Flexible Executive MBA
Leadership growth, your way
- Triple accredited by the UK, European and US accrediting bodies (AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB)
- Workshops held once every two months, to fit around work
- Study with like-minded professionals from a wide variety of managerial backgrounds and industries
- Hybrid learning environment
What you need to know
Overview
Develop the clarity, confidence and strategic perspective to lead effectively on your terms.
Study on a Flexible Executive MBA built on over 80 years of leadership teaching excellence
For experienced managers looking to develop their management and leadership capabilities, the Henley Flexible Executive MBA is a transformational leadership journey designed to accelerate your impact without stepping away from your career. Built on Henley’s long-standing reputation for leadership excellence and triple accreditation (AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB), the programme combines academic rigour with immediate real-world application.
"The Henley MBA experience is profound. The experience and remarkable honesty brought to Greenland’s by a range of mature, experienced managers allowed for huge cross-pollination of approaches and ideas."
A manageable pace for busy leaders
Structured to fit around full-time work, you can continue to progress professionally while studying part-time, applying your learning directly to current organisational challenges. Ideal for those unable to take significant time out of the workplace, it offers greater flexibility over how, when and where you achieve your MBA. Some of the ways this flexible format supports your learning include:
Who is the Flexible Executive MBA for?
- Mid-level and senior executives, entrepreneurs and aspiring leaders from across all industries who are managing people, processes or projects and making strategic business decisions.
- Those in, and aspiring to, senior leadership roles who want to broaden their technical and leadership skills and who perform well when studying at distance, online and with less face-to-face contact with staff and peers than on the more intensive Executive MBA – Global
- Candidates with a minimum of three years management experience.
- Well suited for candidates who are more interested in building their local UK network
How the Henley Executive MBA Transformed My Global Leadership Career
In this powerful testimonial, an alumnus shares how the EMBA provided the global business language, strategic mindset, and personal development tools needed to thrive at the highest levels.
The Henley Executive MBA learning experience
Why I chose Henley for my Executive MBA
Designed to fit your life and career
The Flexible Executive MBA offers a highly engaging and collaborative learning experience, combining immersive face-to-face workshops with dynamic peer-group learning and guided self-study. Designed to fit around your professional life, the blended approach integrates both on- and offline learning, allowing you to apply new insights in real time.
Developing your leadership through shared experience
Over 27 months, you will learn alongside experienced professionals from a wide range of industries and backgrounds challenging your thinking, broadening your perspective and strengthening your ability to lead in complex, evolving environments. The course has a number of aims for its programme members, including:
Find the space to focus and reflect at our serene, historic campus in Henley-on-Thames
Decompress, re-energise and disconnect from outside noise at our countryside Greenlands campus in Henley-on-Thames and its 30 acres of beautiful parkland are situated on the banks of the River Thames.
Many students enjoy strolling by the river, cup of tea in hand, while they reflect on what they’re learning away from the everyday distractions and noise.
Join a truly international and lifelong learning community
At Henley, we place great importance on building a community of peers that stretches beyond the length of the MBA, as the programme brings together a hand-picked, diverse group of top leaders.
You will meet, and share experiences with, an array of like-minded multinational professionals from a wide range of industries, as you draw from and reflect upon each other’s insights.
You’ll become part of our vibrant alumni network of more than 107,000 business professionals in 160 countries, which will help build and support your career path.
Highly practical teaching approach from experienced and expert tutors
What truly sets Henley Business School apart is our syndicate‑style teaching method, where small groups work together to tackle real‑world challenges and learn collaboratively. We’re committed to supporting your growth at every stage, ensuring you receive the same level of dedication and investment that you bring to your studies.
42years
Average age of our cohort
Key benefits
Course structure
The Flexible Executive MBA typically runs for a total of 27 months and is broken down into three stages. We provide 21 hours of contact time for each module to give you the hands-on support you need to excel.
Please contact mba@henley.ac.uk for more information.
Managing the Organisation
The module descriptions set out on this page are correct for modules being taught in the current academic year. Optional module listings are indicative and may be subject to change.
Managing Financial Resources (MNM1FR)
23.4This module covers the topics of financial accounting, management accounting, finance and microeconomics. It is designed for you to recognise that every aspect of your business has an impact on the bottom line. Organisations that do not effectively plan, control and monitor their finances are unlikely to achieve their operational targets and strategic business objectives. By the end of this module you will be in a position to analyse critically the relevance and appropriateness of financial techniques and economic issues within your organisation.
Managing Processes and Systems (MNM1MPS)
18.3This module focuses on the key principles that underpin the delivery of goods and services by organisations. It takes a systems and processes approach, integrating elements of operations management, information systems management and project management. Whilst processes are viewed as key enablers of business strategy, the module emphasises the need to understand such processes in a systemic way. Key topics cover the design, implementation and on-going operation of goods and service delivery in a variety of organisational contexts. By the end of this module you will be expected to critically evaluate the applicability of the module concepts to specific organisational contexts.
Managing People (MNM1MP)
18.3In this module you will develop an appreciation that people management is a key line manager activity and develop an awareness of the issues and practices that support and hinder the management and development of people and performance in organisations. You will consider the impact of context on managing people and performance, particularly in national, international and multinational contexts; public and private sectors; large, medium and small enterprises. By the end of this module you will be expected to demonstrate the ability to identify issues and dilemmas in your own workplace based on your understanding of the people and performance management, philosophies and approaches.
Personal Development - Stage 1 (Flexible Executive) (MNM1PD1)
10This module is a springboard into your successful and rewarding MBA journey. It comprises of two parallel streams that lay the foundations of your academic and personal development throughout the programme.
Read more
Making Choices: Context & Stakeholders
The module descriptions set out on this page are correct for modules being taught in the current academic year. Optional module listings are indicative and may be subject to change.
International Business (MNM2IB)
15This module will provide insights into the variety of issues and challenges faced by managers of international firms in the global business environment. The aim is for programme members to develop an ability to understand the complexity of international markets and the capacity to successfully manage issues related to international business and strategy.
Strategic Marketing (MNM2STM)
15The Strategic Marketing module is designed to raise your awareness of marketing as both a strategic and tactical function, develop your understanding of strategic marketing and the relevance of key marketing concepts and the importance of ethically and socially responsible marketing strategies. This module will enable you to critically analyse theoretical explanations of marketing situations and assess their relevance, identify factors that drive and influence the development of market structures and the comparative differences across various business contexts and recognise the nature of relationships and partnerships that are vital to the creation of customer value.
Strategy (MNM2STR)
15This module will enable students to understand and apply the fundamental principles of the strategic thinking process and also to gain insight into the variety of issues and challenges faced by managers of firms. By the end of the module you will be able to demonstrate a high level of ability and skill in strategic thinking, strategic analysis, synthesis and decision-making. You will be able to analyse and understand an organisation and its external competitive environment, assess an organisation''s internal value-creating activities and processes, and identify and evaluate appropriate strategic options for an organisation, assessing impact on competitive position and future performance.
Reputation and Responsibility (MNM2RR)
15The Reputation and Responsibility module will develop your knowledge and understanding of strategic reputation and responsibility management. You will engage in debate and discussion around issues of corporate responsibility, sustainability and governance and learn about key concepts of how relationships are built and stakeholder management. Students will be exposed to a range of tools for the analysis of perceptions related to reputation.
Making an Impact
It is compulsory for you to choose one elective module at this stage.
The module descriptions set out on this page are correct for modules being taught in the current academic year. Optional module listings are indicative and may be subject to change.
Leadership and Change (MNM3LC)
10The module is designed to introduce students to key concepts, theories and models of leadership, change, culture and values, capabilities and approaches that bind these together. This module will prepare you to become a business leader so that you can make appropriate and effective use of different approaches in leadership and change. You will identify your development goals as change leaders and practice the core skills of leading change.
Management Research Challenge (MNM3MRC)
40The Management Research Challenge (MRC) is a major project that offers students the opportunity to demonstrate practical business research skills in identifying a significant organisational issue, problem or gap in management knowledge, design an appropriate data collection and analysis process, and present supported recommendations for practice or contribution to knowledge.
Please note that the International Study Visit is subject to availability.
A choice between the following:
International Study Visit Elective Module
Destination and dates to be confirmed
Read moreOnline Elective Modules
- MNM3G015: Managing International Human Resource Management
- MNM3G017: Brand Strategy
- MNM3G018: Corporate Finance Elective
- MNM3G019: Corporate Responsibility
- MNM3G020: Digital Marketing
- MNM3G021: Financial Technologies (FINTECH)
- MNM3MPBE: Managing the Project-based Environment
- MNM3G023: Sustainability
- MNM3G024: Relationship Marketing
Modules or course content marked as optional are indicative and may be subject to change. Please note, constraints in timetable scheduling may mean you are unable to take some optional modules at the same time as others.
Schedule
Key Dates
All dates are subject to change, for more information please contact mba@henley.ac.uk
| Dates | Workshop | Final Assessment Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 7th September 2026 - Friday 26th 2027 | Stage 1 - Managing the Organisation | Monday 7th June 2027 |
| Thursday 24th June 2027 - Saturday 22nd January 2028 | Stage 2 - Making Choices: Context & Stakeholders | Sunday 19th March 2028 |
| Monday 24th April - Friday 12th May 2028 | Stage 3 - Making an Impact | Sunday 10th December 2028 |
Stage 1 - Managing the Organisation
| Date | Workshop | Assessment Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 7th – Wednesday 9th September 2026 | The Henley MBA Leadership and Personal Development Workshop (L&PD) | Completion of Academic Misconduct Sunday 13th September 2026 |
| Friday 2nd – Saturday 3rd October 2026 | Managing Processes and Systems (MPS | MPR assignment due: Sunday 15th November 2026 |
| Wednesday 9th – Friday 11th December 2026 | Managing Financial Resources (MFR) | MFR assignment due: Sunday 7th February 2027 |
| Wednesday 24th – Friday 26th February 2027 | Personal Development – Development Plans (PD) | MPE assignment due: Sunday 18th April 2027 |
| Managing People (MP) | PD assignment 1 due:Sunday 9th May 2027 | |
| Stage One Exams: MPR, MFR & MPE Monday 7th June 2027 |
Stage 2 - Making Choices: Context & Stakeholders
| Date | Workshop | Assessment Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 24th – Friday 25th June 2027 | Strategy (STR) | STR assignment due: Sunday 15th August 2027 |
| Wednesday 8th – Friday 10th September 2027 | International Business (IB) • Research Skills (RS) - ONLINE DELIVERY | IB assignment due: Sunday 24th October 2027 |
| Wednesday 10th – Friday 12th November 2027 | Personal Development – Career and Context (PD) • Strategic Marketing (STMK) | STMK assignment due: Sunday 2nd January 2028 |
| Friday 21st – Saturday 22nd January 2028 | Reputation and Responsibility (R&R) | R&R assignment due: Sunday 5th March 2028 |
| PD assignment 2 due: Sunday 19th March 2028 |
Stage 3 - Making an Impact
| Date | Workshop | Assessment Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 24th – Tuesday 25th April 2028 | Management Research Challenge (MRC) | L&C assignment due: Sunday 25th June 2028 |
| MRC proposal due: Sunday 9th July 2028 | ||
| Wednesday 10th – Friday 12th May 2028 | Leadership and Change (L&C) • Personal Development – The Reflective Manager (PD) | Elective module due: Sunday 23rd July 2028 |
| PD assignment 3 due: Sunday 6th August 2028 | ||
| MRC project due: Sunday 10th December 2028 |
How we teach you
Strong focus on international business and leadership
Our MBA programme has a particularly strong focus on themes of international business, leadership and corporate reputation. There is a real hands-on approach to learning, you work collaboratively with your fellow students and classes are taught by international faculty at the cutting edge of their disciplines.
Continuous personal and professional development
Our MBA programmes combine the best in academic theory with practical, real-life projects. This means that as well as having an outstanding learning experience, you will be ready to put it all into practice immediately when you are back in the workplace.
At Henley, we recognise that you want to develop yourself to prepare for the challenges of business leadership, so within the programmes there is a continuous element of personal development and career development to support you throughout your journey.
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"The MBA is a game-changer, and I recommend it highly to anyone who wants a better future"
Potential opportunities for international study
On the Flexible Executive MBA programme, you may have the opportunity to go on an international study visit*, to an overseas location where Henley has a developed network and a strong footprint.
Everything above is informed by Henley's eminent reputation in teaching practising managers and in research excellence and application.
*subject to availability.
Personal and professional development
Expand your network and expertise
We also support your development beyond the classroom, with a range of additional professional development events delivered online. These sessions are designed to help you expand your network, deepen your expertise and stay focused on achieving your long-term career goals.
Personalised executive coaching
You will also have access to experienced Executive Coaches, offering confidential one-to-one support tailored to your individual development. Whether you want to refine your leadership approach, explore career direction or navigate professional challenges, coaching sessions can be arranged in person, over the phone or virtually providing flexible, personalised support throughout your MBA journey.
One of the things you could talk to your Executive Coach about is your strengths, using StrengthscopeTM to help you understand:
You’ll also have access to a host of useful online resources, such as:
- VMock – online CV building tool
- Alumni Extra – webinar library covering a range of professional development topics
- PayNegotiation – online training package
Location & facilities
Our Henley-on-Thames campus
Study an Executive MBA at our Greenlands campus
Henley Business School’s Greenlands campus is home to our Executive MBA programmes. Watch to see what your MBA journey could look like with this short tour of our campus and facilities.
Greenlands campus
Dining, refreshments and accommodation
Fitness and wellbeing
Take a virtual tour of Henley Business School’s Greenlands campus, set in sweeping parkland on the banks of the River Thames, where an inspiring and reflective environment supports focused work and study.
Entry requirements
To join this programme, you will need:
How to apply
All applicants must submit:
- Application form
- CV (please see example template, please note CV review is available)
- Personal statement
- One professional reference
- Degree transcript and certificate
- Proof of English language ability (if applicable)
Please see the entry requirements and application form notes before submitting your application.
Application deadlines
| Flexible Executive MBA (September 2026) cohort | Important dates |
|---|---|
| Henley Executive MBA Director’s Award Scholarships application deadline | 13 July 2026 |
| Final application deadline | 3 August 2026 |
| Programme start dates | September 2026 |
If you are unable to meet the application deadline, please speak to a member of the recruitment team on mba@henley.ac.uk to discuss your individual circumstances.
If you are interested in applying for the September 2026 intake, please contact mba@henley.ac.uk.
Terms and conditions
*A degree or the equivalent professional or international qualification is normally required; However we do welcome applications from candidates with exceptional management experience who may not meet all the formal criteria for admission. If you have a minimum of 5 year’s experience at a senior or strategic level with no degree, we would be happy to consider an application. Our Admission Panel reviews all non-standard applications for suitability.
**Candidates whose first language is not English will normally be required to meet one of the following conditions:
- Take an IELTS test and achieve an overall score of 7.0 with no less than 6.0 in each element. The University also accepts a number of other tests instead of IELTS. A full list of equivalent tests and scores can be found on here.
- Provide a satisfactorily completed declaration from a current employer (confirmation from a previous employer can be accepted if the applicant left that employer within 12 months of the programme application), confirming that they are required to work in English to a high level on a daily basis.
- Obtain a confirmation of satisfactory level of English language proficiency.
You are required to submit documentary evidence of your performance level with your application. Please indicate on your application form the qualification you have taken and the grade you obtained and attach the appropriate certificate.
Fees, funding and scholarships
The fee for the Flexible Executive MBA for 2026 is £36,000, or £30,600 with our 15% early bird discount.
Please contact mba@henley.ac.uk for information.
Next intake
Our next cohort begins 7th September 2026
Our full 2026 schedule can be found here.
20% fee discount for alumni in 2026
UK-based University of Reading and Henley Business School alumni benefit from a 20% discount on fees for the Flexible Executive MBA in 2026. We look forward to welcoming our outstanding alumni back to campus.
Please see below for information on scholarships and bursaries for excellent candidates. For a discussion about your Executive MBA application, funding and support with creating a business case for company sponsorship, contact the Henley team on mba@henley.ac.uk or call +44 (0)118 378 4520.
Current scholarships
Preview Days
Reserve your place now and take the first step toward your future
We welcome you to our Greenlands campus for our Executive MBA preview day. Tour the stunning campus, join a taster workshop, hear from Alumni and see how our high-impact schedule is designed to empower senior professionals like you to experience real growth and development.
Whether you're aiming to accelerate your career or pivot towards something new, this is your chance to see how the Henley EMBA fits your goals.
Executive MBA Preview Day - 7 November 2026
Contact us
If you have any questions please get in touch.
Email: mba@henley.ac.ukTelephone: +44 (0)118 378 4520.
Other courses
Executive MBA - Global
Our Global Executive MBA is Henley’s flagship, ranked programme. It has a focus on interactive in-person workshops and gives you the international outlook, insights and knowledge to achieve your personal and professional goals.