An MBA challenges how you think and act in business. Employers want more from their managers than knowledge and strategic thinking – they also seek leadership skills, commitment and creativity. The Leeds MBA equips you to meet these challenges. We prioritise practice-based learning, and you’ll have the opportunity to apply your knowledge to real business scenarios. You’ll study the foundations of business management, such as marketing, accounting, finance, operations and human resource management. Crucially, you’ll explore how these different business functions interact, giving you an understanding of effective management at an organisational level. Other modules will allow you to explore emerging trends and developments, for example, Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, innovation, and industry 4. 0. Importantly, you’ll also enhance key qualities expected of leaders, including commercial awareness, interpersonal skills, a genuine understanding of the fundamental business functions and a critical and questioning outlook. You’ll gain an international perspective and build valuable connections, helping you become a global leader. Our full-time MBA is a one-year intensive course based on campus in Leeds. Drawing on the strengths of this vibrant city, you’ll work closely with resident academics and MBA colleagues from across the globe to develop your skills through study, coaching and practical application of the latest academic theory. Practical focus At Leeds, we focus on practice-based learning. An integral part of your MBA experience is the opportunity to work with industry and put the knowledge and skills you learn into practice. You’ll work with a range of organisations, consider different business case studies, learn from guest speakers, and apply your skills through the completion of three live challenges. Live ChallengesThe live challenges have been designed to give you the skills needed to step up to a C-suite position, pursue a career in consulting or start your own business. The challenges are devised in collaboration with business practitioners and real organisations, allowing you to apply your knowledge to genuine, contemporary business challenges. The New Venture Challenge, part of the Strategic and Entrepreneurial Management module, allows you to generate ideas for new commercial opportunities, often for a high-profile global organisation. During the Leading in Practice module, the Consulting Challenge gives you the chance to provide consultancy support to an external business, usually a social enterprise or voluntary sector organisation. At the culmination of your MBA experience, the capstone Innovation Challenge allows you to draw on everything you have learnt on the MBA to develop a new product or service as part of the Creative and Innovative Thinking module. Specialist services such as Spark, our on-campus business start-up incubator, can also help you develop your ideas further and take your new product or service to market. Find out more about the MBA live challenges. Professional connections The Leeds MBA will connect you to a network of corporate partners, practitioners and alumni, with plenty of opportunities to build your own professional network through your practice-based work. We have existing relationships with Marks & Spencer, IBM, Yorkshire Bank, Asda, Lloyds Banking Group, Universal Music, KPMG and the NHS, as well as many small and medium-sized enterprises, charities and social enterprises. You’ll meet prominent external speakers and connect with business professionals through networking opportunities, guest speaker events and alumni talks. Studying alongside MBA colleagues from a range of professional backgrounds will also broaden your perspective and provide you with a close support network that will extend beyond graduation.