MBA in Financial Management

  • Total # of Credit hours
    36

Welcome Message

Welcome to the MBA program at Ajman University. I am very pleased that you are interested in joining our diverse and dynamic community which propels innovation, excellence and lifelong learning. I encourage you to read my message below and explore more information on our website.

Pursuing an MBA degree is a significant investment in yourself. It is an incredibly important decision because you commit not only the funds to pursue a higher degree but also time and efforts. Furthermore, an MBA degree is a transforming experience that is likely to revamp your career; forever. Therefore, you should be extremely vigilant when selecting the right MBA program.

I have been working with graduate programs for over twenty years now. One thing I can say for sure is this: Not all MBA programs are equal. As such, while you consider different graduate programs, it is imperative that you select the one that closely matches your professional goals.

Why would you select Ajman University’s MBA program?

The MBA program at Ajman University has one of the highest returns on investment (ROI) in the region. As I mentioned above, an MBA decision entails a present sacrifice (money, time, and effort) with the realization that the results will positively transform your career path and earning power. A successful investment is one with greater benefit-to-cost ratio. We offer weekend-only schedule to make your academic experience convenient and accessible, as well as generous scholarship programs that drastically ease your financial burden, while the academic rigor and faculty commitment ensure that your benefits are maximized.

Second, our curriculum is relevant, timely, and continuously adapt to new social and economic challenges. Furthermore, we strive to strike a balance between global and local contexts. We offer rich foundations in Business Management (7 courses) and three dynamic tracks in Financial Management, Human Resource Management, and Marketing. Each track (4 courses) offers a unique path tailored for students with specific backgrounds and career goals. Your MBA journey climaxes with a capstone course in Strategic Management which encapsulates knowledge earned in other courses and helps you mimic the decision-making process of astute leaders. This is a unique mix that very few MBA programs in the region can attain.

In addition, we have a very liberal admission policy that recognizes the fact that many professionals do not have a formal business education. We have several tools that help you surmount this shortcoming and put you on equal footings with business graduates. Furthermore, our faculty bring both industry experience and high academic quality to the classroom. This diversity and broadness distinguish our program from other programs that admit students from a very narrowly-defined background. As a graduate of Ajman University MBA program, you will graduate with not only a degree and knowledge, but with a vivid network of new friends and potential business partners from all walks of life.

Who should select Ajman University’s MBA Program?

While it is hard to produce an exhaustive list of all those who may benefit from our MBA program, we believe that the following groups will find our program particularly intriguing and enjoyable:

  • Working professionals who wish to propel their career forward while confidently exploring new paths that may not have been visible to them before.
  • Students who wish to increase their visibility in the job market or plan to purse a doctoral degree.
  • Entrepreneurs who wish to strengthen their grip on their enterprises and open new horizons for growth and prosperity.
  • Middle managers who wish to acquire a fresher understanding of the business world.
  • International students who look for an immersive experience that introduces them to local culture as it pertains to classroom decorum, business practices, and daily life.

Have a question?

Please be assured that my team and I are here to support you in making the optimal choice, maximize your return on investment, and help you achieve your professional goals.

Dr. Yasser Alhenawi
MBA Program Coordinator

Program Overview

 Ajman University has always endeavored to provide academic programs that not only meet the employment demands of UAE and the GCC but are also developing individuals who can contribute to the economic and social   progress of the UAE and the GCC. The present MBA program that is offered by the College of Business Administration is of national and international quality that can meet the students’ need to harness them into capable individuals who can meet the current employment needs and can visualize the future business trends, competition, planning and strategy.

After successfully completing the MBA program, the graduates will be able to operate in national and multinational organizations by offering solutions of professional relevance and contribute to the advancement of business and economy.

The College of Business Administration has earned the prestigious AACSB International accreditation, one of the largest and most specialized accreditations that a business school can earn.

Less than 6 percent of the world's business schools hold AACSB accreditation. AU is now 1 of only 10 universities in the UAE to claim this distinction.

Program Mission

The mission of Ajman University’s MBA program is to improve the skills, competencies and employability of a diverse mix of individuals for positions in leadership and management

 
Distinguishing Features

The AU MBA program seeks to satisfy the quality assurance standards set by world-class business programs accreditation organizations such as AACSB and the Association of MBAs.

  
Facilities

The college’s current physical facilities, which include offices, labs and teaching rooms are equipped to meet its needs and are regularly upgraded. The library is regularly updated with the latest books in the field for the benefit of students and college members. IT facilities include:

  • Wireless internet connection, available on the university campus
  • Internet labs available 14 hours per day
  • Multimedia facilities provided in all labs
  • More than 12 business programs installed in the labs
  • College computers connected through local and wide area networks
 
Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend and fully participate in all classes. A minimum of 75 percent attendance will be required in each course registered. 

 
Academic Standing for Graduate Students

If the student’s GPA is less than 3.0 after the second semester, he/she will be placed on probation. If the student does not raise his/her CGPA to 3.0 in the following semester, he/she will be placed on a second probation. If the student fails to raise his/her GPA to 3.0 in the following semester, the student will be dismissed from the program.

The Graduate program coordinator may advise an academically warned student to repeat one or more courses to increase his/her chances to raise his/her CGPA to 3.0.

 
Time Allowed to Complete the MBA Program

The study time for the MBA program is normally two years or four semesters. However, the maximum time allowed to complete the program is 4 years or 8 regular semesters

 
Study Load for Graduate Students

The study load for a full-time MBA student may rise up to four courses (12 credit hours) per semester depending on his / her CGPA. 

 
Admission Requirements

Find out the graduate admission requirements here

 
Graduation Requirements

A student will be awarded the degree of Master of Business Administration upon meeting the following requirements:

  • Completion of the required MBA courses :  7 core courses, the capstone course, and 4  track or specialization courses
  • Achievement of a CGPA of not less than 3.0
 
Transfer Students from Accredited Institutions

Graduate students from accredited institutions of higher education may apply for admission in an AUST MBA program.

 
Documents Required for Admission to a Graduate Program
  • Completed Application Form
  • UAE Secondary School Certificate, or its equivalent
  • Certified copy of the Bachelors degree certificate or its equivalent,
  • Certified copy of the Grade Transcript
  • Certificate of proficiency in English Language,
  • Photocopy of valid Passport
  • A copy of UAE ID Card for UAE residents
  • Health Certificate, issued by a University doctor
  • Certificate of good conduct, issued by an official body
  • Six  recent passport-size photographs
  • 2 Reference Letters
  • A written commitment signed by the applicant that he/she will observe university rules and regulations
 
Admission Validity

Admission to the MBA program is valid for at most two semesters. If an admitted student does not join the program within this period, the admission offer will be cancelled. 

 
Enrollment and Graduation Data
  Academic Year
Students 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019
Enrollment 10 4 5 12 8
Graduation 7 3 5 5 9

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
  1. Demonstrate knowledge of accounting, marketing, finance, information systems, and operations management
  2. Demonstrate high quality written and oral communication skills in a variety of business settings
  3. Analyze and demonstrate teamwork and leadership skills appropriate for successful businesses in an evolving world
  4. Apply standards of ethical and socially responsible behavior to organizational decision-making contexts
  5. Analyze global environmental trends affecting business
  6. Utilize analytical and problem solving skills to provide solutions to real-life case problems
  7. Apply financial theories and techniques to aid the achievement of organizational goals

Program Structure and Credit Hours

The Master degree of Business Administration requires the completion of 36 credit hours distributed according to the following plan:

Type of Courses
Credit/hour

1. Core courses

21

2. Specialization courses

12

3. Capstone course

3
Total Credit Hours
36

Courses Descriptions

 
Core Courses
 
MBA 610 Operation Management   

The objective of the course is to expose students to the theoretical and practical techniques used to tackle production and operations management issues in any organization. All organizations - private, public or NGOs - are involved in producing a product or service that has to be ‘sold’ or consumed by some customer. Operations Management is concerned with efficient and effective transformation of inputs – raw materials, personnel, machines, technology, capital, information, and other resources – into marketable and competitive outputs. The course will introduce students to the main principles, standards and methodologies of Operations Management. It will explore past and present topics in operations management that have had a significant impact in the management of manufacturing and service operations.

 
MBA 611 Business Research Methods     

Business Research Methods course provides an introduction to research methods in social sciences in general and business administration in particular. The primary aim of the course is to equip the students with essential research techniques they would use in advanced specialized courses offered in the MBA program. The course will cover a range of topics, including in particular, research design, sampling theory, data collection tools, questionnaire development, and program evaluation methodology. The course will also cover statistical data analysis procedures using SPSS software involving both exploratory and hypotheses testing techniques. Students will be provided with statistical software SPSS (latest edition) to enable them to carry out statistical analyses.

 
MBA 612 International Business

The course focuses on the problems and opportunities of business in a global context. It examines economic, institutional, cultural, and legal issues faced by companies involved in international business. It further analyzes their effect on business decisions including: product design, production and marketing, human resources strategy, investment analysis, financial strategy and risk management. The aim of the course is to give students an advanced and practical understanding of why, when and how companies develop their international activities. This course is conceived as a continuation of the reflections from different fields of study, including strategy, international economics (i.e., trade theory, trade policy, etc), international finance, human resource management, operations management, and other related areas. The course content is positioned at the intersection of these studies.  The course will use a number of analytical tools and concepts, and provide many real-world examples through various case studies.  

 
MBA 613 Human Resource Management

The objective of the module is to expose students to theoretical (conceptual) and practical (problem-solving) techniques used to tackle human resources management issues in an organization, with an emphasis on the strategic aspects. The course will deal with different approaches to Human Resource Management in the UAE/GCC context. Many organizations are now beginning to realize and appreciate the importance of having any effective system of acquiring, mobilizing and managing the organization’s human assets. A number of recent developments – including rapid technological change, increased competition associated with globalization, demographic changes in the labor force, tighter labor markets, and introduction of new organizational systems – have raised the strategic role human resources play in international competitiveness. Good HRM policies and practices may be one of the remaining factors of production that provide sustainable competitive advantage, as they are difficult to imitate or replicate. The course will introduce students to the main principles, standards and methodologies of Human Resources Management. It will explore past and contemporary topics related to the management of human resources that have had a significant impact on organizational performance. The overall objective is to encourage students to start thinking systematically about achieving sustained competitive advantage through the effective management of human resources.

 

MBA 608 Accounting for Decision Making

Accounting for Decision Making is an essential tool that provides all users with the useful information for their relevant decisions. Financial reporting and analysis is one of the main requirements that protects the owners' rights and enhances managers' ability to make the correct decisions. It describes the conceptual framework of accounting, and financial statements, analysis and uses of financial reports.

 
MBA 609 Managerial Finance

Managerial Finance introduces corporate financial management and covers several topics such as: financial statements analysis, short-term and long-term financial planning, time value of money, valuation of future cash flows, and valuation of bonds and stocks. It also covers capital budgeting techniques and the risk-return relationship. The course focuses on fundamental concepts of financial management and emphasizes both a theoretical and practical perspectives. UAE context is emphasized wherever appropriate. The course supplies students with the basic tools they need to comprehend the fundamental objective of financial management which is the maximization of shareholder’s wealth. It also prepares students for taking higher-level, more specialized courses in finance.

 
MBA 616 Marketing Management                

The main objective of the course is to expose the students to the concepts and techniques of marketing management. Students will also be exposed to the scope of contemporary marketing including manufacturing, institutional, reseller and government markets. The course will provide opportunities for the students to explore how business firms strategically respond to the opportunities in the marketing arena. It also aims to improve decision-making skills and stimulate strategic thinking using case studies.  The course would also involve fieldwork in the UAE and the analysis of marketing strategies in use by the organizations operating in the country.

 

Track Courses
 
MBA 629 Corporate Valuation and Financial Modelling

This is an advanced corporate finance course aims to develop critical thinking skills about development and application of financial models. The course reviews the theory and empirical evidence related to the investment and financing policies of the firm and attempts to develop decision-making ability under uncertain conditions. The approach is rigorous and analytical.  

The focus of this course is on the valuation of companies. It also aims to develop critical thinking skills for a firm's investment and financing decisions and enhance ability to use capital budgeting techniques under uncertainty, corporate valuation, risk and returns, CAPM, the operation and efficiency of capital markets, dividend policy, and the optimal capital structure of the firm. It also covers long term and short term assets, and liability management with emphasis on multinational corporations. 

 

MBA 621 Islamic Finance

Islamic Finance course covers an overview of the emerging fields of Islamic Banking, Finance and Insurance. It briefly presents the divine and human sources of Islamic financial jurisprudence (fiqh al-muamalat) which comprises the Islamic Shariah. It then introduces the fundamental structure of the Islamic financial system based on the requirement of positive ethical norms and prohibition of certain products and services which have been declared haram (prohibited). It pinpoints the prohibited products (e.g. alcohol) for Islamic investments and the prohibited financial services for the entire system. The course deals at length with these prohibited services which comprise riba (interest/usury), gharar (excessive uncertainty) and maysir (gambling). It then presents the permitted financial instruments for the conduct of Islamic Banking, Finance and Insurance.

 

MBA 625 Corporate Liquidity and Working Capital

Finance managers spend a significant amount of time on problems related to short-term finance, or working capital management which is only taught as a section in most Financial Management or Corporate Finance courses. This course is entirely focused on corporate liquidity and working capital. In this course, students will study the different components of working capital (cash, receivables, payables, inventory, etc.), and how to manage them so as to provide adequate liquidity. The principles and concepts of financial theory will be applied to problems and decisions associated with working capital. It also focuses on the optimal (or value-maximizing) use of working capital. This course includes theoretical and applied components. Numerical examples will be very important in illustrating the concepts and applications to be covered in this course. The format will be predominantly lecture-oriented, supplemented by a set of cases.

 

MBA 626 Project Finance Theory and Practice

Project Finance Theory and Practice involves the raising of funds to finance an economically separable capital investment project in which the providers of the funds look primarily to the cash flow from the project as the source of funds to service their loans, and provide the return of and a return on their equity invested in the project. This is a practical course that provides the students with an opportunity to assess the risk-return character of limited resource projects from multiple perspectives. 

 

Capstone Course

 

MBA 617 Strategic Management            

Strategic management course covers strategy analysis, formulation, implementation, management and evaluation. Strategic Management will also provide a broad overview of both strategic management theories and concepts, and their application within a dynamic competitive environment that surround today’s organizations. Students develop critical thinking/reasoning skills through various case studies and class discussions.  This advanced course focuses on all aspects of strategic management process, including the analysis of the external competitive environment, examining the industry structure, value chain dynamics, and assessing how a firm can select the best position within its environment. This course will also give students a thorough understanding of the complexities of strategic formulation and evaluation processes, with special attention to capabilities and competencies of firms.