcomes. This includes time for independent study, as well as teaching and assessments.

You can largely set your own study hours each week to cover the materials. MyAberdeen is available 24/7, so you can log in and study when it suits you.

Activities at fixed times

You’ll have live online webinars at fixed times, plus assessments with deadlines. But otherwise, you can access and work through your courses at your convenience.

When you study with us, you can expect a first-class support structure so that you’re never alone in your studies.

But learning online does mean you have to motivate yourself and manage your own time.

Your most important commitment will be time – the time to work through, reflect on and understand your teaching materials.

Before you start a course that involves a high degree of independent study, we recommend looking at the time you will be able to devote to your studies each week:

  • Be realistic
  • Create a weekly schedule as a guide

If you have any questions about studying online, get in touch with our friendly team. We’re here to help.

Our first-class support structure will ensure that you aren’t alone in your studies. You’ll have contact with your coordinator via email, MyAberdeen and Microsoft Teams. You can use social media and discussion boards to chat with your fellow students too.

We provide a wide range of services to support you in your studies and beyond:

Wherever you are in the world, you’ll feel part of our very special Aberdeen learning community.

We’re a member of the Access scheme run by the Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL).

Access study spaces, books and journals in your area

The SCONUL Access scheme allows you, as a University of Aberdeen student, to access books and resources at university libraries across the UK and Ireland, or visit them for a quiet place to study.

You’ll be able to use study spaces, books and journals at over 150 university libraries which belong to the scheme.

Find out about the SCONUL Access scheme for libraries.

Your support team

Our friendly team are here to answer any queries you have before, during and after your studies.

John Storm

John Storm

John is the degree coordinator. He’ll be on hand to answer any questions about degree content before you start and to help you throughout your studies.

Cherie Connon

Cherie is part of the School’s postgraduate teaching support team. She’ll be there throughout your studies to answer your non-academic queries.

Get in touch

The online education team is here to answer any questions you have right now about this qualification, or about studying online.

Ask us a question

Where this will take you

Your MBA Global qualification

You’ll graduate with a respected MBA Global from the University of Aberdeen.

Your MBA Global qualification will not mention online or distance learning.

Your qualification will be recognised by industry and educational institutions around the world, opening up international opportunities.

Careers

MBA Global graduates are in high demand worldwide.

Our MBA Global programme specifically prepares you for business administration in multinational business environments.

Recent graduates from our online MBA Global have gone on to work in senior leadership roles in organisations including:

  • Accenture
  • Bank of Scotland
  • Centrica
  • KPMG
  • Shell, and
  • Standard Chartered Bank.

Lifelong career support

Our career support doesn’t stop when you graduate.

You have access to our free careers service while you study, and beyond.

  • 1:1 appointments
  • CV checks
  • Interview prep
  • Job opportunities

Fees and funding

The fee quoted above is based on you starting your studies with us in the 2024/25 academic year.

We have confirmed that our fees will rise by 5% for the 2025/26 academic year. Our indicative cost includes a 5% fee rise each year.

Pay as you go

This is a pay-as-you-go degree.

You do not have to pay the full tuition fee upfront.

You can spread the cost and pay as you go, term by term.

How it works

  • You decide how many credits to study for each term.
  • At the start of term, you pay only for the credits you’re taking that term.
  • This gives you control over your costs and workload for each term of your degree.

Your personalised cost breakdown

Use the degree scheduler to plan your studies and see your cost breakdown, term by term.

Learning resources

Access to all the books and resources you need are included in your tuition fee. They’ll be made available to you online and you do not have to buy your own copies.

Printing

You may wish to set aside a small budget for printing, depending on how you like to work.

There are several ways you may be able to get help funding your studies:

Find out more about funding options.

Student card

All our students are entitled to a University of Aberdeen student card. This gives you access to a range of student discounts around the city and online.

20% Alumni discount

You’re entitled to 20% off our postgraduate taught degrees and short courses if you have a degree from the University of Aberdeen. View Alumni discount details.

How discounts work

Discounts are applied during your application process. You can only use one discount per application.

Benefits of learning online with the University of Aberdeen

Earn as you learn

We fit around full-time work, so you can earn qualifications while you keep earning a salary.

You’re in expert hands

We’ve been delivering online and distance learning for decades.

20% alumni discount

University of Aberdeen alumni receive 20% off fees for this online degree.

Entry requirements

Online MBA Global

Our online MBA Global is open to applicants from any discipline.

You do not need to have a degree in business or management to apply.

To apply for this MBA Global, you’ll need:

  • a UK second-class (2:2) honours degree or equivalent, and
  • a minimum of two years’ post-degree professional experience.

We value professional experience, and you can also apply if you have alternative qualifications and extensive work experience. In this case, please enclose a complete CV and detailed work references.

Short course route to online MBA Global

If you do not meet these entry requirements, or are not ready to commit to a full MBA Global, you may be able to use our online short courses as a route into this degree.

Find out about the short course route to entry

Entry requirements

We welcome students from all over the world.

See the minimum entry requirements above. If you do not have qualifications from the UK, check equivalent qualifications from your country.

Visa requirements

You do not need a student visa to study online with us.

English language requirements

Teaching is delivered in English.

If English is not your first language, use our English requirements checklist to see if you need to provide evidence of your English language skills when you apply.

English language tests and scores

If you do need to provide English language test scores, these are the tests and minimum scores we accept.

These are our Postgraduate Higher requirements.

IELTS Academic, IELTS UKVI Academic, and IELTS Online (not IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training)

  • 6.5 overall
  • 5.5 for listening and speaking
  • 6.0 for reading and writing

TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition

  • 90 overall
  • 17 for listening
  • 21 for reading
  • 20 for speaking
  • 21 for writing
  • TOEFL DI code is 0818

Cambridge English: B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency

  • 176 overall
  • 162 for listening and speaking
  • 169 for reading and writing

LanguageCert Academic/LanguageCert Academic SELT

  • 70 overall
  • 60 for listening and speaking
  • 65 for reading and writing

LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator (Written and Spoken) – Online / In-centre

  • Overall High Pass
  • 33 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 38 for writing

Oxford ELLT Digital – English Language Level Test Online

  • 7.0 overall
  • 5.0 for listening and speaking
  • 6.0 for reading and writing

PTE Academic (online test not accepted)

  • 62 overall
  • 59 for listening, reading, speaking and writing

Duolingo tests taken from 1 July 2024 onward

  • 120 overall
  • 95 for listening and speaking
  • 105 for reading and writing

University of Aberdeen English Pre-sessional Programme (PSE)

  • Pass
  • Valid for one year. Refresher can be offered if out of date

Pre-sessional academic English preparation programmes undertaken at other UK universities

  • Pass at an equivalent of 6.5 (C1)
  • B2 in all four skills
  • Certification must be within one year prior to the start of your course

For more information about language qualifications see our English Language Requirements page.

You apply through our online Applicant Portal. It allows you to upload relevant qualifications and documents.

There is no application fee for our online degrees.

What you need to apply for this degree

  • Degree transcript
  • Personal statement
  • Degree certificate
  • CV / Resume
  • Reference

Reference

You will need a reference letter from your university discussing your academic ability. If you have been out of education for a long time, you can use your current or most recent employer or another professional person.

Apply now

Start with our step-by-step guide. It explains degree transcripts, what to write in your personal statement and how to use our Applicant Portal.

You can apply to start in either September or January.

Apply as early as you can. This is so we have time to review your application and get a decision to you. We also want to ensure you have time to enrol before teaching starts.

January 2025 intake

For our January 2025 intake, the application deadline is 9 December 2024.

You will need to accept your offer and provide any outstanding documents to meet the conditions of your offer by 18 December 2024.

Teaching starts on 27 January 2025.

September 2025 intake

Teaching starts on 22 September 2025.

Application deadlines will be announced in due course.

You will need access to:

A computer (PC, laptop or Mac) operating on either:

  • Windows 10 or later
  • macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later.

Most teaching materials are smartphone- and tablet-friendly. But we recommend a proper laptop or desktop for completing assignments comfortably.

Reliable internet access

We recommend:

  • a wired connection
  • a minimum download speed of 2 Mbps so you can take part fully in live sessions.

Speakers or headphones

  • We recommend a headset with built-in microphone and earphones if you’re likely to study in an environment with background noise.
  • A webcam is optional, but you may like to use one for some interactive sessions.

Software

We’ll give you access to Office365 applications. This means you can use online versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and install these programs on up to five personal devices.

If your course requires specialist software, we’ll provide you with access to this and a licence that lasts throughout your studies.

See our detailed IT requirements for more information.

Try our degree scheduler

Choose your courses

Choose your courses

See all the courses that are part of this degree and choose what you want to study.

Manage your study schedule

Manage your study schedule

Control the pace and cost of your degree. Decide how much you want to study each term.

Save to your wishlist

Save to your wishlist

Save your schedule to your wishlist so you can view and edit anytime.

Customise your degree

Master of Business Administration

180 credits

£22,780

This indicative cost is based on 180 credits of study over two years, starting in January 2025.

Apply for this programme

Start month
January or September
INDICATIVE COST
£22,780

This indicative cost is based on 180 credits of study over two years, starting in January 2025.

Apply via our Applicant Portal
Added to your wishlist