Durham University MBA Program is offered by the business school of Durham University. Established in 1965, the school offers courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It is one of the most prestigious institutions of England & holds triple accreditation (AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS). In 2019, the Financial Times ranked Durham University MBA Program #43 in its Global MBA Ranking. The school has a large network of around 25,000 alumni from over 150 countries worldwide. Some of the renowned alumni of the school include Andrew Thorburn (CEO, National Australia Bank), Anwar Choudhury (British High Commissioner to Bangladesh), Barry Rowland (Chief Executive, Falkland Island), Kerryann Ifill (President of the Senate, Barbados), & Paul Madden (British High Commissioner to Australia).
The school offers 12 months as well as a 15 month MBA Program. Applicants are required to choose one between these two during the admissions process. For the class of 2018-19, 23% of the students chose a 15-month program, while the rest 77% enrolled for the 12-month MBA Program. The female to male ratio of the class is generally 1:1. In this article, we shall cover everything one needs to know about the Durham University MBA Program.
Curriculum:
The curriculum for the Durham University MBA Program is one of a kind. You will start your MBA program with foundation courses to improve your key knowledge & skills. You will study a variety of modules on subjects including leadership, accounting, & marketing, which will provide you with fundamental knowledge and skills for business.
During your MBA program, you will also have an opportunity to specialize in Entrepreneurship, consultancy, or technology. Each of the three includes two academic modules, skills workshops, and strategic insights provided by the industry experts.
You will also get several opportunities to apply your knowledge with experiential learning projects. One such program is the Strategic Business Project, where you will test your abilities in a live business situation. You will source, research, and then procure a recommendation to address a strategic business issue. Through this project, you will gain experience relevant to your career aspirations, enhance your professional network, and pitch yourself as a future employee.
As part of your MBA program, you will also visit an international business overseas. In addition to attending language classes throughout the year, you will visit leading international companies where you will test and examine academic business approaches in global companies and gain an appreciation of the complex nature of the different dimensions of business. It will help you to appreciate the challenges of global business and also give you the opportunity to apply your new language skills into practice.
Eligibility:
Academic Requirement:
Candidates applying for the Durham University MBA Program must have an upper second class UK bachelor degree or international equivalent.
However, a lack of formal qualifications is not necessarily a barrier to admissions if you have an excellent managerial experience.
Professional Requirement:
Students must have at least three years of continuous post-graduation work experience in positions demonstrating a high degree of responsibility. The class profile generally has 5 years of average work experience every year.
Standardized Tests:
A valid GMAT or GRE score is a must requirement to apply for the Durham University MBA Program. There is no minimum score requirement for the same.
Additionally, candidates whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate evidence of proficiency in the English language. The minimum score requirement for TOEFL & IELTS is 102 & 7.0, respectively.
Course Fees:
The tuition fees for the Durham University MBA Program for International non-EU students are £31,500 per year. The tuition fees are set according to the academic year of entry and remain the same throughout the program.
Other than the tuition fees, students must also consider living expenses. The college provides on-campus accommodation that costs around £6000-8000 a year. You can choose a self-catered or fully-catered option according to your choice. Or you can also look for off-campus accommodation (which is generally cheaper than the on-campus housing).
One should also consider personal & miscellaneous expenses of £500-800 a month.
Scholarships:
The school offers several merit-based scholarship opportunities to students with outstanding experience or an impressive academic record. You must demonstrate exceptional leadership skills. The scholarship decisions are based on your achievements & accomplishments so far.
Additionally, you can also fund your MBA program through private loan options. The school doesn’t recommend any financial institutions. You must do your own research and select the best available private loan scheme.
Placements Statistics:
94% of the 2018 graduates from Durham University MBA Program received a job offer within 3 months of graduation. The average salary of a Durham University MBA graduate 3 years after graduating is $120,556.
Reportedly, only 12% of the students accepted the offer within the United Kingdom. The rest 88% were placed internationally in several countries, including India (21%) and China (18%).
The top three industries where the majority of the students accepted the offer were
Financial Services 14%
Technology 14%
Consulting 11%
The top three functions for the 2018-19 Durham MBA cohorts were as follows:
Junior Manager/Supervision 25%
Middle Manager 25%
Professional/Specialist 16%
Some of the top employers were as follows:
PwC
Diageo
Hitachi
Airbus
EY
Accenture
Boeing
P&G
Unilever
Application Process:
Online Application checklist:
Academic Transcripts
Personal statement
English Language Test Score
Resume
2 referees’ details
GMAT/GRE score
Application Fee of £60
Interview:
After the submission of your application, it may take 4-6 weeks to get an invitation to interview if your application is shortlisted by the admissions committee. In most cases, international students are interviewed online through a webcam or via telephone.
The interview is conducted by the members of the admissions committee & lasts for 30-45 minutes. It generally includes standard MBA interview questions including, why MBA, why Durham, etc.
The admission committee focuses highly on how you will contribute to the Durham community. So make sure you convince the interviewers accordingly.
Essay Details & Tips:
Unlike other business schools, you will be required to submit a research proposal in between 2,000-3,000 words to successfully complete your application for the Durham University MBA Program. The research proposal is an integral part of your application as if helps the admissions committee to know your research plans and enable them to identify suitable supervisors who share your interest.
The school has developed a suite of tools that helps you to write your research proposal. The school’s online template gives you a framework for your proposal. You are simply required to download the form, fill it out, & upload it in the online application form.
Your research proposal will be evaluated in terms of whether you have the key skills to carry out the work, the academic reasons why you have chosen Durham University Business School, the clarity of your research question, and the importance of the topic.
Having been accredited by the three major quality assurance bodies (AACSB, AMBA, & EQUIS), Durham University MBA Program truly stands out from the rest. Durham is also consistently ranked as one of the world’s leading universities. The Durham University MBA Program will transform you & your career by enhancing your key business skills & leadership capabilities. So if you are planning to pursue the Durham University MBA Program, go for it without any doubt.
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