MBA Managing International Organisations

What you need to apply

The SA Council on Higher Education requires MBA applicants to have one of these qualifications:

• 4-year Bachelor’s degree (NQF level 8), OR
• Honours/Postgraduate degree (NQF level 8), OR
• 3-year Bachelor’s degree (NQF level 7) plus a postgraduate diploma (NQF level 8)
• Additional requirement for students enrolling for the MBA stream in Project Management: A Project Management course on NQF level 8, for which credits can be considered in respect of required electives

Important:

• Recognition of prior learning (RPL): The Business School provides wider access to its programmes through its RPL process. This means that, even if you do not have the required qualifications, you can still apply based on the management experience you have gained. You still need to submit all the documentation and tests as required for all prospective students, plus additional requirements as set out under Recognition of prior learning elsewhere in this brochure.
• International students: International students require a South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) evaluation certificate to evaluate their degrees according to South African standards. The Business School’s International Affairs Office will first handle the credential evaluations of international students free of charge. Students need to complete the online application and upload all certificates with their application. The International Affairs Office will, as part of the application process, conduct an in-house credential evaluation after you have submitted your application. However, should the International Affairs Office be uncertain about the status, recognition or accreditation of your qualification, we reserve the right to refer you to SAQA before we consider your application further.
• Vetting process: All degrees undergo a formal vetting process to eliminate fraudulent applications.
• Obtaining a qualification to enrol for an MBA: One of the qualifications that can give access to our MBA is a postgraduate diploma on NQF level 8. We offer a range of redesigned PGDips which can give you access to our MBA or MPhil degrees. The preferred one is the PGDip Business Management and Administration (PGDip BMA). Graduates of our PGDip BMA who continue with our MBA will get recognition for 32 credits (15%) on the MBA.

Other requirements

• At least 3 years of relevant full-time working experience, preferably on managerial level
• Mathematics at NSC (Grade 12) level or equivalent is highly recommended
• A comprehensive CV
• 2 essays, showing the candidate’s level of motivation and working experience (see below)
• Satisfactory selection test results (see below)
• Additional requirement for students enrolling for MBA stream in Project Management: A Project Management course on NQF level 8, for which credits can be considered in respect of required elective.

Writing the two essays

You need to write two essays on the topics indicated below. The essays serve two purposes. First, they provide us with additional information about your personal and professional background. Second, they provide us with additional insight into your writing ability, a skill that is critical in completing the MBA degree.

Each essay must be between 300 and 500 words. (Please indicate the word count at the end of each essay, and submit one PDF document containing both essays.

• External development perspective: Summarise your development as a leader with emphasis on the individuals, processes and institutions that have played a major part in your development. Conclude with your reasons for choosing Stellenbosch Business School, and why it fits your criteria as an institution at which you can continue your career development.
• Personal development perspective: Summarise your personal development, the challenges you have experienced, how you have dealt with these challenges, what you have learned from this and the insight that you have gained about yourself and your role in business and society. Conclude with your current developmental needs and why this programme is important for your development given your desired future.

Selection tests

You need to do a selection test as part your application process. We accept the SHL and GMAT selection tests. These tests are recognised internationally.

SHL selection test

You need to complete the SHL abilities selection test as part of your application process. The test consists of a verbal critical reasoning assessment, numerical critical reasoning assessment, inductive reasoning test, and Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ) on behavioural preferences, which are used for selection and for the identification of your development areas.

The SHL is about determining your strengths and growth areas. It is not about failing or passing. The early identification of growth areas allows you to prepare yourself well and focus your efforts on academic and career success. As a responsible institution, we need to ensure that all students admitted are provided with the best possible chance to succeed in their studies and careers. The SHL is used in combination with the essays required as part of the application process, prior academic results and work experience to form a clear picture on which to base admission and development decisions.

• Duration: Approximately 3 hours.
• Preparation: No preparation is required. However, you are encouraged to perform a practice test to familiarise yourself with the test format. See www.shl.com/shldirect/en-us/practice-tests/
• About the test: The SHL test is done online. (Random verification might be requested.) You will be provided with a link to the SHL test once you have paid your MBA application fee and SHL selection test fee, and after you have submitted your application form and have received your provisional student number. (You need to use this provisional student number when writing the SHL.)
• Cost: For fees, please see www.usb.ac.za/mba (click on Fees tab). See bank details under How to apply and use your provisional student number as reference. The application fee and SHL selection test fee can be paid online, and they are non-refundable.
• Link to the SHL selection test: You do not have to arrange with the Business School to write the SHL test. You will receive a link to the test once the relevant payments have been received and you have submitted your application form. The Business School will receive your results directly from SHL and will upload it to your application form on your behalf.
• Additional information: www.shl.com/en/assessments/cognitive-ability/
• Important: The SHL selection test is valid for 18 months. If your SHL selection test results are older than this, you should ideally rewrite the test as people grow and develop, and assessments need to take this into account. We do not consider SHL tests from other institutions as you may have written a different type or level of test, or you may have been compared to a different comparison group. If you have completed the SHL with Stellenbosch Business School during the past 18 months, you do not have to rewrite the test.

GMAT selection test

The GMAT consists of three timed sections, namely an analytical writing assessment, a quantitative assessment and a verbal assessment. A copy of the results will automatically be forwarded to the Business School.

• Duration: About 4 hours.
• When and where: This test is not administered by Stellenbosch Business School. International students need to contact the Regional Registration Centre in the Netherlands on 0931 320 239 593 or go to https://accounts.gmac.com/Account/Register. SA students need to contact Pearson VUE Professional Centre in Johannesburg on +27 (0)11 784 3093 or 0800 995 044 or at justin.jacobs@pearson.com.
• Cost: $250 (2021). Find more information at www.gmac.com.

Recognition of Prior Learning

We provide wider access to our programmes through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process. In line with the requirements of the Council on Higher Education, we may admit up to 10% of our student body per programme under RPL. Candidates who wish to be admitted under the RPL policy will firstly have to submit all the documentation and tests as required for all prospective students. In addition, prospective MBA students under the RPL policy need to adhere to the following:

• Have at least an NQF 6 qualification (all school and academic certificates are required).
• Exemption to this rule is available for outstanding applicants who hold a Senior Certificate (NQF 4) and who have provided evidence of high performance and likely success on the MBA through admission selection scores that are at least 20% higher than the average scores achieved by MBA students (currently SHL score > 7; GMAT score > 650) and relevant work experience of 10 years. The approval for such RPL candidates requires the head of the department’s support in addition to the RPL Committee’s decision on the application.
• Have at least SIX years of working experience after obtaining the qualification mentioned in the first bullet point, of which at least THREE years should have been in a management or a related professional position.
• Submit a comprehensive CV, indicating, in detail, areas of responsibility in the work environment as well as activities outside the work environment.
• Provide Stellenbosch Business School with at least two references (typically current or former line heads) who can testify about the candidate’s managerial or related professional abilities. The references will be asked to give a detailed personal reference of the candidate on forms that can be download from the application form.
• Submit the SHL/GMAT selection test results.
• Write and submit two motivational essays (specific topics are provided).
• Conduct an in-depth interview with the Head of the MBA programme and one other academic staff member constituting the RPL Committee.

The RPL selection process entails the following:

• The programme head and another academic will conduct an in-depth interview with the candidate and make a recommendation about admission.
• The Admissions Committee will consider the full application including the interview recommendation and the inputs received from the references for admission.
• A notice of admission is sent via the Business School’s Academic Planning Committee to the Board of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences for notification.
• RPL candidates need to apply by 31 October of each year to allow sufficient time for the assessment process.