LTMBA - your questions answered
The questions and answers in this section are by no means exhaustive. If you have a query which is not covered here, please contact us.
Who is running the programme?
The MBA/LS is a collaborative programme between The Leadership Trust Foundation (LTF) and the University of Strathclyde Graduate School of Business (USGSB). The MBA/LS degree is awarded by The University of Strathclyde.
April 2012.
I am not a graduate. Am I qualified to enrol on the MBA programme?
If you do not have a degree, you are qualified if you hold an equivalent professional or technical qualification acceptable to the University, plus at least three years’ subsequent work experience. Qualifications will be assessed by the Admissions Committee. It would not include, for example, SCOTVEC qualifications or NVQs. However, it would include, for example, CIMA and ACCA.
The minimum age for entry to the programme is 24 years. The average age of MBA/LS students is around 40 years. If you do not possess these qualifications, you may be admitted initially to the Diploma in Business with a Specialism in Leadership Studies and you will automatically subsequently transfer to the MBA Programme on satisfactory performance during your first year. In this case, however, you will be required to have at least ten years’ varied and relevant work experience.
Will I have to attend an interview, if I apply? If so, where?
An interview will be held either at The Leadership Trust or at USGSB, whichever is more convenient to you. Special arrangements will be made for non-UK applicants.
Will I have to take a test when I apply?
Usually only non-UK graduates or applicants may have to do so. The Admissions Committee will decide this in specific cases. The test(s) may be GMAT (the Graduate Management Admissions Test), covering verbal and numerical reasoning skills, or, in the case of non-UK applicants, TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), or both.
Where and when are the courses run?
The residential courses are run at The Leadership Trust in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, and at USGSB in Glasgow. You have considerable choice about when you take these courses, subject to constraints on the sequence of some. Please ask for the latest course schedules, which are published shortly before each enrolment date.
How much does the programme cost?
The fee for the programme for the academic year 2012/13 is £20,000 which includes all core courses, essential books and programme materials.
How much time will I have to spend in attending the residential courses?
A minimum of 25 days over the three years. This will typically comprise 14 days in year one, five days in year two, and six days in year three. This may vary, however, according to your choice about when you take certain courses.
I have already taken Leadership Trust courses. Will I get exemptions for these?
Yes, if you took them within the past three years. If you did, however, you will still have to complete the associated written assignments for those courses. The Programme Director will be happy to explain these assignments in detail.
Is there a group fee discount for more than one participant from one organisation?
Yes. For between five and nine participants there will be a discount of 10% and for ten or more, a discount of 20%. However, if the number of participants falls below five owing to any withdrawals during the programme, the full fee rate will be payable. Similarly, if the number falls to between five and nine from ten or more, the discount will be reduced from 20% to 10%.
What happens if a participant is unable to complete the MBA/LS programme?
If the participant has satisfactorily completed the course requirements for at least 120 instructional credits, s/he may be considered for the award of the Diploma.
Can I take the courses in any order?
There is considerable flexibility in the order in which you may take the courses. As the programme does have a logical flow, there is a requirement to take certain courses before taking others.
Are the required residential periods fixed, or is there some flexibility?
There is considerable flexibility. This may be discussed with the Programme Director at LTF or the Flexible Learning Programme Administrator at USGSB.
Can I finish the MBA/LS programme in less than three years or extend it beyond three years?
The programme is already a demanding one. However, you may take the programme more intensively over two years, but you would need to discuss this with the Programme Director at LTF or the Flexible Learning Administrator at USGSB. You may also extend the programme over four or five years. We are currently investigating how to run the programme full-time over 12 months. The Programme Director can give you an up-to-date report on this.
Are tutors and open learning courses available through the internet?
Yes. Tutors may be contacted by e-mail, and the open learning courses may be accessed by CD-ROM at the Business Information Service (BIS) office at USGSB.
How much time in addition to the residential courses and project would I have to spend on this programme?
You should allow five to ten hours per week overall for private study.
Would I be disadvantaged by living overseas if I take this programme?
Not necessarily. You would have to travel to the UK for residential courses and examinations (it may be possible to sit examinations in your own country – please ask for details) but not for open learning courses or for the project. All essential books for core courses and learning materials will be supplied, together with help and support by tutors (through e-mail if you wish). You would most likely do the project in your own organisation or country.