Master of Business Administration (Finance) Programme

The MBA Finance like its counterpart, the general MBA is an intensive professional training programme, designed to strengthen competence and financial managerial practice in specialist areas, through knowledge of advanced techniques. The program aims to provide students with a basic, balanced and advanced background in principles, foundations and scientific theories in financial management. This will ensure that graduating students are capable of thinking, structuring, analyzing and solving real world problems in financial management.

Objectives of the Programme

The programme is designed with a belief that an effective contemporary financial manager requires:

1. To develop a broad but critical understanding of the major areas of finance and be able to apply the theoretical understanding to the practical management of the financial affairs of a business.
2. To understand the theories and strategies involved in Investment management
3. The highest level of relevant training in Financial Management that combines conceptual underpinnings with applications whilst providing analytical, technical, leadership and interpersonal skills.
4. The development of managerial skills that are essential for a Senior Finance Manager, i.e., students are expected to be familiar not only with the uses of the acquired skills, but also with their application in real life situations
5. The student be availed the opportunity to obtain a certain degree of breadth and depth of knowledge and skills, a multidisciplinary perspective, and the ability to integrate such knowledge and skills across all functional areas of management with a strategic and global perspective.

Duration of the Programme

Two programmes are to be offered on Full and Part Time basis. The Full Time programme would be conducted within18 months whilst the Part Time programme would be conducted within 27 months.

Admissions

It is anticipated that both programmes would be well subscribed by professionals in the finance field. Initially, the Department intends to enroll a total of 40 students every year for both Full and Part Time programmes. The ideal number per class is 20.

Admission Requirements

For one to be eligible for admission to the MBA Finance degree programme, he or she must satisfy one of the following requirements:
 

1. Applicants should hold a good first degree (i.e., a minimum of Credit) in Business Administration, Commerce, Accounting or Economics, from a recognized tertiary institution and with at least 2 years of practical (work) experience.
2. Applicants holding such first degrees (i.e., a minimum of Credit) in areas other than those availed in (a) above would also be considered. These should have at least three years of practical experience.
3. Practicing Accountants and Management Accountants who are holders of any of the following qualifications: CIMA and ACCA.

Structure of the Programme

Like the general MBA programme, the MBA Finance programme consists of four stages. The first three stages constitute the taught component. The fourth stage is the research component, which can be conducted over a period of twenty-four weeks, i.e., six (6) months.

The first stage is introductory. This is intended to introduce students to general management and refresh those with prior management knowledge, in preparation for advanced and intensive specialist training.

The second stage develops the theoretical framework of the various functional areas of financial management and the interface of the business organization with its environment.

The third stage looks at the interpretation of the theory and its application to various real life financial management situations. It is at this stage that the theoretical background developed at Stage two, is focused on developing advanced knowledge in specialist areas such as marketing, finance, entrepreneurship and management.

At the fourth stage, students are expected to use their training from the first three stages to undertake research in specialist areas of management and demonstrate ability to resolve real life practical problems encountered by the modern Business manager. A research report or dissertation is to be submitted at the end of this period.

Modules of the Programme

The programme has three theoretical taught stages. Each stage has got four courses that are taught. The courses are categorized into introductory, theory and applications. Below are the main courses to be taught. It must be emphasized that the courses are have been carefully designed bearing in mind the needs of the Zambian financial environment vis-a-vis requirements of the international standards demanded of the programme.

Research, analysis, report writing and defence Maximum of 20, 000 words

* Notes:

1. Only those electives for which resources will be available during stage 3 will be offered.
2. Unlike the general MBA, the MBA Finance offers students only one elective course in Stage III. The reason is that the programme has been designed basically for finance. In the general MBA the electives offer students option to specialize in Human Resource Management, small Business Management and Financial Accounting.

Progression Rules