Full-time MBA Entry Requirements

The MBA programme is intellectually demanding and requires you to quickly absorb and analyse new material and apply it in a fast-moving environment. We need to be confident that you can rise to the intellectual challenges the programme presents.

Type of qualification

We require you to have a strong undergraduate degree result (UK bachelor or international equivalent as recognised by UK NARIC) from a recognised university.

Qualifications vary by country and university; however, we normally look for the equivalent of a first class (1:1) or upper second-class (2:1) honours result in the UK system. We normally expect candidates to be in the top 25% of their class.

Postgraduate, specialisation and professional qualifications can strengthen your application.

Degree subject

We consider candidates from any subject discipline, however you should have:

• A good understanding of and ability to work with numbers
• The ability to think critically and logically, and to integrate ideas
• A good awareness of economic and international affairs.

It is a requirement to take an admissions test, normally GMAT® or GRE®. In some circumstances, you may also need to take The Manchester Admissions Test (MAT).

The Manchester MBA develops strategic business knowledge and international perspective, and provides training in leadership and managerial skills.

The programme is designed to build on previous professional experience; therefore it's important that our MBA candidates have good, relevant experience in order to fully contribute and benefit.

What we're looking for

You'll need to have at least three years' full-time work experience after graduation - from completion of your undergraduate degree to starting the MBA.

Entry is competitive. When assessing your suitability to benefit from the Manchester MBA and your aptitude and potential as a future business leader, we're looking for the following:

• A good level of responsibility
• Consistent career progression - ideally fast-track
• Strong achievements for the length of your career to date - you'll need to demonstrate impact in your organisation and higher than average performance in your industry sector or function compared to your peers.

You'll also need to show leadership or management experience and potential, including some or all of the following:

• Management or leadership of teams/colleagues
• Client relationship management
• Financial or budgetary responsibility
• Project management or leadership
• Managing across different parts of an organisation
• Decision making
• Contribution to strategy.

Most candidates come from business, finance, engineering or entrepreneurial backgrounds; however, we're interested in candidates from any sector.

We have admitted successful MBA students from many non-traditional business sectors, including military, healthcare, legal, leisure/sports and the creative arts.

We also have alumni working in successful careers in many non-traditional business sectors.

Success on the MBA programme and your future career also depends on other work-related skills and competencies, for example:

• Analytical skills
• Numeracy
• Negotiation
• Presentation
• Problem-solving
• Reasoning
• Creativity and ability to generate ideas.

Good knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint is essential. We look for evidence that you have, or can develop these competencies.

Although not an essential requirement, international exposure can add a competitive edge to your application.

Our MBA has a strong international focus and we are looking for people with a global outlook. We look favourably on candidates who have experience of living and working in international teams or environments.

International exposure is also valued by post-MBA employers. The 18-month Manchester MBA provides considerable advantages if you are seeking a global career.

Entrepreneurial experience and creativity, whether within your own business or a corporate environment, are highly valued.

Candidates with the ability to innovate are often strong contributors during the MBA programme, and alumni involved in entrepreneurship can contribute significantly to society and communities.

We look to admit candidates with the ability to perceive opportunities and contribute ideas to the class, thereby enhancing the stimulating learning environment of the MBA.

Teamworking skills are essential for success on the MBA. We're looking for candidates who can demonstrate the qualities of a team player. You should be an innovative and effective contributor with the ability to work constructively and collaboratively in international teams.

We expect you to be able to:

• Communicate opinions and ideas clearly and honestly
• Show respect for others
• Work in the best interests of your MBA teams and project clients.

Communication, interpersonal and relationship management skills are essential for success on the MBA programme and in senior level business careers. We therefore place a strong emphasis on these key requirements.

We expect you to be highly articulate with strong communication skills in English. Good English will enable you to effectively share your experience and ideas in the classroom - but also in student groups, written reports and presentations.

We look for candidates who are mature, motivated, energetic, ambitious and enthusiastic - with strong personal values, social awareness, sense of community and integrity.

In addition to intellectual ability, experience, teamworking and communication skills, key requirements are:

• Leadership characteristics
• Emotional intelligence
• Self-awareness
• Self-management
• Openness to change and personal growth.

You should be willing to share and learn from the experience and ideas of others. We're looking for people who can accept and value constructive feedback from MBA colleagues, project supervisors and company representatives.

Very strong English language skills are critical to academic success on your MBA, and for contributing to the MBA group consultancy projects.

English language skills are also important for your future career, especially if you want to secure an internship and full-time job opportunities in the UK.

The English language requirements listed on this page are the minimum scores needed for admission - successful students typically demonstrate higher levels of achievement. We'll continually assess your English level during the admissions process including the video assessment and formal interview.

Standard English Language Test

We accept the following English language tests:

IELTS Academic (UKVI and non-UKVI versions)

You'll need a minimum overall score of 6.5 - with at least 6.5 in the speaking and writing components and no less than 6.0 in reading and listening.

TOEFL iBT (centre-based)

You'll need a minimum overall score of 90 - with at least 22 in the speaking and writing components and no less than 20 in reading and listening.

For more information about TOEFL, check the ETS website. The institution code for TOEFL is 0757.

You must meet the entry requirement in one test. 'My Best Scores' reported by TOEFL will not be considered.

Cambridge Advanced (CAE/C1 Advanced) and Cambridge Proficiency (CPE/C2 Proficiency)

You'll need a Grade C (old scale) or minimum overall score of 176 - with at least 176 in the speaking and writing components and no less than 170 in reading and listening.

Pearson PTE Academic (UKVI and non-UKVI versions)

You'll need a minimum overall score of 59 - with no less than 59 in each component.

LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B2 centre-based test (UKVI SELT version only)

You'll need a minimum overall score of 156, with at least 39 in all components. Please note: We do not accept the LanguageCert ESOL B2 online version or LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B1.

Validation of your score

With the exception of CAE and CPE, test scores are only valid if they are less than two years old on the programme start date. This is a requirement for the UK Student Visa application.

We'll need to validate your score. You should include the details of your score in the application form and request your score to be shared with the University of Manchester - Alliance Manchester Business School. This allows us to verify your results online.

If you're a national of, or have a degree studied in and awarded by, one of the following 'majority English speaking' countries below (as defined by the UKVI for the Student Visa process).

• Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines; Trinidad and Tobago and USA.
• Please note if your degree was studied in and awarded by a university in Canada, it must have been wholly taught in English (proof must be submitted)

Other English qualifications accepted

We also accept some English language qualifications from other countries, depending on the University's assessment of its academic suitability. You can check The University of Manchester English language requirements.

We accept the following qualifications with the minimum grades/scores listed:

• International Baccalaureate
  • IB Lang A (English Literature or Language and Literature): Grade 4
  • IB Language B (HL): Grade 5
  • IB Language B (SL): Grade 6
• IGCSE (First or second language) : Grade (4-5)
• Indian Standard XII English (CBSE, ISCE, West Bengal): 80%
• Indian Standard XII English (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat Boards): 85%
• Hong Kong HKDSE/HKCEE (Post 2007): Grade 4
• West African Education Council (WAEC) Senior School Certificate (SSCE): B3.

You can still apply for the Full-time MBA and might be considered based on alternative certified qualifications and experiential learning.

To be eligible, you must demonstrate your potential for success in the programme through:

• Notable achievements
• Strong career advancement
• Substantial management experience in leadership roles or as accomplished entrepreneurs.

In lieu of a traditional degree, applicants are expected to provide evidence of intellectual aptitude, such as:

• Strong high school results
• Professional certifications
• Non-degree business qualifications
• Extensive training courses
• Demonstration of significant learning derived from professional experience and career progression, highlighting specialised knowledge in their respective business areas.

If you're applying through the experiential route, you'll be expected to do a formal interview before a decision is made by the MBA Admissions Committee.

We strongly recommend that you discuss your individual circumstances with us before you submit an application. You should email our admissions team.