The main aim of the module is to assist you in completing your MBA project and developing you as a reflective and independent practitioner.
For your MBA project, you'll first have to decide on an organisation you would like to use as a case study for your project, select a problem they face and propose how you would solve this problem. The next step is to choose appropriate research tools (primary and secondary, qualitative and quantitative) that will enable you to collect information in order to make recommendations as to how you will proceed with the change or how you have implemented your change. Finally, you'll provide your reflections on the skills, knowledge and competencies you have developed, as well as your recommendations for the implementation of your change.
In order to assist you in successfully completing your MBA project, the module will be structured into three units as follows:
Unit 1: Developing as a leader of change in a complex world
The aim of this unit is to support you in deciding on the organisation, problem, and change you will focus on in your MBA project. You'll develop planning, time and change management skills by exploring issues such as accessibility, organisational and inter-organisational elements and practical issues in order to decide which organisation may be appropriate for your project. In order to decide on a problem you would like to explore in your chosen organisation and identify relevant change you would like to implement, you'll review current understanding and assess alternative approaches to the identified problem, applying theory.
Unit 2: Designing a research-informed leaders of change project
In this unit, you'll be introduced to different methods of data collection and ethics. You'll go through planning, time management, stages of the research process and epistemological assumptions that can help you manage the research process. You will also develop an understanding of collecting and analysing data by exploring the use, collection and analysis of secondary and primary (qualitative and quantitative) data. Finally, you'll advance your knowledge of the ethical issues associated with practitioner research.
Unit 3: Writing up your leaders of change project
This unit will support you in completing and writing up your final MBA project. Time will be allocated in order to collect secondary and/or primary data and implement your change when possible. You will also have time to analyse your data and start thinking of your findings while you explore how you can draw conclusions from your data. Finally, you will have time to concentrate on writing your MBA project and submitting your end-of-module assessment.
You will be required to study between 12 and 15 hours per week for six months.
Residential school
Satisfactory participation at a compulsory residential school is required in order to pass this module. The residential school will be offered in face-to-face and online options. Face-to-face residential schools will be held in the UK and will run over three days. If you start the module in November, the residential schools take place in January. If you start in May, the residential schools will be in July.
Online schools will be offered in two formats: short intensive, requiring 6 to 8 hours a day of online participation, and a longer, more asynchronous school, spread over 14 days and requiring about 60 to 90 minutes a day. Both versions of the residential school (face-to-face and online) have been devised to deliver the same learning outcomes.
The residential school element of this module is an opportunity to interact with other managers and tutors and to work in small groups. The focus is on assisting students to manage the research process and understand the complexities and requirements of conducting (primary and/or) secondary research when exploring a problem in management-based projects.
The module recognises the strong emphasis placed by students and their employers on the value of effective practical application of module-based learning. This module has been designed to meet these requirements. A key aspect of this is in developing and demonstrating a capability for critical and self-directed learning and a capability to apply masters-level learning integrative to organisational problems.
It is anticipated that the content of this module, especially the requirement to undertake and report on a practice-based project along with the professional tips and skills that you'll develop throughout the module, will make a significant contribution in your professional practice.
Your learning will take place within a tutor-facilitated group of approximately 16 students. Your tutor is responsible for providing individual tuition, professional advice and support, mentoring, assessment and regular feedback on your performance throughout the module. You will learn by working with your group and individually online in structured activities supported by a wide range of resources, including books and a world-class online library.
Course work includes:
You will have access to regular opportunities for engagement with other students and a module website, which includes:
A portable device such as a smartphone, tablet or laptop will be useful to participate in some activities at the face-to-face residential school.
You can only study this module as part of specific Open University qualifications.
B875 is a compulsory module in our:
Sometimes you cannot count a module towards a qualification if you have already counted another module with similar content. To verify any excluded combinations with this module, check with an adviser before registering.
MBA project – leaders of change starts twice a year, in May and November.
This page describes the module that will start in November 2025 and May 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in November 2028.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
| Start | End | Register by | England fee |
|---|
| 02 May 2026 | 31 Oct 2026 | 16 Apr 2026 | £3,670 |
| 07 Nov 2026 | 30 Apr 2027 | 15 Oct 2026 | Not yet available* |
| 01 May 2027 | 31 Oct 2027 | 15 Apr 2027 | Not yet available* |
| *This start date is open for pre-booking, which means you can reserve your place ahead of the fees being confirmed. We’ll publish updated 2026/27 fees and funding information on the 25th of March. |
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If your income is not more than £25,000 or you receive a qualifying benefit, you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
This module has a residential school. There’s no additional cost for the school, but you'll need to pay for your travel.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study costs. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in England.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to help with your tuition fees. To find out more, see Postgraduate tuition fee loans in Northern Ireland.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to help with your tuition fees. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in Scotland.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study costs. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in Wales.
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Joint loan applications
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Read more about Open University Student Budget Accounts (OUSBA).
Studying with The Open University can boost your employability. OU courses are recognised and respected by employers for their excellence and the commitment they take to complete. They also value the skills that students learn and can apply in the workplace.
Over 30,000 employers have used the OU to develop staff so far. If the module you’ve chosen is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could approach your employer to see if they will sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees.
You can pay part or all of your tuition fees upfront with a debit or credit card when you register for each module.
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We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may wish to pay part of your tuition fee with a debit card and pay the remainder in instalments through an Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA).
We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may get support from your employer to pay part of your tuition fee and pay the remainder by credit or debit card.
For more information about combining payment options, contact an adviser.
Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and, therefore, the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2026. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
