Postgraduate study Entry 2013Hull University Business School

The Hull MBA

Part of our leafy Hull Campus, with the inspiringlisted buildings of the Business School.

The Hull MBA 1

Message from the Dean | 2

The Hull approach | 4

Advance your job prospects | 5

The Hull MBA structure | 6

The key themes of the Hull MBA | 8

The learning environment | 10

Living in Hull | 14

Applying for the Hull MBA | 16

‘Having been awayfrom any kind ofacademicexperience formany years I foundthe MBAprogramme to beexacting andenjoyable andimportantlyrelevant to myexperiences overmany years ofmanagement.’

Stephen Brooks –graduated 2010,now GeneralManager, Seymourand Castle ElectricalEngineers Ltd.

Contents

www.hull.ac.uk/hubs

The Hull MBA2

Hull University Business School (HUBS) is proud to continue tosupport the Principles for Responsible Management Education(PRME). We are committed to developing "responsible leadershipfor a complex world", underpinned by these two concepts ofrecognising the crucial need for responsible managementeducation and the crucial need to recognise complexity andconnectivity.

We are a component part of the University of Hull whose RoyalCharter requires us to "advance education, scholarship, knowledgeand understanding by teaching and research, for the benefit ofindividuals and society at large". The strategy of the University isunderpinned by an ethos of "going beyond", an emphasis on anoutstanding student experience, international engagement,empowerment and sustainability. Our School medium-termstrategy is shaped around the six aims towards remainingfinancially viable and being research-led (with our emphasis on"responsible leadership for a complex world"), international,externally-engaged, with an excellent student experience, andcollegiate. Our research therefore aims to develop students whounderstand responsibility and sustainability. Our research-ledteaching aims to develop understanding of the dynamics andinter-connectedness between individuals, corporations, publicbodies and the environment to help better understand the creationof sustainable value. We believe that our relationships withstudents and between staff and our organizational practices reflectour values of mutual respect, empowerment and collegiality.

The School has been accredited with the "triple crown" of AACSB,EQUIS and AMBA, and as such is committed to continuousimprovement and innovation to develop these themes. Weparticularly value our relationship with other like-minded Schoolsand seek to contribute to, and learn from, them in ourrelationships with bodies such as PRME, EABIS and Business inthe Community.

Professor Terry WilliamsDean of school

Stand out from the crowd

From

the Dean

Set in attractive grounds, our Business School has been described bySir Digby Jones, the former Director-General of the CBI, as ‘a world-classlearning and teaching facility’.

The Hull MBAwww.hull.ac.uk/hubs 3

The Hull MBA4

‘The Hull MBAmade me realisethe importance ofpushing myboundaries toattain professionalexcellence and todeliver exceptionalperformance.Getting an MBAhas been ablue-chipinvestment with ahigh-valuedividend yield.’

Chalya Miri-Gazhi –graduated 2009,now Chief OperatingOfficer, PromptImpact Solutions Ltd

What are the benefits of the Hull MBA?Our MBA delivers tangible results in terms of personal andprofessional development in the context of international business.

You will gain

• increased career potential through the development of high-levelbusiness knowledge and skills, allowing you to shape strategy

• long-term success and personal growth through our careerdevelopment programme, an international alumni association andAMBA’s global network

• a competitive edge in business gained from your ability to assessthe whole of a situation and make an immediate positive impact

• increased confidence in your new abilities built by putting theoryinto practice – for example, through a company-based project

• the global outlook necessary to thrive in the modern businessworld, acquired through the programme content and ourinternational partnerships

• a universal sign of quality in a degree accredited by internationallyrecognised bodies and awarded by an established institution

• advanced skills in problem solving, leadership and communication• a broad perspective gained through interaction with a diverse group

of students from a range of business backgrounds – the start of yourglobal network.

A programme with real resultsThe Hull MBA has been designed in response to excellent researchinto how real organisations function internally and how they operatein an ever-changing global context. This approach will allow you torecognise and balance the strategic and operational needs within anorganisation.

You will be challenged to relate your learning to your ownexperiences, stepping outside your existing area of expertise to seehow your current role and skill set fits.

Get a wider perspectiveA significant aspect of this perspective is an understanding of ethicaland environmental issues. We have substantial experience in thisfield, and are proud to be one of the first institutions to sign up to thePrinciples for Responsible Management Education (PRME) initiative.We are also active in the European Academy of Business in Society(EABIS).

Tomorrow’s managers will also be expected to consider how theirdecisions may affect resources and consumers of the future – the HullMBA prepares you for long-term career success.

Is it right for me?Graduates with at least three years’ appropriate experience can apply.Those taking up study must have a sustained level of motivation andcommitment to the programme, which runs over one year. In order tomaximise the potential for intellectual growth and development,participants will also need an enquiring and open mind and bewilling to share their own perspectives.

The Hull app

roach

The Hull MBAwww.hull.ac.uk/hubs 5

Advance your job prospects

A comprehensive programme of personal and professionaldevelopment (PDP) is integrated into the MBA course to help youachieve your career goals. PDP activity complements the coursecontent, so you will grow as a business professional at the sametime as you are learning new tools and techniques.

Organisations are increasingly looking for managers who recognisetheir own strengths, so we will help you to uncover those you alreadyhave and to develop further in areas including leadership,communication, analysis, problem solving and teamwork.

We provide individual career coaching and access to CareerLeader – a tool used by top business schools, designed specifically for MBAstudents to help define career goals.

Interaction with the business world is coordinated by our dedicatedWorld of Work team, which connects students and employers,advertises appropriate job opportunities and provides advice onworking in the UK and overseas.

Guest speakers from industry and company visits enliven the learningexperience, bringing module content to life and provoking freshinsights into business practice. For example, students have visited oneof our international partners, the Bordeaux School of Management(BEM). This business and cultural excursion incorporated a day trip toToulouse, and behind-the-scenes tours of the Airbus A380 plant andthe Smurfit Kappa Group paper factory, providing invaluable insightinto the operations of successful businesses.

Continuing career support The support that we provide does not end with graduation. Weencourage all our students to keep in touch with us after they havefinished their studies by joining our global community of 20,000graduates. These range from senior managers in functional areas tochief executives in organisations including Hilton International,Rolls-Royce, KPMG, Ernst & Young, Ericsson, HSBC and UNICEF.

Through our Alumni Connect scheme you will have access to tailoredcareer advice and support, webinars, networking events, onlineresources and more, to help you continue your professionaldevelopment wherever you are located and whatever your business.

MBA participants further benefit from the school’s affiliation withAMBA, a worldwide contact network, around two-thirds of whosemembers are senior managers, board directors or CEOs.

On successful completion of the MBA, participants gain CIPD atLicentiate level and are automatically awarded the CMI Level 7Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership. You will be able toapply for Chartered Manager Status, which is the highest status thatcan be achieved in a managerial profession.

The Hull MBA6

The taught elements of the Hull MBA are organised around fiveinterconnected key themes, ensuring that learning in one area canbe associated with and deepen understanding in all others.

These themes address the main functional areas in business,including finance, marketing and strategic management, developingspecialist expertise. The programme cultivates a broad perspective onthe management of complex organisations, decision making and theskills needed to operate effectively in dynamic international contexts.

To be awarded the Hull MBA, participants must complete

• the two core modules for each of the five themes (a total of 10) • any two options from the options listed below (subject to

availability) • MBA Dissertation

Managing in a Global Context• Managing in Organisations• Personal and Professional Development

Options • Leadership and Change in Organisations• International Business• Management and Organisational Learning

Managing Relationships• Human Resource Management• The Economic Environment

Options • Business, Economics and Government• International and Comparative HRM• Public Sector Management

Managing the Value Chain• Marketing• Operations Management

Options• Integrated Marketing Communications• Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Managing Knowledge• Accounting and Finance for Managers• Research Methods

Options• Corporate Finance• Financial Decision Making• Financial Statement Analysis

The Hull M

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Managing Strategically• Managing Holistically• Strategic Management

Options• Business Innovation• Complex Project Management• Information Systems Management

The MBA DissertationThe 15,000-word dissertation provides youwith an opportunity to carry out a significantpiece of research in an area of personalinterest related to the world of business andmanagement.

Company-based projectYour dissertation can be in the form of acompany-based project for a realorganisation, and such projects haveincluded research into HRM and relocation,market share, costing, maintenance ofmachinery, biofuels and marketing material.Participants are supported by a dedicatedacademic supervisor during the dissertationperiod (June to August).

International study option All MBA students are encouraged to takeadvantage of a range of opportunities to getout of the classroom and see business ideasin practice.

MBA participants at Hull can enhance theirinternational perspective by taking one oftheir taught modules alongside the HullMBA cohort in Bahrain, Muscat, Hong Kongor Singapore.

Through this you will gain valuable culturalexperience, enlarge your familiarity withinternational business contexts andpractices, and widen your networks.

MBA timetableThe academic year at the University of Hullstarts in September. Following a dedicatedinduction programme, the first teachingsemester runs until December; the secondruns from January to the end of May. Duringthat time MBA participants complete theirtaught modules, which are delivered throughlectures, presentations and groupdiscussion. The summer period is spentworking independently, with academicsupervision, on the Dissertation.

‘I do genuinely believe that the MBA atHull University Business School is a goodcourse for anyone to take up, offering anumber of benefits that will stay with youthroughout your professional career. Thecoursework and assignments specificallyfocus on building the critical element inyour thought processes, encouraging youto question the status quo and toquestion your own beliefs – evaluatingthem objectively and working towards anend using a more holistic approach.’

Nishant Mahajan – graduated 2008, nowSenior Reward Consultant with Aon Hewitt

The Hull MBA8

Managing in a Global Context sets management developmentfirmly within an international framework, encompassing issuesof personal effectiveness, cultural diversity, managementthinking, organisational life and individuals as change agents.

Participants are encouraged to examine their own experiences,focusing on the development of self-awareness and the skillsrequired for managing in organisations characterised by changeand uncertainty. These include team building, leadership andnegotiation. You will also have the opportunity to learn anotherlanguage through use of our excellent resources.

Through the MBA you will develop a critical and multidisciplinaryunderstanding of CSR that addresses how to accommodate socialand environmental concerns in management decision making;stakeholder analysis and related issues; and cultural-diversityissues and employment practices.

Managing Relationships focuses on internal and externalstakeholders, bringing together strategy and practice in themanagement of human resources with an understanding of thewider business environment and its impact on businessperformance.

Participants will assess the relative impacts of social, legal andeconomic factors at any given time and use this information toinform strategic decision making.

A key outcome is the ability to apply an economic perspective to awide variety of issues and problems, ranging from company-levelpricing decisions to the international effects of exchange rates.

You will also explore key aspects of managing people in theworkplace, in business and service organisations, exploringpossible strategies for improving internal and externalrelationships to achieve strategic objectives.

Managing the Value Chain explores how firms can add value byproviding products and services to meet the needs of the market.

We examine the critical importance of logistics and supply chainmanagement for modern businesses by linking theoreticaldevelopments with contemporary practices to assess howoptimum performance can be realised.

Key marketing concepts and aspects of applied marketing practiceencourage participants to develop a critical perspective on howmarketing activities build strategic and sustainable value,resulting in long-term competitive advantage in specific markets.

Both the marketing and the logistics functions requirecollaboration and relationships with other functional areas of thefirm, and these relationships are explored within the context of avalue chain – benefiting the customer and the company.

The key them

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Hull M

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Managing Knowledge investigates the identification of relevantknowledge, how best to acquire it (and how to cope when it isnot available), and how to put it to use so that it genuinelycontributes to the analysis of complex problems and to effectivedecision making.

Participants are introduced to research methods used in businessand management, and we emphasise the crucial importance ofdata collection, construction and interpretation in shedding lightupon particular problems.

This also provides a platform for the development ofunderstanding about the selection and design of researchmethods, giving due consideration to the research question(s),contextual constraints, and issues of ethics and validity.

The nature and value of financial information relevant tomanagement is also explored, so that managers can communicateeffectively with specialist members of their team.

Managing Strategically builds a perspective that takes accountof the business organisation as a whole, its purpose and strategicdevelopment, and one that informs managerial decision making.

Participants explore the complexity and richness of debates in andaround strategic management, developing the ability to askcritical questions – rather than seeking ready-made techniques orcertain answers.

Topics examined include the nature of and approaches to strategy;corporate mission, responsibility and governance; customeranalysis and market segmentation; innovation and dynamiccompetition; and whether strategy matters.

Attention is also paid to strategic decisions, and the motivesbehind these, including those of building and applying resources;cost leadership and differentiation; integration; diversification;outsourcing; strategic alliances; globalisation; and organisationalchange. Participants draw on their own experiences to considerhow effective decision making can also involve intuition and thebalancing of different functional perspectives.

The Hull MBA10

SupportThe Hull MBA begins with an induction programme, where you willhave the chance to get to know the teaching team and your fellowparticipants.

The learning experience will be grounded in your existing familiaritywith the business environment while introducing you to innovativeideas and the latest research, creating a programme which isrigorous, stretching and challenging. You will be encouraged toengage and interact with the programme material and develop newways of working, as you take part in group discussions, problem-solving exercises and presentations.

To support you through your course and prepare you for assignmentsand examinations, we provide extensive learning materials andunlimited access to an excellent library, broadband-enabled PCs ande-journals.

All MBA participants are also assigned a personal supervisor who is asource of pastoral care, information and links with other supportservices in the University.

Studying at the Business SchoolThe school provides a stimulating environment in whichfundamental issues in international business and management arestudied and developed, often in such a way as to influence practice.

The school is housed in four inspiring listed buildings which havebeen sympathetically renovated to accommodate the seamlessintegration of first-class modern facilities, including dedicatedcomputer suites, a 500-seat lecture theatre and a fair-trade cafe. Ourpostgraduate students further benefit from our world-class LogisticsInstitute as well as access to extensive, modern ICT facilities.

Further information on the school can be found atwww.hull.ac.uk/hubs.

The University of HullThe University of Hull is a centre of excellence in teaching andresearch and has a reputation as one of Britain’s friendliestuniversities. It has active links to industry and to the local communityas well as an international reputation.

The Education Guardian ranks Hull among the north of England’s topthree universities for quality of teaching and feedback, while theTimes Higher Education’s Student Experience Survey graded theUniversity especially highly for its fair workload and helpful staff.

The University’s students’ union was voted the UK’s No 1 Students’Union in 2012. The students’ union and the careers service are rankedamong the country’s top 10 in the International Student Barometer(ISB), and 89.1% of our international students were satisfied or verysatisfied with their overall learning experience.

More information on the University, its achievements and its facilitiesfor graduate students can be found at www.hull.ac.uk.

The learning

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Students and staff enjoy theDerwent Cafe, at the heart ofthe Business School.

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More than a stylishly appointed reception area,the main entrance to the Business School is also aplace to do business.

The Hull MBAwww.hull.ac.uk/hubs 13

Research at Hull University Business SchoolWe are proud to be home to a supportive, active and outward-looking research community that produces innovative,transdisciplinary research focused on business impact.

The school’s academics share a dedication to the production anddissemination of internationally influential research, all of whichshapes and underpins your programme of study. Through ourresearch we make a significant contribution to Hull’s reputation asone of the UK’s leading research-engaged universities.

Our world-class staff play major roles in the international academiccommunity. Their research, disseminated through books andleading peer-reviewed international journals, generates andadvances new knowledge and ideas; inspires new ways of working;underpins new teaching content and methods; and supports strongrelationships with universities, businesses and institutions bothregionally and internationally.

Research degreesOur aim is to nurture critical thinkers, with the ability to generateknowledge and apply it to business improvement.

Our research programmes – the MRes, MPhil and PhD – cansupport students with interests in any of the school’s areas ofresearch excellence. These are accounting and accountability;economic policy; empirical finance and banking; logistics;marketing innovations and applications; organisational futures;regional and international business; and systems studies.

Doctor of Philosophy and Master of PhilosophyThis is a three-year full-time programme (occasionally taken part-time over five years). Successful applicants to the PhD are firstregistered on an MPhil and are then expected to upgrade fromMPhil to PhD through an Upgrade Seminar (comprising a 10,000-word research report and presentation) at the end of their first year.Exceptionally, students may continue on the MPhil, which is, intotal, a two-year full-time programme (three years part-time).

Master of Research (MRes)This is a one-year taught foundation programme that provides anideal preparation for students wishing to study for a PhD but whosefirst degree or Masters degree did not contain a sufficient research-training element. The programme of study includes modules onresearch philosophy, quantitative and qualitative researchtechniques, generic research skills, interview skills, surveymethodologies and appropriate subject-related options. Successfulcompletion allows progression to the MPhil and PhD programme.

For more information on research degrees at Hull UniversityBusiness School, please visit www.hull.ac.uk/hubs.

‘Hull is a bustlingcity, and my timethere has helpedme to manage themany cross-cultural issueswithin and outsidethe company.’

Catherine Peng –graduated 2000,now China Director,Michelin Maps andGuides

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About the city of HullHull combines the very best of an urban waterfront location with arich heritage and an exhilarating mix of culture, history, shoppingand nightlife.

Because of its location at a gateway to Europe, multinationalorganisations choose to base their operations in Hull and the region.In addition to being one of Europe’s busiest port complexes and amanufacturing hub, the region is also home to the health care giantsSmith & Nephew, Reckitt Benckiser and Seven Seas, as well as BP,Kimberly-Clark and Arco – all corporate partners of the BusinessSchool. Students benefit from interaction with these organisationsduring their programmes of study.

The University is located in the most cosmopolitan part of the city.Leafy streets lead on to Newland and Princes Avenues, where awealth of local and speciality shops, cafes, bars and restaurants canbe found only 10 minutes’ walk from the University. On a summer’sday this bohemian quarter of Hull is the perfect place to while awayan hour or two with friends, taking in the relaxed atmosphere andsharing a meal from the wide choice of cuisines on offer.

LocationThe Hull Campus is only minutes away from beautiful opencountryside, and approximately an hour’s drive from historic York.The cities of Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester and Nottingham are alsoeasily accessible by rail or road; and the direct train service fromHull to London takes around 2.5 hours. Hull is served byinternational airports at Manchester, Leeds and Humberside and byovernight ferries to Europe.

AccommodationThere are various accommodation choices, including residencesowned, managed or directed by the University. The University’sAccommodation Office can provide advice as to the rightaccommodation for you, as well as access to privately ownedhouses, flats and rooms.

Accommodation which is owned, managed or directed by theUniversity is guaranteed for all unaccompanied overseas students,and further information on this can be found on the University’swebsite at www.hull.ac.uk/accomm.

Cost of livingThe cost of living in Hull is lower than almost anywhere in Britain(indeed, some 30–40% less than in London) and significantly lowerthan in comparable university cities. This means thataccommodation and food are generally more affordable. Also, thelocation of our campuses and residences means that daily travellingcosts are low (or non-existent), and that shopping for food, clothesand other everyday items is within easy walking distance.

Living

in Hull

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Alfresco dining at Princes Quay.

The Deep.Beverley Minster with Beverley Westwood in theforeground.The Deep.

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Applying for the Hull MBA

Admissions criteria Hull University Business School welcomessuitably qualified individuals to apply forentry to its MBA programmes. To be eligiblefor admission, applicants should normallypossess

•a minimum of three years’ appropriatepost-graduation work experience

• a good degree awarded by a UK universityor comparable overseas institution, or anequivalent professional qualification

Applicants with degrees from non-Englishspeaking countries as per UKBAdesignations will be required to demonstrateEnglish language proficiency equivalent toIELTS 6.5 (with at least 5.5 in all skills) orTOEFL 90 IBT (from ETS) with at least:Listening 17, Reading 18, Speaking 20 andWriting 17.

Applicants not requiring a UKBA visa may beexempt from the requirement to completeIELTS or TOEFL tests if they have evidence ofequivalent English language proficiency –for example, if they have studied in Englishor worked for at least five years in apredominantly English-speakingenvironment.

Applicants who do not have a degree orequivalent professional qualification andmeet the other eligibility criteria may submita Portfolio of Evidence to demonstrate thatthey can benefit from, contribute to andsucceed on the programme.

You must also submit

• a University of Hull PostgraduateApplication Form, completed and signed

• a current detailed CV • a 200-word personal statement indicating

what you hope to gain from the MBA andthe contribution you would make to theprogramme

• two good letter-headed work references • proof of qualifications to date

Once applicants have satisfied all otherconditions, they will be interviewed byBusiness School staff, either by telephone orin person, as the final stage of the process.

How to applyYou can apply online or download anapplication form through the Postgraduatesection of the University website atwww.hull.ac.uk. A hard-copy applicationpack may be obtained from

Admissions ServiceUniversity of HullHull, HU6 7RX, UKE pgstudy@hull.ac.uk

Scholarships and feesThe Business School offers a number ofscholarships and bursaries to UK/EU andinternational MBA students each year.Further details can be found atwww.hull.ac.uk/hubs-awards or through theBusiness School website atwww.hull.ac.uk/hubs.

Contact usInformation about applying for MBAprogrammes, tuition fees, and scholarshipsand bursaries can also be found on the MBApages of the Business School website atwww.hull.ac.uk/hubs.

If you wish to discuss any aspect of yourapplication, please contact

Admissions TeamHull University Business SchoolHull, HU6 7RX, UK

T +44 (0)1482 463254F +44 (0)1482 463370E businessmasters@hull.ac.uk

www.hull.ac.uk/hubs

DisclaimerThis publication is intended principally as a guide forprospective students. The matters covered by it – may besubject to change from time to time, both before and afterstudents are admitted, and the information contained in itdoes not form part of any contract. While every reasonableprecaution was taken in the production of this brochure,the University does not accept liability for anyinaccuracies. 27

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© University of HullPublished August 2012

Think connected with the HullMBA. The unique holistic

approach of our programmemeans that you’ll understand how

complex organisationalrelationships and the fast-changing global business

environment play a part in thedecision-making process – givingyou the capacity to make the right

decisions at the right time.

Go beyond | www.hull.ac.uk

Admissions ServiceUniversity of HullHull, HU6 7RXT 01482 466850F 01482 442290E pgstudy@hull.ac.uk