Course Summary
In the first year of the Executive MBA programme, you will develop an understanding of the range of foundation disciplines and their potential contribution to business leadership and organisational effectiveness. The second year of the programme will be characterised by an integrated approach, which focuses more specifically on the key strategic drivers of sustainable growth and operational excellence.
College Link
Career Sectors
This course prepares you for working in the Career Sectors below. Follow the links to get a fuller understanding of the sectors you are preparing for.
Entry Requirements
• A 2:1 Honours degree in a relevant discipline, or equivalent professional qualification
AND
• At least 3 years’ relevant managerial experience
• Applicants who have achieved a 2.2 Honours degree (and meet the experience requirement) may, based on the Programme Chair's recommendation, still be offered a place. This will depend on availability of places and on obtaining high grades in relevant modules on their undergraduate programme.
• Additionally, applicants who do not meet the academic requirements outlined above may be eligible for an offer of a place based on at least 7 years’ relevant managerial/organisational experience based on DCU's Recognition of Prior Learning Policy. The process for approving such an offer involves an application and an interview with the Programme Chair and approval by the School's Teaching & Learning Committee. The number of such places is limited in any given year so it is recommended that applicants considering this option apply early.
As part of the application process applicants may be called for interview.
Application Details
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the programme is full or until:
Closing date for EU applicants is 31st July 2025.
Closing date for non EU applicants is 1st July 2025.
Please note if you are a non EU student and require a study visa, you are not eligible to apply for part-time programmes as study visas are only granted for full-time programmes.
All applicants should apply via link above (Application Weblink)
• Provide Academic Transcripts for each and every year of study with English translation, if applicable.
• If applicable, provide evidence of competence in the English language as per DCU entry requirements. Please see link http://www.dcu.ie/registry/english.shtml
The programme commences in September 2025.
Commencement of Programme
The programme has a compulsory Orientation Session which takes place the week before the standard University commencement date.
Please note that the running of the programme is subject to a minimum enrollment number.
Fees
EU Status Fee: €13,200 per annum
The Student
Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests. If these interests do not describe you, this course may prepare you for work you may not find satisfying.
Enterprising
Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
Career Progression
At DCU Business School, we believe that the MBA should be about much more than just acquiring some useful extra tools for the management toolkit. It should also be a transformative experience at the personal level. Our value proposition is that our MBA is an educational experience that is both professionally and personally transformative, aimed at developing business leaders with the ambition and enterprise to help create a better, more sustainable world and featuring leading edge thinking with tangible application.
Graduates of our programme talk about how they have grown in confidence, how their own self-awareness as leaders has deepened, and how their perspective on business management has been raised to a more strategic level. Our graduates tell us that these 'personal growth' effects of the MBA become very apparent back in their workplaces, in terms of the issues to which they are invited to contribute, the roles they are asked to take on, and in how they are perceived as future leaders.
Duration
The DCU Executive MBA is a part-time programme, delivered one day per week (Thursdays 2.00-9.00) over 2 years across 4 semesters.