The revitalised Master of Business Leadership (MBL) is designed for experienced managers and professionals preparing for greater executive and enterprise-wide responsibility. Grounded in African realities and informed by global perspectives, the programme develops the strategic judgement, leadership capability and confidence required to navigate complexity, lead transformation and create meaningful organisational and societal impact.

 

Its forward-looking curriculum integrates strategic change, people leadership, artificial intelligence and digital transformation, innovation, sustainability, responsible leadership and applied research. A distinctive Global Leadership Immersion extends the learning experience into international business environments and executive contexts, enabling participants to translate global insight into effective leadership within African and emerging-market settings. 

The MBL give you access to continue your studies towards a DBL, providing you meet the admission requirements of the DBL.

Click here to apply

Important dates

Admission requirements and supporting documents

• A Bachelor's Honours Degree or a Postgraduate Diploma, with a minimum 120 credits, OR a 480-credit Bachelor's Degree. Please supply a copy of your certified transcript, indicating the symbol or percentage obtained for each module and indicating whether or not the qualification was completed.
  
  
• A recent detailed Curriculum Vitae indicating five years or more managerial/professional work experience.
  
  
• Supply a clear copy of certified Identity Document or Passport. A copy of driver’s licence will NOT be accepted.
  
  
• Once the application is successful, applicants may be required to write an admissions test as part of the selection process.

The Graduate School of Business Leadership may institute additional selection criteria as deemed necessary.

The purpose statements which outline the type of learning that you will acquire from each module is provided below:

Year I Semester 1

Leading Innovation (MBL5915)

The purpose of this module is to blend theory, practical exercises, case studies and team work to help leaders navigate complex challenges, cultivate innovation, and create value in a rapidly evolving business landscape. Students who complete this module will learn to harness creativity, empower teams, and implement strategies that drive sustainable innovation. This module is designed to equip organizational leaders with knowledge, skills, attitudes & values that will enable participating students to develop tools and mindsets necessary to foster a culture of innovation within their organizations and their own context

Year 1

Semester 1 & 2

Leading People (MBL5905)

The purpose of the learning in this module is to equip graduate students with knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values that will enable them to manage themselves, to lead others (teams / groups) and manage organisational dynamics. Furthermore, the purpose is to equip the graduate student with soft and organisational skills to lead the resolution conflict, to negotiate and to influence and persuade individuals in an ethical and responsible manner.

Leading Strategic Change (MBL5905)

The purpose of the learning in this module is to enable learners to integrate the process, content and context in evaluating and developing strategies at the business and corporate level. Qualifying learners will be able to identify opportunities for strategic innovation and will be able to make recommendations on strategy implementation. Qualifying learners will be able to appreciate the role of strategic leadership in crafting and implementing strategies.

Leding Business Digital Transformation (MBL5914)

Leading Digital Business Transformation is designed to equip business leaders with skills to transform enterprises in the digital era. Participants will be exposed to strategies that will enable them to employ fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technologies in organisational context and lead digital transformation as a complex organisational change process. The impact of 4IR technologies such as artificial intelligence, internet of things, big data, blockchain, advanced robotics, 3-D printing, blockchain, quantum computing, sensors, driverless cars, flying cars, etc in business are dealt with through theories, case studies, scenarios and group work. The module also deals with information technology (IT) governance, cybersecurity and ethical issues.

Semester 2

Business Research (MBL5912)

The purpose of the learning in this module is to provide graduate students with research knowledge, skills and experience that will enable them to conduct high-quality business and management research either as practitioners or academics. Qualifying students will be able to apply a range of research methods and techniques in a practical environment, the spectrum of research methods including statistical analyses of data and apply the theory to the analysis of data.

Year 2

Semester 1

Sustainability leadership and corporate responsibility (MBL5916)

This module will equip graduates with conceptual, theoretical and practical grasp of sustainability, leadership and corporate responsibility in complex and contested business contexts. Graduates should be able to develop the awareness, attitudes and values required to lead in the context of contradictory challenges posed by the constraints of scarcity and the desire for growth. The core aim of this module involves (a) empowering leaders to be aware of their role to facilitate organizational challenge and, (b) their duty to create competitive business models and lead responsible organizations. In this module, graduates will be able to craft sustainable business models, help towards the transition to responsible and sustainable organizations.

Select ONE elective (please note an elective may not be offered in cases where the subscription to a chosen module is below threshold)

Leading through Story Telling (MBL5919)

The purpose of the learning in this module is to develop students' ability to communicate ideas effectively, influence audiences, and inspire action. Storytelling is a critical leadership and management skill that can be applied across business functions, from marketing to leadership communication. It will further empower students to use storytelling as a powerful leadership tool to inspire, connect, and lead teams, including the shaping of organisational culture and drive change.

Leading Creativity (MBL5917)

The purpose of the learning in this module is to develop graduate students in the art and science of creativity to improve their own creative abilities and those of others, within an organisational context. The module will focus on but not limited to (1) creative self: from theory to transformation (the evolution of creative theory, understanding one’ own creativity thinking, metacognitive models of creativity creative self-master),  (2) the creative system: from theory to symphony (the Organisation as a Complex System, the Creative Organisation, Creative Team Intelligence, Anticipatory Leadership: Imagineering, Creative Frameworks for Problem Solving and) , (3) the creative outcome: from post it to prototype (Design Thinking, Digital creativity (Real life creativity) Using digital resources, Creative Resilience: Using Agile and Iterative Methods to Adapt and Innovate, Dealing with Wicked problems, Creative law (IP), Creative Leadership for a Responsible and Sustainable Future).

Leading in a Non-profit Organisation (MBL5918)

The purpose of the learning in this module is to equip graduate students with a holistic understanding of the leadership, strategic, and operational challenges unique to the non-profit sector, preparing them to lead mission-driven organisations that create meaningful social change.

Semester 1 & 2

Strategic Leadership Research Projects (MBL5912)

The purpose of this learning is to enable graduate students to conduct applied research within organisations or industries of their choice and to identify and address opportunities for organisational change. Qualifying students will show that they are able to apply business analytical techniques and theoretical frameworks from a wide range of disciplines to investigate and identify a need for organisational change.  Qualifying students will show that they can use theoretical change management frameworks to propose ways of addressing the need for strategic leadership and change management and are to report their findings in a professional management report. Qualifying students will show that they are able to draw on a variety of techniques and functional management disciplines in their investigation and solution.

Semester 2

Global Leadership Immersion (MBL5920)

The purpose of this module is to equip participating leadership students with knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values that will enable them to integrate both classroom and team/group learning including practical real-life experiences within a global business environment setting. Participating leaders will gain direct exposure to international business environments to develop global business competencies, enhance cultural awareness, diversity, language/communication related requirements with an intend of expanding their professional networks and competencies.

Study schools give students an opportunity to interact with academics and other students. All study schools were traditionally held at the SBL campus in Midrand, Gauteng.  Online/campus attendance remains compulsory for each module, regardless of the format. Students will be advised well in advance about the venue OR which virtual platforms to be used.

MBL First-Year Study School Dates for 2026

Download schedule here 

Contact our dedicated MBL Finance Officer to assist you with your MBL finance queries:

Ms. Nyalleng Chabane
Tel: 011 652 0243
Email: chabani1@unisa.ac.za

For all your general finance queries, kindly use the contact information below:

Landline: 011 652 0312
E-mail: SBLfinance@unisa.ac.za

MBL tuition fees include

• Application fee: R 160 (non-refundable AND in addition to tuition fees) – Not applicable if you have a student number
• Tuition fees; split into acceptance deposit and subsequent payment plan.
• Foreign levy will be charged for students not residing in South Africa

MBL 2027 Payment structure and tuition fees

Note 2027 fees are subject to Unisa Council approval

The non-refundable application fee may be paid using the my Unisa online payment platform http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Apply-for-admission/Student-fees-and-funding-your-studies/Unisa-payment-methods-and-banking-details  or electronic fund transfer (EFT) or credit card or cash deposit at your nearest bank.

Kindly note that Unisa is a cashless environment.

Registration fees:

The acceptance/registration fee is payable on or before registration. Registration will only be processed once the registration fee is settled in full or a valid purchase order is provided. The bursar/sponsorship letter is not sufficient proof of payment for registration. Invoices will only be generated upon receipt of a bursary/sponsorship letter.

Withdrawal from programme

Subject to Section 12(2) of the Consumer Protection Act, a cancellation fee is payable as follows:

• Withdrawal before the programme commencement date will be refunded in full.
• Withdrawal after the programme commencement date, but before 15 May 2027 will result in a liability equal to 50% of tuition fees.
• Withdrawal after the programme commencement date, but before 15 August 2027 will result in a liability equal to 75% of tuition fees.
• Withdrawal after 15 August 2027 will result in full liability of tuition fees

Registered students who wish to withdraw from any SBL programme or offering for any reason must do so in writing to the Programme Administrator and the Fees Office. Failure to comply with this condition will result in the student being liable for the full tuition fees of the programme.

Unsettled accounts

Unsettled accounts are subject to financial blocks or/and cancellations. Accounts that are cancelled or blocked will not have access to academic results on the myUnisa platform. Failure to settle any outstanding fees, could further result in the following financial penalties:

• The student will be unable to access statement of results.
• Final year student will not be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony.
• The student will not be accepted into the next academic year of study.
• Hand over to a third party for the collection of outstanding amounts. The student will be liable for legal costs of recovery.