Business Administration MBA

Peking University, Beijing, China; London (Canary Wharf) for optional module

The UCL-Peking University MBA, offered in Beijing, China and awarding a UCL qualification, brings together two world-leading universities at the heart of one of the world's largest and most dynamic economies. The MBA will build on students' professional experience and provide an advanced understanding of organisations, their management, and the changing global context in which they operate.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
See Fees Note
See Fees Note
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
See Fees Note
See Fees Note
Duration
16 months
28 months
Programme starts
September 2024
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 28 Jun 2024

Applications closed

Applicants who do not require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 30 Aug 2024

Applications closed

Entry requirements

A GMAT or GRE, or equivalent standardised test set by UCL and the Beijing International MBA (BiMBA) Business School of the National School of Development at Peking University is also required; a minimum GMAT score of 600 is recommended.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 1

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

The UCL MBA with Peking University will give students an international perspective on management and business through modules in accounting and finance, economics, strategy, organisational behaviour and leadership, decision-making and analytics, marketing, and operations, which are led by a diverse and international team of academics from both UCL and Peking University.

Students will also gain an understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities for companies doing business in China from leading Chinese experts. Students can further their understanding of entrepreneurship, technology, analytics, design thinking, finance, marketing, and human resources through specialised modules.

Students complete their studies at BiMBA Business School’s Chengze Garden Campus at Peking University and have the opportunity to study at the UCL School of Management’s home in Canary Wharf, London, during the summer months.

All credit-bearing activities are taught in English, and students will be able to develop their written and spoken fluency even further through their engagement with business and management ideas and concepts as well as with each other in English.

Who this course is for

The MBA invites applications from ambitious and talented professionals from a variety of backgrounds who are keen to advance further in their careers, start new careers, or start new businesses.

The MBA also invites applications from professionals of all backgrounds with wish to engage with China’s innovation and technology industries.

What this course will give you

Management practices are evolving, and the UCL School of Management’s innovation and technology approach to business will help you develop the practical skills and mindset necessary to become an entrepreneurial leader in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

The Peking University National School of Development, which hosts some of China’s top public policy and economics experts, will give you a high-level view of leading organisations in changing Chinese and international policy contexts.

The foundation of your career

Graduates of the MBA will have the business and management training to create impact by making an early and substantial individual contribution to their companies. Additional training in leadership, organisational behaviour, cross-cultural management and negotiation will enable graduates to add more value through effectively leading and managing others.

BiMBA Business School at the Peking University National School of Development offers you extensive career and professional development support, including one-to-one mentoring, to enhance your interpersonal skills and your employability in the Chinese job market.

Employability

Graduates of the MBA are likely to find employment as managers and leaders in global companies across all industries in China and around the world. In addition to gaining technical and analytical skills to understand business and management problems and devise solutions, graduates will also gain the leadership and organisational skills to implement solutions through people.

Networking

The BiMBA Business School offers regular employer engagement events as well as alumni mentoring, and both BiMBA Business School and the UCL School of Management have teams of dedicated alumni engagement staff who regularly organise alumni networking events, both in China and the UK. Both UCL and Peking University have several hundred thousand alumni, with UCL hosting several alumni events in China each year.

In addition, the UCL MBA with Peking University attracts motivated and ambitious professionals, and students will have the opportunity to study alongside peers from leading Chinese and foreign MNCs. Most students will have international backgrounds and prior studies at leading global universities, as well as work experience outside of China.

Accreditation

This programme at the UCL School of Management is accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA), one of the world’s leading authorities on postgraduate business education. The accreditation demonstrates the high standard of teaching, curriculum design, career development and innovation on the programme. AMBA limits the number of accredited schools to 300 institutions globally and currently accredits 2% of business schools in over 75 countries, highlighting the School's continuing commitment to excellence in management education. For more information, please visit the AMBA website: https://www.associationofmbas.com.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, and project work. Students typically study one module at a time, and each module is delivered intensively over a few weeks or weekends.

Assessment is through open-book and unseen written tests and examinations, individual and group coursework including presentations, reports, and essays, class participation, and a substantial business research project. Assessments may be online or in person.

For full-time students undertaking the 16-month programme, compulsory modules are normally completed in the first 10 months of study and most optional and elective modules are completed in the final 6 months of study. All students complete a business research project that is mostly undertaken in the final 6 months of study.

For part-time students undertaking the 28-month programme, compulsory modules are normally completed in the first half of the programme and optional and elective modules are completed throughout the programme. The business research project is mostly undertaken in the final 12 months of study.

For full-time students, each core taught module is delivered intensively in two separate, non-consecutive, two-week parts for a total of four weeks, totalling 56 taught hours per module.

For part-time students, each core taught module is delivered intensively in two separate parts over two weekends each for a total of four weekends, totalling taught 56 hours per module.

For both full-time and part-time students, each optional and elective taught module is delivered intensively over a total of two weekends with 28 hours of teaching per module.

In addition, for each core taught module, students spend approximately 90-100 hours, over the total four-week period, on assessment and independent study to further develop the skills and knowledge covered in lectures and seminars.

For each optional and elective taught module, students spend approximately 40-50 hours, over a two-week period, on assessment and independent study to further develop the skills and knowledge covered in lectures and seminars.

The total number of weekly hours will vary according to the activities being undertaken, the teaching schedule and assessment deadlines.

For a full overview of the programme structure please visit the UCL School of Management website.

Modules

The MBA programme is 210 credits including seven core modules (105 credits), 45 credits of optional modules, and a business research project (60 credits).

Core modules

The MBA programme includes core modules in accounting and finance, strategy, and organisational behaviour and leadership. Other core modules, including decision-making and analytics, marketing and operations, explore how technology is transforming these key areas of business. Another core module in economics and business in China gives key insights into managing and leading companies in China.

Optional modules

The optional modules allow you to extend your knowledge and skills in specialist areas introduced in the core modules. Unless otherwise noted, all optional modules are 7.5 credits.

*The 15-credit, optional module Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Europe is taught at the UCL School of Management’s home in Canary Wharf, London, over three weeks in the summer.

Business Research Project

Students undertake a business research project that requires the completion of a 12,000-word business report or business plan. The research project should investigate a management or business issue and can be undertaken with a company.

Part-time study offers a student the opportunity to carry on working in a career or to simply study at a slower pace.

Part-time students undertake the programme on weekends over 28 months and must complete the same number of compulsory and optional modules as the Full-time students, as well as the business research project. 

Students will need to have a level of work flexibility (if employed) in order to cope with the programme's timetable.

Please visit the UCL School of Management website for further details on the programme structure.

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 210 credits. Upon successful completion of 210 credits, you will be awarded an MBA in Business Administration.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

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Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2024/25) See Fees Note See Fees Note
Tuition fees (2024/25) See Fees Note See Fees Note

The fees for this programme are set in Chinese Yuan and payable to the Beijing International MBA at the Peking University National School of Development.

Additional costs

Students may have the opportunity to undertake the optional module, Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Europe, which is taught in London over three weeks during the summer months. The module includes site visits, social activities, and in-class refreshments that will be partially funded by the UCL School of Management. Please note that participation in this module is optional and may cost up to £500 in programme fees. Students will also be required to fund their own travel to and from London, as well as any applicable visas and other travel expenses, accommodation and their personal maintenance during the trip.

It is estimated that students requiring accommodation in London would need to pay between £1,000 and £1,500 for the three-week duration of the optional module for standard student accommodation with some shared facilities (washroom, kitchen), and between £200 and £500 on other expenses. This estimate is based on the costs incurred by the students on previous summer programmes and is subject to change depending on prevailing exchange rates.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

Information on additional funding and scholarships can be found in the UCL-Peking University MBA section of the BiMBA Business School website, which is hosted by the Peking University National School of Development.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

UCL East London Scholarship

NOW CLOSED FOR 2024/25 ENTRY
Value: Tuition fees plus £15,700 stipend ()
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. For further information regarding the application process please visit the BiMBA Business School website.

When we assess your application, we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study for the Business Administration MBA in China
  • why you want to study for a Business Administration MBA with UCL and Peking University 
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree
  • how you will contribute to the academic and student life of the MBA

Together with the essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to demonstrate whether your reasons for applying to the MBA match what the MBA intends to deliver.

We seek students with an international perspective, a specific interest in China, and a desire to engage the technology and innovation that are transforming management and business.

Please refer to the UCL-Peking University MBA section of the BiMBA Business School website, which is hosted by the Peking University National School of Development, for more information on the application process. Applications should only be made through BiMBA Business School.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Got questions? Get in touch

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students. Peking University is regulated by the Ministry of Education.