Key points
• Gain an internationally recognised qualification that focuses on medical leadership.
• Study around your work commitments with only 10 days of attendance a year.
• Take your final year study as a piece of negotiated internal consultancy work.
• The MBA is mapped against the Medical Leadership Competency Framework (MLCF).

If you are seeking to make a difference in your practice and to advance your leadership and management career potential, this course can help you to reach that goal.

You learn the core generic MBA subjects but apply them specifically to a medical leadership context. In this way, you develop career-specific skills and knowledge while gaining an internationally recognised qualification.

The course has been designed to limit the disruption to your service. In years one and two, formal attendance requires only around 10 days per academic year delivered as full day workshops.

Teaching and learning methods include
• a virtual learning environment providing access to all resources
• action learning sets – doctors form an action learning set to provide each other with peer support to develop practical solutions to work-based problems
• personal leadership diagnostic exercises that can help you learn more about yourself and develop effective ways to relate to colleagues

In year one, you address • operational management practice from a medical and leadership perspective • managing people and organisations • quality and effectiveness • statistical process control.

Year two covers strategic elements of your medical leadership drawing upon • managing change • managing finance and strategic management • strategic marketing and health care economics.

In year three, you centre on an e-learning research methods module and a leadership and management dissertation supervised by an academic tutor. Your dissertation supports you in applying the strategic management concepts and practice you have learnt in the work place.

All of your learning on the course is centred around work-based learning modules. Through action learning you apply key theoretical concepts to work-based issues or problems and look for more effective medical management and quality improvement for patient care.

The course relates directly to the Medical Leadership Competency Framework (MLCF) aligning the course with the NHS modernisation agency's aspirations for medical leadership development. This allows you to use the learning from the MBA to relate directly to an e-portfolio to strengthen your career development.

Independent study and work-based learning comprise the majority of your study time, with support from tutors that have a background in leadership and management across health and social care contexts.

Related courses

• MSc/PgDip/PgCert Medical Leadership (Part-time)
• MSc/PgDip/PgCert Health Care Management and Leadership (Full-time)