Description
This innovative course is designed to develop a wide range of interdisciplinary skills that you can apply in your own workplace as you develop. You will gain a solid foundation in core management disciplines, including human resource management, organisational behaviour, accounting and finance, marketing and operations – learning to apply your knowledge to analyse, synthesise and evaluate a wide range of situations. You will explore economic, environmental, social and technological change issues; corporate governance; markets and customers; managing resources and operations; financing organisations; management and development of people; developing information technologies for application in business and management within a global knowledge-based economy, and development of appropriate business policies and strategies within a changing context to meet stakeholder interests.
You must complete your study by 31 December 2031. If you would like to discuss your options with one of our advisers, please contact us.
Key features of the course
- A valuable qualification for practising managers who aspire to higher positions
- Flexible curriculum to suit your professional interests
- Takes you two thirds of the way to our triple-accredited MBA.
Planning your studies
You’ll be eligible for this postgraduate diploma by satisfying the following academic, work experience and language requirements.
The compulsory modules B870 and B872, that you study for this diploma, are also compulsory in the MBA (F61) and Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration (C66). It is possible to claim the certificate, the diploma and the MBA.
Academic requirements
There are three ways to meet the academic requirements:
1: Bachelors degree with honours
You'll need to have a bachelors degree with honours awarded by a UK university or equivalent.
2: Bachelors degree without honours
You'll need to have a bachelors degree without honours awarded by a UK university or equivalent and you'll need to have completed one of the following:
- the discontinued OU module Managing 1: organisations and people (B628)
- three of our undergraduate-level Business Management microcredentials*
- the GMAT examination and achieved a result of 640 or higher.
3: No Bachelors degree
If you don’t have a bachelors degree you'll need to have completed one of the following:
- the discontinued OU Professional Certificate in Management (S01)
- six of our undergraduate-level Business Management microcredentials*
*See our Counting microcredentials towards OU qualifications page for further information.
Work experience requirement
You’ll need to have gained a minimum of three years’ experience in a managerial, technical or professional role, so that you have a practical business base on which to build your learning.
Language requirement
Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, we recommend that you will need a minimum score of 6.5 under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see their website for details.
Acceptance onto the programme
You’ll be required to show how you meet these requirements. You will be asked to submit your CV and proof of qualifications, including English translations of non-UK degrees. Evaluation of the evidence will take place before you’re accepted onto the programme.
If you would like to discuss making an application and require further information, please call The Open University Business School information line on +44 (0)300 303 0065. Lines are open (UK time): Monday to Friday 08:00 to 17:30.
How long it takes
Most students study the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration part-time, completing 60 credits a year over two years. Typically, this means 12–14 study hours each week. The minimum time to complete this qualification is 12 months.
You must complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration by 31 December 2031.
Career relevance and employability
The Open University Business School is one of an elite group of schools worldwide accredited by the three leading international accrediting bodies – AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS – hallmarks of quality of teaching, learning materials and qualification impact. It is home to more than 28,500 successful MBA graduates representing over 100 countries.
Employers value postgraduate business qualifications as an indication of high level business and management skills. These skills are in demand, increasingly so in times of economic uncertainty, and employers want practical experience, a thorough grasp of business, and the ability to lead at a strategic level. Careers surveys shows that students studying postgraduate business qualifications can expect their salary to increase, and have a positive impact on their career progression, as well as bring improvements to their organisation or business.
Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.
Modules
There are now two routes to gaining this qualification depending on when you start your postgraduate diploma.
November 2019 onwards route
If you started with B870 in November 2019 or thereafter, including if you've previously studied any electives as a standalone module, you'll need:
105 credits from the following:
plus 15 credits from one of the following:
| Option modules or microcredentials |
Credits |
Next start |
- Contemporary issues in organisations (BB853)
This module will help you become a knowledge leader by demonstrating that you’re ahead of current organisational and business challenges.
See full description
|
15 |
Nov 2026 |
- Entrepreneurship in context (BB851)
This module will equip you with an entrepreneurial mindset and help you learn about entrepreneurship and different forms of entrepreneurial practice.
See full description
|
15 |
Nov 2026 |
- Leadership and management of public services (BB852)
In this module, you’ll study the many dimensions of managing public services, which may be public, private for-profit or not-for profit.
See full description
|
15 |
May 2026 |
- Supply chain management (BB849)
This module provides an analysis of important concepts and practices in supply chain management, taking into account issues such as supplier relationships, supply chain performance, sustainability and risk management.
See full description
|
15 |
May 2026 |
- Sustainable creative management (BB842)
This module explores creative, innovative and sustainable ways of developing and managing organisations and offers practical approaches for developing yourself, your team and your organisation.
See full description
|
15 |
May 2026 |
- Leadership and management in intercultural contexts (BZVM803) *
Develop your leadership and management skills as you build a global mindset that will enable you to lead more effectively across cultures and national contexts.
See full description
|
15 |
Jul 2026 |
- Management of change: organisation development and design (BZVM802) *
Discover tools and concepts of human-centred management and design, and develop skills to manage and lead in the 21st century.
See full description
|
15 |
Jul 2026 |
- Management of uncertainty: leadership, decisions and action (BZVM801) *
Develop greater leadership skills and learn to make effective decisions in conditions of radical uncertainty.
See full description
|
15 |
Jul 2026 |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules BB841, BB844, BB845, BB846, BB847, BB848, BXM871, BZFM801 and BZFM802.
*Microcredentials are 10–12 week professional development courses. Learn more about counting microcredentials towards OU qualifications.
Hybrid route
If you have gained 60 credits from completing either of the discontinued modules B716 or BXFT716 you'll need:
30 credits from the following:
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued module BB835.
plus 15 credits from the following:
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued module BB831.
plus 15 credits from the following:
| Option modules or microcredentials |
Credits |
Next start |
- Contemporary issues in organisations (BB853)
This module will help you become a knowledge leader by demonstrating that you’re ahead of current organisational and business challenges.
See full description
|
15 |
Nov 2026 |
- Entrepreneurship in context (BB851)
This module will equip you with an entrepreneurial mindset and help you learn about entrepreneurship and different forms of entrepreneurial practice.
See full description
|
15 |
Nov 2026 |
- Leadership and management of public services (BB852)
In this module, you’ll study the many dimensions of managing public services, which may be public, private for-profit or not-for profit.
See full description
|
15 |
May 2026 |
- Supply chain management (BB849)
This module provides an analysis of important concepts and practices in supply chain management, taking into account issues such as supplier relationships, supply chain performance, sustainability and risk management.
See full description
|
15 |
May 2026 |
- Sustainable creative management (BB842)
This module explores creative, innovative and sustainable ways of developing and managing organisations and offers practical approaches for developing yourself, your team and your organisation.
See full description
|
15 |
May 2026 |
- Leadership and management in intercultural contexts (BZVM803) *
Develop your leadership and management skills as you build a global mindset that will enable you to lead more effectively across cultures and national contexts.
See full description
|
15 |
Jul 2026 |
- Management of change: organisation development and design (BZVM802) *
Discover tools and concepts of human-centred management and design, and develop skills to manage and lead in the 21st century.
See full description
|
15 |
Jul 2026 |
- Management of uncertainty: leadership, decisions and action (BZVM801) *
Develop greater leadership skills and learn to make effective decisions in conditions of radical uncertainty.
See full description
|
15 |
Jul 2026 |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules BB841, BB844, BB845, BB846, BB847, BB848, BXM871, BZFM801 and BZFM802.
*Microcredentials are 10–12 week professional development courses. Learn more about counting microcredentials towards OU qualifications.
You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 40 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.
Details of the Final Study in May 2020 route, which is no longer available to new students, can be seen below in the qualification regulations.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
If you’ve successfully completed some relevant postgraduate study elsewhere, you might be able to count it towards this qualification, reducing the number of modules you need to study. You should apply for credit transfer as soon as possible, before you register for your first module. For more details and an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.
On completion
On successfully completing this course, we’ll award you our Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration. You’ll be entitled to use the letters PG Dip Bus Admin (Open) after your name.
You can progress from this Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration to either our Master of Business Administration (F61) or our MBA (Technology Management) (F69).
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
How to register
If you want to study for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of
our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the
module you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that module.
During the registration procedure you will be asked to declare which qualification you are studying towards.
See a full list of modules available for this qualification