Description
If you’re looking for an MBA with a focus on technology, this is the qualification for you. It is applicable to technology management and technological innovation in a wide variety of contexts and sectors, including: IT/IS, telecommunications, computing, engineering, manufacturing, transport and logistics, retailing, energy production and supply, defence and security, management and administration, and any form of services, including health, welfare and leisure. You will focus on strategic analysis and, intellectual stimulation whilst gaining interdisciplinary skills, and independent judgement – exploring the processes that underpin technological innovation and the challenges of technology from a strategic perspective, with your learning firmly rooted in management practice throughout.
Key features of the course
- Practice-based learning brings your MBA into life at your workplace.
- Flexible options enable you to adjust the curriculum to suit your needs.
- Strong international emphasis essential for developing leaders in a global marketplace.
- Our triple-accredited status puts us in an elite group of business schools in the world.
Planning your studies
You’ll be eligible for our MBA by satisfying the following academic, work experience and language requirements.
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 Microcredentials 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 MBA 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 MBA 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 this qualification in three years by studying 60 credits a year. To achieve this you should expect to devote 12 – 14 hours each week to your studies. You can however study certain modules concurrently depending on your study intensity and complete within 18 months. This will require you to be able to devote 24 – 28 hours each week to your studies.
Career relevance and employability
The Open University Business School is one of an elite group of schools that are 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 28,000 successful MBA graduates representing 120 countries.
Employers value the MBA 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. Much of the work in this qualification involves an evidenced-based approach, thus ensuring relevance in the workplace. AMBA’s careers survey shows that MBA students can expect their salary to increase, and the MBA to 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 two routes to the MBA depending on when you start your studies.
November 2019 onwards route
If you start this year or have started with B870 in November 2019 or thereafter, including if you've previously studied any electives as a standalone module, you'll need:
60 credits from the following:
plus 60 credits from the following:
Or the discontinued module T848
plus the following:
plus at least 15 credits from the following:
Optional modules and 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 2024 |
- 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 2024 |
- 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 2024 |
- Supply chain management (BB849)
This module provides an analysis of important concepts and practices in supply chain management, taking into account issues such as globalisation, sustainability and risk management.
See full description
|
15 |
May 2024 |
- 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 2024 |
- Making strategy with systems thinking in practice (TB871)
TB871 builds capability for making strategy within your own chosen area of (professional) practice using ideas and tools from five traditions of systems thinking.
See full description
|
30 |
May 2024 |
- Making change with systems thinking in practice (TB872)
This module is about effecting systemic and systematic change in uncertain and complex situations, change that can transform situations for the better.
See full description
|
30 |
Nov 2024 |
- Making environmental decisions (T891)
This module teaches you to use a systems framework to integrate environment with other considerations when making decisions in complex environmental management situations.
See full description
|
30 |
Nov 2024 |
- Project management (M815)
This APM accredited module is ideal for aspiring project managers and practising project managers who wish to develop their knowledge and skills of managing technological projects.
See full description
|
30 |
May 2024 |
- Business, human rights and corporate social responsibility (W822)
This module examines the nature of corporate commitment to principles of corporate social responsibility in different contexts and its inter-relationship with human rights law.
See full description
|
30 |
Nov 2024 FINAL |
Management of change: organisation development and design(BZFM802)* |
15 |
To be confirmed |
Management of uncertainty: leadership, decisions and action (BZFM801)* |
15 |
To be confirmed |
Or the discontinued modules, BB841, BB844, BB848, BXM871, T839, T863, T867, T877, T878, TD866, TU811, TU812, TU870.
*These microcredentials are 10–12 week professional development courses presented on FutureLearn. Learn more about each microcredential and explore how they can count towards OU qualifications, including the MBA (Technology Management) (F69).
plus 30 credits from the following:
Hybrid route
If you have gained 60 credits from completing either of the discontinued modules B716 or BXFT716 you'll need:
60 credits from the following:
Or the discontinued module T848.
plus 15 credits from the following:
Or the discontinued module BB831.
plus at least 15 credits from the following:
Optional modules and 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 2024 |
- 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 2024 |
- 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 2024 |
- Supply chain management (BB849)
This module provides an analysis of important concepts and practices in supply chain management, taking into account issues such as globalisation, sustainability and risk management.
See full description
|
15 |
May 2024 |
- 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 2024 |
- Making strategy with systems thinking (TB871)
TB871 builds capability for making strategy within your own chosen area of (professional) practice using ideas and tools from five traditions of systems thinking.
See full description
|
30 |
May 2024 |
- Making change with systems thinking in practice (TB872)
This module is about effecting systemic and systematic change in uncertain and complex situations, change that can transform situations for the better.
See full description
|
30 |
Nov 2024 |
- Making environmental decisions (T891)
This module teaches you to use a systems framework to integrate environment with other considerations when making decisions in complex environmental management situations.
See full description
|
30 |
Nov 2024 |
- Project management (M815)
This APM accredited module is ideal for aspiring project managers and practising project managers who wish to develop their knowledge and skills of managing technological projects.
See full description
|
30 |
May 2024 |
- Business, human rights and corporate social responsibility (W822)
This module examines the nature of corporate commitment to principles of corporate social responsibility in different contexts and its inter-relationship with human rights law.
See full description
|
30 |
Nov 2024 FINAL |
Management of change: organisation development and design (BZFM802)* |
15 |
To be confirmed |
Management of uncertainty: leadership, decisions and action (BZFM801)* |
15 |
To be confirmed |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules BB844, BB848, BXM871, T839, T863, T867, T877, T878 TD866, TU811, TU812, TU870.
*These microcredentials are 10–12 week professional development courses presented on FutureLearn. Learn more about each microcredential and explore how they can count towards OU qualifications, including the MBA (Technology Management) (F69).
plus 30 credits from the following:
You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 60 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 Master of Business Administration (Technology Management). You’ll be entitled to use the letters MBA (Tech Mgmt) (Open) after your name.
If your masters degree is awardable with a distinction or a merit, the qualification regulations explain how you can achieve these.
You’ll have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.
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