Lead purposefully. Succeed responsibly. Be the leader you admire.
In a world demanding ethical leadership, global awareness and bold thinking, today’s leaders need more than technical expertise - they need perspective, purpose and the ability to navigate complexity.
The Kent MBA is built for professionals ready to take that next leap - not just in title, but also in mindset.
You’ll explore how leadership can be ambitious and responsible. How business decisions can deliver both profit and purpose. And how your own growth is inseparable from the impact you create.
This is not just about gaining tools - it’s about transforming how you think, lead and influence.
Through immersive projects, personal coaching and a truly global learning environment, you’ll build the confidence, skills and clarity to shape your next chapter - and make it count.
So, if who you become is as important to you as what you will learn, then our MBA programme is for you.
The following modules are what students will typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.
The MBA is designed to provide you with a transformative learning experience, so you can take the next step in your career and develop your entrepreneurial and leadership skills. The MBA is designed to be delivered in immersive block teaching, so you can more easily work alongside your studies. This also ensures the course is co-delivered with Full-Time and Part-Time students benefitting from studying together, creating wider networks.
The MBA Challenge module is unique to this course, giving you the opportunity to test your skills across a 'Personal challenge', an International challenge' and your choice of either a 'Consultancy', 'Business Start-Up' or 'TechGenius' challenge depending on your own talents, goals and ambitions.
Compulsory modules currently include the following
Leadership is crucial to organisational success and the form it takes and how it should be practiced is a provocative topic particularly in relation to grand challenges such as climate change, persistent inequality, and social exclusion. Today’s leaders must lead organisations in responsible and ethical ways that help to address these challenges while also continuing to provide competitive and sustainable products and services in a complex, dynamic and uncertain world. This module will advance understanding of the theories, perspectives, frameworks and debates about leadership, leaders and leading in contemporary organisations. Participants will develop understanding of how some leadership practices are more ethical, responsible, convincing, and evidenced than others. Through interactive lectures, class activities, exercises and case studies participants will gain practical insights into the form responsible and ethical leadership takes and acquire the skills of leading including creating a vision, inspiring followers, building trust, developing future leaders, and securing commitment. With this knowledge participants can build their understanding of what works and how they can develop their own leadership purpose which is ethically minded and focused on making a positive difference in today’s business world.
This module aims to deepen students understanding of operations management within both local and global business environments by exploring process analysis and design, capacity planning, inventory control and supply chain management. Students will undertake a critical examination of how operations management strategies intersect with broader organizational imperatives, such as fostering innovation, nurturing new ventures, and ensuring ethical and sustainable performance. Students will also engage with advanced principles and theories of project management, empowering them to skilfully navigate complex business landscapes with confidence and efficacy.
This module explores how strategic marketing supports all business operations to understand the needs of the consumer and the global markets the organisation is operating in. It equips students with the strategic insights and digital proficiency required to navigate the contemporary marketing landscape. Through a comprehensive exploration of market dynamics, consumer behaviour, and digital tools, students develop the acumen to formulate and execute effective marketing strategies that drive organisational growth and innovation. Students will explore the key topics of market analysis, brand management, marketing mix optimization, digital marketing strategies, and the ethical dimensions of marketing in a rapidly evolving digital era.
This module will explore the dynamic world of creating and sustaining business ventures in a global landscape and the importance of entrepreneurship for the vitality of a national economy. From ideation to execution, this module combines creativity and strategic thinking, empowering students to reflect and harness their entrepreneurial spirit and turn innovative ideas into tangible realities. We explore the latest trends and practices in startup culture, disruptive technologies and the dynamic and competitive nature of the marketplace in which new products and services are introduced. Through case studies, interactive workshops, and real-world simulations, students learn to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurial ventures, while also embracing failure as a stepping stone to success. Whether students aspire to launch their own startup or drive innovation within existing organizations, this module provides the essential skills and insights to make their mark on the global business stage.
This module will provide students with the knowledge and appreciation of the global economic context in which organisations operate and equip them with the tools required to consider the strategic rationale for growth. Business growth may take a number of forms and this module will provide students with the knowledge to evaluate whether growth is desirable and if so, what form is most appropriate in the context, recognising the trade-offs faced. At the end of this module, students will be able to apply the principles of strategy in business decision making.
The module provides an understanding of key concepts, theories and tools of accounting, finance and corporate governance. This knowledge is then used to investigate the various applications of financial analyses for decision-making within uncertain and constantly changing business environments. These investigations will emphasise environmental, social and governance issues within financial analysis. It explores possible pathways and potential conflicts of interest when focussing on sustainable and ethical financial decision-making. At the end of the module, students will be able to conduct relevant financial analyses, interpret outcomes with respect to specific business contexts and communicate recommendations for sustainable financial decision-making.
The aim of this module is to give students an intensive grounding in applied business modelling and hands-on experience in using industry-standard spreadsheet software (Microsoft Excel®) to structure, analyse, and solve a variety of problems commonly encountered in business and management. At the end of this module, students will be equipped to carry out sophisticated modelling and support evidence-based decision making.
This unique module provides students the opportunity to apply and explore key areas of learning relating to the MBA priorities of developing transformational leadership through sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship and embracing new technologies.
This is achieved by undertaking two core MBA Challenges and a final MBA Report:
1. Personal Development Challenge: This challenge runs throughout the student’s time on the MBA. It allows students to step back from their busy lives and self-reflect on their current skills
2.2 or above
Entry requirements
A minimum of a second class UK degree or an equivalent internationally recognised qualification in a variety of subject areas and a minimum of three years' appropriate and relevant leadership work experience.
Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis for senior managers with more than ten years’ managerial work experience who don’t have an honours degree.
An individual online interview will form part of the selection process, if you meet our general entry criteria.
Our professional community
Between 2020-2023, 20% of our students on the MBA have between 3-5 years of leadership work experience, with 40% having between 6-10 years, 19% having between 11-15 years and the remaining 21% having 15+ years of leaderships or managerial work experience.
Application Deadlines
As places are limited, we advise applicants to submit their application early to guarantee consideration of an offer. Applications for the MBA received after 31 July will be considered on a case-by-case basis, if places are available. The course starts in mid-September.
All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.
The 2026/27 annual tuition fees for this course are:
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy.
The 2026/27 annual tuition fees for UK postgraduate research courses have not yet been set by the Research Councils UK. This is ordinarily announced in March. As a guide only, the full-time tuition fee for new and returning UK postgraduate research courses for 2025/26 is £5,006.
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
You'll need regular access to a desktop computer/laptop with an internet connection to use the University of Kent’s online resources and systems. We've listed some guidelines for the technology and software you'll need for your studies.
Find out more about student accommodation and living costs, as well as general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities.
This programme attracts many applications from Chevening scholars. Chevening is the UK Government’s international awards scheme aimed at developing global leaders, and Kent is a Chevening partner.
For details of the funding available, see our Chevening Scholarships page.
Kent is a leading research university, meaning that you will be informed about new discussions and developments by the people making them. This means your work will have real potential to make a difference.
Whatever your ambitions, an MBA from Kent Business School equips you with an impressive portfolio of skills, specialist knowledge and practical experience to help you progress in a competitive job market.
In today’s business climate employers are increasingly demanding more from new employees, we are therefore proud that they continually target our graduates for their organisations across the globe. Employers respect our robust teaching and reputation for delivering international business expertise, leading global research and an outstanding international learning experience.
From the outset, we work with you to identify the soft skills you need to focus on alongside your main academic studies. We provide an extensive skills development programme.
Our careers and employability support at Kent Business School is designed to make sure you are ready to hit the ground running when you graduate, when you study with us you can expect:
Additionally, the Postgraduate Employability Edge programme, available to postgraduate students at Kent Business School takes place from Welcome Week until the end of your studies and is designed to enhance your career prospects further. Our qualified careers practitioners provide support for up to three years after graduation.
Our MBA graduates become senior managers in a variety of industry sectors or go on to launch their own successful business start-ups. They also find work as entrepreneurs in the public and private sectors or for charities.
Graduates of this course have gone on to work for:
The MBA programme is accredited by The Association of MBAs (AMBA), the international impartial authority on postgraduate business education. An accreditation with AMBA is a global standard for MBA programmes worldwide.
We are updating all of our modules on this course to ensure we provide you with the tools you need to make a real impact after you graduate. We are currently working with CMI to make sure these modules meet industry standards and retain this course's accreditations.
Kent MBA:
A degree can boost average lifetime earnings by over
Learn more about the application process or begin your application by clicking on a link below.
You will be able to choose your preferred year of entry once you have started your application. You can also save and return to your application at any time.
