Master of Business Administration
MBA (Online)
Study a flexible MBA degree with a Triple Crown accredited (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS) business school and experts in online learning. Our online MBA is placed 1st in the UK and 24th in the world in the Part-Time MBA global Eduniversal Rankings.
At Aston Online, you benefit from an immersive learning experience, dedicated support services, and a world-class Digital Campus. Become a transformational leader and unlock your potential with a curriculum enriched by strong links to industry.
Programme Overview
Our MBA programme provides a dynamic, hands-on experience designed to instil an entrepreneurial leadership mindset. Going beyond conventional learning, the programme challenges you with real-world business problems, fostering the ability to think strategically and lead effectively.
Delivered by the triple-accredited Aston Business School, the curriculum covers a diverse spectrum of business topics, providing a holistic understanding of the global commercial landscape. Guided by a distinguished team of educators and industry experts, our approach emphasises practical application, ensuring you acquire skills relevant to contemporary business challenges.
Throughout the programme, you will have the opportunity to apply your learning to real-world situations and explore concepts in relation to your own interests and career goals. The programme culminates in a final project that reflects your aspirations, whether in consulting, research or entrepreneurship. This programme is designed for you if you aspire to elevate your career by gaining real-world problem-solving skills, strategic thinking abilities, and excellence in leadership, all within a flexible online format that celebrates diversity and innovation. You will emerge as a confident, entrepreneurial leader poised for success in the modern global business arena.
Triple Accreditation: Aston Business School is proud to be among 1% of business schools worldwide with triple accreditation from AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS.
Get the Aston Edge: Gain a competitive advantage through this integrated personal and professional development programme.
Among the Best in the World for Business and Management: Aston University has risen to 66th place in the world (and into the top 10 in the UK) in the 2024 QS World Rankings by Subject for Business and Management Studies.
1st in the UK: The Aston Online MBA has been placed 1st in the UK and 24th in the world in the Part-Time MBA global Eduniversal rankings.
Excellence in Teaching and Research: Aston University is rated 79% in the REF (2021) for world-leading or internationally excellent research. Aston University has an excellent reputation for research that shapes and improves lives.
A Global University: Aston University is in the top 10% of global institutions – top 10% of evaluated universities (QS World Rankings 2025) and is known for world-class teaching and strong links to industry.
Experts in Online Education: Aston Online programmes are carefully designed to offer flexibility without compromising on academic rigour. With a wealth of expertise in online pedagogy, we ensure that students receive a rich, engaging, and supportive learning experience.
Increased Salaries: Aston’s Executive MBA graduates report their salaries increase by 50% just three years after graduating.
Recognised in the Global Rankings: The University’s Executive MBA (EMBA) programme and Masters in Management programme have achieved notable recognition, ranking 60th and 86th, respectively, in their categories.
Top in the UK and World: The Aston Online MBA has been placed 1st in the UK and 24th in the world in the Part-Time MBA rankings by Eduniversal, 2024.
Top 100 in Europe: Aston Business School is ranked 97th overall and 17th in the UK in The Annual Financial Times European Business Schools Ranking.
Climbing the Ranks: Aston Business School has strengthened its position in the 2024 Eduniversal Business School Rankings, climbing to joint 11th in the UK—two places higher than last year.
4th Palme of Excellence: Aston University is ranked in the 4th Palme of Excellence by Eduniversal, highlighting our substantial national and regional impact.
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What You Will Learn
- Strategic Leadership Competence: Learn to inspire and guide teams towards achieving organisational goals, through a deep understanding of formulating and implementing effective strategies.
- Advanced Problem-Solving Skills: Tackle complex business challenges with innovative solutions, leveraging a real-world understanding of business operations and management.
- Enhanced Global Perspective: Expand your view of global business practices and challenges, enabling you to operate effectively in international markets and multicultural environments.
- Sustainability and Ethical Management: Prepare to integrate sustainability and ethics into business decisions, promoting responsible management practices.
- Digital Literacy and Innovation: Develop skills to navigate the digital transformation of industries, through an understanding of the strategic use of technology for business innovation and growth.
- Professional Growth and Self-Reflection: Develop a keen sense of self-awareness and a proactive approach to personal and professional development, supported by reflective practice.
- Robust Professional Network: Gain access to a valuable global network of industry professionals, alumni, and peers, facilitating career opportunities through networking and live events.
- Career Advancement: Be equipped for high-impact roles in various sectors, including investment banking, management consultancy, and beyond, with the skills to lead and innovate in a rapidly changing business world.
It's been an incredibly positive experience.
The MBA has given me exposure to marketing, operations, strategy, finance, economics and so much more.
Why Study Online With Aston University?
Aston University Online offers various advantages, making it an appealing choice for prospective students globally. You'll receive the same qualifications and degree certificates as on-campus students. The degree certificate does not mention online delivery.
Flexibility and Convenience – fit your studies into your work/life balance.
Built for Online – interactive, engaging, and purpose-designed curriculum available 24/7.
Affordable – spread the cost, pay monthly or in instalments, and earn as you learn.
Supported – dedicated student support and online tutors.
Expert Tutors – staff with industry experience and experts in their fields.
Empowering Creativity – complimentary full access to Adobe Creative Cloud tools for developing dynamic multimedia content and presentations through video, graphics and audio.
Transparent Pricing – apply for free, with no hidden costs.
Ready for Work and Life – rigorous academic standards and curriculum focusing on the skills sought by employers (for now and the future).
Recognised for quality
Aston Business School is proud to be among 1% of business schools worldwide with triple accreditation
The Aston Online MBA has helped me develop the confidence I need to take on the business world and take my career to the next level.
Career Prospects
Aston MBA graduates have secured high-profile roles with leading international companies across various sectors, including investment banking, management consultancy, manufacturing and rail transport. Recent graduates have also secured positions with blue-chip companies, such as Morgan Stanley, KPMG, Standard Chartered Bank and Amcor.
Thanks to Aston’s Alumni network, you will have the chance to connect with these former graduates in a range of professions.
Aston graduates go on to excel in a range of roles and sectors—whether thriving in the world of business and academia or taking the leap from university into the life of an entrepreneur.
Recent graduates have gone onto roles including:
Business Analyst: Strategise solutions and drive enhancements for thriving organisational success.
Investment Banking: Navigate complex financial transactions, influence major deals, and strategise investments that shape the global economy.
Human Resources Director: Steer the strategic orchestration of talent and foster a culture of excellence within the workforce from a senior leadership position.
Tax Manager: Manage fiscal responsibilities and guide tax strategy and compliance to uphold integrity and optimise financial performance.
Credit Analyst: Scrutinise credit and lending data to shape the fiscal foundations of business decision-making.
Business Management Consultant: Solve complex challenges, optimise processes, and drive growth for organisations across industries.
Programme Structure
With an integrated approach to traditional business and management topics, our MBA programme offers a comprehensive curriculum that merges classic business and management principles with modern strategy, equipping you with the essential skills and in-depth understanding necessary to excel in today’s dynamic business landscape. Each credit of study is equivalent to 10 learning hours. For example, 30 credits reflect 300 hours of learning.
*We may update our programmes to reflect best practices and academic developments. If we do, we’ll let you know of any changes at the earliest opportunity by updating our programme webpages. If you have already received an offer, we’ll write to you directly to let you know of the changes.
Modules
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Strategy and Economics in a Global Context'%3e%3cpath%20d='M11%2013H5V11H11V5H13V11H19V13H13V19H11V13Z'%20fill='%231C1B1F'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
30 credits
- Leadership – Develop leadership skills crucial for guiding and inspiring teams.
- Economics – Understand economic principles and their impact on business decisions.
- Strategy – Learn to formulate and implement business strategies for organisational success.
Finance and Marketing for Strategic Decision Making
30 credits
- Marketing – Acquire knowledge and strategies for effective market positioning and communication.
- Financial Reporting – Gain proficiency in understanding and interpreting financial data for decision-making.
- Managing Finance – Master financial management principles for effective decision-making.
Leadership and Operational Excellence
30 credits
- Responsible Management – Cultivate ethical and socially responsible decision-making in business.
- Managing Operations – Learn efficient operational management to optimise business processes.
- Managing Change – Develop the ability to navigate and lead through organisational change.
- Legal Awareness – Acquire an understanding of legal aspects relevant to business operations.
Navigating Digital Transformation: Innovating for the Future
30 credits
- Digital Transformation – Embrace the digital era with a focus on alternative assessments and entrepreneurial thinking.
- Flexible Application – Apply concepts, models and frameworks of digital transformation to the setting of your choice.
Modules
The Aston Edge
30 credits
- Research and investigation skills – Develop proficiency in research methodologies and
investigative approaches. - Personal and professional development – Reflect on and consolidate personal and
professional growth achieved during the MBA programme.
Strategic Business Project
30 credits
This gives students the opportunity to design their own learning experience that applies to their specific area of interest. The purpose of this project is to act as a springboard for their future career and as such, there are a number of ways this can be completed:
- A consultancy project on behalf of a client or organisation
- A business plan for their own business
- An Industry/themed research project
Programme Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this programme, students will be able to:
- Critically discuss current theoretical and practical management literatures and concepts that underpin management thinking and practice in a global context.
- Demonstrate a systematic knowledge of the range of management disciplines and competencies.
- Demonstrate critical awareness of how the management disciplines integrate and feed into strategic decision-making at a corporate level.
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of how strategic decisions are made and implemented.
- Demonstrate competence in critical reasoning, creative thinking and the development of visionary ideas.
- Critically analyse, interpret and evaluate relevant data, including financial and other managerial reports.
- Identify, analyse, diagnose and propose (and evaluate) solutions to complex managerial issues and problems.
- Offer informed and considered opinion when presented with managerial issues and problems.
- Engage intelligently in debates about what constitutes 'best practice'.
- Build upon their knowledge and understanding of the theories they have engaged with to make a wide range of management and strategic decisions.
- Demonstrate a range of transferable skills necessary to lead effectively in a responsible, dynamic, multicultural organisation.
The Programme Aims to:
- Develop knowledge of the key business functions and processes, enabling students to apply this expertise—alongside their experience—to navigate complex organisational challenges, leadership opportunities, and critical issues.
- Develop the individual and collaborative skills required to become an effective, confident and responsible leader of diverse, global organisations.
- Enable students to evaluate and reflect upon their own strengths and career development requirements and use these to facilitate proactive, lifelong learning.
- Nurture an entrepreneurial mindset that enables students to be creative and use their initiative to find practical and innovative responses to organisational challenges and to evaluate the risks inherent in these endeavours.
- Develop the ability to objectively frame an organisational problem or challenge; to design a study in response to this; to search for, collect and process appropriate information; and to use this in a critical and systematic way to reach an evidence based decision/conclusion.
Is This Programme Right for Me?
- You are a working professional with several years of experience looking to develop leadership and strategic thinking skills to advance your career.
- You are looking for a flexible online MBA programme that can fit around your work and personal commitments.
- You are interested in understanding core business functions, such as finance, marketing, operations, and strategy.
- You are ready to challenge yourself with a rigorous programme that will equip you with the knowledge and expertise to tackle complex business problems.
- You are an ambitious professional seeking to accelerate your career and transition into leadership roles in the global business world.
Entry Requirements
One of the following:
- A UK 2:2 (lower second-class honours) degree.
- Equivalent international degree recognised by Aston University. Click here for more information or contact our Admissions Team to check your eligibility: enquiries@astononline.ac.uk.
Alternative entry requirements:
We take a holistic approach to evaluating applications and accept applications from candidates with relevant work experience who still need to complete a graduate qualification. Contact our Admissions Team for a consultation before applying: enquiries@astononline.ac.uk.
Additional requirements:
- At least three years' relevant post-graduation work experience by the time you start your programme.
- An official academic transcript of your grades (in English).
- Two references – preferably one from an academic referee, the other from your current or previous employer; two professional references may be accepted from applicants with substantial work experience.
- A degree-level professional qualification.
English language requirements:
You must meet the university's English language requirements to be accepted into our programmes. We aim to make your application process as easy as possible. However, in all cases, we reserve the right to request an English language qualification and/or conduct an interview.
We accept a wide range of English language qualifications, including:
IELTS Academic and IELTS Academic Online
IELTS One Skill Retake
TOEFL and TOEFL iBT
Oxford ELLT (Global and Digital)
Pearson Academic (PTE)
Password Test
Language Cert International ESOL SELT
Kaplan Test of English (KTE)
Cambridge Advanced Test (CAE)
Cambridge Proficiency Test (CPE)
Tests must have been taken within the last two years from the start date of the programme you are applying to.
Find Out if You Qualify
If you have any questions about your eligibility or the application process, please get in touch with the Aston Online Admissions Team:
Email: enquiries@astononline.ac.uk
Call: +44 (0) 121 824 6374
Our office is open Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:00 GMT
FAQs
What are the benefits of pursuing your MBA Online programme?
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With a globally recognised curriculum, our online MBA programme offers a unique blend of practical, experiential learning and strong industry connections. Our programme is designed for those who aspire to elevate their careers by gaining real-world problem-solving skills, strategic thinking abilities, and leadership excellence, all within a flexible online format that celebrates diversity and innovation. This combination not only equips you for advanced roles and enhances your career prospects but also allows you to immediately apply what you learn to real-world challenges in your current job, ensuring that your education directly impacts your professional growth.
How does your MBA Online programme support me in developing leadership and strategic thinking skills?
Our MBA Online programme builds leadership and strategic thinking with a mix of theory and practical experience, including leadership modules, consultancy projects, and executive coaching. Gain advanced strategies and global perspectives to tackle real-world challenges and lead effectively.
How challenging is your MBA Online programme?
Our programme demands strong time management, self-discipline, and the ability to engage with complex concepts in leadership, strategy, and global business. However, these challenges make our online MBA rewarding, as they prepare you for advanced roles and provide you with the skills to succeed in a competitive global market.
Why does your MBA Online programme cost more than your MiM Online programme?
Our online MBA programme is designed for professionals with significant work experience. It offers a deeper and more specialised curriculum with advanced topics tailored to senior roles.
How will I be assessed?
You will engage in a variety of regular formative and timetabled summative assessment activities, where assessment modes and formats closely mirror relevant professional and industry contexts.
- Formative assessment set by the module content will include short tasks, quiz-format tests, and production of outcomes to check knowledge and competence.
- A combination of tutor-graded practical coursework assignments, projects, and automated assessment formats will be used to provide a structured summative assessment for each module.
- In all assessments, online students will benefit from detailed assessment rubrics provided from the beginning of the module to guide their effort and achievement.
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