Master of Business Administration 

Programme Overview

Academic Level
Academic Level

Postgraduate/Masters, Single Major

Awarded by
Awarded by

Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham, UK

Programme type
Programme type

Part-time, 2 years

Campus location
Campus location

SIM Campus

Application Dates
Application Dates

Now till 2 December 2024 (Local & International applicants)

Estimated Fees (incl. GST)
Estimated Fees

(incl. GST)*

S$44,341.20

* Exclude application fee, preparatory or bridging course fee, and other fees. Refer to the Fees & Financial Aid section for details.

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Programme Outline

 

 

Awarded and developed by: Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham, UK

Stay ahead with MBA from top global business school

An MBA will elevate your career. Ours nurtures responsible business leaders, preparing you for the next step in your career. The Birmingham MBA has been running continuously in Singapore since 1993, the programme integrates both online and in-person learning providing flexibility so you can study around work and other commitments. Our in-person learning is taught over weekends running from Friday evening to Sunday evening in conjunction with seven-week blocks of online learning.

The Birmingham MBA will challenge you to reflect on your approach to responsible business and help you develop key skills for your future. This post-experience master programme is designed to be flexible, allowing you to tailor your studies around your passions and interests with our three specialised areas focusing on Innovation & Business Transformation, Marketing or International Business & Strategy, plus our Global Perspectives in Responsible Business module.

  • Employer Relevance: Possible interaction between the coursework and your workplace. We tailor assignments to be relevant to you and your employer.
  • The Purposeful Leader module allows participants  to concentrate on personal and professional development, aligning with their career objectives beyond the MBA. It facilitates reflection on career ambitions and guides the selection of a final project in line with their values and aspirations.
  • Global experience: Study and network with peers across three campuses - Birmingham (UK), Singapore and Dubai (UAE). 
     
 

Why a Master’s from University of Birmingham?

  • A flexible, modular study format delivered in blended mode allow you to apply the new knowledge and skills learnt in the classroom right at work.
  • Long tradition and established track record of teaching business and management.
  • Established international reputation of the University and the Business School.
  • Research-led – cutting-edge research feeds directly into teaching.
  • International syllabus with focus on the issues of globalisation.
  • Dedicated academics and administrative staff who provide continuous support for your studies.
  • Join the alumni community of more than 300,000 graduates. From television and sport to research and government, the University has outstanding alumni across all sectors.
  • Be an expert in a dedicated area of business with an MBA specialism pathway certificate.

learning-outcome

Learning Outcomes

The Birmingham MBA will equip you with the latest business thinking:

  1. Build personal values and accountability through responsible, purposeful leadership
  2. Grow the analytical skills needed for smarter decision-making
  3. Carry out research, learning to analyse and integrate complex information
  4. Promote an ethical, inclusive, innovative and supportive culture to drive sustainable business improvement
  5. Enhance your skills in negotiation, communication, leadership and stakeholder management, with added digital and interpersonal skills

Further Studies & Career Prospects

Graduates may take a major step towards developing an international or strategic focus in their careers. While some will accelerate their careers with existing employers, others can create potential for change.

Major directions include jobs in

  • Banking
  • Business analysis and development
  • Corporate finance and investment
  • Human resource management
  • Management and strategic consulting
  • Marketing

Graduates may further their studies in the PhD and doctoral programmes in universities around the world upon completion of this programme.

Hear from our students
Alvin Ho
Alvin Ho

Although he spent his early years in the engineering field, Alvin Ho, decided to venture into what he was deeply passionate about – health and fitness. After gaining valuable industry experience, Alvin equipped himself with an MBA degree from SIM-University of Birmingham to deepen his knowledge. He went on to take up the position of chief operating officer position at Vitacare Medical Group and currently runs an online platform Fitvate to empower individuals to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Read story

Why study at SIM x University of Birmingham

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SIM is the leading private education institution in Singapore. 
uni-of-birmingham-ranked-90
University of Birmingham ranked 80th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2025).
uni-of-birmingham-no1-most-frequented
First choice for graduate employment among UK’s top employers (The Graduate Market in 2024, High Fliers Research). 
uni-of-birmingham-gold-rating
Fully taught by Birmingham academics 
Learn more about University of Birmingham

Intake Dates

Jan 2025 intake

PROGRAMME DURATION

6 Jan 2025 to 31 Dec 2026
(2-year programme)

APPLICATION PERIOD

Now till 2 December 2024 (Local & International applicants)

All applicants are to apply for the main MBA programme. Students may opt for the specialism pathway in the course of their study. 

Dates are subject to change by the University.

Jun 2025 intake

PROGRAMME DURATION

Jun 2025 to May 2027
(2-year programme)

APPLICATION PERIOD

Please check back periodically for updates. 

All applicants are to apply for the main MBA programme. Students may opt for the specialism pathway in the course of their study. 

Dates are subject to change by the University.

The programme is designed to be completed in two years. Participants may take up to four years (maximum candidature period) to complete the programme.

There will not be any refund or recourse should participants fail to complete the programme within the maximum candidature period.

Curriculum

Structure

  • Comprises 13 taught modules (140 credits) and a project (40 credits).
  • Fully taught by Birmingham academics from the UK home campus to ensure equivalent academic inputs to the Singapore programme.
    View a list of lecturers’ teaching modules (PDF 12.3KB)
  • Average teacher-participant ratio is 1:50. 
  • Exemptions: Nil  
  • Minimum class size to commence: 25 students 
  • If the class fails to commence due to low take-up rate, students will be informed within one month before programme commencement with the refund of application fee.

Taught Modules

  • The programme aims to deliver a learning experience that is relevant to MBA participants’ day-to-day work, under the ethos of transforming knowledge from all core business disciplines into practice and contemporary responsible behavious. 
  • Strong focus on developing responsible leadership and strategies, whilst learning about the latest industry challenges. Practice orientation, authentic assessments, research-informed teaching. 
  • Delivered through blended study mode that incorporates in-person elements, such as lectures, workshops, class discussions, and presentations, preceded by introductory online lectures and tutorials. 
  • A module is delivered over 7 weeks with a 2.5-hour online kick-off lecture session on week 1. On Week 4, 20 hours would be delivered face-to-face by Birmingham’s academic on Friday evening, full-day Saturday and Sunday. On week 6, a 2.5-hour online session will be delivered to assist with the assignments. 
  • Classes generally held on SIM campus unless otherwise stated
  • Course materials are available online. Participants are expected to bring their laptops for classes.

Project

  • There will be workshops, consultation sessions and assigned supervisors to guide participants on dissertation.

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Assessment & Attendance

  • Attendance requirement – 100%
  • Typically, participants will need to complete each module’s assessments before proceeding to the next module.
  • Assessment schedule is subject to change by the University.

Taught Modules

  • Taught modules are assessed by coursework. Refer the UoB Canvas Page (accessible upon enrolment) for the latest assessment schedule updates.
  • Re-assessment will be advised by the University for participants who did not fulfil the passing requirement of any taught modules.

Project
 

Participants are required to choose 1 project from the 3 available projects (40 credits):
  • MBA Company Project; or
  • Entrepreneurial Project; or
  • Research Project: Dissertation

The chosen project, along with Purposeful Leader (20 credits), collectively contributes to a total of 60 credits, dedicated to independent learning through student research within the MBA Programme.

The required word length of the project for completion will range from 9,000 to 10,000 words, depends on the chosen project.
 

*Coursework can take a variety of forms including essays, practical assignments, presentations and reports etc. Some coursework may be group-based.

Requirements to Graduate

  • Obtain a total of 180 credits to attain the Master of Business Administration awarded by the University of Birmingham.
  • A degree congregation presided by University of Birmingham is annually held in November on SIM’s campus. Alternatively, graduates can choose to attend the ceremony in July or December in the UK.
  • The awarded degree and degree certificate is the same as that awarded in the UK.


Student Performance Outcome
Above 92% passing rate over the last 3 years.
(Source: The statistics are derived from the combined average of last 3 years.)

Graduate Performance Outcome
For the Class of 2023, 93% of MBA students achieved Distinctions and Merits.

Modules

  • Purposeful Leader (20 credits)
  • Global Perspectives on Responsible Business (10 credits)
  • Understanding the Economy (10 credits)
  • Accounting, Accountability and Decision-Making (10 credits)
  • Managerial Finance (10 credits)
  • People Management and Organisations (10 credits)
  • Marketing (10 credits)
  • Strategy in a Complex and Uncertain World (10 credits)
  • Sustainable Operations (10 credits)


Notes: The Purposeful Leader module combined with the 40-credit Project makes up 60 credits of independent guided learning based on student research within the MBA Programme.

  • Digital Marketing (10 credits)
  • Corporate Communication and Reputation Management (10 credits)
  • Entrepreneurship and Innovation (10 credits)
  • International Business in A Complex Environment (10 credits)
  • Change Management (10 credits)
  • Crisis and Resilience Management (10 credits)
  • Fintech, Digital Finance and Blockchain (10 credits)
  • The future for Southeast Asia Economies: regionalisation and de-globalisation (10 credits)

  • MBA Company Project (40 credits)
  • Entrepreneurial Project (40 credits)
  • Research Project: Dissertation (40 credits)

Notes: For Entrepreneurial Project, students must have completed the pre-requisite module - Entrepreneurship and Innovation before taking this Project module.


Download module details for intakes before Jul 2023:

Download module details for intakes from Jan 2025:

Notes: The modules listed here and on the University’s website may occasionally be subjected to change to ensure consistency with the UK programme. In such a scenario, you will be informed of any changes. 

Students are required to own a laptop equipped with at least Microsoft Windows 10 or Apple MacOS Catalina (10.15) and 8GB RAM (recommended).

Admission Criteria

All admissions are based on merit and are subjected to the final approval of the Programme Director of MBA programme. Applicants may be interviewed prior to acceptance into the programme.

International applicants can be considered for admission into this part-time programme.
 

Accepted Entry Qualifications

  • A good honours degree (or equivalent) with at least five years of work experience with evidence of extensive management experience or professional responsibility; or three years exceptional work experience.

Mature candidate route: 
  • At least 30 years old, with at least ten years of work experience and an acceptable qualification below bachelor's degree.

Applicants with equivalent professional qualifications can be considered.
All other qualifications and experience will be assessed on individual merits.

English Language Requirements

  • A minimum of C6 pass in English as First Language at GCE ‘O’ level; or
  • IELTS 6.5 (with at least 6.0 in each band); or
  • TOEFL iBT: 88 (with 20 in Listening, 21 in Reading, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing); or
  • Pearson Test of English (Academic): a minimum of 59 in all four skills; or
  • Equivalent
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Fees and Financial Aid

The fee is payable on a modular basis before each taught module’s commencement.

View all payment modes

Programme Fees 

Fees are valid for intakes from January 2025.

Total: S$44,341.20*

*Fees are inclusive of 9% GST, and the fee above includes online course materials.

Mandatory One-time Fee

All fees inclusive of prevailing GST.

 

Application Fee

Payable for each application form that is submitted. Fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. The fee will be refunded fully only if the intake does not commence. Unpaid applications will not be processed.

All applicants are to apply for the main MBA programme. Students may opt for the specialism pathway in the course of their study. 

Practitioners, Professionals from both          local & overseas are welcome to apply:
S$109.00


All international applicants will have to travel to Singapore to attend face-to-face sessions. Entry into Singapore should comply with the prevailing Public Health as well as Entry Requirements.
For more information, please visit www.ica.gov.sg.