MBM course overview
Introduction
This one-year masters degree (180 points) provides a truly transformative business education that will take your career to new heights.
The Waikato MBM will give you an in-depth understanding of the fast-paced global business environment. It will also prepare you to take on a wide range of management and leadership roles in any industry.
This taught programme is designed for graduates of any bachelor's degree – from arts, IT and engineering to teaching or social science – who wish to expand their career prospects and increase their earning potential. Previous business experience is not required.
Over 12 months, you'll hone your skills in all aspects of business: planning for strategic growth, marketing, digital business, economics, financial analysis, managing people in organisations, global business, supply chain management, design thinking and innovation, and sustainable and responsible management.
You'll also develop strong communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills; learn how to carry out business research and analyse data, question ideas and findings, and build the confidence to lead teams and manage organisational change.
You can start the MBM programme in either February, July or November.
Waikato is proud to offer the only MBM programme in New Zealand - and one of only 47 worldwide - that is accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA). This awarded to only the best postgraduate business programmes internationally, and is an assurance of international quality for students and employers alike.
You'll be studying at Waikato Management School, which is ranked in the world's top 1% of business schools globally, having held Triple Crown Accreditation from EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB since 2005.
After graduating, you may be eligible to apply for a Post-Study Work Visa to remain in New Zealand for up to 3 years while you look for a job and establish your career.
Practical business learning
Throughout the MBM degree, you'll become aware of your own abilities as a future business leader or entrepreneur. Your learning experience is designed to be practical, relevant, challenging, and inspiring.
There are 11 papers in the programme, and you will have about 28-30 hours of classes and self-directed learning per week.
Learning is through a mix of classroom lectures, real-world case studies, group assignments, video, social media, creative problem-solving and reflective learning.
You'll also undertake a one-month internship at a local business - arranged by us - while completing an applied research and consultancy project that delivers real value to you and the company.
Our students have completed their internships in a wide range of industries, including aviation, healthcare, IT, agriculture, banking, finance, education, government, and not-for-profit organisations.
For the Action Learning Project, you'll work in small teams to develop a business plan for your own entrepreneurial start-up business, and then pitch your ideas to a group of senior executives in a 'Dragons' Den'-style competition.
MBM papers
There are a total of 11 papers in the MBM programme. The class time spent working on each paper can vary from one week to several weeks.
Entry criteria
You can apply for the MBM if you have:
- A bachelor's degree in any subject discipline, or its equivalent, from an approved university
- Achieved a B-minus grade average or above in the final year of your degree.
All applicants are asked to complete an online MBM Toolkit before classes start, by working their way through the modules and three short assignments.
International students must have an equivalent qualification from a recognised university, and meet the English language requirementsfor graduate/postgraduate programmes.
English language requirements:
- an IELTS overall score of at least 6.5, with no band below 6.0, or
- an iBT (Internet-based TOEFL) score of at least 90, with a Writing score of at least 22, or
- a B grade or better at Level 8 in the Certificate of Attainment in Academic English, or
- an overall score of C (with at least a C in the Writing band) in the Foundation Certificate in English for Academic Purposes, or
- a PTE Academic overall score of at least 65, with no less than 58 for each communicative skill.
Waikato has a world-class reputation
Waikato is proud to offer the only MBM programme in New Zealand - and one of only 47 worldwide - that is accredited by the London-based Association of MBAs (AMBA) - awarded to the world's best postgraduate business programmes. This is an assurance of international quality for students and employers alike.
You'll be studying at Waikato Management School, ranked in the world's top 1% of business schools, having held Triple Crown Accreditation from EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB since 2005. This is a global benchmark of excellence in business teaching and research, achieved by less than 1% of the world's business schools.
We're also ranked in the world’s top 200 universities for Business and Management Studies, as well as Accounting and Finance, in the QS World University Rankings 2018.
How to apply
To enrol in the Waikato MBM programme, you need to submit an online application through the University of Waikato.
Please read the information below BEFORE you start the application process.
You'll need to provide the following documents:
- A *verified copy* of your academic records
- A *verified copy* of your birth certificate; (or your passport and marriage certificate if you have changed your name)
- Evidence of English language proficiency if you have not studied in New Zealand before
- A photo of yourself (head and shoulders) saved as a jpeg image
- An up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV) or resume.
*A verified copy is a photocopy signed by someone in authority (eg a school principal, solicitor or Justice of the Peace) who has seen the original document. They will sign, date and stamp the photocopy with an official stamp, or write ‘Verified original sighted and this is a true copy of that original’.
To start the application process, click on the yellow button below.
Contact us
International students
Email: international@waikato.ac.nz
Phone: +64 7 838 4610 (from outside New Zealand)
New Zealand students
Phone: (07) 838 4303 or toll free 0800 654 303
Email: msc@waikato.ac.nz
Opening hours: 8.45am - 4.45pm Monday to Friday
Physical location:
Management Student Centre (MSC)
MSB.1.50, Waikato Management School, Gate 6b, Hillcrest Road
University of Waikato, Hamilton
Talk to current MBM students
Waikato MBM Facebook page - for prospective and current students
Would you like to talk to other students who are already taking part in Waikato's MBM programme, and ask them questions about their experience?
Would you like to make contact with other international students travelling from India, China and other countries before you even arrive in New Zealand?
Check out the University of Waikato MBM Facebook page, where MBM students at Waikato can connect with each other!
Please post a question, or send a private message, and you'll receive a response from a current student within a few hours.