The Bath MBA programme content and structure

An outline of the Bath MBA’s modules, our distinctive Multi-Project Suite and how we teach the programme.


The Bath MBA combines the latest teaching techniques with practical projects. Our focus on practice-based learning means you’ll interact with real business early in the course. Bring your learning to life through real-world case studies, guest lectures, company visits and projects.

Please note that the modules and course information below relate to the 2026/27 full-time MBA programme.

Integrated modules

Teaching that reflects how organisations work.


Our core integrated modules combine business subject areas. We teach these together to reflect how modern organisations work. You’ll be able to take what you learn in the classroom and apply it to real business situations.

Learn business the way you do business

With our range of core and optional modules, you’ll explore contemporary topics vital to business success. You’ll also build the insight and adaptability to navigate whatever comes next.

Explore sustainability, data-driven leadership, disruptive technology and more. This is your MBA, designed for our times.

Learning Teams

A practical, powerful and collaborative approach to learning.


Enhance your MBA with collaborative learning. When you start your MBA, you’ll join a Learning Team with other students. Together, you will be colleagues for study and team-based assessments.

Our MBA students come from a range of backgrounds and sectors. You’ll share:

  • your individual experiences
  • information about your culture and backgrounds
  • thoughts on topical leadership challenges
  • perspectives on international markets and business models

Over the year you’ll work across Learning Teams. This means you’ll be able to work with many different people.

Responsibility, sustainability, collaboration and innovation


The Bath MBA is shaped by the University’s core values. We want to develop thoughtful, responsible leaders ready to make a meaningful impact.

Balancing profit with planet and people

The course provides an experience that will transform the way you learn, think about and approach business. You will:

  • embrace sustainable, responsible leadership principles to have an impact on business – and the way business impacts the world
  • use the power of collaboration to develop a deeper understanding of business disciplines and the confidence to challenge and inspire others
  • enjoy a culture of innovation, helping you to generate new ideas and solutions
  • go beyond the theory and apply what you learn to get practical business experience

Read more about how the Bath MBA is helping business professionals to develop the skills and knowledge to navigate sustainability challenges.

2021 MBA graduate Peter Davies talks about his experience of the Bath MBA and how it influenced his career in renewable energy and carbon neutral gas.

Multi-Project Suite

With our distinctive Multi-Project Suite, you’ll complete four different projects instead of doing a final project focusing on one topic.


The Multi-Project Suite lets you work in teams with real clients on real business issues and develop your consulting skills. You’ll work on a range of business problems with a variety of organisations. Immerse yourself in social action, consulting, change management and entrepreneurship.

The Multi–Project Suite lets you apply what you’ve learned on the course, and think creatively about solving real business challenges. You will:

  • improve your research and consultancy skills
  • get exposure to different types and sizes of organisation
  • have real-world project work to add to your CV

Social action project

Work on a challenge with a UK or international not for profit organisation.

Consulting and change management project

Help solve a real business problem. Explore different aspects of a complex change initiative and build valuable project and consulting skills.

Entrepreneurship project

Work on a new business idea which you’ll pitch to a panel of investors and entrepreneurs.

Consolidating project

Choose between:

  • working in a group, most likely with a corporate client, on a major business challenge
  • an individual project on a business or management topic of your choice
Portrait of Vibhav Gupta
The Multi-Project Suite covers every aspect of business in the most practical way possible. The focus has been on real life scenarios and has prepared me for the world beyond academics.
Vibhav Gupta Class of 2022

Core modules


We’ve designed our integrated core modules to give you a thorough understanding of key leadership, business, and personal and professional development areas.

Business Career Accelerator

A key element of the Bath MBA. This year-long module combines essential business skills, career strategy and personal development to help prepare you for the future you want.

Through workshops and reflection, you’ll:

  • build essential skills in communication, financial analysis and statistics
  • reflect on your leadership approach, values and emotional intelligence
  • explore ethical decision-making, collaboration and commercial awareness
  • strengthen your presence through storytelling, personal branding and impactful presentation
  • work one-to-one with expert coaches and mentors
  • shape your post-MBA journey with personalised support from our MBA Careers Team

You’ll graduate with the confidence, capabilities and career focus to lead with impact.

Developing markets and delivering value

Learn to build and sustain a competitive advantage by exploring sustainable, modern:

  • marketing principles and practices
  • operational efficiency
  • supply chain optimisation
  • data-driven decision-making

The business world changes fast. Equip yourself with the knowledge and skills to prevail, succeed and excel in the face of rapidly advancing technology, shifting consumer preferences and unprecedented disruptions.

Content:

  • marketing
  • strategic sales
  • operations and supply chain management
  • analytics

Navigating the future

Our world is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Look to the future and gain the confidence to:

  • tackle the big and complex challenges we face
  • seize exciting – perhaps unforeseen – opportunities

Think deeply about contemporary challenges like sustainability, climate change and technological disruption. Explore and embrace the importance of creativity, innovation and resilience in organisational competitiveness and societal development.

Resourcing for success

Develop your understanding of people and finance, key resources vital to the success of every organisation.

People and organisations content:

  • human resource management
  • knowledge, skills and expertise (human capital)
  • relationships (social capital)
  • processes and technology (organisational capital)

Financial management content:

  • sources of business funding
  • assessing and deciding on business investment opportunities
  • understanding the financial investor perspective

Strategic leadership in a global environment

Learn how to create strategies which respond positively to the challenges and opportunities of the modern world including technological acceleration, geo-political shifts and sustainability. Explore effective and responsible leadership in fast-changing environments.

Content:

  • developing and implementing strategies
  • leadership styles
  • exploring your own passion, purpose and leadership values

Optional modules


Part of the MBA is dedicated to optional modules, letting you personalise your MBA to fit your own interests and career aspirations.

After completing your core studies, you’ll pick three optional modules. These will allow you to expand your learning and explore more content in areas which are important to you, helping you to make the MBA your own.

Availability of optional modules is subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes and timetabling factors, as well as a student’s ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.

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Advanced business analytics

Learn how modern analytics techniques can support and improve business decision making. Explore strategies which take you beyond basic data to generate useful information and valuable insights. Develop your ability and confidence to find logical solutions to complex, multi-faceted problems.

Advanced marketing

Take your marketing knowledge to the next level. Investigate the preferences and behaviours of customers. Learn how to build and manage responsible marketing strategies and relationships. Explore how to create and maintain brand value in a world where customers increasingly demand sustainability and ethical responsibility.

Business reporting and accountability

Scrutinise what firms tell us and how useful that is. Explore what we can deduce about them based on their financial reports and other disclosures in terms of:

  • financial performance, position and prospects
  • sustainability, environmental, social and governance credentials and intentions
  • value

Corporate and international finance

Explore the key issues and decisions CFOs and their teams face in the modern world. Explore alternative means to finance the firm and techniques to manage risk. Develop your skills in appraising investment and M&A opportunities.

Giving voice to values

Using case studies of real conflicts, explore options to find positive outcomes for yourself and your organisation. Learn to use imagination, empathy, perspective taking, active listening, negotiation and communication to find solutions and reduce risk. Develop your powers of self-awareness, reflection and collaboration.

MBA international exchange unit

We’re developing an international exchange with global business schools to help you personalise your MBA and get experience abroad. If confirmed, this opportunity will involve a competitive application process, with guidance available. You’ll need to fund travel, accommodation, visas and living costs.

Negotiation

Improve your negotiation skills. Explore how to better understand people and situations, and how to be influential in negotiations while maintaining positive working relationships.

Supply chain management

Learn how to manage supply chains and networks effectively and responsibly. Consider the flow of products, services, finances and information from raw material through to end users. Elevate sustainability and social value in your supply chain decision making.

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Optional internship

Add to your CV with an optional internship at the end of your MBA.


With over 400 business partners, our MBA Careers team will help you identify and apply for the right internship for your career goals. They will also support you during your internship. Recent MBA students have interned at Bristol Port Company, PepsiCo, Nationwide and Diageo.

Internships start in September, after you have finished your studies. They last from three to six months.

Internships are not guaranteed. Places are competitive and we advertise opportunities to all students.

Interact with industry

The Bath MBA brings you together with business leaders and organisations.


Business is at the core of the Bath MBA. You will engage with our business partners from early in the course. Gain insights into different industries and build your network.

Opportunities to meet business leaders, network and build relationships include:

  • guest speakers
  • company visits
  • consultancy projects
  • an optional paid internship
Bringing the business world to you

Guest speakers

Hear from leaders from a range of sectors. Our guest speakers share their experience of various business settings.

Recent speakers have included experts in:

  • digital and social media
  • management consulting
  • data analytics
  • branding
  • global trading platforms
  • private equity
  • entrepreneurship

Company visits

Visit a range of companies and find out how they manage in a competitive global environment. Recent visits include digital marketing agency AKQA, Amazon, Wessex Water and Wimbledon Tennis.

Further information

Information about how we deliver the Bath MBA and additional costs.


Teaching and learning

Occasionally we make changes to our course in response to, for example, feedback from students, developments in research and the field of studies or the requirements of accrediting bodies.

You will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised course, in accordance with our terms and conditions.

You’ll learn from academics who are experts in their fields and develop a firm and practical understanding of key areas in leadership and business. Their leading research keeps the content fresh and relevant, enriching your learning experience. You’ll be able to take what you learn in the classroom and apply it to real business situations.

The Bath full-time MBA is a campus-based programme. Most modules are taught in-person, on campus. Occasionally, we may offer guest speakers, individual lectures and/or workshops online. If circumstances mean we have to move to blended or remote learning, we will let you know of any changes in advance.

You will benefit from a variety of learning and teaching activity across the course, both within the classroom and outside. You’ll be challenged by a range of exercises, case studies and activities.

Delivery of the MBA will be in-person, via classroom sessions, learning team discussion/work and project engagement. Classroom-based sessions will involve a variety of activity, including interactive lecture delivery, case discussion, presentations, film and breakouts.

Methods of assessment

You’ll experience a variety of individual and team-based assessments designed to support your development and reflect the practical, applied nature of the MBA. These assessments are both formative (to support learning) and summative (to evaluate progress), and include:

  • written essays and reports
  • case study analysis
  • in-person and video presentations
  • scenario planning exercises
  • reflective portfolios

These methods are designed to assess your:

  • understanding of subject-specific content
  • ability to integrate learning across modules
  • application of theory in practice
  • critical reflection on personal and professional development

Additional costs

Your tuition fee covers tuition and academic materials. Other aspects (e.g. social activities, networking and events) are provided at the University’s discretion and are not part of the tuition fee.

The fee includes the cost of the following digital course materials:

  • essential textbooks
  • case studies
  • journal extracts and readings

We provide all course materials in digital format.

There may be opportunities for optional trips/visits away from the University campus. You may need to pay some or all of the costs on such trips.

Regulator

This course is regulated by the Office for Students.

Information about the recognition of professional qualifications.

Entry requirements

The academic and professional experience you'll need to apply for our full-time MBA