Online Global MBA
Distance Learning
Part-time
Two year
September 2025
In a nutshell
Our part-time, flexible two-year Online Global MBA is designed for ambitious professionals, who strive to become strategic leaders and deliver real impact for their organisations.
Tackling the challenges future business leaders face, our Master's of Business Administration explores sustainability, innovation, digital transformation and entrepreneurship, to provide you with the strategic management and leadership skills needed to succeed.
Throughout the online MBA programme, you will engage with your peers and the industry to explore ideas and broaden your global network. You will be pushed to think critically through practical-based learning, business simulations and real-life scenarios.
Find out more:
- By email (UK applicants): enquiries@salford.ac.uk
- By email (international applicants): international@salford.ac.uk
Six reasons to choose our Online Global MBA:
- Become an effective leader through practical-based teaching
- Explore solutions to your organisations’ challenges to see immediate results
- Develop a global perspective on the challenges facing businesses and the ability to lead strategically in an ever-changing landscape
- Access personal and professional development training
- Engage with peers and industry-leading professionals to build your global network
- Get maximum flexibility to complete the course at your own pace
students accepted
All about the course
Our Online Global MBA course consists of ten 15-credit taught modules and one 30-credit individual consultancy project. The 15-credit modules run in pairs and consist of seven weeks of teaching followed by three weeks to complete the assessment. The summative 30-credit individual consultancy project is a standalone module, completed over ten weeks. The scheduled programme duration of our distance learning MBA is two years, but there are options to slow down or speed up your studies to fit around your other commitments such as your work, personal or family life.
You may choose to complete the programme on a module-by-module basis. However, all students need to complete the introductory Contemporary Issues in the Global Business Environment module as their first module since this module provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the current challenges and trends in the global business landscape. It will serve as a foundation for the rest of the program equipping students with the necessary knowledge and skills to tackle complex business issues.
The programme is delivered as distance learning and will include a range of online materials including learning materials, videos, independent and group activities. This flexible format allows students to access the course materials and participate in discussions at their own convenience, making it ideal for working professionals or those with busy schedules. Additionally, our online platform provides opportunities for students to collaborate with classmates from around the world, fostering a diverse and global learning experience. Throughout the programme, you will be expected to undertake substantial independent study.
Upon completion of the first 120 credits, you will progress onto the final 60 credits of the Online Global MBA course where you will develop the skills required to undertake the independent consultancy project, usually on behalf of your organisation.
Contemporary Issues in the Global Business Environment
This module introduces you to contemporary global business challenges in the context of worldwide mega-trends. By completing this module, you will understand the global relevance and interdependencies of large-scale trends, derived from four different mega-trends: environmental, economic, societal, and technological. You will explore the consequences, risks and challenges to develop an understanding of the effects of climate change, resource scarcity, economic crises and artificial intelligence on international organisations.
Strategic Leadership and Change
This module will develop your strategic leadership skills and the ability to respond to different contexts, from setting a vision to strategic planning, implementation and review. You will explore agile team working, organisational learning, innovation and sustainable and ethical competitive performance within a range of contexts, both within and between organisations, nations, communities and interested groups. By the end of the module, you will have developed a deep understanding of intercultural leadership, team working, learning and change styles and competencies across the spectrum of strategic leadership practice.
Sustainable and Responsible Business
During this module you will explore the foundations and governance of responsible business, drawing on the globally recognised framework, the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). You will examine the SDGs to gain an understanding of their application by businesses, across different sectors and business functions. The module will also cover business accountability, transparency, corporate social responsibility and the consequences of work so you will develop a critical understanding of the role of business in society.
Financial Decision Making for Business Leaders
This module will provide you with an insight into how modern-day business leaders can use financial and non-financial data to underpin successful decision-making. You will learn about financial management in its strategic and statutory context, to give you a wider appreciation of the financial tools and techniques that you will use as a future business leader.
Marketing in the Digital Age
In this module you will analyse the role of marketing within the organisation and its impact on business performance and external communications. By completing this module, you will gain a fundamental understanding of the role of marketing within the digital age with an emphasis placed on the use of data, digital marketing strategy, tools and influencing techniques. Additionally, you will gain a critical awareness of the challenges facing digital marketers today including ethical issues and accurate reporting challenges.
Creating Value through Supply Chains, Procurement and Project Management
Throughout this module, you will explore how efficient and effective supply chain management can generate significant competitive advantage and deliver the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit/value. You will discover the importance of supply chain competitiveness and develop a thorough understanding of the agile and flexible approaches needed for successful project management.
Innovation and Digital Transformation
This module will enhance your understanding of the ‘Digital Revolution’ and how to develop the processes, business models and culture needed to harness future technological advancements. You will enhance your knowledge of a range of different topics relating to the digitalisation of organisations including the use of data visualisation and analysis to support effective decision-making and how to manage digital transformation and business innovation.
Knowing and Developing Yourself for Professional Success
During this module, you will evolve your personal and interpersonal effectiveness to support your career development and enhance your professionalism. You will enhance your self-management in the workplace, gain an understanding of how to manage interpersonal relationships at work and cultivate strategies for managing conflict, stress and building resilience.
Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship in a Disruptive World
In this module, you will start by exploring traditional strategic thinking and decision-making to understand where business strategy is today. Before gaining a deeper understanding of why strategic management needs to evolve from a rigid planning process to a flexible, entrepreneurial process. By the end of the module, you will have developed your entrepreneurial thinking and understand how to utilise this in your organisation to help them compete in a hyper-competitive environment.
Researching Business Problems and Opportunities
This module will help to prepare you for the summative individual consultancy project. You will develop an understanding of the role of research in addressing business and management opportunities and challenges. Throughout the module, you will examine the different tools and methodologies used to assess problems and opportunities whilst reflecting on how to source, collate, analyse and evaluate data to support informed decision-making.
Individual Consultancy Project
This module will require you to draw on your previous experience and reflect on your own professional practice. This module will equip you, a future business leader, with the skills and knowledge to make informed strategic decisions within your workplace. Throughout this module, you will build transferable skills including digital skills and reflective learning practices, which will be key for your future career development.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
Assessment Methods
- Case study analysis
- Business reports and spreadsheets
- Financial statement analysis
- Presentations
- Business simulation exercises
- Simulated media interviews and business pitches
- Reflective blogs
- Personal development plan
- Structured research proposal
Programme Leader
Dr Susantha Udagedara has over 20 years of experience in research and teaching in the UK, China and Sri Lanka. Previously, he taught business management-related subjects at the University of Kelaniya (Sri Lanka) and had visiting appointments at the University of Rajarata (Sri Lanka) and the Manchester International College (UK).
Dr Udagedara works as an external examiner and has supervised and supported a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate research projects. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and continues his research in entrepreneurship, innovation and small business-related issues in both advanced capitalist countries and emerging countries.
Dr Udagedara is also a member of the Senet Sub-Committee appointed for academic audit and programme approval and renewal at the University of Salford.
Life afterour Online Global MBA
There is no typical career path for students who graduate from our online Global Master's of Business Administration. Instead, graduates’ careers take many different directions, spanning multinational firms, start-ups and family businesses, governmental organisations and higher education institutions.
Examples of private sector roles of Salford MBA graduates:
- Chief Executive Officer (Everton Women, Everton Football Club)
- Head of Marketing Communications (Motul)
- Executive Director (Corporate Treasure Operations, Goldman Sachs)
- Technical Director – Growth (Capita)
Examples of public sector roles of Salford MBA graduates:
- Director of Administration (Punjab Information Technology Board)
- Senior Vice President (Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology)
- Chief Executive Officer (Christie Hospital NHS Trust)
- Foreign Service Officer (U.S. Department of State)
While other graduates have remained within the university sector, developing academic careers in various higher education institutes around the globe such as China, Vietnam and the UK.
Career Links
Our part-time, distance learning Online Global MBA has been informed by the industry, in particular the Institute for Leadership and Management.
The Global MBA programme team have strong links to a range of organisations at the forefront of global business. Our team have curated a selection of industry-leading guest speakers who will share their insights and experiences both online and as part of the residential workshop.
All students of our Online Global MBA will be supported by the Salford Business School Employability Hub which provides opportunities for additional engagement with the industry.
What you need to know
Undergraduate degree
- A minimum of 2:2 honours degree in any discipline
- At least three years of work experience
International students
- A minimum of 2:2 honours degree in any discipline
- An IELTS score of 6.0 with no element below 5.5
- At least three years of work experience
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.
Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).
How much?
Type of study | Year | Fees |
---|---|---|
Distance learning | 2024/25 |
£8,550* |
Distance learning | 2025/26 | £8,550* |
*There is an option to pay for the Online Global MBA module by module. The cost per 15-credit module is £712.50 and the cost per 30-credit module us £1,425. If you are paying per module, please be aware that fees may increase in subsequent years
All set? Let's apply
Still have some questions? Contact us:
By email (UK applicants): enquiries@salford.ac.uk
By email (international applicants): international@salford.ac.uk
By phone: +44 (0) 161 295 4545