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Chris Sivewright and Oxford School of Learning

MBA courses require 15-20 hours of work a week - this course does as well. ( Even though it’s not an MBA- there are no MBAs on Udemy. ) If you're a serious student then ask yourself one question:

Do you want to enrol on a course where there is:

a. a high workload

b. lectures to really make you THINK

c. Case Studies

d. high level of involvement by the Instructor

Read more

MBA courses require 15-20 hours of work a week - this course does as well. ( Even though it’s not an MBA- there are no MBAs on Udemy. ) If you're a serious student then ask yourself one question:

Do you want to enrol on a course where there is:

a. a high workload

b. lectures to really make you THINK

c. Case Studies

d. high level of involvement by the Instructor

e. Therefore look for a course that encourages discussion, has an active forum, that sets regular though-provoking homework - and THEN you have the ideal course. Don't go for one with flashy marketing and pretentious titles but an empty Q/A - go for one that is vibrant, inviting, that stresses participation - one that makes you work hard AND take certain standpoints that are then critiqued by other students, defended, expanded on and evaluated by the tutor.

That's the absolute ideal preparation for an MBA - in fact that is the IDEAL MBA'

- Oxford Professor

Kirchhausen said the most successful MBA candidates are those who are entering programs looking to develop as a person or leader—not just those looking for the credential. As a first step in preparing for an MBA, he encouraged applicants to build a list of skills they hope to learn during the program and a series of goals to go along with it.

Ultimately, this activity will help you determine if an MBA program is right for you.

“The end goal is to set you on a path for which, hopefully, you’ll be compensated well and you’ll be happy at your job,” he said.

- Daniels College of Business; University of Denver

“Top Oxford Teacher has been ticked off by an education group for publicising his pupil’s outstanding exam successes."

- Oxford Mail

MBA students read hundreds of pages every week as part of their class preparation and coursework.

Reading more before your studies will help you avoid fatigue when studying. Moreover, it will aid in your knowledge of business, leadership, and global markets (provided you select suitable reading materials), making you more valuable as a potential employee and MBA applicant. As an MBA involves developing problem-solving and leadership skills, Harvard Business School advises reading books on these topics to prepare yourself

Source: Getsmarter

“Students should take the exam when they are ready, at their peak and universities should not discriminate against those who take more than one sitting for an exam.

- Chris Sivewright writing in Teachers’ Weekly, February 1990

Much of what you gain from an MBA program is problem-solving and leadership skills, so you may want to build your expertise in those areas by reading up. Most business school candidates expect a rigorous academic program that will be intellectually challenging, but may not expect the social demands of business school. Many former MBA students believe that the social aspects are nearly as beneficial as what you learn in the classroom.

Working hard and playing hard could offer advantages post-school, but it can pose particular challenges to students with families. Knowing what to expect in advance will help you mentally prepare.

Harvard Business School Online

“This is probably the shortest time in which anyone has passed. It is quite exceptional

- .Peter Stanbrook, Head of Education at the AEB, The Oxford Mail, 25th January,1990

It’s no secret that MBA students spend a lot of time reading throughout their coursework.2 You can help avoid fatigue and get back into the practice by slowly increasing your daily reading time before your MBA program starts. Not only will this help you get you used to your new reading schedule, but it also gives you the chance to do some research that could benefit you in your classes. Professors will be impressed if you can share something new you learned while preparing for the program.

Choose some books that align with your area of business and start by renting a few at a time. Audio books are a great option as well for those still working while earning their MBA.

SeattleU Albers School of Business and Economics

- “This excellent website provides an insight into what education will be like in the future

John Simkin, The Electronic Telegraph, 22 October 1998

We tend to think of leadership as leading people or managing a project, but leadership can be many things, from producing a high school play to tutoring younger kids in math. Mine your past for times when you raised your hand, made something happen, or had an impact (a word as critical in the MBA world as leadership). You could create a “brag sheet,” either virtually or on paper, to remember these events when you need to reproduce evidence. Then when it’s time to apply, you’ll have plenty of leadership examples.

- Harvard Business Review

“Chris is a super teacher – he’s a real inspiration

Sue Doran, Lincolnshire Echo, 21st August 1998

“Top Oxford Teacher has been ticked off by an education group for publicising his pupil’s outstanding exam successes

Oxford Mail

For 25 years this Instructor has been delivering Business courses in a shorter time than anyone else - ever. Search for 'Chris Sivewright Business Studies' on the BBC website, for example.

Look at the quotations above from the Business Schools - now look at the contents of this course.

Note:

This is two MBA courses in one:

a. The FIFTY  HOUR MBA (50 hours of lectures about the MBA)

b. The

In addition a new section has been added (November  2022) at the end of the course which makes this course unlike any other MBA course on the internet.

OK this course is comprised of:

  • FIFTY hours of actual lectures about key MBA topics

  • The lectures include MBA exam papers

  • Educational Announcements about the MBA (or MBA related topics)

  • Workbooks with MBA topics

  • Multiple choice questions (MBA topics)

  • Probably the key element: the Q/A and discussions about MBA topics.

If you are willing to WORK and to to prepare yourself for the MBA - then this is the course for you.

Updates to the MBA course:

Articles and case studies added March 2024

Updated and considerably extended November 2021

And May and June 2022

In December 2022 the one hour MBA was added

In May 2023, Case Studies were added

Expect to spend about 150 hours to complete the course and gain the Oxford Diploma.

  • (What MBA is?)

This is how you will be prepared for the MBA:

NINE STAGES (One extra has been added since the Preview video)

1. Business and Economic vocabulary. This to include business concept evaluation and business fundamentals.

2. Preparing yourself for MBA entry - what is required? How can you impress?

3. MBA content and mindset. Business fundamentals

4. Sole trader case study - extended. This includes detailed homework.

5. Businesses in 2024 - more evaluation. Including case studies

6. Office environment - reducing stress in the office

7. Story telling - what can be learnt.

8. Business ideas 2022

9. Overall evaluation - and a surprising recommendation.

(There are extra lectures and tests too.)

WARNING:

MBA students learn as much - probably more - from the work they are set and the people they interact with as they do from the lecturer.  This course is no exception. You are set homework right from the beginning and you are expected to share your results in the Q/A section - and to comment on the work of others. This means that there is strong Instructor involvement in terms of responses in Q/A.

Expect to have your ideas challenged. This is NOT just a load of lectures you whizz through and print out a certificate with 'MBA' on it.

Expect to be extended - ideal preparation for the MBA.

There are 20,000+ students currently enrolled. So potentially there are resources from 156 countries (countries where students are from) as well as the various textbooks included with this course. This is a global MBA class.

95% of the students have not accessed the course for over a year. Be different. Stand out. Succeed.

Doing the homework undeniably helps prepare - From the BBC:

"Their tutor uses the Internet as a resource - partly for sources of information, but also, through e-mail and chat software, to allow fast delivery of essays and his comments on them. The tutor, Chris Sivewright, believes that in some cases it is a better method than classroom-based course work"

- BBC Website 1998

“David says he was not an exceptional scholar. “Mr Sivewright knows exactly how to pass exams.”

David Mason, student,The Times – 28 January, 1990

“This is probably the shortest time in which anyone has passed. It is quite exceptional.

Peter Stanbrook, Head of Education at the AEB, The Oxford Mail, 25th January,1990

Bankes I don't know how to thank you for this course. I have nothing but admiration for you, your presentation skills, and your teaching capabilities. this course made me shift my mindset, do researches, and brainstorm. I'm sorry that I'll temporarily stop moving forward in the course, but that is because of my job requirements needing more focus. I promise as soon as I have the time, I will come back very effectively."

- Mohammed Nihad

"A really good, short and brilliantly-created course. Focuses on both theoretical and practical learning. The first few lectures helped me easily understand the factors affecting and business and as one of the lecture said "Shifting of the mindset", it has successfully been able to do that. Looking at business the way mentioned in the course has widen my perspective and has certainly helped me in understanding this practical subject. The last section is beautifully scripted. Yes. "Scripted". Professor Sivewright uses a really attractive way to make us understand the financial impact of Brexit. Overall, a really engaging course."

Tanush Sharma

"This course is Sir Chris replies Although I can't comment on his resources due to the device I have, his resources are The links and further reading sources give recent and latest news and information. The lectures are about 3 and a half minutes meaning that it takes the time to boil an egg, this is I find it easier to concentrate, focus, grasp and fully understand each lectures. Thank You Sir Chris, You have helped me a lot as you've also enrolled me on two other courses completely for free. I'll always remember this help, and this is the BEST course on Udemy for Business. Thank You. Kind Regards, Kris Sivakrishan Sooriya."

Kris Sivakrishan Sooriya

"This was a very good course for beginners. Hopefully, there will be more intermediate and advanced courses in the future. The tutor was very clear throughout the lectures with good explanation and diagrams. The video and sound quality throughout the course was excellent. Going into detail on certain topics, the bits I enjoyed the best from my point of view where the practical bit. I would have liked the tutor to go through say one of the tough questions he set in this course in full so that I can then go through the rest of the questions with a lot more confidence (like a template I can use). I found this method very beneficial in answering mathematical questions, which I did many years ago. I could then use this in my questions going forward. during this course, I asked the tutor a general question in one of my othere courses and he came back to me within 24 hours, which is excellent. Overall, I highly recommend this course to all of you and if the standard is the same with his other courses, I don't think you will be disappointed. Many thanks."

Paul Despard

"Well as always the course is very organised, the teacher is very responsive, especially the teaching materials that he send to the announcement section is very useful to progress during the lessons. I really recommend to take part in his courses."

Joseph Khoury

"Great course by the great instructor. I enjoy Chris's teaching and instruction style and clearness of his speech. Definitely recommended."

Ilkin Jalilov

"Great lecturer. Explains everything so well. His years of teaching experience comes across very well."

Daniel Platt

"Thank you, Chris, for your thoroughness in ensuring that everyone understands what we have signed up for where the course is concerned. Thank you for your preparedness, which enabled us to have an open mind on the course content and what to expect. I'm really looking forward to more teaching."

Betty Portia Icheku

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Business preparation for mba - includes mba-style case studies
  • How to save £000s!
  • Mba mindset - and business fundamentals at mba level
  • External impact on internal environment
  • Textbooks are included! (drucker, handy...)
  • Mba-style assignments
  • In-depth analysis of business and business concepts
  • Business concepts and fundamentals
  • Business impact of covid
  • Weekly hot topics discussed
  • Via 2024 case studies - business applications
  • Show more
  • Show less

Syllabus

20 second introduction
20 seconds
Please watch this first if you are new to Udemy - otherwise skip it...
A very short introductory note
Read more

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Includes MBA-style assignments and case studies, providing practical experience with the types of tasks encountered in MBA programs
Covers business and economic vocabulary, business concept evaluation, and business fundamentals, which are essential for MBA preparation
Features a high level of instructor involvement, encouraging discussion and providing feedback, which is ideal preparation for an MBA
Requires a significant workload and encourages active participation, which may not suit learners seeking a passive learning experience
Includes textbooks from influential business thinkers like Drucker and Handy, offering valuable insights and foundational knowledge
Explores the business impact of current events, such as Covid, and discusses weekly hot topics, keeping the content relevant and up-to-date

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Reviews summary

Intensive mba preparation course

According to learners, this course provides excellent preparation for an MBA, demanding a high workload and encouraging deep critical thinking. Students particularly praise the instructor's engaging style, clarity of explanation, and prompt responsiveness. The course is described as well-organized, using short, focused lectures and incorporating valuable case studies and updated resources. Many reviewers report a significant shift in mindset and the ability to apply concepts practically. While some find it very good for beginners, others desire more detailed guidance on complex assignments. Overall, it is seen as a highly engaging and valuable experience for those willing to put in the effort.
Reviewer suggests it may be best suited for those new to MBA concepts.
"This was a very good course for beginners. Hopefully, there will be more intermediate and advanced courses in the future."
Significant time and participation required for success.
"MBA courses require 15-20 hours of work a week - this course does as well."
"If you're a serious student then ask yourself one question: Do you want to enrol on a course where there is: a. a high workload"
"If you are willing to WORK and to prepare yourself for the MBA - then this is the course for you."
"Expect to spend about 150 hours to complete the course and gain the Oxford Diploma."
Course content is regularly refreshed.
"In May 2023, Case Studies were added"
"Articles and case studies added March 2024"
"Updated and considerably extended November 2021"
Supplementary materials enhance learning experience.
"the teaching materials that he send to the announcement section is very useful to progress during the lessons."
"his resources are The links and further reading sources give recent and latest news and information."
"as well as the various textbooks included with this course."
Course effectively changes perspective and provides practical skills.
"this course made me shift my mindset, do researches, and brainstorm."
"as one of the lecture said 'Shifting of the mindset', it has successfully been able to do that."
"Looking at business the way mentioned in the course has widen my perspective"
"helped me in understanding this practical subject."
"I learned how to use practical tools and strategies that I could apply immediately to my work."
Focuses on active learning, case studies, and short lectures.
"A really good, short and brilliantly-created course. Focuses on both theoretical and practical learning."
"This course made me shift my mindset, do researches, and brainstorm."
"The lectures are about 3 and a half minutes meaning that... I find it easier to concentrate, focus, grasp and fully understand each lectures."
"Expect to have your ideas challenged. This is NOT just a load of lectures you whizz through"
Praise for teaching style, clarity, and responsiveness.
"I have nothing but admiration for you, your presentation skills, and your teaching capabilities."
"The tutor was very clear throughout the lectures with good explanation and diagrams."
"the teacher is very responsive, especially the teaching materials... is very useful"
"Great course by the great instructor. I enjoy Chris's teaching and instruction style and clearness of his speech."
"Great lecturer. Explains everything so well. His years of teaching experience comes across very well."
"he came back to me within 24 hours, which is excellent."
Request for more in-depth walkthroughs of challenging assignments.
"I would have liked the tutor to go through say one of the tough questions he set in this course in full so that I can then go through the rest of the questions with a lot more confidence (like a template I can use)."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in (Oxford) MBA: The Fifty Hour MBA (Master Course) with these activities:
Review Business and Economic Vocabulary
Strengthen your understanding of key business and economic terms to better grasp the course material.
Browse courses on Business Vocabulary
Show steps
  • Identify key business and economic terms.
  • Define each term and provide examples.
  • Relate the terms to real-world scenarios.
Read 'Understanding Michael Porter' by Joan Magretta
Gain a deeper understanding of Michael Porter's frameworks for competitive analysis and strategic decision-making.
Show steps
  • Read the book and identify Porter's key frameworks.
  • Apply these frameworks to analyze different industries.
  • Discuss the strengths and limitations of Porter's frameworks.
Read 'The Effective Executive' by Peter Drucker
Gain insights into effective management and leadership principles to enhance your understanding of business practices.
Show steps
  • Read the book and take notes on key concepts.
  • Reflect on how these concepts apply to your own experiences.
  • Discuss the book with peers in the course forum.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Analyze a Business Case Study
Apply your knowledge of business concepts and frameworks to analyze a real-world business scenario.
Show steps
  • Select a business case study from a reputable source.
  • Identify the key issues and challenges in the case.
  • Develop potential solutions and recommendations.
  • Present your analysis and recommendations in a report.
Create a Presentation on a Business Topic
Research and present on a relevant business topic to deepen your understanding and improve your communication skills.
Show steps
  • Choose a business topic related to the course.
  • Research the topic and gather relevant information.
  • Create a presentation with clear and concise slides.
  • Practice your presentation and deliver it to an audience.
Attend a Business Networking Event
Connect with business professionals and learn about industry trends to broaden your perspective and build your network.
Show steps
  • Research and identify relevant networking events.
  • Prepare an elevator pitch to introduce yourself.
  • Attend the event and engage in conversations with attendees.
  • Follow up with contacts after the event.
Develop a Business Plan
Create a comprehensive business plan for a hypothetical or real business to apply your knowledge of business strategy and operations.
Show steps
  • Choose a business idea and conduct market research.
  • Develop a business model and financial projections.
  • Write a detailed business plan document.
  • Present your business plan to a panel of judges.

Career center

Learners who complete (Oxford) MBA: The Fifty Hour MBA (Master Course) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs create, launch, and manage their own businesses, taking on the risks and rewards of enterprise ownership. Business insight is critical. This course helps anyone wanting to become an entrepreneur by covering business concepts and fundamentals. The MBA style assignments can help develop problem-solving and decision-making skills. The course also provides many case studies that can improve your knowledge. An entrepreneur needs to maintain a keen awareness of both internal and external impacts.
Business Development Manager
Business Development Managers focus on growing an organization through strategic partnerships, new markets, and new products or services. This course is very helpful to Business Development Managers as it covers business fundamentals. The MBA style assignments can help develop problem-solving and decision-making skills. The weekly hot topics discussions are also relevant, as are the MBA content and mindset sections. Business Development Managers should consider the value of understanding how external factors affect internal business processes.
Management Consultant
A management consultant helps organizations improve their performance by analyzing existing problems and developing plans for improvement. This role requires a strong understanding of business concepts, strategy, and problem-solving. The (Oxford) MBA: The Fifty Hour MBA (Master Course) course provides a solid overview of these areas, and may help you prepare for the challenges of management consulting. The MBA style case studies are of particular relevance. Since this course emphasizes business concept evaluation and fundamentals, it helps build a foundation for analyzing complex organizational issues, a core skill for any successful management consultant.
Investment Banker
Investment Bankers help companies and governments raise capital by underwriting and selling securities, as well as advising on mergers and acquisitions. This course helps build understanding of external impacts on the internal environment, and is vital for assessing the overall financial health of organizations. The MBA style assignments and case studies are excellent preparation for complex financial problem solving. This course's focus on business concept evaluation and market dynamics, and building an MBA mindset, may be advantageous for those wishing to enter this competitive field.
Venture Capitalist
Venture Capitalists invest in early-stage companies with high growth potential, providing capital and expertise to help them scale and succeed. This course can help people interested in this career by covering business concepts and fundamentals, including insights into business concept evaluation. The MBA style assignments may help with developing problem-solving and decision-making skills, potentially increasing your abilities as a Venture Capitalist. This course's preparation for MBA entry and general MBA content may be valuable in understanding the landscape of business innovation.
Business Analyst
Business Analysts examine an organization's systems and processes, identifying areas for improvement and recommending solutions. This course may be useful because it stresses in-depth analysis of business concepts and business fundamentals. Someone wishing to become a Business Analyst may find the case studies extremely helpful. The course also helps you develop an MBA mindset, which is beneficial for understanding the strategic context of business decisions. This course's weekly discussion of hot topics could help Business Analysts stay current with industry trends.
Project Manager
Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing specific projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget, and to the required standard. This course helps build a foundation for project management by covering business fundamentals and concepts, as well as in-depth analysis of business and business concepts. The MBA style assignments are also relevant, as are the business case studies, all of which may help you develop problem-solving and decision-making skills. The course also covers time management, improving how effectively a Project Manager is able to perform their duties.
Financial Analyst
Financial Analysts provide guidance to businesses and individuals making investment decisions. They assess financial data, analyze trends, and develop forecasts. The (Oxford) MBA: The Fifty Hour MBA (Master Course) course helps in this role by offering a curriculum that includes in-depth analysis of business concepts and business fundamentals. This course also helps develop an understanding of external impacts on the internal environment, which is vital for assessing the overall financial health of organizations. The MBA style assignments and case studies are excellent preparation for complex financial problem solving.
Product Manager
Product Managers are responsible for the strategy, roadmap, and feature definition for a product or product line. Product Managers need a strong understanding of business and market dynamics. This course helps by covering business concepts and fundamentals, including in-depth analysis of business and business concepts. The weekly hot topics discussions can keep a Product Manager informed about current trends and challenges. The MBA style assignments and case studies may also assist in developing strategic thinking and decision-making skills. The course may be useful to those who wish to consider starting a business of their own.
Marketing Manager
Marketing Managers plan, direct, and coordinate marketing activities and policies to promote products or services. A solid foundation in business concepts and market analysis is important for success in this role. This course helps by providing in-depth analysis of business and business concepts. The MBA style assignments and case studies are also relevant, as is this course's emphasis on business concept evaluation. This course's discussion of MBA content and focus may also be useful, giving a Marketing Manager a broader perspective on business strategy.
Operations Manager
Operations Managers oversee the production of goods or provision of services, ensuring efficient and effective operations. The course's weekly hot topics discussions are also relevant. The course helps develop skills in in-depth analysis of business and business concepts in addition to improving your knowledge of business fundamentals. Operations Managers often need to analyze complex situations and make data-driven decisions, and are often heavily involved in strategic issues.
Human Resources Manager
Human Resources Managers plan, coordinate, and direct the administrative functions of an organization. They oversee employee relations, talent acquisition, and training. This course helps by building a foundation in business concepts and fundamentals. The course's MBA style assignments are useful. This course's emphasis on reducing workplace stress is particularly relevant. Human Resources Managers who want to contribute to strategic planning may find the MBA content and mindset section of particular value.
Sales Manager
Sales Managers direct the sales teams and manage sales operations in an organization. They set sales goals, develop strategies, and train sales staff. This course may be useful in providing insight into business strategy and market analysis. This course may also help Sales Managers develop a more strategic and analytical approach to sales management. The course’s emphasis on business concept evaluation and MBA content may be useful for a leadership role.
Chief Executive Officer
A Chief Executive Officer is the highest-ranking executive in a company, responsible for making major corporate decisions, managing the overall operations and resources of a company, and acting as the main point of communication between the board of directors and corporate operations. Given the scope of this role, skills in a multitude of business areas are very valuable. This course explores business and economic vocabulary and also includes business concept evaluation and business fundamentals. It also gives an entrepreneur an MBA mindset which can benefit anyone looking to break into this role.
Management Analyst
A Management Analyst is a professional who supports the executive director of an organization by performing research and analysis, preparing reports, handling information requests, and performing clerical functions. The analyst works under general supervision, with evaluation primarily based on the successful completion of duties and projects. This course's MBA exam papers in its lectures can help one to grow their knowledge of core concepts. This course can help with the MBA mindset that is required to succeed.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in (Oxford) MBA: The Fifty Hour MBA (Master Course).
Classic guide to effective management and leadership. It provides practical advice on how to make the most of your time, focus on the right priorities, and make effective decisions. Drucker's insights are highly relevant to the MBA curriculum and can help students develop the skills they need to succeed in their careers. This book is often used as a textbook in MBA programs.
Provides a clear and concise explanation of Michael Porter's key concepts, such as the five forces, value chain, and competitive advantage. It valuable resource for understanding how businesses can create and sustain a competitive edge. This book is particularly useful for students who are new to Porter's work or who want a refresher on his core ideas. It adds depth to the course by providing a structured approach to competitive analysis.

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