University of Bradford, School of Management

The University of Bradford School of Management, established in 1963, is one of the oldest business schools in the UK. Based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, it offers a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, and executive education programmes. The school was an early adopter of the MBA in the UK, with the programme celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024.

The School is internationally recognised and holds the prestigious Triple Crown accreditation (AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS), held by only a small number of business schools globally. It relocated to the University’s main City Campus in 2019, enhancing its integration with broader university facilities. With over 2,500 students across 25 programmes, the School boasts a highly diverse population—65% international students and academic staff from over 18 nationalities.

The school has been recognised for its academic and social impact, winning the Times Higher Education Business School of the Year Award in 2021 and the Educate North Award in 2020. It is known for its distance learning MBA, ranked 1st globally for value for money and 3rd in the UK overall by the Financial Times in 2022.

Internationalisation is central to the School’s identity. It partners with institutions in over 30 countries and offers study tours, exchange programmes, and an Executive MBA in Dubai. It also runs the International Masters Summer School and initiatives such as "Entrepreneurs Across Borders".

The School has strong ties with employers through its Career Booster Programme, placement opportunities, and partnerships with companies like IBM, BBC, and SAS. It also offers the UK government-backed “Help to Grow: Management” programme for SME leaders.

The University of Bradford School of Management was established in 1963, making it one of the oldest business schools in the United Kingdom. It was founded prior to the official establishment of the University of Bradford, which followed in 1966. Since its inception, the School of Management has played a pioneering role in business education, being one of the first institutions in the UK to offer a Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme.

Over the decades, the school developed a strong academic reputation and gained international recognition. It expanded its offerings to include undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, and executive education programmes. Its portfolio now consists of 25 degree programmes, covering disciplines such as finance, management, accounting, international business, and human resource management. The full-time MBA programme, which began early in the school's history, will mark its 50th anniversary in 2024. The school graduates around 80 students from the full-time MBA, 25 from the part-time MBA, and around 50 from its part-time Executive MBA annually.

In 2019, the school underwent a significant relocation from its long-standing site near Lister Park to the main University of Bradford City Campus, aiming to integrate more closely with the university’s central operations. This move marked a new phase in its development, improving facilities and accessibility for students and staff.

The School of Management is also believed to be the originator of the Bradford Factor, a human resources tool used to measure employee absenteeism.

Throughout its existence, the school has prioritised internationalisation. Over 65% of its student body in the 2022/23 academic year came from outside the UK. Faculty and support staff represent 18 nationalities, and the school partners with institutions in Dubai, Oman, France, Poland, Spain, South Korea, Hong Kong, Canada, and several European nations. The school maintains multiple collaborative relationships, including 14 Erasmus programme partners and seven institutions through its Jean Monnet Network. In 1998, it established a presence in Dubai and continues to operate its Executive MBA from Dubai Knowledge Park.

In recognition of its commitment to responsible management education, the school achieved advanced signatory status for the UN Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) in 2020. It also adheres to the Athena SWAN principles.

The school is among a select group of institutions worldwide to have achieved triple accreditation status from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Association of MBAs (AMBA), and the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), known collectively as the Triple Crown.

Its excellence in business education and social impact has been recognised through several awards. In 2021, it was named Business School of the Year by the Times Higher Education Awards. Previously, in 2020, it won the Educate North Award for Business School of the Year, acknowledging its performance in innovation, teaching, research, student experience, and societal contribution.

The school has consistently ranked well in global assessments. According to the Financial Times, it was ranked 9th in the UK and 95th globally in the 2012 Global MBA rankings. Its online MBA has been ranked 1st in the world for value for money and 3rd in the UK overall by the Financial Times in 2022. The Economist Intelligence Unit also placed its Distance Learning MBA among the top 10 globally.

In terms of practical application, the school offers placement and internship opportunities with organisations such as IBM, NHS, Vauxhall, GE Money, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. It also supports employability through initiatives like the Career Booster Programme, which includes over 60 workshops and sessions annually. In partnership with industry leaders like Bloomberg and SAS, students gain access to resources such as a Bloomberg Trading Room and analytics tools to simulate real-world scenarios.

In 2023, the School of Management celebrated its 60th anniversary with a range of events throughout the academic year, including lectures, conferences, and alumni activities. The school also operates the Help to Grow: Management programme, launched in the UK to support SME leaders, offering a government-subsidised curriculum on leadership, innovation, and digital adoption.

As of now, the school continues to expand its international engagement and maintain its commitment to responsible, inclusive, and practical business education, serving over 2,500 students annually and engaging with an alumni network of over 140,000 individuals across more than 175 countries.

The University of Bradford School of Management offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, and executive education programmes, developed in collaboration with industry partners to align with evolving business needs. These courses cover disciplines such as business, management, finance, accounting, international business, marketing, and human resource management.

At the undergraduate level, the School provides programmes such as BSc (Hons) Business and Management Studies, which offer students the opportunity to gain theoretical knowledge and practical experience. The undergraduate courses often include the option of a sandwich year, where students undertake a year-long placement with an organisation. This placement helps them acquire real-world skills, build networks, and enhance their employability. Companies that have supported placements include IBM, NHS, Vauxhall, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Postgraduate education includes a diverse selection of taught master’s degrees such as MSc Finance, MSc International Business and Management, MSc Accounting and Finance, MSc Marketing and Management, and MSc Human Resource Management. These programmes are designed to provide advanced knowledge and specialised skills in respective disciplines. The School also offers the International Masters Summer School, allowing postgraduate students from partner institutions to engage in short-term collaborative learning, with themes varying annually—such as sustainability and social justice.

The School's MBA programmes are among its most prominent offerings. These include the full-time MBA, part-time Executive MBA, MBA in Dubai, and the Distance Learning MBA. The Distance Learning MBA is recognised globally for its flexibility and value, and it enables students to study from anywhere in the world while receiving ongoing academic support. The Dubai MBA, offered in Dubai Knowledge Park, provides a location-specific option for professionals based in the Middle East and is accredited by the KHDA.

Doctoral studies are also available, including PhD and DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) programmes. These are research-focused qualifications designed for those wishing to contribute to academic knowledge or apply advanced research in professional practice.

The School also supports professional development through the “Help to Grow: Management” programme. This is a 12-week training course, subsidised by the UK government, aimed at leaders of small and medium-sized enterprises. It covers subjects such as leadership, innovation, employee engagement, and financial management, and includes mentoring, peer networking, and the creation of a Growth Action Plan.

The University of Bradford School of Management has earned notable rankings both in the UK and internationally. It is ranked 9th in the United Kingdom by the Financial Times, reflecting its strong position among business schools nationally. Globally, the School achieved 95th place in the Financial Times Global MBA Rankings 2012, demonstrating its longstanding recognition in international business education.

The School’s Distance Learning MBA has received significant global recognition. In the Financial Times Online MBA Rankings 2022, it was ranked 1st in the world for value for money, 4th for the number of international students, and 4th for international mobility. Additionally, the Economist Intelligence Unit ranked the Distance Learning MBA among the top 10 in the world, reinforcing the programme’s global competitiveness and accessibility.

In 2018, the School was ranked 14th overall in the world and 3rd in the UK for its Online MBA by the Financial Times. It was also named Business School of the Year in 2021 by the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards, recognising the School’s role in supporting students, alumni, and local businesses, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The School also won the Educate North Award for Business School of the Year in 2020. This was in recognition of its performance in student experience, innovation, teaching, and economic and societal impact. In 2022, the School was runner-up in the Triple E Awards for Community Engagement Initiative of the Year, presented by the Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities (ACEEU).

Further accreditations and recognitions include achieving the Small Business Charter status from the Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS) in 2021. In 2020, the School became the first in England to gain joint accreditation from AMBA and the Business Graduates Association (BGA). The School’s Dubai campus also received 5 out of 5 ratings in Teaching, Research, Happiness and Wellbeing, Employability, and Programme Strength from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in 2022.

The University of Bradford School of Management maintains a strong emphasis on employability and career development. According to data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), 90% of graduates from the School are employed within six months of graduation. The MBA programme, in particular, is ranked 4th in the world for career progression by the Financial Times MBA Online Ranking 2022, further supporting the School’s focus on preparing students for employment and leadership roles across global industries.

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