There are two routes to the MBA depending on when you start your studies.
You can find more information on how our MBA works in these Frequently Asked Questions. Your employer could contribute towards your study fees. Generate a personalised, compelling business case for your employer, with our MBA Business Case Builder.
November 2019 onwards route
If you start this year or have started with B870 in November 2019 or thereafter, including if you've previously studied any electives on a standalone basis, you'll need:
105 credits from the following:
plus 45 credits from the following:
| Option modules and microcredentials |
Credits |
Next start |
- Contemporary issues in organisations (BB853)
This module will help you become a knowledge leader by demonstrating that you’re ahead of current organisational and business challenges.
See full description Register
|
15 |
07 Nov 2026 |
- Entrepreneurship in context (BB851)
This module will equip you with an entrepreneurial mindset and help you learn about entrepreneurship and different forms of entrepreneurial practice.
See full description Register
|
15 |
07 Nov 2026 |
- Leadership and management of public services (BB852)
In this module, you’ll study the many dimensions of managing public services, which may be public, private for-profit or not-for profit.
See full description Register
|
15 |
02 May 2026 |
- Supply chain management (BB849)
This module provides an analysis of important concepts and practices in supply chain management, taking into account issues such as supplier relationships, supply chain performance, sustainability and risk management.
See full description Register
|
15 |
02 May 2026 |
- Sustainable creative management (BB842)
This module explores creative, innovative and sustainable ways of developing and managing organisations and offers practical approaches for developing yourself, your team and your organisation.
See full description Register
|
15 |
02 May 2026 |
- Leadership and management in intercultural contexts (BZVM803) *
Develop your leadership and management skills as you build a global mindset that will enable you to lead more effectively across cultures and national contexts.
See full description Register
|
15 |
04 Jul 2026 |
- Management of change: organisation development and design (BZVM802) *
Discover tools and concepts of human-centred management and design, and develop skills to manage and lead in the 21st century.
See full description Register
|
15 |
04 Jul 2026 |
- Management of uncertainty: leadership, decisions and action (BZVM801) *
Develop greater leadership skills and learn to make effective decisions in conditions of radical uncertainty.
See full description Register
|
15 |
04 Jul 2026 |
Or the discontinued modules BB841, BB844, BB845, BB846, BB847, BB848, BXM871, BZFM801, BZFM802 and W822.
*A maximum of 30 credits can be from microcredentials. Microcredentials are 10–12 week professional development courses. Learn more about counting microcredentials towards OU qualifications.
plus 30 credits from the following:
Residential schools (or online alternatives) are compulsory in B870, B873 and B875.
Hybrid route
If you have gained 60 credits from completing either of the discontinued modules B716 or BXFT716 you'll need:
30 credits from the following:
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued module BB835.
plus 15 credits from the following:
Or the discontinued module BB831.
plus 45 credits from the following:
| Option modules and microcredentials |
Credits |
Next start |
- Contemporary issues in organisations (BB853)
This module will help you become a knowledge leader by demonstrating that you’re ahead of current organisational and business challenges.
See full description Register
|
15 |
07 Nov 2026 |
- Entrepreneurship in context (BB851)
This module will equip you with an entrepreneurial mindset and help you learn about entrepreneurship and different forms of entrepreneurial practice.
See full description Register
|
15 |
07 Nov 2026 |
- Leadership and management of public services (BB852)
In this module, you’ll study the many dimensions of managing public services, which may be public, private for-profit or not-for profit.
See full description Register
|
15 |
02 May 2026 |
- Supply chain management (BB849)
This module provides an analysis of important concepts and practices in supply chain management, taking into account issues such as supplier relationships, supply chain performance, sustainability and risk management.
See full description Register
|
15 |
02 May 2026 |
- Sustainable creative management (BB842)
This module explores creative, innovative and sustainable ways of developing and managing organisations and offers practical approaches for developing yourself, your team and your organisation.
See full description Register
|
15 |
02 May 2026 |
- Leadership and management in intercultural contexts (BZVM803) *
Develop your leadership and management skills as you build a global mindset that will enable you to lead more effectively across cultures and national contexts.
See full description Register
|
15 |
04 Jul 2026 |
- Management of change: organisation development and design (BZVM802) *
Discover tools and concepts of human-centred management and design, and develop skills to manage and lead in the 21st century.
See full description Register
|
15 |
04 Jul 2026 |
- Management of uncertainty: leadership, decisions and action (BZVM801) *
Develop greater leadership skills and learn to make effective decisions in conditions of radical uncertainty.
See full description Register
|
15 |
04 Jul 2026 |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules BB841, BB844, BB845, BB846, BB847, BB848, BXM871, BZFM801, BZFM802 and W822.
*A maximum of 30 credits can be from microcredentials. Microcredentials are 10–12 week professional development courses. Learn more about counting microcredentials towards OU qualifications.
plus 30 credits from the following:
Residential schools (or online alternatives) are compulsory in B870, B873 and B875.
You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 60 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.
Details of the Final Study in May 2020 route, which is no longer available to new students, can be seen below in the qualification regulations.
If you’ve successfully completed some relevant postgraduate study elsewhere, you might be able to count it towards this qualification, reducing the number of modules you need to study. You should apply for credit transfer as soon as possible, before you register for your first module. For more details and an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.
We regularly review our curriculum; therefore, the qualification described on this page – including its availability, its structure, and available modules – may change over time. If we make changes to this qualification, we’ll update this page as soon as possible. Once you’ve registered or are studying this qualification, where practicable, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes. If you’d like to know more about the circumstances in which the University might make changes to the curriculum, see our Academic Regulations or contact us. This description was last updated on 18 March 2025.
