When there is competent leadership within organisations, those organisations thrive.  The MBL provides professional management development at postgraduate level with particular emphasis on the theory as well as practice of leadership.  The programme is geared towards developing the leadership qualities of managers and empowering them to become competent, confident leaders.  The MBL gives you access to continue your
studies towards a DBL, providing you meet the admission
requirements of the DBL.

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Important dates

Admission requirements and supporting documents

• A Bachelor's Honours Degree or a Postgraduate Diploma, with a minimum 120 credits, OR a 480-credit Bachelor's Degree. Please supply a copy of your certified transcript, indicating the symbol or percentage obtained for each module and indicating whether or not the qualification was completed.
  
  
• A recent detailed Curriculum Vitae indicating five years or more managerial/professional work experience.
  
  
• Supply a clear copy of certified Identity Document or Passport. A copy of driver’s licence will NOT be accepted.
  
  
• Once the application is successful, applicants may be required to write an admissions test as part of the selection process.

The Graduate School of Business Leadership may institute additional selection criteria as deemed necessary.

Master of Business Leadership Modules

Year 1: Semester 1

Accounting for Managers (MBL 4807)

Students who complete this module will be able to interpret and evaluate the different financial reports; read and analyse financial statements; understand the capital budgeting process; evaluate a company’s management of working capital; evaluate costing and product pricing decisions; and evaluate the budgeting process of an organisation.

Economics for Managers (MBL 4801)

Students who complete this module will be able to analyse Economics for Managers with a view to making informed business decisions. They will be able to explain economic phenomena that influence business organisations; predict the effect of changes in economic variables; analyse the impact of economic changes on specific business organisations; and revise business decisions by monitoring changes in economic phenomena.

Value-Based Management (MBL 5901)

Students who complete this module will be able to manage an organisation in a way that will increase the value for the market and the organisation. They will be able to identify and categorise the drivers of value in an organisation. Lastly, qualifying students will be able to develop and apply performance measures to manage sustainability in the organisation.

Corporate Governance and Ethics (MBL 5902)

Students who complete this module will be able to make ethical and sustainable business decisions. They will be able to evaluate business decisions on the basis of their ethicality and sustainability, and make recommendations to organisations about business ethics and corporate governance.

Leading People (MBL 5904)

Students who complete this module will be able to manage themselves, to lead others (teams/groups) and manage organisational dynamics. They will be able to lead the human capital function in the organisation effectively.

Leading Strategic Change (MBL 5905)

Students who complete this module will be able to integrate the process, content and context in evaluating and developing strategies at the business and corporate level. Students will be able to identify opportunities for strategic innovation and will be able to make recommendations on strategy implementation. They will be able to appreciate the role of strategic leadership in crafting and implementing strategies.

Year 1: Semester 2

Strategic Financial Management (MBL5903)

Students who complete this module will have a knowledge base of the regulatory framework for the preparation and presentation of financial statements. Upon completion, they will also have a firm knowledge base of strategic financial decision-making and management processes and how it supports the business and corporate financial management processes. Ultimately students will be conversant with the skills and competencies required by a Chief Financial Officer in a contemporary organisation.

Business Research (MBL 5912 - compulsory and prerequisite for MBL 5913)

Students who complete this module will be able to conduct high-quality business and management research either as practitioners or academics. They will be able to apply a range of research methods and techniques in a practical environment. They will be able to apply the spectrum of research methods including statistical analysis of data and the theory to the analysis of data. 

Year 2

Strategic Leadership Project (Research Report) (MBL 5913)

Students who complete this module will be able to conduct applied research within organisations or industries of their choice and to identify and address opportunities for organisational change. Qualifying students will be able to apply business analytical techniques and theoretical frameworks from a wide range of disciplines to investigate and identify a need for organisational change. Students will be able to use theoretical change management frameworks to propose ways of addressing the need for strategic leadership and change management, and to report their findings in a professional management report. Students will show that they are able to draw on a variety of techniques and functional management disciplines in their investigation and proposed solution.

Year 2: Semester 1

Electives

Students can choose any ONE of the following electives in their second year, Semester 1.

Leadership Development (MBL 5908)

The purpose of this module is to enable students to effectively play a leadership role in managing organisations.

Strategic Human Capital Management (MBL 5909)

Students who complete this module will be able to manage the human capital function on a strategic level.

Strategic Sustainable Marketing (MBL 5910)

Students who complete this module will have a coherent, contemporary and comprehensive understanding of how the triple bottom line principles of sustainability are becoming an integral part of marketing strategies. They will be able to develop marketing strategies that maximise a firm’s performance and create sustainable and responsible value.

Strategy in a Global Context (MBL 5907)

Students will be able to gain a coherent understanding of the global business environment and will acquire a comprehensive and systematic knowledge base and skills that will enable them to make informed strategic business decisions in a complex and dynamic global business environment. They will also be able to take advantage of international business opportunities that arise from changing global market needs, as well as the globalisation of markets and the globalisation of production. They will be able to appreciate the role of global leadership in the global business environment, and demonstrate their ability to decide on and develop strategies to compete successfully in increasingly competitive and dynamic global markets.

Advanced Labour Law (MBL 5906)

Students who complete this module will acquire a systematic knowledge base and comprehensive understanding of the practical implications and implementation of labour law and the law of contract applicable to the employment relationship. This will ensure that students are well equipped with the competencies to manage employment relations, both individually and collectively. A systematic knowledge base of dispute resolution procedures applicable in the employment relationship and their practical use and implementation, will enable students to effectively manage dispute resolution processes such as arbitration and mediation. Students will gain a comprehensive practical knowledge base of the implications of labour law and the various obligations that arise from this for both employer and employee, from the stage before hiring all the way through to the termination of the employment contract and beyond.

Financial Reporting and Analysis (MBL 5928)

Students who complete this module will have a coherent understanding of financial reporting and good corporate governance and will have a comprehensive and systematic knowledge base and skills that will enable them to make informed strategic business decisions based on the information contained in the financial reports and to interpret the analysed information. Students will further understand and be able to apply the regulatory framework for the preparation and presentation of financial statements. Lastly, students will be able to interpret and critically analyse corporate financial statements and reports, reflecting on the limitations of both published accounts and standard analytical techniques in the course of their MBL studies.

Completion of qualification

Students will have a maximum of three years to complete the MBL degree curriculum successfully. A student may apply for one additional year of study to the Registrar. After this time the student will be removed from the SBL system. Upon completion of the programme, a student will receive the Master of Business Leadership, conferred by the University of South Africa.

Study schools give students an opportunity to interact with academics and other students. All study schools were traditionally held at the SBL campus in Midrand, Gauteng.  Online/campus attendance remains compulsory for each module, regardless of the format. Students will be advised well in advance about the venue OR which virtual platforms to be used.

MBL First-Year Study School Dates for 2025

MBL Second-Year Study School Dates (Elective Modules)