100% online MBA Finance

Study a flexible and 100% online Finance MBA with a Ranked No. 1 in the UK university for Teaching First Generation students, and progress to the top in your finance career

Apply by:

11 June 2024

To start:

25 June 2024

180 credits •
Complete in as little as 14 months •
£7,740 total fees

Choose Wolverhampton

85% of research ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally important’ (latest REF)
Business School established for more than 80 years
Ranked 28th in UK for Business and Management (Guardian University Rankings 2024)
Courses developed with industry partners
Option to pay per module
Alumni discount available
Ranked No. 1 in the UK university for Teaching First Generation students

Succeed in finance

The employer-focused online Finance MBA that develops the 360-degree skill set of today’s finance leader.

In recent years, the demand and supply dynamic for finance leaders has drastically changed, with demand far outstripping supply for highly commercially-minded finance leaders. Technical competence, the capability to drive and define the commercial agenda, and the ability to assess and refine a business plan against current financial markets are all keenly sought after by employers. And the skill set required to succeed as a finance leader is much broader than it used to be.

The online MBA Finance from the University of Wolverhampton is designed for senior management and executives who are likely to have significant exposure to financial issues. If you have ambitions to progress to board level in public or private businesses, in financial institutions or other sectors, or to take on responsibilities which include managing financial or accounting professionals, this online master’s has been created to help you to succeed.

This MBA course has been designed closely with employers to equip you for success in senior financial services management roles, including senior finance manager, head of tax, head of finance, finance director and CFO. Central to this Finance MBA is problem-based learning, referencing real-world practice throughout. It has been shaped by our significant expertise in teaching MBA courses, and organisations across a diverse range of sectors, including retail, health, education, and business have already benefited from developing their leaders in finance and many other disciplines through our transformative MBA courses.

Study from anywhere, anytime

A learning experience based on interaction and a flexible study model.

Whilst studying this online master’s course, you will learn in a carefully designed online learning environment where you will interact on discussion groups and via forums, learning from tutors as well as fellow MBA students – finance leaders and aspiring finance leaders from across the world. The rich learning experience that this provides you with is truly rare, and it is also a unique opportunity to build your international professional network, making this a truly global MBA.

If you have a job and family commitments, the flexible delivery of the online MBA Finance is specifically tailored to the demands on your time. You can access course content whenever is convenient for you, on your terms. This enables you to fit your studies around the rest of your life and avoid difficult trade-offs in a way that is clearly not possible with other modes of study. You can continue to earn, stay in your current role and apply what you learn as you progress, developing your career prospects in the process. You will also have the additional support of a dedicated Student Success Coordinator, who will support you in your studies from enrolment through to graduation.

This online MBA is available worldwide and has six start dates per year, allowing you to begin within a matter of weeks. Entirely by design, because it is taught and studied entirely online, it can provide career opportunity and advancement to a global audience of students and can be studied from anywhere, without ever needing to visit campus.

What you will learn

The online MBA Finance has been designed to improve understanding of technical finance and develop the ability to ask the right questions and understand the answers. In addition to developing your finance knowledge and capabilities, you will learn how to motivate and lead people and teams, and will develop a comprehensive knowledge of other key areas of national and international business, including operations, marketing and supply chain management.

Knowledge and skills taught include:

Leadership and people management skills
Financial management
International finance
Entrepreneurial finance
Financial statement analysis
Organisational strategy
Operations management
Strategic marketing
Supply chain management
Sustainability in business

Teaching and research excellence

As an institution that has been providing opportunity to ambitious individuals for more than 80 years, the business school at the University of Wolverhampton was one of the very first UK business schools to offer MBA courses. This history and the extensive experience resulting from this history is supplemented by a highly experienced academic team. Drawn from a range of business and management backgrounds, many have held senior positions in multinational and blue-chip organisations.

The wealth of business experience and experience in MBA research and teaching have helped to create a unique finance MBA course that provides current and aspiring finance professionals with the 360-degree knowledge base and skill set that they need, either to step up to or succeed in senior finance leadership roles.

Entry requirements for home and international students

Applicants should have or be about to complete:

A recognised undergraduate or postgraduate degree (or equivalent qualification) from an accredited college, institution, or university, equivalent to or higher than a UK bachelor’s degree with honours
All applicants must have at least two years of relevant work experience in a professional, managerial or supervisory role

Or:

If the applicant does not hold a recognised degree or hold an ordinary degree, they should have at least three years of relevant work experience in a professional, managerial or supervisory role

Fees

Total fees: £7,740

Per 15-credit module fee: £645

If you are based in the UK, you may be eligible for a government postgraduate loan to cover the full costs of the course. You will need to self-fund your first module/s to enrol.

University of Wolverhampton alumni discount: If you have successfully completed an undergraduate degree at the University of Wolverhampton, you are eligible for a 10% tuition fees reduction.

Modules

Leadership and People Management

This module introduces people management and effective leadership practice within the organisation. In particular, it analyses themes that relate to the changing landscape of people management including: the strategic organisational context of attracting and selecting people for work; training; performance management; and the employment relationships. It also deals with the actual way in which effective business leaders emerge within organisations and how they use people management practices and their distinct qualities, such as cross-cultural awareness to motivate and reward diverse employees. It provides you with the opportunity to optimise your potential and be involved in the day-to-day decision-making processes within organisations that advocate change as a route to achieving competitive advantage.

On successful completion, you will be able to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge and focused awareness of the internal and the wider business context in which to manage and lead effectively within and across teams.

Financial Management and Control

Managers in all sectors are required to take account of the financial impact of their decisions. Whether they are being required to approve the purchase of new plant and machinery, increase or decrease the workforce, increase marketing efforts, or authorise the new strategic and budget plans, one of the key aspects of the decision is the financial impact. Managers therefore need to understand financial reports, be able to question the information provided in them and make decisions based upon the information provided by them, and have an understanding of risk management.

This module seeks to enable you to make well-informed decisions based upon a sound knowledge of financial reports, systems, and developments in the accounting and financial environment.

International Finance

Making a sound corporate financial decision in an international environment is a complex activity. Poor financial decisions and strategies can lead to organisations not maximising shareholder value. This module enables you to understand the international financial system and apply the various international financial strategies available to international corporate managers across global businesses.

Entrepreneurial Finance

Small businesses often encounter financial difficulties in maintaining their operations and/or in satisfying their development aspiration. Given the fact that small businesses form the backbone of most economies, this module aims to explore the approaches small firms can follow to secure finance to survive and succeed in the hyper-competitive market. Different options of financial support are investigated including venture capital, angel finance and bank finance, as well as trade credit, financial bootstrapping, and small firm loan guarantee schemes. The principal-agent problem and the notion of asymmetric information are discussed, in parallel to the debate on financing special enterprises, such as firms led by women or ethnic minority entrepreneurs. Beyond these, government initiatives and policy agenda are also examined to evaluate the impact of institutional intervention on small business economy.

Analysing Financial Statements

The ability to understand, analyse and question financial information is essential to current managers whether they have a financial or general management role. This module enables you to read, analyse and question the information that is provided by the financial accounting system. The areas covered by this module include both the financial and management accounting information which operational managers will need to contend with in the course of their career.

Organisational Strategy

This module introduces practical techniques for identifying emerging trends in the business environment, both in a national and international context. It encourages the use of conceptual frameworks and practical tools and techniques to improve the quality of strategic decision-making, and develops the insights and competencies needed to present strategies and business plans in a persuasive manner.

Operations and Supply Chain Management

This module provides you with a firm foundation in the principles of operations and supply chain management. It introduces you to a broad range of operations management challenges facing managers working in modern organisations and equips you with the knowledge and tools to resolve them. The module explores the information needs of organisations and systems to support operations management processes. The focus of the module is on how firms can achieve competitive success through improving the processes involved in delivering products and services.

Marketing Strategy

Organisations face several challenges and opportunities which they have to respond to through marketing decisions. This module develops your understanding of the marketing decisions that organisations face. Through the application of marketing theory, models, and tools you will gain an understanding of the importance of the organisational environment and the impact this has for analysis, planning and control in a marketing management context.

Sustainability in Business

Climate change, resource depletion and population growth, and the role of business in society are amongst the most highly debated subjects today and create a profound challenge to the status quo for all organisations. But these issues also create opportunities for innovation and change, and the business case for acting sustainably is becoming increasingly persuasive. In this module, you will explore the range of meta-challenges facing business, understand the social and the business case for acting sustainably, and discuss how sustainability can be managed.

On successful completion of the module, you will have a critical understanding of the sustainability challenges and opportunities, and how businesses can manage these.

Research Methods

Dissertation or Business Case

In this module you are required to produce a piece of self-directed, original work on your chosen subject area, at an advanced level, based on independent research. This should demonstrate critical thinking an understanding of the philosophy and core principles of research (empirical or non-empirical) and show competence in the design, execution and reporting of a research project in a business and management context. You will develop an ability to carry out subsequent research independently and to commission, manage and evaluate the research activities of others. Effective leaders, managers, citizens, and employees need to be capable of basing their decision-making on information and knowledge derived from research. Therefore, the skills acquired producing the project will contribute to your effectiveness throughout your career.