Why Study/Key Benefits

• UC's current MBA is an Executive Master of Business Administration designed for experienced professionals seeking to strengthen leadership capability and broaden their business perspective.
• The programme has strong industry collaboration and co-teaching with business professionals.
• Teaching uses real-world business cases and projects so students can apply learning directly to professional environments.
• The programme focuses on contemporary areas including digital transformation, innovation, strategy, leadership, finance, marketing, sustainability and economic decision-making.
• A substantial consulting project provides an opportunity to work on a real business problem.
• Students can attend classes in person or virtually, while important in-person intensive sessions remain compulsory.
• The UC EMBA is AMBA-accredited.
• UC Business School states that it is triple-crown accredited through AMBA, AACSB and EQUIS.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The current Executive MBA consists of 180 points:

• 120 points compulsory courses
• 15 points elective
• 45-point consulting project.

Current compulsory courses:

• MBAM601 – Digital Transformation and Technology Preparedness
• MBAM603 – Innovation by Design
• MBAM604 – Future Focused Strategy
• MBAM610 – Agile and Innovation-driven Leadership
• MBAM615 – Managerial Finance, Accounting and Governance
• MBAM620 – Creative Challenge
• MBAM622 – Marketing and Strategic Intelligence
• MBAM623 – Business Sustainability and Economic Decision-making

Consulting project:

• MBAM680 – Consulting Project

Elective choices:

• MBAM621 – International Study Tour
• MBAM630 – Global Business: Advocacy, Influencing and Negotiating

UC states that not every course is necessarily offered every year, so students should confirm the course schedule for their intake.

The programme therefore covers:

• digital transformation;
• technology preparedness;
• innovation;
• strategic management;
• leadership;
• finance;
• accounting;
• governance;
• marketing;
• sustainability;
• economics;
• global business;
• negotiation and influencing;
• consulting.

Disciplines/Specialisations

The current Executive MBA does not list formal majors or specialisations.

Instead, students follow a closely prescribed MBA curriculum and select one 15-point elective:

• International Study Tour; or
• Global Business: Advocacy, Influencing and Negotiating.

UC separately offers a fully online Master of Business Administration with Specialisations for students wanting specialist leadership/business study in:

• Health
• Sport
• Technology.

Programme Highlights

• 180-point MBA.
• Current programme format: Executive MBA.
• 18-month full-time duration.
• Hybrid delivery.
• In-person and virtual class access.
• Mandatory in-person intensive coursework days.
• Minimum five years of appropriate professional experience.
• B-grade bachelor's requirement.
• Strong industry collaboration.
• Industry co-teaching.
• Real-world cases and projects.
• 45-point consulting project.
• Focus on digital transformation and innovation.
• Strategic leadership development.
• Finance, accounting and governance.
• Marketing and strategic intelligence.
• Sustainability and economic decision-making.
• AMBA accreditation.
• UC Business School's triple-crown accreditation through AMBA, AACSB and EQUIS.

Career Outcomes

The MBA is designed for experienced professionals seeking progression into higher-level leadership and management positions.

Current UC Business School information identifies potential outcomes such as:

• Senior Manager
• Business Director
• Strategic Consultant
• CEO
• Innovation Lead
• Entrepreneur
• Change Manager
• Public Sector Leader
• Global business leadership roles.

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

Several current changes are important when counselling students:

• The supplied UC page now presents the qualification as an Executive Master of Business Administration.
• The current programme is specifically designed for experienced professionals.
• At least five years of appropriate professional experience is required.
• A bachelor's degree with a B average is required for the direct MBA route.
• A special MBA application is required.
• The current qualification page lists February and August starts.
• UC Business School's international page currently lists February, May and September intakes, creating an official-date discrepancy that should be confirmed before application.
• The current qualification page specifies hybrid delivery.
• Intensive block coursework must be attended in person.
• The current international fee is NZ$65,700 for 2027.
• The MBA remains AMBA-accredited.
• UC's current 2026 information states that the programme is the most industry-engaged EMBA in New Zealand.

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student travelling to New Zealand to undertake the MBA/EMBA, the usual visa is the Fee Paying Student Visa, subject to Immigration New Zealand's assessment.

Current requirements include:

• Offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Evidence of sufficient funds to pay tuition fees or evidence of a scholarship.
• Evidence of sufficient living funds or an acceptable sponsor.
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Good health.
• Good character.
• Genuine reason for coming to New Zealand.
• Evidence that the student can leave New Zealand at the end of the stay.
• Medical examination, chest X-ray or police certificates where required.
• Evidence of practical work experience where applicable.