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FAQs

Do the course costs include accommodation?

No – Delegates/students are assumed to be either living close enough to London or within travelling distance, or will need to find their own accommodation. The relatively lower course costs reflect this.

What is the study calendar year at VaLBS?

Unlike most other business schools, VaLUENTiS Business School operates on a full calendar year from January through to December, split into four quarters (Quadmesters), mirroring the business world.

Can the executive education programmes be customised and/or delivered using my/our organisation’s facilities?

Yes – to both questions. I would refer to our webpage https://www.valbs.com/customised-corporate-programmes/ or contact our VaLBS Solutions Team directly on +44 (0) 20 7887 6108. It is most likely that whatever the given context, the cost per delegate/student is significantly lowered. It is also conceivable that an organisation could have a compete Masters programme run ‘internally’ subject to the nature and criteria of the solution required.

How many actual hours of study does the MBA or MSc take, and is there any difference between the full-time and part-time options in this respect?

Our Masters courses are designed to meet the general requirements of accreditation, namely that 1800 hours is set as the total study time. Of this around 500 hours plus is spent in the ‘classroom’ with further online tutorials. The rest is a mixture or individual/group study and assessment. The only difference between the full-time and part-time options is that full-time takes 12 months and part-time takes 24 months. It’s that simple.

How are the courses structured?

All Masters programmes follow the same course format – standard core subject sets delivered through a ‘compressed block’ structure designed to optimise efficiency around learning and teaching resource. This provides maximum flexibility for students throughout the calendar year. Each block is 2.5 days represented by 1 evening and 2 full days either [Monday (evening), Tuesday, Wednesday] or [Wednesday (evening), Thursday, Friday]. All programmes also have either one or two block 5-day weeks [Monday – Friday].

The learning blocks act as staging posts for course module progress with interim online tutorials/cases and/or webinars supplementing private study, whether individually or in groups, within each module. The SCART methodology provides each student with a continuous cumulative scoring system completed with final exam.

For example, on the Executive MBA over 2 years there are 24 blocks delivered once per month with an end of programme 5-day block week followed by exam.

Do you offer an online and/or distance learning MBA?

No. Our MBA and MSc courses, due to their interactive nature and accreditation requirements, are classroom based with supplemental online tutoring/webinars to provide the most optimised, blended learning experience. There is a substantial component of the material which is designed for individual/group study, like any Masters course which has some similarities to distance learning.

Do you offer any module exemptions on the MBA course?

Due to the uniqueness of our course designs, we do not allow any module exemptions and all students are expected to complete all of the specific course programme. This also allows us to provide a true grading assessment for each student/delegate. There is no easy versus hard elective debate.

What does the cost of the Masters courses include?

The costs cover all materials (not textbooks) and classroom occupation plus teaching and assessment time. Accommodation is not covered and is the responsibility of the individual/organisation. We like to say that the City of London is our campus when it comes to accommodation and entertainment.

What are the finance options if I wish to personally pay for any programme?

There are a number of personal options available dependent on the type of programme. We would advise to contact our Admissions Team on +44 (0) 20 7887 6108.

Should I opt for a specialised MSc or a general management MBA?

This is very much a personal decision based on the aims or needs of you and potentially your organisation.  The main difference is the set of standardised modules. Our Masters courses have a fixed set of modules with no electives in the base programmes. Thus, you should choose whatever ‘modular subject mix’ appears the most applicable. We prefer this approach as it appears less confusing for students as well as the issue of just how standard Masters courses are/should be from the same institution. It also helps to minimise costs due to the burden of logistics of elective choice and delivery.  Students always have the option of taking electives (at heavily discounted cost) post-graduation should they so wish.

What standard of English is required to be admitted to the programme(s)?

TOEFL, IELTS, CAE, CPE or PTE is required if your native language is not English. Our entry requirements for English language tests are:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) – a minimum score of 100 (internet based test) is required (Important: this test is not currently accepted by the UK Home Office for Tier 4 (General) visa applications).
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – we require an overall result in band 7
  • English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) either:
    1. Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) – grade A
    2. Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) – grade A or B
  • Pearson Test of English – Academic (PTE) – minimum score of 68

What if I wish to remain in the UK to work post-studies?

Currently the visa routes that are the most suitable for students that want to stay in the UK to work after their studies are:

Tier 1

This is for investors, entrepreneurs, including recent graduates from selected UK institutions, and those who are internationally recognised or who are likely to become world leaders in the arts, humanities, science or engineering. For more information about Tier 1 visas please go to the Home Office website.

Tier 2

The Home Office have introduced new provisions under Tier 2 (General) for graduates who would have previously been eligible under the Tier 1 (Post Study Work) visa. This route is for foreign nationals who have been offered a skilled job to fill a gap in the workforce that cannot be filled by a settled worker. For more information about Tier 2 visas please go to the Home Office website.

Tier 5

This route is for a stay in the UK for up to 2 years for work. There are a number of schemes under Tier 5, for most of these you must have a job offer from a licensed sponsor and must pass a points based assessment. For more information about Tier 5 visas please go to the Home Office website.

Is there an application fee with regard to the programmes?

Yes. For Masters courses, there is a one-off charge of £100 payable once confirmed on the course (i.e. once you have signed the electronic documentation). For the executive education short courses there is a one-off charge of £25 (i.e. once you have signed the electronic documentation).

How do I apply and is there an application deadline?

Just click-on the ‘Register/Apply’ button under the appropriate course page and complete the online form.  For the executive education short courses deadlines are usually 30 days before the date of the course programme as a minimum.

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