MBA entry requirements, fees and funding

Entry requirements

To be eligible to apply for our distance learning MBA, you need to have:

a bachelor's degree awarded with honours from a recognised UK university or the equivalent. We also accept an ordinary UK bachelor's degree or its equivalent, provided that you also have an official Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score of 640 or above
a minimum of three years’ experience in a managerial, professional or technical role
a good knowledge of the English Language (to International English Language Test System (IELTS) score of 6.5).

What if I don’t have a bachelor’s degree?

You can start your journey towards the MBA if you hold our Professional Certificate in Management (qualification code S01). Or you can opt for an alternative route by completing one or two of our business management microcredential's; Management of Uncertainty: Leadership, Decisions and Action (BZFM801) and Management of Change: Organisation, Development and Design (BZFM802). Select this link for more information about the OU microcredentials.

Please see F61 | MBA (Master of Business Administration) for further details.

Fees and funding

The OU MBA is a highly recognised qualification within industry, with its Triple Accredited excellence – offering the best value to students.

The total cost of the OU MBA in 2023/24 is up to £20,160 in the UK, while fees for other UK triple accredited Business Schools start at above £21k to £35k and move up from there – with some reaching about £60k.

Unlike many schools, the OU fee includes the cost of books and study materials, accommodation and food at residential schools and tutorials, access to bespoke e-learning environment and project supervision as well as examination fees.

The fee does not include any travel costs incurred to and from the residential schools or tutorials.

The approximate fee range* for the OU MBA are as follows (as of 2023/24):

Region	Approximate fee range
UK and Republic of Ireland	£17,450 - £20,160
International (including the Isle of Man and Channel Islands)	£21,105 - £24,140

*Fees approximation explained:

You register and pay for a module at a time. This means that the cost of your MBA will be spread over your years of study.
Module prices are updated annually, and individual module prices also vary slightly.
The fees above assume students pass each module without retake costs.

Ready to register?

Apply now

Funding options

Unlike many MBA programmes, you don’t have to pay for your qualification all at once. Our ‘pay as you go’ model means you pay for your modules one at a time, using one of the following options:

Pay upfront – by debit or credit card when you sign up for each module.
Pay in instalments – find out more about an account with Open University Student Budget Accounts (OUSBA). You must be at least 18 years of age, and credit is subject to your financial circumstances and status.
Employer sponsorship – 75% of FTSE 100 companies have provided sponsorship for their staff to study at the OU. If your study relates to work, your employer may be prepared to pay some or all of your fees

MBA Sponsorship Business Case Builder

Your employer could contribute towards your MBA study fees. Generate a personalised, compelling business case for your employer, with our interactive tool