MBA Health Care Leadership

You can choose the Modular MBA degree or the Blended Learning MBA, both running over two years. Both formats are aimed at those who want to study while they work.

Advantages of the Modular MBA: The Modular degree consists of blocks of classes spread over two years. Each block runs from the Monday to the Saturday. This allows you to implement your newly acquired skills at work from the start. You can therefore study at the Business School even if you live further afield as you only need to travel to the campus a few times a year. The advantages include:

• Focused studies: Use the immersive, in-class experience to your advantage.
• An immersive experience: Being on campus for a week at a time allows you to focus on your studies without interruption from work. Working with your classmates in a face-to-face environment adds another dimension to collaborative (peer-to-peer) learning and network building.
• Less travel: You can study at the Business School even if you live further afield as you only need to travel to campus a few times a year.

Advantages of the Blended Learning MBA

The Blended Learning degree has one on-campus study block at the start of Year 1 and two on-campus blocks during Year 2. In between, you attend weekly classes online or on campus. This format requires the minimum leave from work. It also lowers the opportunity cost to do an MBA at Stellenbosch Business School as it reduces travel costs. This format is popular with students from the greater Cape Town area who can attend classes on campus one evening a week, as well as with students from further afield, including other African countries and beyond, who can attend one evening class per week via any internet-connected laptop. The advantages include:

• Flexibility: Study while you work with the flexibility of digital class attendance, which means minimum time away from work. This allows you to implement your newly acquired skills at work from the start.
• Less travel: The blended learning delivery option opens up access to students from elsewhere in South Africa, from other African countries and even further afield. It also lowers the opportunity cost to do an MBA with us as it reduces travel and accommodation costs. This format is popular with students from the greater Cape Town area who can attend classes on campus one evening a week, as well as with students from further afield, who can attend one evening class per week via any internet-connected device. Find more information about Blended Learning’s combination of technology with a strong human touch here.

Both formats of the MBA – i.e. Modular and Blended Learning – allow you to study while you work. However, you need to be aware of the time demand of MBA and you need to arrange study time with your employer and family beforehand. Here is a rough guideline: For every 1 hour spent in class, you need to set aside 3 hours for preparation and self-study (reading, assignments, group work, etc.). The MBA class programme takes up around 448 hours. This makes prioritisation crucial.

Students are assessed on a continuous basis. Each module has a minimum number of assessments based on the number of credits for that module. The final performance mark therefore includes multiple individual assessments and often a group assessment component. Tests for Blended Learning MBA students are scheduled on Monday evenings between classes. Tests for Modular MBA students are scheduled on Monday evenings between blocks.

Firstly, relevant work experience is a requirement of Stellenbosch Business School’s international EQUIS accreditation. Secondly, collaborative learning – where students learn from each other – forms an important part of our MBA. The expertise, depth and value that each participant brings to the class depend largely on authentic work experience.

Tests focus primarily on the application of knowledge and insight into business problems. Hence, all tests are open book and require the analysis of problems or cases. These summative assessments simulate real-life situations and the application of the theory and techniques covered in a particular module. In the assessment of pre-reading, multiple-choice questions or reflective essays are often used prior to attending class. Many lecturers make past test papers available as a learning resource.

Yes. Graduates of Stellenbosch Business School’s PGDip Business Management and Administration who continue with the Business School’s MBA will get recognition for 32 credits (15%) on the MBA if they continue with the MBA within 5 years of completing the PGDip.

Short courses done via executive education cannot be presented as prior learning for credit recognition in the South African education system. However, for RPL students, any previous short courses will have a positive impact on the assessment of their application.

Yes, but on a volunteer basis only. Stellenbosch Business School alumni offer to mentor students during their studies and to provide career or industry advice. This service is offered in association with the Alumni Relations Office and Career Leadership Office.

This will depend on each lecturer and on the subject – as some subjects require a substantial amount of group work, while others require less group work. The weight varies from 0% (no group work) up to 40%. It is imperative that MBA students can communicate electronically to work on their assignments. There is no need to meet physically.

Modular students will receive their first batch of study material three weeks prior to the beginning of the programme and thereafter at the end of every modular block for the following block.

Blended Learning students will receive their first batch of study material three weeks prior to the beginning of the programme and at regular intervals thereafter.

Yes. South African student can spread their payment over 2 years (fees for the second year of enrolment will be adjusted to make provision for annual price increases). South African students must pay a set deposit on admittance. 75% of the annual fee is payable by the end of May and the balance of 25% by the end of September. International admitted students pay 50% of the annual fee as deposit. The remainder is due two weeks before commencement of the programme.

The closing dates for each programme appear on the web page for that programme. In general, the closing dates for international applicants from non-SADC African countries and rest of world close approximately three months prior to the closing date for applicants from South Africa and (visa-exempt) SADC countries. Obtaining a study permit (study visa) from the South African authorities takes up to 12 weeks from the date of being offered a place on a programme at Stellenbosch Business School – hence the early application deadline for international students. RPL candidates (all programmes) need to apply by 31 October each year. Applications must be fully completed (all documents uploaded and SHL test completed) by the stipulated closing date.

You will improve your chances of selection by making an effort with your application and essays. Also make sure that you meet the basic requirements – such as work experience. Submit a fully completed and accurate application pack. An incomplete application pack leads to unnecessary delays and referrals.