Full Time Business Administration

The world of business is not a tidy arrangement of subjects. Managers cannot neatly schedule their financial issues for a Tuesday afternoon and their operational ones for Friday. The reality is that issues cut across the business and across functions.

And that is how we approach business courses at Ashridge. The full time MBA degree reflects the realities of business.

Would you learn surgery from a doctor who has never performed an operation? On the Ashridge full time MBA, you will learn from faculty who have earned their living at the sharp end of business. Ashridge conducts research but not for research sake. We are not about theory in isolation. Theory is useless unless it can be applied. We find out what companies are doing, and how they can compete.

There are no lecture theatres at Ashridge, no classes packed with fresh-faced graduates. You will study for your full time MBA degree in a small, interactive group. At Ashridge there is nowhere to hide! Your fellow participants, like you, will already have at least five years industry experience (average 12+ years).

The full time MBA is an accelerated learning experience, particularly suitable for people experiencing or anticipating a significant career transition and/or change in career direction. It is an opportunity to take a year out of work to invest in an international experience that will stretch your thinking and your horizons.

Why Ashridge? Top Ten Facts and Stats

1. The Ashridge MBA is ranked 24th worldwide by the Economist Intelligence Unit, and first in the world for Salary Increase.
2. The Financial Times ranks Ashridge 1st in the UK for Customised Executive Education.
3. Ashridge is ranked 29th in the QS Top MBA Global Recruiters' Top 100.
4. Beyond Grey Pinstripes spotlights Ashridge as one of the top 100 innovative full-time MBA programmes integrating issues of social and environmental responsibility into curricula and research.
5. Ashridge is one of a handful of business schools worldwide to be accredited by AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB - the UK, European and American accreditation bodies for MBA programmes - guaranteeing quality and international recognition.
6. Looking for diversity, interaction and experience in the classroom? The current Ashridge MBA class comprises 14 nationalities among 26 participants with an average age of 37.
7. 80% of MBA's were employed within three months of graduation (Class of 2006).
8. Ashridge was one of the first business schools to contribute to the United Nation's Principles for Responsible Business Education, a framework for business schools to lead the advancement of good corporate citizenship worldwide (launched in Geneva, June 2007).
9. Ashridge works with over 500 corporate clients and 6000 executives across the globe each year. This includes two thirds of FTSE 100 companies.
10. In the run up to 2012 Ashridge is playing a key role in supporting British sport. In partnership with the British Olympic Association, Ashridge is spearheading a world-class sports coach development programme, which builds on the management and leadership skills of the UK's Olympic sports coaches.

What will I learn?

Stage One: The Fundamentals

MBA participants tend to arrive with extensive functional experience. The aim of stage one is to hone your skills in all areas, so you have a broad and robust knowledge across the business.

Once you have proficiency in the key areas, we move on to dealing with business themes in an integrative way.

And because the fundamentals are so important, they are the focus of your exams at the end of the first eight weeks. This is not popular, but it is certainly effective!

Via interactive discussions, case studies and business simulations, you will cover:

People - explores the all important human issues in organisations, from organisational behaviour to human resource management and personal leadership development

Performance - the world of business is driven by delivering financial performance, this subject examines the drivers and measures of financial performance in a range of operational settings

Processes - focuses on how to get things done in organisations. You will take an in-depth look at core activities and processes surrounding marketing, strategy, operations and IT.

How will I be assessed?

When did you last sit an exam at work? Because our MBA is designed to reflect real business life, written exams represent only a quarter of the total process. Plus, the written exams are at the end of April, which gives you the confidence to move forward and to enjoy the material, rather than worrying about whether it will be examined! The full-time MBA includes the following assessments:

• Three formative assignments in Stage One.
• Written exams at the end of Stage One.
• Six assignments in Stage Two (two group based and one during the international study week).
• Two electives - one assignment in each.
• Live consultancy project or academic dissertation of 10,000 words each.

How will I be assessed?

When did you last sit an exam at work? Because our MBA is designed to reflect real business life, written exams represent only a quarter of the total process. Plus, the written exams are at the end of April, which gives you the confidence to move forward and to enjoy the material, rather than worrying about whether it will be examined! The full-time MBA includes the following assessments:

• Three formative assignments in Stage One.
• Written exams at the end of Stage One.
• Six assignments in Stage Two (two group based and one during the international study week).
• Two electives - one assignment in each.
• Live consultancy project or academic dissertation of 10,000 words each.

Admissions requirements

Admission to the Ashridge MBA is subject to your academic ability and work experience. We also look for evidence of the following:

• Clarity of career goals and how they fit with the MBA.
• Your ability to contribute in an environment that emphasises small group sizes and peer group learning.
• A track record of achievement.

The following guidelines offer the ‘usual’ minimum entry requirements. However, each case will be considered on its own merit.

Full-Time MBA

1. GMAT

• Full-Time MBA : Applicants are expected to take the Graduate Admissions Test (GMAT) and are responsible for arranging their own tests. The usual minimum requirement score is 550.

• Executive MBA (EMBA) : Ashridge usually asks candidates to take the Ashridge admissions test as an alternative to the GMAT. GMAT is not compulsory for the EMBA programme, but may be requested at the discretion of the Programme Director

2. Academic ability

• Full-Time MBA : A first degree is desired, however, candidates with significant professional experience will also be considered

3. Work experience : Applicants should have at least five years' professional experience, although we also welcome applications from exceptional candidates with an impressive track record and high GMAT score, who have been working for less than five years.
4. English language skills : TOEFL (iBT) = minimum score of 100
IELTS = Minimum score of 7
Pearson Test of English (from October 2009) = minimum score of 60