Phase 3: Management Enhancement

Specialisation and management enhancement opportunities include the compulsory MBA International Module at an overseas business school as well as a range of electives and exchange study options from which students may choose to add areas of specialisation based on individual interests. This phase represents approximately 10% of the USB MBA.

  • Compulsory MBA International Study Module: The USB’s MBA includes an international study module abroad to enhance students’ international exposure. This consists of studies at foreign business schools and visits to global companies. The cost of this module is included in the MBA fees. (5 credits)
  • Electives: These comprise the USB electives (a list of about 24 topics from which to choose) and selected USB-ED programmes (30 credits)
  • Exchange studies:Students may complete one to three electives at the USB’s overseas partner schools. The cost of exchange studies is not included in the MBA fees. (10 – 30 credits)

Electives

In addition to the core subjects, students may participate in three electives in their final year as part of their management enhancement. The electives vary from year to year, depending on the subjects chosen by students and the availability of lecturers. Here are some electives that have been offered recently:

  • Applied Change Leadership
  • Breakthrough Start-up Entrepreneurship
  • Business Forecasting
  • Business Strategy in Emerging and Frontier Markets
  • Competitive Intelligence
  • Derivative Instruments
  • Doing Business in Africa
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Enterprise Risk Management
  • Environmental Finance
  • Financial Risk Management
  • Global Business Strategy
  • International Finance
  • International Marketing
  • Internet Advertising
  • Leading and Managing Customer Service Excellence
  • Leader as Coach
  • Management Consulting
  • Managing Knowledge for Strategic Effectiveness
  • Marketing Metrics
  • Portfolio Management
  • Project Management
  • Strategic Retail Marketing
  • Sustainable Enterprise

Research report

The research report builds on the Research Methodology module. Concurrent to the MBA programme, students will write a comprehensive research report of 60 to 120 pages on a business or management-related problem. The research report is usually finalised after completion of the lecture programme. Students will also be required to present their findings orally to the USB community.

These reports are practice-oriented and may be based on the student's working environment, thus benefiting the employer and student. Research approaches may include case studies, feasibility/business plans, marketing plans, strategic plans, econometric research, exploratory studies and studies based on surveys and/or interviews.

Further information

 PDF of comprehensive MBA brochure in English [Read]
 PDF of comprehensive MBA brochure in English [Print / Download]

 PDF of comprehensive MBA brochure in Afrikaans [Read]
 PDF of comprehensive MBA brochure in Afrikaans [Print / Download]

The USB reserves the right to modify the contents of subjects and to combine subject matter for better integration of learning areas. This is in the interest of continuous improvement of the curriculum.