University of Essex - Essex Business School

The University

The University of Essex is one of the UK’s leading academic institutions. In the 2008 RAE, Essex was ranked ninth out of 159 universities and colleges for the quality of its research, while the quality of teaching was ranked eighth in the UK in the 2008 Sunday Times University Guide.

Founded in 1964, the University of Essex has since grown in both reputation and size and is the UK’s most internationally diverse campus university, with students drawn from 142 countries. There are now more than 10,000 students, studying at the University’s three campuses across Essex - Colchester Campus, Southend Campus and East 15, Loughton Campus.

The largest, and original, University campus is based at Wivenhoe Park on the outskirts of the historic town of Colchester - Britain’s oldest recorded town. Sixteen of the University’s academic departments are based at the Colchester Campus. The close proximity of these academic departments was designed to reflect, and nurture, the inter-disciplinary nature of teaching and research at the University.

Please refer to the University’s website for further information: www.essex.ac.uk/

The Business School

Essex Business School - The Business School for a New World

Essex Business School brings together the whole range of business related teaching and research at the University and is based across the University’s Colchester and Southend campuses. Please refer to the School’s web pages for further information: www.essex.ac.uk/ebs/

The School is organised into four subject groups Accounting, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Finance and Management. It provides excellent opportunities for developing new interdisciplinary research initiatives addressing some of the pressing questions facing organisations in the current economic and political climate.

The School offers degrees in accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, management and marketing, and has just launched a flagship MBA course. Teaching in the School is informed by a broad range of social science theories and concepts, and these are applied to some of the pressing issues facing organisations in the public and private sector, for example, business ethics, corporate social responsibility and managing for sustainability and the environment.

Research Excellence

Essex Business School has an international reputation for cutting edge research in Accounting, Finance, Management and Entrepreneurship. This reputation was confirmed in the results of the 2008 RAE where Essex Business School was ranked second in the Accounting and Finance subject area. Staff from the Accounting, Finance and Management groups were included in the RAE and 95% of the submissions were assessed as international quality.

Both theoretical and applied research can be found in Essex Business School. Much of our research addresses important issues and problems faced by commercial businesses, public sector bodies and not-for-profit organisations.

The Program

Why choose Essex Business School for your MBA?

Essex Business School has designed an MBA programme for a new breed of business leader; one who needs to be innovative, inquisitive, creative, and ethical.

An MBA is not just about the course or qualification; it is about your future. Whether your goal is to become an executive or an entrepreneur, the right MBA will accelerate your career. That 'right MBA' must not only provide general business knowledge. This knowledge must be current and tackle the big issues facing organizations today, and those they will encounter tomorrow. The Essex MBA provides you with such knowledge and also equips you with the skill sets allowing you to apply this newly acquired knowledge in the workplace. Our restricted cohort size will ensure that you have the individual attention you deserve to maximise the value of your investment in the course.

The Essex MBA has four distinguishing characteristics.

1) A focus on the needs of both Business and Society.
2) A focus on Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Creativity.
3) Builds on Research Excellence in Finance and Accounting.
4) Builds on strong links with experienced practitioners from industry, finance and the public sector.

For further information, please refer to the Essex MBA home-page:
www.essex.ac.uk/ebs/mba/

MBA Programme Details

Essex MBA offers three MBA programmes:

- A one year, full-time programme. (This is available to home, EU and international students.)

- A two year, part-time programme. (Due to visa restrictions, this is only available to home students.)

- A modular programme which can be completed over a period of three to six years. This programme allows great flexibility and is particularly suited to management professionals who need to fit study around full-time working commitment. (Due to visa restrictions, this is only available to home students.)

Please contact the MBA Administrator ([email protected]) for further details.

All three of the MBA programmes are taught at the University of Essex, Colchester campus. Full-time, part-time and modular students study alongside each other. The MBA programmes include:

- Research-led teaching that directly informs current business practice.
- Curriculum development and delivery are directly informed by members of Essex Business School's external Advisory Board, who are particularly involved in the 'Ensuring Employability' workshop series.
- Limited cohort size to maintain a high-quality student experience.
- Strong international flavour in the curriculum and learning materials.
- Induction Week includes study skills workshops and visits to both profit and non-profit organisations. In 2010, MBA students visited HSBC HQ London and Tate Modern. See following web-page for further information:
www.essex.ac.uk/ebs/MBA/Induction_week3.aspx
- Essex University was ranked 9th in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2014.
- Essex Business School has an international reputation for research excellence. In the 2008 RAE, EBS was ranked 2nd overall in the UK in the Accounting and Finance subject area.

For further information, please refer to the MBA web pages: www.essex.ac.uk/ebs/mba/

AMBA Accreditation
The Essex MBA has been developed in line with AMBA accreditation guidelines. The School aims to apply for AMBA accreditation at the earliest opportunity - that is, as soon as three cohorts have graduated. If accreditation is granted, it will be applied retrospectively.

Entry Requirements

Standard Applicants

The standard entry requirements are:
-Undergraduate degree (2:1 or higher) or equivalent.
-Three years of relevant, professional experience, post graduation (evidenced by the applicant's CV and employer reference - see Supporting Documentation).

However, the School also welcomes applications from "non-standard applicants" who do not possess an undergraduate degree, or hold a degree below 2:1 standard, as follows:

Non-standard applicants with an honours degree below a 2:1 (or equivalent)
-A minimum of three years of relevant managerial experience may be sufficient (evidenced by the applicant's CV and employer reference - see section entitled "Supporting Documentation for Non-Standard Applicants" below).

Non-standard applicants without a first degree
-At least seven years of managerial experience, a significant proportion of which should be at middle-management level (evidenced by the applicant's CV and employer reference - see section entitled "Supporting Documentation for Non-Standard Applicants" below).

-Applicants will also be required to write an essay (2000 words) outlining a range of business situations which they have experiences and identifying what they have learnt from them.

Please note: The School reserves the right to interview an applicant, where necessary.

Overseas Students
For applicants whose native language is not English, an overall IELTS score of 6.5 is required.

GMAT
A GMAT score is not compulsory, but could aid the application, particularly for non-standard applicants.

Please refer to the following web-link for further information regarding entry requirements: www.essex.ac.uk/ebs/mba/entry_requirements.aspx

Application Procedure

Applications for the full-time and part-time programme are now being accepted for September 2012 entry.

Applications for the modular programme are now being accepted for January 2012, February 2012 and September 2012 entry.

Standard applicants can make an online application at the following link:
www.essex.ac.uk/pgapply/enter.aspx

Non-standard applicants (those without and UG degree or with an UG degree below a 2:1) can also make an online application at: www.essex.ac.uk/pgapply/enter.aspx

Please mark clearly on your application form whether you are applying for the full-time, part-time or modular MBA programme.

Application forms must be submitted together with the requisite supporting documentation (see sections entitled ?Supporting Documentation? below).

Supporting documentation for the full-time and part-time programmes must be posted to the following address:

Mrs Pat Barritt ([email protected])
Admissions Adviser
Graduate Admissions Office
University of Essex
Wivenhoe Park
Colchester
CO4 3SQ
United Kingdom

Supporting documentation for the modular programme must be posted to the following address:

MBA Administrator
Essex Business School
University of Essex
Wivenhoe Park
Colchester
CO4 3SQ
United Kingdom

We aim to respond to your application within three weeks of having received a complete application. Please note that your application will not be processed until the application form and all of the supporting documentation has been received.

Supporting Documentation for Standard Applications
-An official transcript of the results of undergraduate qualifications, in English or a certified translation.
-A personal statement (500 words) outlining why the applicant would like to undertake the MBA course and what he/she hopes to gain from doing it.
-An up-to-date CV.
-Two references, in a sealed envelope with the signature of the referee written across the seal, at least one of which should be from your current/most recent employer. The second reference can be an academic reference or a reference from a previous employer.
-Overseas applicants, whose first language is not English, must provide official certification of an English language qualification.

Supporting Documentation for Non-Standard Applications
A ?non-standard? applicant is typically an applicant who possesses an undergraduate degree below a 2:1 standard, or an applicant who does not possess an undergraduate degree at all.
-An up-to-date CV.
-Two references, in a sealed envelope with the signature of the referee written across the seal, at least one of which should be from your current/most recent employer. The second reference can be an academic reference or a reference from a previous employer.
-A personal statement (500 words) outlining why the applicant would like to undertake the MBA course and what he/she hopes to gain from doing it.
-For applicants without an undergraduate degree, an essay (2000 words) outlining a range of examples of business situations which the applicant has experienced and identifying what he/she has learnt from them (see Entry Requirements).
-Overseas applicants, whose first language is not English, must provide official certification of an English language qualification.

Tuition and Fees
The course fee for the full-time Essex MBA in 2011 is £15,950.
For details of the part-time and modular tuition fees, please contact the MBA Administrator ([email protected]).

Fees can be paid in one lump-sum at the time of registering, or in three instalments (one per term). There is a £200 discount for making a lump-sum payment. There is no additional charge for paying in instalments.

Tuition and Fees

Three £3000 MBA Scholarships are available for 2012 entry. The scholarships are available to full-time home, EU and overseas applicants. Applicants can only apply for a scholarship once they have received a formal offer. For further details, please contact the MBA Administrator ([email protected]).

Financial Aid

There are not currently any scholarships available to MBA students. However, MBA students will have the opportunity to apply for paid Research Assistant jobs within the School.

Location

The MBA Programme is taught at the University’s Colchester campus, which is located in Wivenhoe Park, close to the historic town of Colchester. Colchester is Britain's oldest recorded town and houses a Roman wall and a Norman castle. For information on things to see and do in Colchester and the surrounding area, including sight-seeing, cinema and theatre, eating out, shopping and nightlife, please refer to the following link:
www.visitcolchester.com/

Accommodation

How to Apply for Accommodation
At the time of applying, each applicant is issued with log-on details for their own ?Essex Applicant Portal? which is a website that provides online services for current applicants and can be accessed at the following link:
www.essex.ac.uk/apply/Login.aspx

New students, who will be commencing study in September 2012, can apply for university accommodation online, via their Essex Applicant Portal. Please refer to the following link for detailed instructions on how to apply for accommodation via your Essex Applicant Portal:
www.essex.ac.uk/ebs/MBA/Instructions_on_how_to_app…
Please enter ?MBA Student? in the ?additional information? field.

Please refer to the Accommodation Office website for further information:
www.essex.ac.uk/accommodation/apply/index.shtm

Student Life

On Campus Entertainment
The University of Essex houses a dynamic Students' Union and numerous Student Societies which arrange regular student activities, catering for all tastes. On campus venues include "Sub Zero" night club, which regularly hosts high-profile bands and DJs, "Mondo" pizzeria and several bars - "SU Bar", "Top Bar" and "Level 2".

Please refer to the Students' Union website for further information: www.essexstudent.com/

Things To Do In The Surrounding Area
The neighbouring town of Colchester possesses numerous shops, bars, clubs and restaurants. For information on things to see and do in Colchester and the surrounding area, including sight-seeing, cinema and theatre, eating out, shopping and nightlife, please refer to the following link:
www.visitcolchester.com/