AMBA Accredited MBA Programs

If you are considering an accredited Online MBA Course, then there is a high likelihood that you shall be looking for AMBA accredited MBA programs or MBA accredited by other accrediting agencies.

The Association of MBAs, or better known as AMBA in short, was established in 1967 by eight MBA graduates from Wharton and Harvard. They are the advocate of MBA and they provide accreditation services for MBA programmes, including online MBA course, for course providers throughout the world.


The accreditation service provided by AMBA is internationally recognised as an acceptable global standard for all Masters of Business Administration (MBA), Doctorates in Business Administration (DBA) and Masters in Business and Management (MBM) programmes. Their accrediting services currently covers MBA, DBA and MBM programmes at 145 business schools in 68 countries.

In addition, AMBA also offer professional membership for MBA graduates and students. Their membership network currently includes 9000 members living in 88 countries. AMBA provide support to prospective MBA students, graduates and employers. AMBA’s vision is to become the international authority on business and marketing education.

AMBA offers independent quality assessment on online MBA course offered by providers. They are focused on international accreditation and design their criteria to be applicable to business schools around the world.

AMBA began their MBA accreditation services since the early 1980s. They are currently accredit MBA programs at more than 140 schools in over 65 countries, worldwide. The Online MBA Course at Aberdeen Business School is one such example of AMBA accredited program. Any college who wished to have their online MBA course accredited are advised to contact the association directly.

AMBA’s latest accreditation criteria, was launched in March 2005, and focus on every aspects of MBA course provision, including online MBA course. In the context of an online MBA course, these accreditation criteria include:

The College or University offering the online MBA course

The college or university offering an accredited MBA program should have a clear strategy and mission. They must also be explicitly expressed and regularly updated. AMBA require that this college or university have very clear understanding of the market for the online MBA course that they offers.

The Faculty offering the online MBA course

The faculty that offers the Masters of Business Administration courses, including Online MBA Course, should be have sufficient resources for all its activities. The faculty should ensure the institution is of national or international standing. Their staff should also be credible in terms of academic qualifications, ability to teach and quality of research.

Students of the Online MBA Course

All students that are registered or admitted into accredited MBA programs must have certain minimum years of working experience. AMBA requires that the college or university offering the accredited MBA programs show evidence on admission standards, which should include academic criteria and work experience. AMBA also has a criteria for some minimal intake of MBA students per year.

Curriculum of the Online MBA Course

AMBA requires that the curriculum of the accredited MBA programs to be generalist in nature and cover core business skills. These include marketing, economic and legal environment, accounting, finance, organisational theory and etc. This online MBA course curriculum should also reflect international aspect of business, and should also pay attention to ethical and social issues.

Assessment on the Online MBA Course

Assessment refers to the learning outcomes of the online MBA course. AMBA states that individual examinations should play a significant role in any such scheme since they are seen as testing intellectual rigour under controlled conditions. However, they also welcome any innovative form of assessment.

Additional Factors for an Accredited MBA Programs

They are also other additional factors for the accreditation such as the availability of language teaching, library and computer facilities and international contacts.

The followings describe the accreditation process for an MBA program.

The first step of the accreditation process involves an initial discussion with the college or university seeking accreditation for its MBA program. During this discussion, it is established whether it is appropriate for the institution to be invited into candidacy for the accreditation.

The next step involve self-audit conducted by the college or university. There are established guidelines on what need to be done or achieved during the self-audit. Once the self-audit is satisfactory conducted, the institution shall request for an assessment visit.

The third step involves the assessment visit by AMBA. This usually takes one and a half days, and it follows a pre-arranged agenda. The assessment team comprise of four to five members from AMBA. This assessment team is always mutually agreed with the Institution.

Following the assessment visit, a report is prepared for the Association’s International Accreditation Advisory Board (IAAB), which will recommend:

i) accreditation for the maximum period of 5 years;

ii) accreditation for a period less than 5 years with conditions attached to the extension of that period to the full 5 year term; or,

iii) non-accreditation, with reasons given for this decision

Accreditation is valid for a period up to a maximum of five years after which the institution would be invited to submit an application for re-accreditation.

In cases where the IAAB cannot endorse the findings of the Assessment Team’s report, or where the institution appeals against the outcome, the decision will be referred to the Association’s International Management Board (IMB).

If, during the cycle of accreditation validity, any circumstances arise which adversely affect the accredited MBA programme, the IMB reserve the right to either suspend or cancel the accreditation award.

Top 40 Distance Learning MBA or Online MBA Programs with AMBA Accreditation

The followings are the MBA Courses accredited by AMBA that has made it to the Top 40 ranking of Distance Learning or Online MBA listed by the Financial Times 2008 ranking:

MBA at Open University Business School, UK
Global Distance Learning MBA at Henley Management College, UK
MBA at Manchester Business School, UK
The Warwick MBA by Distance Learning at Warwick Business School
MBA in International Management, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK
The Durham MBA, Durham Business School, UK
Distance Learning MBA, Bradford School of Management, UK
Strathclyde Flexible Learning MBA at University of Strathclyde Business School, UK
eMBA and MBA Oil and Gas Management at Aberdeen Business School, Robert Gordon University, UK
The Surrey MBA at University of Surrey, School of Management, US
Euro*MBA at Euro*MBA Consortium in France, Netherlands, Poland, Spain & Germany
MBA (Distance Learning) at Aston Business School, Aston University, UK

With an understanding on how AMBA accredits its MBA programs, we trust that you are able to choose your Online MBA Course wisely. You may also want to read other students review on MBA course that they are attending.