Graduatestudy

Canterbury

THE KENT MBA2018

EFMD

1www.kentmba.com

WHY CHOOSE THE KENT MBA?

AN AMBA-ACCREDITEDPROGRAMMEThe Kent MBA carries the Associationof MBAs (AMBA) accreditation, whichrepresents the highest standard ofachievement in postgraduate businesseducation and is awarded to only the bestMBA programmes in the world. Studentsand employers consistently recognise thatanMBA with AMBA accreditation is anassurance of global quality.

CORPORATECONNECTIONSKent Business School prides itself ondelivering first-class academic degreescombined with real-world businessconnections. During the Kent MBAprogramme, global organisations presentlive case studies and projects. You alsoengage in a week of consultancy withbusinesses and have access to a diverserange of private and public sector experience.

A GLOBALCOMMUNITYConveniently located close to London andmainland Europe, Kent Business Schoolprovides a vibrant multicultural learningenvironment that enables you to gain aglobal perspective on business affairs.

CMI QUALIFICATIONKent Business School has joined forceswith the Chartered Management Institute(CMI) to give students the opportunity togain, alongside the Kent MBA, the CMILevel 7 Diploma in Strategic Management& Leadership (QCF) on the successfulcompletion of your studies. The CMI iscommitted to excellence in managementand leadership and the CMI qualificationis highly sought after by employers.

EUROPEAN STUDY TOURAs a student of the Kent MBA, you have theopportunity to visit two of Kent’s Europeancentres on a five-day study tour. During theEuropean Study Tour you attend workshopsand seminars, and also work with Europeanorganisations on the practicalities of doingbusiness in Europe.

FLEXIBLE STUDYOPTIONSWith the Kent MBA, you have the optionto complete your programme in one year offull-time study, or combine it with work andfinish in two or three years. The programmemodules are designed in single-week blocks,where full-time and part-time students benefitfrom integrated study.

WELCOME FROM OURDIRECTOR

Kent Business School is a top 20 UK business school,committed to excellence by providing world-class, thought-provoking programmes. We are a school of innovation,acting as an intellectual hub, developing sustainableapproaches that address organisational and societalchallenges.

Committed to developing ethical and responsible leaders,managers and entrepreneurs, we view ourselves as a placeof transformational learning and are one of only four UKuniversities featured in the Times Higher Education AlmaMater Ranking.

Our teaching is underpinned by high-qualityinternational research. In the most recent ResearchExcellence Framework, we were placed 25th in the UKfor research intensity in business and management, with98% of our research judged to be of international quality.

A kite mark of our global distinction and rigorousacademic teaching is also reflected in our accreditationfrom the Association of MBAs (AMBA), as well as ourmembership of the Associate to Advance Collegiate Schoolsof Business (AACSB) and the European Foundation forManagement Development (EFMD). Practice relevance ofour programme is ensured through our collaboration withthe Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

We are dedicated to ensuring our students receive a qualityinternational business education and a global outlook in astate-of-the-art learning environment. This commitment ismanifested in a new building, a £30 million investment bythe University, which is the base of our MBA programme.We very much hope to welcome you to our new home.

Professor Martin MeyerDirector, Kent Business School

Kent Business School / The Kent MBA2

3www.kentmba.com

CONTENTS

A world-class education 4The Kent MBA 6Real-world engagement 7Student profile 8Programme structure and delivery 10Research excellence 12Career development 14Entry requirements, applications and funding 15Come and visit us 17

Quintin Lake

4

A WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION

We are a world-class business school,combining high-quality research andrigorous teaching with real-worldrelevance and strong links to thebusiness community.

actively involved in research, our academics arepassionate about their subjects and about sharingtheir knowledge with students, as well as withthe wider academic and business communities.They guide and support your learning, not only incurrent best practice, but also in the latest businessthinking and emerging concepts and theories.

Teaching in the School is also supported by leadingexperts from business and the professions, as wellas visiting academics from other universities, whowork closely with our permanent academic team.

A global outlookWe believe that an international perspective onbusiness benefits all of our students. Kent BusinessSchool has over 40 internationally recognisedacademics from 23 different countries. Most ofour teaching faculty are involved with researchingthe latest issues in business and management,actively working with organisations to providenew insight for business leaders and policymakers.Their knowledge and research findings feed intothe MBA to ensure it is cutting-edge and globallyrelevant.

Students on the Kent MBA programme comefrom a wide range of backgrounds and locations,including the UK, Europe, the Far East, MiddleEast, Asia, the Americas and Africa. You willtherefore be part of a vibrant community ofexceptional graduate students who are developingtheir professional knowledge. The diversebackgrounds of staff and students in the

School create a dynamic learning environment,offering plenty of opportunity for insight, discussionand debate.

Business connectionsOur well-established links with international,national and regional businesses ensure we havethe capability to impart real-world skills and thelatest business knowledge. We have long-standingrelationships with leading organisations, includingBarclays, Cummins Power Generation, EnterpriseRent-A-Car, IBM, The London Institute of Bankingand Finance, KPMG, Lloyd’s of London, the Bankof England and Kent County Council.

Highly ranked schoolKent Business School has over 25 years’experience of delivering high-quality businessdegrees, enabling you to graduate with thespecialist expertise and practical skills requiredto meet the challenges of today’s businesses.We continually rank among the top 20 businessschools in the UK, as confirmed by The CompleteUniversity Guide 2018 and the National StudentSurvey 2016.

The School is a member of the EuropeanFoundation for Management Development (EFMD)and the Chartered Association of Business Schools(CABS). We have an international reputation for thehigh standard and quality of our programmes,which have received accreditation from leadingprofessional bodies, including the Association ofMBAs (AMBA), the Chartered Institute of Logisticsand Transport (CILT), the Chartered Institute ofPersonnel and Development (CIPD), the CharteredInstitute of Marketing (CIM) and the CharteredManagement Institute (CMI). We are currentlyseeking confirmation of accreditation with theGlobal Association of Risk Professionals (GARP)and the Professional Risk Managers’ InternationalAssociation (PRMIA) for our finance programmes.

Kent Business School has recently become asignatory of the United Nations’ Principles forResponsible Management Education (PRME).PRME provides a global network for academicinstitutions to advance corporate sustainability andsocial responsibility, and an engagement frameworkfor the incorporation of universal values intocurricula and research.

Research excellenceKent Business School is proud of its strongresearch environment. In the most recent ResearchExcellence Framework, business and managementat Kent was ranked 25th for research intensity in theUK by the Times Higher Education. An impressive98% of our research was judged to be ofinternational quality, with 67% of that being ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’, placing us inthe top quartile of the UK’s business schools.

Expert staffAt Kent Business School, you are taught byexpert staff with experience in a wide range ofmanagement disciplines. Whether they have aparticular area of professional expertise or are

Kent Business School / The Kent MBA

“I chose the Kent MBA as Iwanted to study at a top 20university in the UK on anAMBA-accredited programme;I also heard that the levelof education provided isunbelievable. I was notdisappointed as my time at theUniversity of Kent representedone of the best phases of my life.”

Dima Hourani (Jordanian)Relationship ManagerStandard Chartered BankKent MBA, 2015

5www.kentmba.com

During your studies, you also have the chance toengage in a number of industry-led activities andnetworking opportunities, including live case studywork and current business challenges, globalsustainability challenges, guest lectures andseminars.

Dynamic publishing culture Our staff frequently publish in leading internationaljournals, conference proceedings and books.Among others, they have recently contributedto: Journal of Product Innovation Management;Technological Forecasting and Social Change;British Journal of Management; European Journalof Operational Research; Human ResourceManagement Journal; and Quantitative Finance.

Worldwide partnershipsIn addition to our links with professionalorganisations, Kent Business School has strongpartnerships with leading academic institutionsworldwide, including:• Audencia Nantes School of Management

(France)• Hong Kong Baptist University• Universiti Teknologi Malaysia• University Carlo Cattaneo (Italy)• University of Ingolstadt, Bayern (Germany)• City University of Hong Kong• University of Hong Kong• Renmin University of China, School of Business• IE University (Spain)• Neoma Business School (France)• EBS University of Business and Law (Germany).

Excellent locationThe School is conveniently located at the Universityof Kent’s Canterbury campus, close to continentalEurope and with easy access to London.Canterbury’s historic city centre is just a 25-minutewalk or short bus ride away. It’s a small but beautifulcity with stunning medieval buildings, lively barsand pubs, restaurants and cafés, and a wide rangeof shops. At the heart of the city is the world-famous Canterbury Cathedral, which is one of thevenues for the University’s degree ceremonies.

Canterbury also makes an ideal base from which totravel further afield. High-speed trains run regularlybetween Canterbury West and London St Pancras,and take less than an hour. You are also in closeproximity to airports, the Channel ports and theEurostar Terminals at Ashford and Ebbsfleet,from where you can reach Paris or Brusselsin approximately two hours.

Resources and facilities Kent Business School provides the idealenvironment for you to achieve your full potentialand gain the most from your studies. Set in abeautiful woodland environment, our purpose-designed building offers spacious teachingfacilities, including executive seminar and lecturerooms, a dedicated MBA suite and ASPIRE LabSpace, as well as access to excellent IT facilitiesand learning resources.

Sibson, the new home of Kent Business School atCanterbury, opened in spring 2017. This significantinvestment marked 25 years of education andgrowth within the School, and offers staff, studentsand visitors a state-of-the-art building with newteaching and learning spaces and modernsocial and breakout areas which encapsulatethe School’s academic values and identity.

Kent Business School shares the building withthe School of Mathematics, Statistics and ActuarialScience. The impressive design includes double-height, top-lit arrival areas, both at ground floorlevel and on the second floor. The building has itsown outside café terrace and inspiring views ofwoodland from the main teaching and sociallearning spaces.

You also have access to all campus amenities,including the Templeman Library, the SportsCentre, Medical Centre, cafés, bars and bistros,the Gulbenkian Theatre and Cinema, the Colyer-Fergusson Concert Hall, the Graduate Schooland dedicated postgraduate facilities.

Developing your employabilityKent has an excellent record of graduateemployment: 98% of our postgraduate studentswho graduated in 2016 found a job or furtherstudy opportunity within six months.

Kent Business School presents a wealth ofopportunities for you to gain much more thanyour degree. Our strong connections with globalorganisations provide the chance for youto network and acquire useful connectionsto enhance your student experience and increaseyour employability. We hold events and activitieswith organisations and associations that will benefityour learning experience and enhance your futurecareer prospects.

We provide a friendly, international learningenvironment that allows you to forge associationswith friends and colleagues while at the School andalso after graduation, as part of the Kent BusinessSchool Alumni Network. These connections remainwith you long after you graduate and could provideassistance in your future career.

“I selected the Kent MBA becauseof its reputation and becauseKent Business School has agreat community atmosphere.I considered five otheruniversities; however, they didnot offer the same exposure toindustry as Kent. Students aresupported in forming businessconnections and encouraged tointeract with organisations.”

Ozkan Gul (Turkish)Finance Lead,AKSA Energy, IstanbulKent MBA, 2013Q

uintin Lake

6

THE KENT MBA

The Kent MBA delivers practical andapplicable knowledge that transformsyou into a responsible, innovative,and entrepreneurial business leader,using sustainable managementpractices for the advancement of localand global communities. We ensureyou develop the necessary skills tomake a significant contribution toany organisation and enhance thescope and potential of your careeralong with your earning ability.

The curriculum combines a range of learningmethods to help you understand and embed thispractical knowledge, and practice the associatedskills.

The style of teaching on the Kent MBA is inclusiveand allows you to gain from our academics’knowledge and also to share and discuss yourexperiences and ideas. Our classes offer a morepersonal learning environment than most otherMBA programmes. This enhances your learningexperience and enables you to gain the most fromyour studies and those around you.

Real-world corporate experienceAt Kent Business School, we believe thatthe experience gained from our corporateconnections is a key part of the Kent MBA.We deliver networking opportunities to connectyou with local and national businesses, providingan exciting opportunity to sharpen your ownsustainable and responsible leadership skills. Youare also given access to a diverse range of privateand public sector projects on which to base yourend-of-year reports. For more information on thebenefits of our corporate connections, seeopposite page.

As a student of the Kent MBA, you are encouragedto think, question and find solutions alongsideacademic staff, organisations and fellow students.You are surrounded by strategic thinkers withcommercial flair and global perspectives. Theconnections you make during this time will befor life.

High-quality teachingOne of the strengths of the Kent MBA is KentBusiness School’s international faculty. Eachmodule convenor is chosen for their enthusiasm,corporate experience, personal knowledge,networks and international contacts. They impartthe practical knowledge you need to succeed ina senior leadership role.

Kent Business School / The Kent MBA

“The Kent MBA programme isthe right way for me to blendmy already acquired skills withfurther study and experience inorder to move forward. AEuropean university withdiversity at its heart, Kent is mylocal university which gives meflexible study options to suit myneeds while I continue working.”

Sunday Enumah (UK)Retail LeaderKent MBA, 2016

THE KENT MBAPROFILE 2016/17 Average age: 37 yearsAverage work experience: 12 yearsFemale to male ratio: 9:11Nationalities represented: 10

CONTINUED OVERLEAF

7

REAL-WORLD ENGAGEMENT

The Kent MBA maintains close linkswith the corporate world and weare committed to giving our studentswide-ranging experiences across thespectrum of small, medium and largeorganisations in both the private andpublic sectors.

Consultancy WeekLaunched in 2010, Consultancy Week is an initiativeof the Kent MBA, which provides a high-qualityconsultancy service to small and medium-sizedenterprises. Consultancy Week offers businessesthe opportunity to bring a business problemto a team of Kent MBA students who makerecommendations by providing feedback inday-long interventions with each of the companies.The shared sense of entrepreneurial dedicationto business from the business owners and theinvolvement and commitment of the studentscontributes to high-quality, value-delivering outputand experience for all involved. You benefit from theopportunity to apply your academic and practicalskills to a real-world situation.

Our approach to the Kent MBA Consultancy Weekinitiative has been to engage a largely neglectedmarket space with the experience of our studentsand their ability to contribute effectively withrecommendations to the concerns and problemsof small and medium-sized enterprises.

Corporate enterprises have direct access toour students through our effective relationshipsas defined by our engaging live case studyprogrammes, internships, consultancies, guestlectures and executive in-residence sessions.

We provide you with recruitment activities,such as corporate presentations and on-campusinterviews, actively supported by a robust platformof career-focused sessions throughout theacademic year.

Our effective corporate relationships guaranteeyou valuable exposure to the business world andprovide organisations with the opportunity to workwith and recruit talented future leaders.

Cummins Power GenerationThe Kent MBA gives you the opportunity to deepenand develop your knowledge of organisationaloperations. Through Cummins’ live case studyevents, you are able to put your newly acquiredaptitudes and skills into practice on live businessissues, presented by senior managers from theparticipating organisations. The events aredesigned to enhance analytical, presentationand written skills in a time-constrainedenvironment.

Our successful Cummins’ live case study eventswere formally introduced as part of the assessmentin the International Business and Strategy modulesof the Kent MBA in 2011. The case studies havebrought immediate value to our students throughtransferable learning practice and network buildingand, at the same time, allowed them to effectivelyprovide reflection on the business challenges forCummins.

RareRare is rated as one of the top non-governmentalorganisations (NGOs) in the world. Links betweenthe Kent MBA and Rare continue to grow with theNGO returning for a fifth consecutive year, workingin collaboration with the MBA programme onprojects aimed at transferring business skillsand ideas to the environment.

The Kent MBA enables Rare to access theexpertise of our students. In return, you receiveinvaluable practical experience of a multinationalNGO heavily involved in creating a sustainableglobal environment. These projects provide insightinto how NGOs operate.

The projects also give you the opportunity todevelop sustainable and responsible managementpractice, gain a deeper understanding of thechallenges NGOs face, as well as sharpen yourleadership, communication and consultancy skills.These projects provide a range of excitingchallenges for Kent MBA students.

www.kentmba.com

“Rare has been fortunate tofurther develop its qualityproduct offering by workingwith students on the Kent MBA.One of the projects looked intodeveloping a global trainingprogramme to promotesustainable behaviour change.The multi-country, multi-lingual, multi-stakeholderviability study and associatedbusiness plans confirmed theneed for, and potential of, thisconcept. Aspects of the projectare already in the early stagesof planning for testing inChina.”

Paul ButlerSenior Vice-President, Global Programmes, Rare

8

STUDENT PROFILE

What did you particularly enjoy about yourstudies/time here?The Consultancy Week gives students anopportunity to apply what they have learnt onthe course in a real business setting. It was reallychallenging and tested whether or not I coulddemonstrate the skills I had learnt to companiesoutside of Kent Business School. It taught me alot, mainly through working hard with my fellowstudents and meeting enterprises face-to-face.I really enjoyed the experience.

I also enjoyed socialising with fellow students aftera period of intensive coursework, presentations orexams.

Which modules did you enjoy the most,and why?From the business and management perspective,I found that every module linked to another in someway. There were several connect-the-dots situationsin every module, which reflected my previousworking experience and I enjoyed figuring themout every time. In that sense, I particularly enjoyedIntroduction to Strategic Management andContemporary Issues in Strategic Management.

What about the teaching?The teaching was professional and the academicsare very friendly and open-minded, so it was easyto talk to them.

What was the level of support like at Kentfor postgraduates?The support was very good. The Student LearningAdvisory Service offers lots of workshops andevents to help students, from skills workshops toadvice about time management, academic writing,dissertations and extended essays. Our teacherswere also happy to help.

What were the facilities like in your schooland on campus generally?The facilities within Kent Business School areexcellent. The library was a useful space in whichto study and communicate with fellow students andteachers, with dedicated PCs and printing servicesand quiet study areas.

What does doing a further degree give youthat a first degree does not?I found that I had the time to really focus on thesubject. Doing a further degree after a periodin the workplace helped me to link academicknowledge, such as theories and businessframeworks, to the real business world. It gaveme a clearer picture of how I can make use ofwhat I have learnt in a business setting.

How did your course lay the foundationsfor your chosen career path?It gave me an opportunity to expand the scopeand scale of my previous career experience andenabled me to access the global business scenethrough learning about case studies involving largemultinational enterprises. I learnt a wide variety ofbusiness and management skills through anacademic and a practical approach.

What are your future plans/aspirations?After my previous experience as a managementconsultant, I would like to start my own business.

What advice would you give to graduatesthinking of coming to Kent to study atpostgraduate level?I would urge them to prepare themselves well,choose to study a subject they really enjoy andcan immerse themselves in and be proactive –the postgraduate experience at Kent will offerthem every possible opportunity.

Kosuki Usui previously workedas amanagement consultant forcompanies in Japan. He recentlygraduated from the Kent MBA.

What attracted you to the course?Having had an eight-year career as a turnaroundconsultant for SMEs in Japan, I wanted to learnbusiness and management skills, more specifically,strategy, marketing and innovation. As I also haveinternational experience related to business andmanagement, I thought the Kent MBA was the bestchoice to satisfy my requirements.

Why did you choose to study at Kent?Kent Business School’s AMBA accreditation,ranking and reputation appealed to me. Also, theKent MBA is just the right size, allowing studentsand academics to interact well together. Thestudents are relatively mature and come from adiverse range of backgrounds, all of which madethe programme very appealing to me.

As an international student from Asia, Kent is veryattractive because of its fabulous location, closeto continental Europe and London. In addition,Canterbury is a beautiful, historic city.

Kent Business School / The Kent MBA

A TOP UKUNIVERSITYKent is a leading university andis ranked 22nd in the UK in TheGuardian University Guide 2018.

9www.kentmba.com

Diverse student bodyEach year, the Kent MBA programme attractsa diverse range of people from the publicand private sectors as well as a number ofentrepreneurs. In a typical cohort, we havestudents from ten to 15 nationalities, with averagework experience of 11 years. This ensures thatlocal and international students learn from oneanother, make lifelong connections and developa global outlook.

European connectionsComprising 28 member states with a totalpopulation of over 500 million and a GDP ofapproximately €14bn, the EU is a major worldtrading power.

The University of Kent is known as the UK’sEuropean university, with campuses in the UKand study centres in Brussels, Paris, Athens andRome. As a student of the Kent MBA, you have theopportunity to visit two of these locations on a five-day European Study Tour, where you learn aboutthe structure, policy, law and finance of the EU aswell as the practicalities of doing business inEurope.

Programme flexibilityThe Kent MBA is a modular programme, structuredin one-week modules, with sufficient time forindividual and group research and study. It isdesigned to be flexible, allowing you to tailoryour studies according to your interests. You canchoose to complete the Kent MBA in one year offull-time study or combine it with your career orother commitments, completing your studies overtwo or three years part-time.

Kent Business School holds MBA briefing sessionsevery month. These sessions provide you with anopportunity to discuss the MBA with the ProgrammeDirector and a current student in order to see howthe programme could fit with your own personalcircumstances and career aspirations. Registerat www.kentmba.com

Ongoing career supportThe Kent MBA focuses on career developmentand employability from the first day you arriveon campus. Specialist advisers deliver workshopsthroughout the academic year and provideindividual support to guide you in your post-MBAcareer path. Workshops and clinics are supportedby sessions on negotiation skills, leadership andhow to market yourself effectively. Networking isfacilitated by alumni, internships or studentprojects, live case study events, ConsultancyWeek, the European Study Tour, and other eventsdelivered throughout the year.

For more information on the careers help weprovide at Kent, see www.kent.ac.uk/kbs/careers/pg.html

Kent Business School AdvisoryBoard and Kent MBA CouncilThe School Advisory Board provides externalcomment and advice to the Senior ManagementTeam on strategic issues and comprises high-level,regional and international executives.

The Kent MBA Council is represented by seniorexecutives, some of whom are Kent MBA alumni,from both national and international organisations.These individuals provide leadership andcorporate advice to the Kent MBA programme aswell as opportunities for MBA students to interactwith the business community.

Lifelong network and continuingprofessional developmentKent MBA graduates form part of an enthusiasticSchool alumni network which supports the Schoolby organising keynote speakers, providing projectsand case studies, assisting at recruitment fairs andorganising events. In addition, graduates becomepart of the Association of MBAs Alumni Networkand have access to Kent Business School’squalified careers practitioners for up to threeyears after graduation.

One of the unique features of the Kent MBA isthe opportunity to continue lifelong learning andprofessional development after graduation. KentMBA alumni can return to the School to join oneof our optional modules, free of charge.

“The Kent MBA has greatlyimproved my critical thinkingand this has proven to bean invaluable skill in theworkplace. I benefited fromapplying what I had learntin lectures to genuine businesscases and really enjoyed thisaspect of the programme. Theassessment and study methodswere varied and included acombination of exams, essays,live case studies, workshopsandMBA forums, which keptthe learning experience engagingand exciting. Kent taught meto think dynamically, applya strategy and plan my career.Overall, I am delighted that Ichose to study my MBA at KentBusiness School.”

Ozkan Gul (Turkish)Finance ExecutiveAksa EnergyKent MBA, 2015

Term 1

Orientation and Induction

Welcome event to get to know key members of staff, fellow students andMBA alumni, followed by workshops and team-building activities.

Strategic People Management

The focus of the module is on the strategic aspects of managing peoplewithin an organisational context.

Introduction to Strategic Management

You learn to define strategic management by looking at the determinants ofstrategy in the external and internal environment.

Skills workshops

Negotiation workshop.

Skills workshops

Workshops designed to assist with: business skills; analytical skills; BusinessReport.

Leadership and Change

This module familiarises you with major contemporary research evidence oneffective approaches to leadership and development practice.

Marketing Analysis and Planning

This module examines market orientation, product and brand development,channels of distribution and pricing, communicating with customers andstrategic planning.

Study and reading week

You have time for group study, workshop attendance, and individual studyand reading.

Skills workshops

Managing upwards, sideways and downwards workshops.

Operations Management

You study the importance of customer orientation, its strategicand operational role in gaining competitive advantage and theinterrelationship between operations and marketing. You learn to analyseand improve operating problems, information systems and their impact onorganisations.

Accounting and Financial Management

You study the impact of financial and legal environments withinorganisations; financing of the business enterprise; sources, uses andmanagement of finance; and use of accounting for management andfinancial reporting applications.

Revision week

Time to study and attend revision sessions.

Skills workshops

Effective self-marketing workshops.

10

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE AND DELIVERY

The Kent MBA is designed around acore of general management themes,with opportunities for you to exploreareas of interest through a choice ofoptional modules.

Both full-time and part-time students follow the samestructure and content. You take 11 compulsory taughtmodules and choose one optional module to enhancespecific knowledge or interests.

Kent Business School / The Kent MBA

You are also required to complete one project inyour own time: the MBA Business Report.

The Kent MBA offers workshops, seminars andstudy weekends to enhance your managementskills. Our aim is to develop you as a responsibleleader with an understanding of sustainablepractices.

The programme begins with an orientationand induction weekend. The weekend bringsstudents together and includes study and

research skills training as well as team-buildingactivities and programme orientation.

The diagram below shows a typical full-timetimetable. The modules listed may be subject tochange to reflect market requirements. Forstudents looking to complete the programme overtwo years, five compulsory modules are typicallytaken in Year 1 and five in Year 2 along with oneoptional module. In the second year, you arealso required to complete the MBA BusinessReport.

11www.kentmba.com

Diagram key

Compulsory module

Optional module

Term 2

Exam week Contemporary Issues in Strategic Management

The module allows you to critically review current theories and frameworks ofstrategic management, apply these approaches to a variety of organisations,industry contexts and markets, and to examine the relevance of strategicmanagement thinking to practitioners.

International Business

In this module, you analyse the complexity and diversity of the internationalbusiness environment, evaluating major trade and foreign direct investmenttheories and concepts, and investigate the modern multinational enterprise,its evolution and the subsidiary mandates.

Consultancy Week – SME engagement

Kent MBA students engage with over 15 businesses in a consultancycapacity.

Study and reading week

You have time for group study, workshop attendance and individual studyand reading.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Management

The final compulsory module adopts the perspective of studying CorporateSocial Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability management within the contextof corporate strategy.

The Fundamentals of Corporate Finance and Investment

You examine the financial market environment in which companies operate.Aspects of the efficiency of financial markets and the implications of theseare investigated.

Study and reading week

You have time for group study, workshop attendance, and individual studyand reading.

Models for Decision Making

You learn to understand the nature and importance of business andmanagement modelling in practice and how to use modern quantitativetechniques and tools to analyse managerial problems.

European Study Tour

You attend workshops on the policy, law and structure of the EU as well asthe practicalities of doing business in Europe.

(Option) Entrepreneurship You explore the emergence and development of the discourse of enterpriseand its impact on entrepreneurial behaviour.

Business simulation

A live case study to integrate the different business disciplines covered inthe programme.

(Option) Delivering Innovation

You study the key concepts and approaches to innovation managementin different sectors and the impact of internal and external factors onimplementation.

Exam week

12

RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

In the most recent Research Excellence Framework, business and managementat Kent was ranked 25th for research intensity in the UK by the Times HigherEducation. An impressive 98% of our research was judged to be of internationalquality, with 67% of that being classed as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationallyexcellent’, placing us in the top quartile of the UK’s business schools.

Management ScienceThe Management Science group covers a widerange of research areas in Operational Researchand Systems Thinking. These include research inthe area of logistics, including green logistics andnetwork security with a special emphasis on theinnovative design and analysis of heuristic andexact optimisation, DEA, operations management,multi-variate analysis, biometrics, multi-methodology and Soft OR/Systems.

MarketingResearch in this group cuts across four maindomains: marketing strategy and performance;product development and innovation; buyerbehaviour; and the management of supply (value)chains and market delivery systems. Strong linkswith industry and an international network ofresearch partners support the group’s empiricalresearch, and a growing body of postgraduateresearch students is at the heart of the theoreticaland conceptual work in which the group isengaged.

People, Management and OrganisationResearch examines key themes in the areasof employment relations, human resourcemanagement, organisational behaviour andleadership at both national and internationallevels. The group covers a wide range of researchtopics, including: employment relationships;the role of social partners; the effects of skills,technology and culture on the world of work;employee engagement; and the role of leadershipin determining organisational performance.

The group includes researchers from a variety ofacademic backgrounds. It therefore works froma multidisciplinary perspective, utilising bothhistorical and futuristic perspectives.

Strategy and International BusinessThe Strategy and International Business groupcarries out research in strategic managementand international business. Current researchtopics include: corporate social responsibility;dynamic capabilities and performancemanagement; international business in Centraland Eastern Europe; international strategicalliances; internationalisation of professionalservices firms; management of multinationalenterprises; management of not-for-profitorganisations; and non-market strategies.

Areas of research expertiseResearch activities at Kent Business School arebroadly organised into six dedicated areas ofbusiness management.

AccountingMembers of the Accounting group haveestablished strong international reputations for theirresearch in public sector or critical accounting andaccounting history across numerous publicationsand books. Recent topics include privatisation,health and new public management.

FinanceThe Finance group addresses academicallyinteresting and practical contemporary issuesin finance and banking. Staff pursue researchin several areas, including: derivatives pricingand risk management; financial econometrics;international banking; financial regulation;corporate finance; asset pricing and real-estatemodelling.

Kent Business School / The Kent MBA

13www.kentmba.com

Centres of applied researchWe are proud of the role we play in businesscommunities locally and internationally. Ourfour centres of applied research interact withthe corporate world and foster links with otheracademic and research institutions globally.

Anglo-Chinese Business and ManagementCentreDirector: Professor Steve LiuThis is the first collaborative research centre of itskind between China and the UK, providing a jointresearch unit for Kent Business School and ourpartners in the Chinese Academy of Sciencesand the Beijing Foreign Studies University.

Centre for Employment, Competitivenessand GrowthDirector: Professor Yannis GeorgellisProviding world-class research on performanceissues relating to work, employment relations andleadership, the Centre works with hundreds ofsmall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) andthe policy community that supports them. It hosts

‘Promoting Sustainable Performance’, a multi-method research programme which identifiesthe characteristics of higher-performing SMEs,and provides exclusive access to data andcontact with regional SMEs.

Centre for Logistics and HeuristicOptimisationDirector: Dr Maria Paola ScaparraThe Centre uses developments in the areaof logistics heuristic research and practicaloptimisation research to tackle real-life problemsin the public and private sectors. Acting as afocal point, the Centre attracts visiting scholars,research fellowships and PhD students, and assistscompanies in solving complex strategic, tacticaland operational problems.

Centre for Quantitative FinanceDirector: Professor Radu Tunaru The Centre provides excellence in the researchof contemporary issues in financial markets thatrequire a quantitative approach. Its main role isto carry out research that fills the gap between

academia and current problems faced by theindustry, whether in conducting comparativestudies on pricing and risk managementmethodologies, or designing improved financialproducts that can serve the wider communitybetter, or simply being the first stop forpolicymakers, hedge funds managers or financehouses where they can commission quantitativestudies on topics in which they do not haveexpertise.

Further informationFor more information about the research activitiesat Kent Business School, see www.kent.ac.uk/kbs

WORLD-LEADINGRESEARCHIn the most recent Research ExcellentFramework, the School was ranked24th for the breadth and depth of itsresearch across the whole communityof research-active staff, according toanalysis by the Chartered Associationof Business Schools.

14

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Whatever your career goal, an MBA from Kent Business School equips youwith an impressive portfolio of skills, specialist knowledge and practicalexperience to help you succeed in a competitive job market.

Kent Business School delivers specialistworkshops, seminars and talks throughout the year,which are designed to enhance your future careerprospects.

Taught postgraduate students can also chooseto apply for a place on the Global Skills Awardtraining programme. Delivered by the GraduateSchool, the programme is specifically designedto consolidate your awareness of current globalissues and improve your employability.

Kent Business School AlumniNetworkKent Business School has a thriving alumni network,which facilitates social, business and networkingopportunities. With over 15,000 graduates, it keepsalumni in touch with each other, with the School,with current students and with the latestdevelopments in business.

Careers and Employability ServiceOur award-winning Careers and EmployabilityService can help you to plan for your future byproviding one-to-one advice at any stage ofyour studies. It also provides online advice onemployability skills, career choices, applicationsand interview skills. In addition, Kent BusinessSchool’s qualified careers practitioners providesupport to all our MBA students for up to threeyears after graduation.

Student enterpriseBuilding on our students’ growing enterpriseculture and activities, Kent Business School canhelp you to develop enterprise skills and businessideas. The Mitali & Divyendu Kumar ASPIRE isa flagship initiative of the University and KentBusiness School. ASPIRE (Accelerator Spacefor Innovation and Responsible Enterprise) is anenvironment where innovative ideas are broughtto fruition. It is a place of entrepreneurial and trulytransformational learning, welcoming studentswho have radical ideas and are not afraid toexperiment with them. Students benefit from theBusiness Start-Up Journey, the school’s flagshipco-curricular entrepreneurship programme, aswell as seminars, networking sessions andmasterclasses.

Further informationwww.kent.ac.uk/ceswww.kent.ac.uk/employabilitywww.kent.ac.uk/kbs/aspire

Enhanced career prospectsKent has an excellent postgraduate employmentrecord: 98% of our postgraduate students whograduated in 2016 found a job or furtherstudy opportunity within six months.

Our students gain much more than a businessqualification when they graduate from the MBAprogramme. Employers and top business recruiterslooking to acquire the best managers and futurebusiness leaders recognise that Kent MBAgraduates have received the highest qualityeducation most relevant to the changing demandsof the business world. They respect our dedicatedteaching, reputation for delivering internationalbusiness expertise, leading global research andan outstanding international learning experience.

The University and Kent Business School alsoprovide a comprehensive package of skillsdevelopment training programmes, careersadvice, and volunteering and paid workopportunities to accelerate your careerprogression.

Whatever your chosen career path, even ifyou are still unsure, we will equip you with theacademic knowledge, together with a broadrange of transferable skills, to make you adesirable candidate.

Industry experienceKent Business School has excellent relationshipsand links with many of the world’s toporganisations and other leading academicinstitutions and partners, providing opportunitiesto widen your experiences and enhance yoursoft skills.

The Kent MBA combines a rigorous groundingin business theory with opportunities to put thisinto practice through global live case studies,Consultancy Week, working with a range ofbusinesses on live issues and internshipswith high-profile, multinational corporations.

Throughout the programme, you engage with arange of organisations – small, medium and large,and regional to multinational – allowing you to testtheories immediately in real-world situations.

Skills developmentAt Kent, we help you to gain transferable skillsthrough your MBA programme and also throughparticipation in the University’s range of skillsdevelopment programmes.

Kent Business School / The Kent MBA

“The Kent MBA gave me theconfidence to discuss at aC-suite level literally anybusiness subject that could comeup and to move between differentdepartments in joint projectswhenever necessary. Since Igraduated from the Kent MBA,I have moved to a seniorconsulting role withinmy company.

“It is an excellent programme,which can significantly boostyour career by letting youdevelop the areas on whichyou would most like to focus.It’s great fun to study as well.I would highly recommend it.”

Ioannis Lionis (Greek)Global Business Development Manager,Vodafone Global Enterprise, LondonKent MBA, 2012

15www.kentmba.com

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS,APPLICATIONS AND FUNDING

Below, you will find information on entry requirements and applicationprocedures for the Kent MBA.

Entry requirementsTo apply for the Kent MBA, you must normallyhold a good honours degree from a UK universityor other approved university and/or an equivalentprofessional qualification. Exceptions will beconsidered for senior managers with more thanten years’ managerial work experience.

Applicants must hold a minimum of three years’full-time postgraduate managerial work experience,which could be from the private, public or thirdsector.

All applicants who meet the entry requirementsfor the Kent MBA will be invited to have a personaltelephone interview with the Programme Directoras part of the admissions selection process.

Applicants who do not meet the entry requirementsfor the Kent MBA may wish to consider our othermanagement programmes. Please visitwww.kent.ac.uk/kbs for further details.

English language requirementsStudents whose first language is not English, andwho live or study in a non-majority English-speakingcountry are required to have an appropriategrade/score in an approved English languageexamination as defined by UK Visas andImmigration (UKVI).

The English language requirements for all ourprogrammes are as follows:• International English Language Test (IELTS)

with a minimum overall score of 6.5 (whichincludes a minimum of 6.0 in each component)

• Pearson Test of English Academic (PTEAcademic) with a minimum overall score of62 (which includes a minimum of 60 in eachsubtest)

• Cambridge English: Advanced and Proficiencywith a minimum overall score of 176 (whichincludes a minimum of 169 in reading andwriting, and 162 in speaking and listening)

• Internet-based TOEFL with a minimum overallscore of 90 (which includes a minimum of 22in reading, 21 in writing, 20 in listening and 22in speaking).

Only English language tests taken up to a maximumof two years prior to the date of registration will beaccepted for admission to the University. Seewww.kent.ac.uk/ems/eng-lang-reqs for full details.

The University offers pre-sessional coursesfor students who need to improve their Englishand study skills before joining a postgraduateprogramme. For more information, seewww.kent.ac.uk/international-pathways/pre-sessional

Please note: if you are applying for entry to a pre-sessional programme, and require a Tier 4 studentvisa, the University can only accept a valid SecureEnglish Language Test (SELT) as proof of Englishlanguage, alternative qualifications will not beaccepted. IELTS is the only approved SELTprovider acceptable to UKVI.

Please ensure that you check the University’swebsite for up-to-date information on Englishrequirements to ensure you meet the latestrequirements made by UKVI.www.kent.ac.uk/ems/eng-lang-reqs

The University also provides additional Englishlanguage support throughout the year at noadditional cost.

How to applyYou can apply for the Kent MBA online via theUniversity’s website at www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgrad/apply Please ensure that all supportingdocumentation is submitted with your onlineapplication form. You will need to show the originalsof your scanned supporting documentation whenyou come to enrol on the programme. On receiptof your online application, you will be sent anacknowledgement email. All communication withKent Business School in respect to your applicationwill be made via email. It is, therefore, importantthat you supply us with a unique personal emailaddress on your application form. If you areprocessing your application through an agent,we will copy the agent into all your formal decisioncorrespondence from Kent Business School.

Required documentationWhen making your application, you must submitthe following:• completed online application• statement of purpose, outlining your reasons

for applying for the MBA at the University ofKent and Kent Business School

• degree certificate and academic transcript• full and detailed curriculum vitae or résumé in

which you demonstrate your career progression.Please note that internships or part-timeemployment will not count towards the minimumthree years’ managerial work experiencerequired

two reference letters, one of which must be fromyour current or most recent employer and theother academic. Online references must be froma verifiable email address and not a webmailaddress such as yahoo or gmail, for example

• certificate of English language proficiency fornon-native speakers (from a test taken withinthe last two years)

• copy of passport (international students only).

Application deadlinesAs places are limited, we advise applicantsto submit their application early to guaranteeconsideration of an offer, ideally before the end ofMarch to take advantage of our Early Bird Scheme.We will ensure that your application, once received,is given the highest level of professional attentionand review. We can usually give you a decision onyour application within one or two weeks from initialreceipt, providing you have submitted a fullycompleted application with supportingdocumentation.

Applications for the Kent MBA received after 31July will be considered on a case-by-case basisif places are available.

Kent Business School offers regular MBA briefingsessions at its Canterbury campus for candidateswishing to undertake the Kent MBA, both on apart-time and full-time basis. These sessions,run by the Programme Director, enable you to findout more about studying the Kent MBA, includingdiscussions with current students/alumni. Pleasesee our website for more details, including datesand times of sessions.

DepositA deposit of £1,000 will be required when youaccept an offer to secure your place to studyat Kent Business School and will be deductedfrom your tuition fees. Should you not meet theacademic requirements of your offer, your depositwill be refunded in full. The deposit can be madesecurely via the University’s Online Store athttps://store.kent.ac.uk

If you pay your deposit by 30 April and haveapplied before 31 March, you may be able to takeadvantage of our Early Bird Scheme (see p16).

Tuition feesThe annual tuition fees for 2018/19 for both full-time and part-time students on the MBAprogramme can be found at www.kent.ac.uk/finance-student/fees

Fees will increase year on year by no more thanRPI+3% in each academic year of study, exceptwhere regulated. Where fees are regulated

(such as by the Department of Business Innovationand Skills or Research Councils UK), they willbe increased by an amount up to the permittedincrease.

Students from the UK, European Union (EU) oroverseas pay the same fee regardless of fee-paying category.

Payment of tuition feesYou must pay fees in advance at the beginningof each academic year. There are two main waysof paying:• in full • in two instalments – 50% on or before

registration, and 50% by 1 December. Part-timestudents would pay in four instalments (two ineach year of study).

For students receiving full sponsorship from acompany or other party, a letter from the sponsormust be received detailing the full sponsorshipamounts.

Financial supportTo help fund your postgraduate studies, theUniversity of Kent has a generous budget inexcess of £9 million.

The University allocates over £7 million from itsown funds and attracts an additional £2 million toprovide a variety of financial support opportunitiesfor postgraduate students. There are a number ofSchool scholarships, as well as location-specificfunding, sport and music scholarships, andfunding specifically for overseas fee-payingstudents.

Kent Business School Early Bird SchemeKent Business School is offering applicantsincentives to commit early under our Early BirdScheme. Applicants who apply before 31 Marchand subsequently accept their offer and pay theirdeposit by 30 April will automatically receive a10% discount on their MBA tuition fee. For furtherdetails about the Scheme (including all terms andconditions), see www.kentmba.com

Kent Business School Scholarship Kent Business School is able to support MBAstudents through its merit-based scholarshipto help reduce the cost of postgraduate study.

We can award funding to exceptional studentswho are likely to perform consistently at thetop of their class and/or make an outstandingcontribution due to their work experience and/ordiversity of background. Scholarships are awardedto students who have the potential to be successfulambassadors for Kent Business School duringtheir studies and, following graduation, as partof the School’s alumni community, assisting withnetworking and recruitment events and fairs intheir home countries.

In addition to the main postgraduate scholarshipsavailable through Kent Business School, we arepleased to be able to offer the following dedicatedMBA Scholarships:

Women in Leadership Scholarship (full and part-time)Successful candidates must demonstrateacademic excellence, and a depth and breadth ofprevious work experience in leading and inspiringfemale colleagues to develop and succeed inbecoming strong business leaders across theirchosen business sector. Successful awardeeswill receive 50% off the MBA tuition fee.

Leaders in Sustainability Scholarship (full and part-time)Successful candidates must demonstrateacademic excellence, and a depth and breadthof previous work experience in leading sustainableand social business causes and inspiringcolleagues to develop and succeed in becomingstrong sustainable business leaders of the future.Successful awardees will receive 50% off the MBAtuition fee.

SME Entrepreneur and Innovator Scholarship (part-time)Kent Business School are pleased to be ableto offer five SME Entrepreneur and InnovatorScholarships to students applying for the part-time Kent MBA. Kent is a region built on smalland medium sized businesses and as such we arekeen to engage with local entrepreneurs who jointhe Kent MBA on a part-time basis. Successfulcandidates will have run their own successful localbusiness for a minimum of five years and will nowbe looking to develop their business or organisationfurther while also providing a positive economicimpact in our region. Successful awardees willreceive 50% off the MBA tuition fee.

Corporate Discount (part-time)Kent Business School is looking to engage withlocal and regional businesses who seek to furtherdevelop their managerial staff across all businessdisciplines. We are therefore pleased to be ableto offer corporate discounts to those companieswishing to sponsor one or more of their staff toundertake the Kent MBA on a part-time basis.For businesses that sponsor two or more studentsin any given academic year, we can offer a 50%tuition fee discount to each student sponsored. Thisdiscount is not available to University of Kent staff.

More details can be found at:www.kent.ac.uk/kbs/courses/msc/funding.html

Successful candidates will be asked to contributeto the School by undertaking activities, which mayinclude sitting on the Student Council or becominga student representative. Other activities thatscholarship awardees can undertake includeplaying an active part in the running of theStudent Business Society on campus, becomingan e-buddy for prospective applicants, writing astudent blog or assisting with postgraduaterecruitment events on campus.

For more information, see www.kentmba.com

16 Kent Business School / The Kent MBA

Application checklist

Completed online application

Statement of purpose

Academic transcript

Degree certificate

Professional qualification(if applicable)

A full and detailed curriculum vitae or résumé

Two professional reference letters (at least one from your current employer)

Certificate of proficiency in English (if applicable). Test scores over two yearsold will not be accepted

Copy of passport(photo ID pages only)

Kent Business School Bursary Fund Kent Business School can also assist MBAstudents via its bursary fund. For more information,see www.kent.ac.uk/kbs

Further informationThe details of postgraduate student funding areconstantly being updated. For the most up-to-dateinformation on the financial awards available,please see www.kent.ac.uk/pgfunding

Applying for accommodationIf you wish to apply for campus accommodation,you need to have received an offer for a placeto study and make an online application foraccommodation by 31 July. Please seewww.kent.ac.uk/accommodation for furtherinformation.

Contact detailsGraduate Admissions Office,Kent Business School,Sibson,University of Kent,Canterbury, Kent,CT2 7FS, UK

T: +44 (0)1227 824650F: +44 (0)1227 761187E: kentmba@kent.ac.uk

17

COME AND VISIT US

We welcome and encourage you tovisit our campuses and specialistpostgraduate centres.

Further informationGraduate Admissions, Kent Business School,Sibson, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent,CT2 7FS, UKT: +44 (0)1227 824650F: +44 (0)1227 761187E: kentmba@kent.ac.uk

Recruitment and Admissions Office, The Registry,University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NZ, UKT: +44 (0)1227 827272F: +44 (0)1227 827077

International Recruitment, The Registry,University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NZ, UKT: +44 (0)1227 824904F: +44 (0)1227 823247E: international@kent.ac.uk

The University holds a number of organisedevents, such as our general Open Days and alsopostgraduate information events, which give youa flavour of what it is like to be a student at Kent.Please see www.kent.ac.uk/opendays or contactthe Recruitment and Admissions Office for furtherdetails.

If you are not able to attend one of these plannedevents, you are still welcome to visit the Universityand join one of our campus tours. The tours areconducted by Kent students/graduates who willbe able to give you an insight into what it is like tobe a student at Kent. Alternatively, we can provideyou with a self-guided tour leaflet, which includesthe main points of interest. For more details and todownload a self-guided tour, go towww.kent.ac.uk/informal

You can also explore the Canterbury campus inperson or from the comfort of your home throughour audio tour. Go to www.kent.ac.uk.courses/visit/informal/audio-tour.html to get started.

MBA briefing sessionsKent Business School hosts monthly MBA briefingsessions. If you would like to attend one of thesesessions, visit www.kentmba.com for furtherinformation and to register your interest.

International studentsThe University has many local representativesaround the world. If you wish to speak to arepresentative in your own country, simply contactInternational Recruitment or visit the website below.We hold interview and guidance sessions at theoffices of our representatives which enable youto meet with a member of staff.

Staff from the University visit many countriesthroughout the world, often at higher educationfairs, giving you the opportunity to speak to amember of staff who can answer your questionsabout all aspects of life at Kent. We also hold pre-departure events in-country for new students.

For further information, see www.kent.ac.uk/internationalstudent

Travelling to the Canterbury campus

CanterburyBy airThe nearest major airports to the Canterburycampus are London Heathrow (LHR) and LondonGatwick (LGW), both with excellent transport linksto central London and onwards.

By railLondon St Pancras to Canterbury West: journeytime approximately 56 minutes.

By busLondon Victoria to Canterbury bus station: journeytime approximately 120 minutes. Canterbury busstation to the University (regular service): journeytime approximately 15 minutes.

By roadFrom London, the north and west: M25, (M20), M2,A2. Canterbury central ring road, A290 WhitstableRoad, St Thomas Hill, approximately one mile(1.6km) up the A290, University entrance onright (signposted) near the top of hill.

Campus mapwww.kent.ac.uk/maps/canterbury

www.kentmba.com

This brochure was produced in July 2017. The Universityof Kent makes every effort to ensure that the informationcontained in its publicity materials is fair and accurateand to provide educational services as described.However, the courses, services and other matters maybe subject to change. For the most up-to-date information,see www.kent.ac.uk/pg and for full details of our termsand conditions, see www.kent.ac.uk/termsandconditions

For the University to operate efficiently, it needs to processinformation about you for administrative, academic and healthand safety reasons. Any offer we make to you is subject to yourconsent to process such information and is a requirement inorder for you to be registered as a student. All students mustagree to abide by the University rules and regulations at:www.kent.ac.uk/regulations

Canterbury

Brussels

Paris

London

Medway

Tonbridge

EurostarFerry

Gatwick

Heathrow

Orly

Charles de Gaulle

France

S

United Kingdom

Belgium

C

COME ANDVISIT US

University of Kent, The Registry, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NZ T: +44 (0)1227 764000 www.kent.ac.uk/pg

To find out more about visiting the University, see our website:

www.kent.ac.uk/visit

EFMD

DP

C 1

2489

0 0

7/17

PU

B94

0