Academic Offering

Portfolio of academic programmes

The USB offers an MBA, MPhil in Development Finance (MdevFin), MPhil in Management Coaching, MPhil in Futures Studies, PhD, Postgraduate Diploma in Dispute Settlement, Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership and Executive education. All the USB's programmes are internationally accredited by EQUIS.

• Master's in Business Administration (MBA): This leadership-focused degree with two international accreditations (EQUIS and AMBA) will equip students with the competencies to manage a business in any industry, anywhere in the world. The USB's MBA programme may be followed Full-time (one year), Part-time (evening classes over two years) or in a Modular format (11 blocks over two-and-a-half years; two intakes at the beginning of the year; one intake in June). All the formats are presented in English; one Modular MBA is presented mainly in Afrikaans. Find more information at www.usb.ac.za/mba.
• MPhil in Development Finance (MDevFin): Focusing on development finance and Africa's growth needs, this degree is the first programme of its kind in Africa. This two-year Modular programme allows students from all over South Africa, the rest of Africa and other countries abroad to attend. Find more information at www.usb.ac.za/MDevFin.
• MPhil in Management Coaching: This modular programme over two years adheres to international best practices, but also places emphasis on management coaching in a uniquely African context, where managing diversity and varied cultural backgrounds is explored. At present, this is the only fully accredited Management Coaching Master’s programme in South Africa. Find more information at www.usb.ac.za/coaching.
• PhD: The USB's PhD programme is aimed at developing employable expertise through in-depth research. It is also aimed at solving real-world problems in the private as well as public sector, particularly in South Africa and the rest of Africa. Participants may enrol for a Full-time or Part-time doctoral programme. The USB's PhD is the only one outside Europe audited and approved by the European Doctoral Programmes Association in Management and Business Administration (EDAMBA). Go to www.usb.ac.za/phd for details.
• Master's degree in Futures Studies: The degree is offered by the Institute for Futures Research (IFR) in conjunction with the USB. The MPhil (Futures Studies) exposes participants to the nature of global change, its rapid pace and its ever-increasing complexity; an understanding of the forces and trends that shape the future; and a systemic and multi-disciplinary approach to managing organisational strategies so as to create a desired future. Find more information at www.usb.ac.za/ifr.
• Postgraduate Diploma in Dispute Settlement: This modular one-year programme equips participants with scarce alternative dispute resolution competencies such as negotiation, mediation and arbitration skills. Find more information at www.usb.ac.za/dispute.
• Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership: This modular one-year programme focuses solely on leadership skills to leverage one of the most underutilised workplace and societal resources at our disposal. These leadership competencies can be applied in any industry, anywhere in the world. Find more information at www.usb.ac.za/leadership.
• Executive education: USB Executive Development Ltd (USB-ED) offers comprehensive programmes for managers from entry to executive level. The main focus of this public company, which forms part of the USB, is on customised programmes for organisations. It also offers shorter specialist programmes. For more information, go to www.usb-ed.com.