- Level
- Master Degree
- Duration
- 7 month master’s degree completion
- Open intake
-
Off-shoreFeb 2027
- Field
- Business, Commerce, and Management
- Institution
- Public University
- Offer speed
- Fast Offer Speed5–7 days
- Next deadline
- 2027-02-01
Program overview
A seven month completion route converting a recognised postgraduate certificate or diploma into a full MBA, covering strategic management and a substantial capstone consultancy or research project.
Master of Business Administration Top-Up is the cheapest postgraduate route in this catalogue at GBP 9,000, and it converts an existing postgraduate diploma into a full master degree in seven months.
Master of Business Administration Top-Up is delivered on the Sunderland campus and awarded by the University of Sunderland, and completing Master of Business Administration Top-Up supports an application under the UK Graduate Route, which gives 18 months of post study work permission for applications made from January 2027. The university is a licensed student sponsor with a track record of compliance, so the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies for Master of Business Administration Top-Up is issued directly. Master of Business Administration Top-Up is a taught programme, and UK rules in force since January 2024 do not allow students on taught programmes to bring a spouse or children as dependants. Apply Study Visa confirms the visa position for Master of Business Administration Top-Up in writing before you pay a deposit.
The academic bar for Master of Business Administration Top-Up is a postgraduate certificate or diploma in a related management subject with 50 percent. The English requirement is IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5, and tuition for Master of Business Administration Top-Up is recorded at GBP 9,000 a year with no application fee. The Global Leaders Scholarship cuts Master of Business Administration Top-Up tuition by an automatic GBP 4,500 for eligible applicants, shown on the conditional offer letter. Four windows, alternating February and October to 2028. Apply Study Visa manages the Master of Business Administration Top-Up application, deposit and UK student visa as one process.
What it costs per year · indicative
Living cost is an estimate; tuition is the institute's published international fee. We confirm exact, current figures before you pay anything.
Do you qualify?
These are the published minimums. Whether your profile fits — with your marks, gap and budget — is exactly what a free counsellor check confirms.
Admission requirements
Who can apply (guide for international students):
- Education: A completed postgraduate certificate or diploma carrying the credits required for direct entry to the final stage of the master award.
- English (meet any one): IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with no band below 5.5, or PTE Academic 59 overall with no component below 59. TOEFL and the Duolingo English Test are not accepted.
- Application and deposit: No application fee. A non refundable tuition deposit of GBP 3,500 is required before the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies can be issued.
- Scholarship: An automatic GBP 4,500 Global Leaders Scholarship tuition reduction applies to eligible postgraduate applicants, and is shown on the conditional offer letter.
- Work permit: Master of Business Administration Top-Up leads to a University of Sunderland degree at a licensed student sponsor, so it supports a Graduate Route application, granted at 18 months for applications made from January 2027. Dependants cannot accompany students on taught programmes under UK rules in force since January 2024.
- Student visa: Apply Study Visa completes the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies stage and the UK student visa submission with you.
English requirements
Documents you'll need typical · we confirm yours
- Valid passport (6+ months validity)
- Class 10 & 12 marksheets and certificates
- Bachelor's degree marksheets & final certificate
- English test scorecard (IELTS / PTE / TOEFL) or MOI certificate
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Letters of Recommendation (LOR)
- Updated CV / resume
- Financial proof — bank statement / loan sanction
- Passport-size photographs
- Study-gap affidavit or work-experience letter (if applicable)
Getting documents right is the #1 reason applications succeed or get refused — our team checks every file before submission.
Career opportunities
Typical destinations for graduates:
- Operations Manager: service and production settings
- Business Manager: small and medium enterprises
- Programme Manager: delivery functions
- Consultant: advisory practice
- Department Head: building on prior experience
- Entrepreneur: launching or scaling a venture
Reality check: seven months is very short for a master award, so the visa runs out quickly and any resit or delayed result puts the post study work application at serious risk.
About University of Sunderland
- Type
- University
- Ownership
- Public
- Rating
- ★ 4.5
- World rank
- #17803
- Established
- 1901
- Reference No.
- 10007159