Masters Degree in Business Administration - POTCHEFSTROOM CAMPUS - NWU

Masters Degree in
        Business Administration

                       NORTH-WEST UNIVERSITY
                                              ®
POTCHEFSTROOM          YUNIBESITI YA BOKONE-BOPHIRIMA
BESIGHEIDSKOOL         NOORDWES-UNIVERSITEIT
BUSINESS SCHOOL        POTCHEFSTROOM CAMPUS

Masters Degree in Business Administration
(MBA)
Introduction
The Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA) of the Northwest University
(Potchefstroom campus) is offered by the Potchefstroom Business School (PBS)
and is accredited by the Higher Education Quality Council (HEQC).

The NWU is considered to be the best-managed university in South Africa. The
business school of the Faculty Business and Economic Sciences at NWU has been
delivering competent graduates to Southern Africa who, in turn, are making
a proven contribution to social and economical growth in the region. The PBS
aims to provide professional postgraduate management and business training.
The faculty of the PBS is therefore focused on combining theory and practice
in order to fully develop the strategic leadership potential of business people.
The programme content and standard of the PBS MBA ensure that participants
acquire skills with regard to international business practice and trends that can
successfully be applied to the challenges encountered in Southern Africa.

The MBA qualification is regarded as the flagship of business training worldwide:
•	The MBA is recognised internationally as the most suitable qualification to
   prepare business people for successful careers within the senior cadres of their
   organisations.
•	An MBA improves the management skills of participants and innovative study
   themes unlock new knowledge that guides developing leaders in a creative
   way to play a definite value-adding role within their organisations.
•	The dynamic programme content is carefully compiled for individuals who
   not only expect value for their money, but insist on continued returns on the
   investment of their time and hard years of study.
•	The value of an MBA lies within the performance of each individual. It is a
   degree for people who not only want to be able to write MBA ‘behind their
   name’, but also wish to turn their newly-acquired knowledge and skills into
   value and prosperity.
•	The PBS firmly believes that the achieved average results are a synergistic
   consequence of the knowledge and creativity of student and lecturer.

Exit-level outcomes
After completion of the MBA programme the graduate will be equipped to:
• apply critical-analytical thought;
•	internalise the core dynamics of the various management fields and also
   demonstrate it with the level of insight required by masters-degree studies;
•	apply the above-mentioned insight to complex management issues on
   multi-disciplinary levels;
• apply research skills in order to address empirical issues;
• communicate effectively in individual well as syndicate group situations;
• handle the management challenges within an ethical context;
•	convert senior-level quality into purpose-driven value for the organisation;
   and therefore
•	perform as an empowered management leader with a fundamentally ethical
   approach to the challenges of the 21st century.

Competitive edge
The availability of MBA programmes within the tertiary market environment is
wide and diverse. Against that background the PBS is steadfast in continuing to
live up to its reputation by not budging at all with regard to quality assurance.
This business school grows when changes and renewal take place, regarding
them as challenges instead of stumbling blocks.

Educational and pedagogical innovation enable the PBS to diminish the demands
of part-time study for its clients. That is also why full-time working postgraduate
learners attend lectures after hours to accommodate busy schedules. Market
research shows a preference for the part-time business model of the PBS that
enables learners to contribute to their working environment immediately.

Effective learner support resources, including accessible academic and
administrative personnel, excellent information resources and syndicate group
activities together with outcomes-based study material ensure outstanding
and pleasant circumstances that promote excellence. The PBS personnel are
professional academics that are enjoying constant exposure in the national and
international academic community, guided by leading conferences worldwide,
and that are directly involved in a variety of research activities and projects.

Furthermore, the faculty maintains strong links with the private and public sector
where their consultation services are widely recognised. In this way, theoretical
and practical expertise is combined to the advantage of students, lecturers and
the community in general.

Admission to the three-year MBA programme
 Admission requirements
 Admission to the MBA programme takes place according to strict requirements in accordance with other fully accredited
 business schools countrywide. Prospective candidates must have a recognised degree qualification (or similar) and three years’
 applicable working experience. Any overseas qualification must be verified at the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA)
 by the applicant.

 The application process is as follows:
 • Step 1
    Applicants complete the official application forms as supplied by the MBA admissions office (018 299 2629/ 4049); MBA
     Potchefstroom secretary (018 299 1419/ 1406); MBA Vanderbijlpark secretary (016 910 3011) or available on the
    website (www.nwu.ac.za/pbs).

 •   Step 2
      pplicants are notified of their admission status according to a paper selection process. Successful applicants are then
     A
     contacted to take the Business School’s admission test. These tests are based on practical business management insight.
     Aspects of business science tested include personality traits, and numeric and communication skills. The PBS uses an
     internationally recognised test developed by the SHL. SHL testing is used as a selection model at various leading business
     schools in South Africa and in more than 40 countries worldwide. After the assessment, successful candidates will officially
     be notified of their test results by the PBS.

 •   Step 3 (optional)
     In certain cases the PBS reserves the right to invite candidates for a personal interview in support of their application.

 Important notices:
 • Step 2 is left out if a candidate has passed a GMAT-selection test with a total of 550 or more during the past three years.
    Such candidates must provide proof of the GMAT results when the application forms mentioned in Step 1 are submitted.
    In this case the PBS also reserves the right to conduct personal interviews with candidates for additional clarity during the
    application process.
 • It is a requirement that MBA students have access to the internet/email facilities.
 • In order to ensure a problem-free registration process to the advantage of clients and the University, prospective applicants
    are requested to submit their application forms and supporting academic documents during the last quarter of the year,
    after 1 September. Applications received later than 15 January will not be accepted.
 • Two recent passport-size photographs (with the applicant’s name and identity number on the back) must accompany the
    application package.
 • University administration will confirm receipt of all applications. Incomplete applications will not be taken up in the system
    before the supporting documents have been submitted.
 • Applicants must declare their willingness to travel to Potchefstroom for the selection test, as well as a personal interview, if
    required, in support of the application process.
 • Only a limited number of applicants will be selected and admitted to the MBA programme every year.

Fees
Please refer to the enclosed schedule with regard to the
payable fees.

Duration and structure of the MBA programme
The MBA is offered over a period of three academic years. Learners
must study all six modules per year. (See enclosed table on the
next page.) In order to live up to the PBS philosophy of continued
excellence and relevance of programme content while the business
environment keeps changing, is a challenge that the PBS accepts
with enthusiasm by constantly revising the programme content
and the learning model and by using contemporary examples and
perspectives. The PBS has a successful method of both national and
international evaluation and moderation to assess quality
and relevance.

Accessibility
The MBA is offered in Afrikaans every second Saturday from 07:45
to 14:15 in Potchefstroom. Lectures are presented in English every
second Monday from 15:45 to 22:15 in Vanderbijlpark.

MBA curriculum
        YEAR 1

            SEMESTER 1                                             SEMESTER 2
           Financial Reporting                                    Managerial Statistics
            Organisational Behaviour                              Management Economics
           Business Law and Business Ethics                       Information Management

        YEAR 2

            SEMESTER 1                                             SEMESTER 2
           Management Accounting                                  Entrepreneurship
           Marketing Management                                   Financial Management
            Operational Management                                Change Management

        YEAR 3

            SEMESTER 1                                             SEMESTER 2
           Research methodology                                   Research: Research paper
           Strategic Formulation and Implementation
           Strategic Management Application:
            Company project

Study schools
MBA students are required to attend the two scheduled study schools per year, which means a total of six study schools
over the three academic years. The study schools are held annually in January/February and in July. During these study
schools there is particular focus on skills development, research, as well as advanced management and leadership issues.

OUR THREE-YEAR MBA PROGRAMME

POTCHEFSTROOM
                               BESIGHEIDSKOOL
                               BUSINESS SCHOOL

North-West University; Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520
                   Tel: 018 299 1419 / 1406
     E-mail: pbsinfo@nwu.ac.za | erna.loots@nwu.ac.za
                       Fax: 018 299 1416
                      www.nwu.ac.za/pbs

                       Rhonda Ferreira
                      Tel: 016 910 3011
             E-mail: rhonda.ferreira@nwu.ac.za