Business Administration - MBA

Experiential. Transformational. International. The globally-ranked Smurfit MBA provides an unequalled opportunity to unlock and develop your leadership potential, accelerate your career and build your global network.



As an MBA student, you will build on your previous experience and gain practical skills in emerging business topics, Finance, Strategy, Marketing, Accounting, Economics, Human Resources and Leadership among other disciplines. Our core academic programme adapts in tandem with the most up-to-date business and organisational thinking, enabled by research and consultative collaboration between faculty and industry.



MBA teaching is a dynamic mix of theory, implementation, guest speakers, group discussion and analysis, and experiential learning. Case studies, simulations, international study tours and capstone projects are used to build expertise and analytical skills. MBA assessments place a strong emphasis on team work and core skills.



The programme is structured over 3 semesters during which time you will complete 15 core modules, 2 option modules, a major project and the opportunity to take modules in locations across the globe. Optional modules can be taken in autumn, spring and the summer term. The list of options evolves over time based on student feedback and the identification of new areas of interest.



UCD Smurfit School's Leadership and Employability Advancement Programme (LEAP) underpins the MBA Programme and is designed to support you wherever you are on your leadership and career journey.

Stage 1 Core Modules

ACC40090 Financial Reporting Autumn 5

BMGT44000 Competitive Strategy Autumn 5

BMGT44810 Leadership and Organisational Behaviour Autumn 5

FIN40190 Corporate Finance Autumn 5

FIN41290 Business, Economics, and Society Autumn 5

MKT40080 Marketing Management Autumn 5

ACC40020 Management Accounting Spring 5

BMGT41040 Operations, Innovation & Management Spring 5

BMGT42770 Entrepreneurship Spring 5

BMGT44040 Doing Business in International Mkt Spring 5

BMGT45560 Digital Strat &Transformation Spring 5

BMGT44080 Global & Corporate Strategy Summer 5

HRM40060 Strategies for Human Resources Summer 5

SBUS45430 International Consult. Project Summer 5

SBUS46110 MBA LEAP Summer 2.5

SBUS46130 Capstone Project MBA Summer 7.5



Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:

Students need to follow an application process to register to this module

BMGT44400 Global Network Week UCD Smurfit Autumn 5



Stage 1 Options - B)2 of:

Students must take two option modules from the list below.

BMGT43250 Managing Negotiation Process Spring 5

MKT46050 Digital Mkt & Customer Analytics Spring 5

BMGT45550 Strategy Development Systems Summer 5

A university degree*

A minimum of three years’ (for Full-Time MBA) and five years' (for Executive MBA) quality professional experience (excluding summer placements, part-time or temporary work experience) at the time of application.



GMAT requirements:

A valid score on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). GMAT Focus , GMAC Executive Assessment (EA) or GRE are also now accepted. See course webpage for further details - link below.



English Language Requirements: All applicants are required to demonstrate a high level of competence in English language. If English is not your first language you must present with the minimum standard in a recognised English language test.



*If you do not hold a university degree equivalent to NFQ Level 8 please contact Admissions for further advice on the non-standard admissions process.



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

https://tinyurl.com/2ae2ffax

Assessment

Assessment for the MBA is based on a combined grade for group assignments and presentations, individual projects, class participation and written examinations. Graduates are given a GPA and level result.

1 year full-time.

Full-time MBA tuition fees can be paid in three instalments: September, January and May.


Executive MBA Tuition Fee: €15,950* per year (academic year 2019/2020)


EMBA participants pay fees on an annual (per academic year) basis, with fees split into three instalments per year. The Year 2 fees can also be paid in three instalments for that year. So, over the two years, the full fees can be paid and split into six spread out instalments.


MBA candidates must pay a non-refundable deposit of €1,000 at the time of acceptance, to secure a place on the programme. This deposit will be deducted from Semester 1 tuition fees. You can find further information on payment methods, schedules and fee payment deadlines online at www.ucd.ie/fees.


Important Note: Tuition fees and other charges are subject to change each year.

B009 MBA FT Master of Business Administration Full-Time

Commencing September 2025

Graduate Taught (UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School)

Graduates of the Smurfit MBA are highly sought after to take up roles across all types of organisations. They are hired into a variety of commercial roles in Ireland and abroad.



Over the past few years, our Full Time MBA class have secured roles in a large number of organisations, including: McKinsey, Google, Kellogg’s, EY, Grant Thornton, PwC, Amazon, Hubspot, Facebook, LinkedIn, Salesforce, Mainstream Renewable Power, KPMG, Novartis, Accenture, Roche, CRH and Glanbia.