Master of Business Administration - Healthcare Management

The MBA programme

The MBA programme fosters the development of reflective, responsible, and strategic leaders. It combines academic grounding with practical relevance, connecting you with a diverse community of peers, alumni, academics, and industry professionals. By undertaking the Masters in Business Administration postgraduate degree, you will learn the fundamentals and key decision-making that take place in business functions and then apply your learning at a strategic level.

Postgraduate Certificate

The initial stage of the programme, the Postgraduate Certificate, provides the foundations of organisational and strategic management. You will undertake a number of modules focused on core business functions including finance, marketing, people management and strategy. You will develop a critical understanding of key theories, principles, and practices across strategic management areas within complex and evolving global business environments. 

Postgraduate Diploma

In the Postgraduate Diploma stage, you will engage with specialist modules that address leadership, strategy and management concerns within specific sectors or professional contexts. For students on the MBA Healthcare Management, learning is firmly rooted in real-world practice across the NHS, social care, and independent and private healthcare settings.  

Students on the MBA Healthcare Management pathway will study modules including Approaches to Leadership in Health and Social Care, Digital & Business Transformation, and Transforming Healthcare Delivery. These modules are designed to support you to apply learning directly to your own workplace - whether leading services, managing teams, driving digital innovation, or contributing to system-level transformation. The programme equips you with the skills and confidence to lead change, improve service quality and efficiency, and influence strategic decision-making across organisational and system boundaries, supporting progression into senior leadership, management, and transformation roles within healthcare.

All pathways on the MBA are brought together through Leadership Week, this week-long conference facilitates cross-sector dialogue and the sharing of leadership insights and challenges amongst all cohorts and with a broader community of industry professionals and MBA Alumni. 

Masters Stage

In the final stage, you will undertake a consultancy project within a health and care environment, applying your learning to a live organisational challenge and demonstrating your capability as a strategic leader.

Student stories

Hear from our students and graduates about their experiences studying the MBA programme:

Learning Methods

You will learn via our online virtual learning environment, Moodle which provides you with access to classes and course materials, allowing you to study from any location The MBA team use a wide range of approaches to support your learning. Lecturers introduce key concepts in leadership, management, and organisational functions. Seminars, tutorials, and discussions reinforce learning through case studies, debate, and collaborative activities. 

Activity Summary

• Lectures - Up to 40 students per group, 2 hours per week
• Seminars - Up to 40 students per group will engage in seminar activities and talks during Leadership Week, 25 hours in total
• Tutorials - Up to 40 students per group, 2 hours per week
• Project Supervision - 1:1 supervision, 12 hours in the final term only
• Practical class or workshop - Up to 40 students per group will engage in a Business Simulation during Leadership Week, 8 hours
• Independent Study - 250 hours per term

How long is the MBA Healthcare Management course?

This MBA can be successfully completed within 12 - 28 months when you start in September or 28 - 32 months if you start in January.

Independent Study

In addition to working with your lecturers and classmates, you will be expected to work independently completing further research and reading to support  your learning.

Assessment

Typically students are assessed each year:

Full Time

• 4 written assignments, including essay
• 1 report
• 3 portfolios
• 1 project output
• 2 oral assessments and/or presentation

Part Time

Year 1

• 1 written assignment, including essay
• 1 report
• 1 portfolio
• 1 oral assessment and/or presentation

Year 2

• 1 written assignment, including essay
• 1 report
• 3 portfolios
• 1 project output

Staff Delivering on This Course

The MBA programme is taught by industry experts and leading academics, bringing together academic knowledge and a diverse range of professional experience. Staff on the programme are members of relevant professional bodies, ensuring the teaching on the course is of the highest standard and relevance to industry.

We work closely with senior figures in industry to design and continuously develop our MBA offering and ensure the curriculum is relevant and appropriate to the needs of the senior managers of the future.

Feedback

We aim to provide you with feedback within 20 working days of hand-in for all written exams, coursework and practical exams.

Placements

Within the Consultancy Project you will act as a consultant for an organisation on an agreed issue relating to its operations. It allows you to apply your knowledge, leadership and strategic thinking skills within a practical context, face challenges of working within new settings, apply learning to new problems and earn valuable experience of working at a senior level.

All projects are strategic in nature and focus on real opportunities facing an organisation or government department/agency. Previous projects have included: business start-up viability assessments, development of sustainability strategies and implementation plans, and projects supporting digital transformation. You can use the Consultancy Project as an opportunity to produce a business plan for your own entrepreneurial ventures.

Applied Learning. Immediate Impact.

The MBA in Healthcare Management is designed for working professionals, with teaching and assessment structured around real-world application. Throughout the programme, you will draw directly on your own organisational context, applying strategic frameworks, and theory to live real-world challenges.
The MBA will enable you to interrogate, develop, and strengthen initiatives that matter to your organisation - from service redesign and workforce development to financial sustainability and performance improvement. This ensures that your learning will deliver immediate professional value while building long-term executive capability.

As part of the wider interdisciplinary MBA at RGU, you will learn alongside leaders from healthcare, energy, technology, and other industry sectors. This diverse cohort broadens your strategic perspective, exposes you to alternative approaches to innovation and change, and strengthens your ability to think beyond sector boundaries - an essential capability for modern healthcare leadership

Job Prospects

Is studying for the MBA a good career choice?

An MBA is an internationally recognised qualification which will help you to capitalise on your experience to date and build on your previous qualifications. On completion, you will be able to take the next step in your career to a senior leadership position either within your existing organisation, a new organisation or setting up your own business.

Previous graduates of the MBA programme have filled roles such as:

• Marketing Manager
• HR Manager
• Launched their own business 
• Business Consultant
• Lead multi-national organisations 
• CEO 
• Senior Vice President 
• UK Country Manager

Academic Year 2026-2027

• All fees are to be confirmed shortly.

Additional Costs

• The cost of travel, accommodation and further expenses during Leadership Week.