Masters in Business Administration (MBA)
This Program is accredited by the MFHEA
Degree Overview for MBA
The overall objective of the MBA at the American University of Malta is to instill the necessary knowledge, skills and competences required to successfully lead a business in the global economy. Successful managers assume responsibility to design and implement strategy consistent with a firm’s long-term goals, manage costs and profitability, and supervise employees. They are responsible for solving complex problems that involve financial issues, business strategy, organizational design, research findings, legal guidelines and management of employees. The environment in which successful managers operate is frequently uncertain and subject to difficult constraints. Graduates of the American University of Malta will have the critical thinking abilities and analytical framework to make difficult business decisions that affect multiple constituencies.
The course provides a rigorous business education based on a solid foundation in the functional areas of business enhanced with skills in analysis and critical thinking. The curriculum builds on foundational knowledge with the findings of current research, leading to the multi-disciplinary perspective needed to lead a successful business in a global economy.
Entry Requirements for this Program
As per AUM Admissions Criteria: https://aum.edu.mt/admissions/entry-requirements/#GD
Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree (e.g. US Bachelor or European 3-yr initial degree, equivalent to MQF level 6) in any discipline. Admissions standards follow the MFHEA Guidelines for Accreditation of MQF Level 7 Courses minimum entry requirements.
Applicants for this program need to submit the following:
- Official AUM application: to be submitted online.
- Scanned copies of qualifications and transcripts in the original language, as well as certified English translations, if necessary. If admitted to AUM, all original documents must be presented to the Admissions Office in order to be permitted to officially enrol.
- Proof of English Proficiency.
The English language proficiency requirement may be waived if students are a native speaker of English and they have completed their secondary education in an English medium institution in a country where English is the official language.
AUM reserves the right to request English test results from any applicant.
Examining Boards recognized by AUM and minimum scores required:
| IELTS | TOEFL | PTE | iTEP Academic Plus | iTEP – EAP Institutional | (CEFRL) |
| 6.5 | 79 | 55 | 4.0 | 4.9 | B2 |
*Note that all score reports will only be valid if issued within 2 years from the date of matriculation at AUM.
All applicants to any graduate program of study (MQF 7) at the American University of Malta must satisfy the following entry requirements:
- A baccalaureate degree (comparable to EQF level 6) with a minimum or 180 ECTS or equivalent.
- An average GPA of 2. 2
Conditional admission is offered to all applicants who are still waiting for their degree results. These results must be submitted by the student to the Admissions Office within 1 week of receipt.
- The language of instruction of the course(s) taken at the university must be English, unless otherwise approved by AUM.
This course does not require any specific previous work experience as prerequisite. This makes this executive MBA highly advisable for those candidates that wish to undertake a high-quality Executive Master of Business Administration in Tourism and Hospitality Management at AUM. Part-time time learners can also benefit through their workplace (for case studies, experiential learning, and projects and research activities).
PROGRAM DETAILS
Program length:
18 Months.
GPA needed to earn the degree:
3.0 or higher
Credits needed to earn the degree:
46US credists / 92ECTS
Degree level:
MQF Level 7
Pass Rate:
80%
PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES
The learner will be able to:
a) Clearly transmit the vision, mission, objectives, strategic direction and business action plan to all stakeholders.
b) Explain research results in non-technical terms.
c) Interpret accounting and financial results for non-business people.
d) Explain the impact of different organizational designs on organizational efficiency.
e) Critically discuss methods of organizational transformation.
f) Critically discuss the impact of organizational culture on employee performance.
g) Ability to use digital technology as a communication tool.
Learning Outcomes for Skills obtained at the end of the programme,
The learner will be able to:
a) Proceed to doctoral level studies in a business-related field.
b) Undertake independent further studies of contemporary business topics, utilizing the techniques and frameworks acquired in the program
Knowledge
Graduates will acquire knowledge of the following fields needed to manage a business or non-profit organization:
a) Interpret, design, and apply a wide range of accounting, economics and financial practical tools and data.
b) Evaluate, design, and apply comprehensive legal business policies and theoretical frameworks
c) Design and implement a multi-disciplinary organisational structure, design and culture
d) Develop and maximise the efficiency of marketing strategies.
e) Analyse consumer behaviour and business advertising.
f) Design and apply research and statistics methods (i.e., qualitative, and quantitative).
g) Implement and combine different ICT approaches into a digital society-based framework.
Skills
Graduates will develop the following skills used in managing a business:
a) Analyse competitive threats, differentiate between the complexities of external influences on business activity.
b) Apply appropriate statistical and financial investment techniques and tools to business data in order to make successful business decisions.
c) Apply performant operation management, including cost management.
d) Measure and predict the impact of macroeconomics’ indicators movements, including but not limited to financial systems, business cycles, labour markets, monetary and fiscal policy.
e) Design a business structure indicating a clear understanding of the legal issues relevant to business, including contracts, liability, fraud and dispute resolution.
f) Use research results to justify business decisions, and the impact of general and specific environment business factors and internal financial data to develop new strategies and tactics for business development
g) Classify the business’ most valuable customers and prepare a strategy to maintain the organization’s market position.
Competencies
a) Create innovative solutions to complex business problems.
b) Be responsible for activities that affect business outcomes, including but not limited to financial management and reporting, strategy development and implementation, operations, marketing and employee management.
c) Make unbiased decisions that are supported by data rather than gut feelings.
d) Comply with professional standards and laws and demonstrate the highest business and professional ethics.
e) Design business plans that will create value for the organization and its stakeholders.
f) Implement digital dedicated technology to take the business decisions in a more timely manner.
General Pedagogical Methods
The MBA comprises 3 semesters of full-time coursework plus a fourth semester in which a major independent research project is completed (in accordance with NCFHE Guidelines for Accreditation of MQF Level 7 Courses:
“Any Master’s degree must include a dissertation, research project or research component/s of equivalent standard to which not less than 20 ECTS are assigned.”)
The courses are sequenced such that later courses leverage material learned in earlier courses.
In general, the pedagogical approach of the Introductory and Core Modules comprise lectures, frequent homework and exams.
The Advanced Modules incorporate case studies and group projects.
The Research Methods module requires students to develop a proposal for the research project in the last semester. Students must finish the Research Methods for Business module in the third semester with a proposal for the fourth semester independent research project before beginning the project.
The coursework comprises 72 ECTS and the research project is assigned 20 credits, for a total of 92 ECTS.
For the online programme, teaching will occur via online meeting/lecture software to deliver real time lectures.
A VLE will be used to deliver asynchronous learning which enables students to reach learning content (e.g. PDFs, eBooks, videos etc..) when it is the most convenient time for them.
Faculty will deliver online video lectures that are identical in content as face-to-face classes. Educational videos will be liked from academic resources licensed through the AUM Library (e.g. Business Source Complete, and other databases). If appropriate, faculty can also utilize selected VOD such as Netflix, or Apple TV to incorporate in lectures.
For the academic support, the VLE and SIS system will be the main channels of the communication for student-tutor engagement. Technical support -ticketing system- will be available 24/7 in both platforms.
In addition work-based learning will also be used as a method of learning. Students will be suported by industry mentors that will facilitate learning at the place of work. Knowledge and underpining principles will be delivered also by means of traditional methods.
Work-based experience is encouraged, but not mandatory, through educational field trips followed by internships, university-private sector agreements for practical sessions, and short-term part-time work-placement. Students are also encouraged to select a company to build their practical competences and skills, and observation of the real process on site. Work-based learning opportunities which involve field work will follow the university partnership agreements. Work-based learning can be part of the course work project or other assessment according to the course instructor.
GENERAL ASSESSMENT METHODS
Successful Progress Requirement:
Students must maintain a 3.0/4 grade point average throughout the program. Students whose performance fails to maintain this standard will be required to repeat modules with the lowest grades until they regain the required minimum GPA. Should scheduling constraints prevent students from retaking a module within two semesters after falling below the acceptable GPA threshold, students may be allowed to enrol in new modules in a probationary state in order to raise their GPA.
Under no circumstances students with GPA below 3.0 will be allowed to enrol in Research Methods and to enter the final semester to conduct the final Research Project.
Assessment Methods:
Assessment methods and policies vary according to each module. They are specified in the description of each module. In general, foundation and core modules are assessed by written examinations and homework assignments. Advanced modules are assessed by written examinations, homework assignments and case studies. In order to grade, it is required to have 70% passing rate for each module.
Sponsoring Faculty
The final Research Project will be conducted under the guidance of a sponsoring faculty member. The sponsoring faculty member is the instructor of record of the module and is responsible for all administrative duties and record keeping of the module.
The faculty member in charge to supervise the research project will act as advisor for the project and he/she will enable students to make research on a chosen topic and prepare a project report on the study conducted and its main results. Project should stem from students’ original work that involves field study, data collection, data processing, interpretation of the data and analysis. Emphasis will be given on the methods of data collection and analysis, conclusions, and recommendations based on the findings of the study, and proper presentation of the research in a desired format. The project topic should be related to contemporary tourism and hospitality business and management practices.
The student has the responsibility to identify potential sponsoring faculty members, and to ensure the availability and agreement of one faculty member to serve as sponsor. In case the student is not choosing his/her supervisor, or the faculty chosen did not give his/her acceptance, then the supervisors will be assigned by the Provost for each student. The student has to identify the sponsoring faculty member and define the Final Research topic any time after 1st semester ending, but no later than beginning of the last semester of the program.
Research Project Assessment Committee:
The research project conducted in the final semester will be assessed by an assessment committee. The committee will include 2 major faculty members from the topic area of the project (e.g., Business, Marketing, Management, etc.) and one major faculty member from a different topic area. One of the committee members may be the sponsoring faculty member of the student. The assembling of the research project assessment committee is the responsibility of the sponsoring faculty member, who chairs the committee and manages all communications and record keeping. The committee will come to a consensus on the final grade of the student in the Research Project.
Graduation Requirements
In order to graduate with an Executive MBA a student must have completed all modules listed above, with a cumulative GPA+ of 3.0/4. Students who complete the programme with a cumulative GPA of 3.6/4 or above, will graduate “with distinction”.
RELATIONSHIP TO OCCUPATION/S
Notwithstanding the inflation of MBA programs on the international market, it is still true that graduates of quality MBA programs acquire knowledge, skills, and competences that positions them already a step ahead in career paths of graduates of bachelor programs or of other master’s degrees.
This program does not prepare students by the National Occupation Standards as it is stablished as MQF Level 7. Therefore, this program is highly specialized in business management, and it is at the forefront of knowledge in the field of Business Administration.
Graduates of a quality MBA program not only enter the workforce with higher salaries that other master’s graduates, but also have higher chances of obtaining and holding a high-level management position in their companies. Given the entry requirement of at least three years of working experience, an MBA student finds himself or herself surrounded by professionals who already have established themselves in the working world, and thus enjoy a significant level of networking and connection making. The MBA experience offers professionals who had the opportunity to establish certain routines in their current positions to take a fresh look at their skill sets and dispositions, and to move out of their comfort zone. For all these reasons, AUM considers the MBA as a strategic degree program to offer at the outset, to serve the population working at professional level in Malta, who are looking for the opportunity to obtain a proficient qualification that will significantly enhance their careers at the national and international level.
Graduate students may apply for the following positions in any field such as but not limited to:
- Marketing Manager
- Medical, Educational, Health Services Manager
- Management Consultant
- Financial Manager
- Business Operations Manager
- Accounting Consultant or Manager
- Financial Consultant
- Business Development Consultant
- Tourism Manager
COURSE STRUCTURE SAMPLE
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