De Montfort University • Leicester
A globally-framed MBA in Leicester — one of England’s most international cities — with September and January starts and a wide, negotiable fee band.
Our take
DMU’s MBA (Global) leans into what Leicester actually is: one of England’s most international cities, where South Asian and East African business communities are not a diversity statistic but the local economy. For applicants whose post-MBA plans span the UK and home markets — import/export, family enterprises, diaspora businesses — that context is a working asset. DMU’s postgraduate band is the widest on our list (£16,100–£25,700), so the exact MBA fee matters more than usual: get it confirmed before comparing. September and January intakes both run, and the city’s costs sit comfortably below the southern average. Early-career applicants should look at DMU’s MSc International Business and Management instead; the MBA classroom pays for experience brought to it.
| Duration | 1 year full-time |
| Intake | September & January |
| Accreditation | Leicester Castle Business School (DMU) |
| Tuition | Within DMU’s 2026/27 international postgraduate band of £16,100–£25,700 — the widest band on our list, so confirm the exact MBA (Global) fee in your offer before comparing options. Deposits start around £4,000 and vary by country. |
Where this leads: A master’s-level business qualification — no professional registration involved. Pairs with the Graduate visa for post-study work in the UK.
Both intakes run for the business portfolio.
Why DMU
The city’s international trading communities make “global business” a lived environment, not a module title — networks that matter for diaspora and family enterprises.
Familiar food, faith facilities and established communities from day one — the softest landing in the Midlands for first-time relocators.
September and January intakes keep timing flexible.
Leicester rents undercut Birmingham and the South — the band’s lower reaches make DMU one of the cheaper credible MBAs.
What you study
Entry requirements
English language
DMU can consider Medium of Instruction (MOI) evidence for some courses — though clinical and regulated programmes usually still require a formal test. DMU's published English pages list approved tests rather than a blanket MOI policy, but its own 2026/27 fees page confirms MOI is considered for Indian applicants from states other than Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat — with a higher minimum pre-CAS deposit of £10,000 when you rely on one. Counsellor guidance indicates English-medium study is also weighed case by case for other markets, typically where your degree was recently taught and assessed wholly in English and the letter is issued on university letterhead. Treat MOI as a possibility to confirm for your profile, not a guarantee — we pre-check it with DMU before you apply.
Also accepted: PTE Academic (61 with 59 in each part at IELTS 6.5 equivalence), LanguageCert Academic 70 / Duolingo English Test 120 / TOEFL iBT 79, GCSE, IGCSE or Cambridge O Level English at grade C or above. Pre-sessional English is available if you fall short.
Careers
Your country
DMU publishes Pakistan-specific equivalencies: undergraduate entry typically needs HSC with 70% or above plus one year (new scheme) or two years (old scheme) of BCom/BSc/BA at 60%, while master's applicants with a four-year bachelor's degree usually need around 55% for 2:2-level courses or 65% where a 2:1 is required. Pakistan is not on the UKVI differential evidence list, so the pre-CAS deposit is typically a minimum of 50% of the first-year net fee, and — in common with many UK universities — applicants may be asked to complete a credibility interview before a CAS is issued. Leicester's long-established Pakistani community and low living costs make it one of the easier UK cities to settle into.
Full guide for PakistanUndergraduate applicants typically need a minimum 65% average in their best four Standard XII subjects (excluding Hindi); master's applicants usually need a recognised bachelor's degree at around 55-60% depending on the course. The deposit depends on your state and English evidence: applicants from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat currently pay the full first-year fee before a CAS, while those from other states pay a minimum £10,000 if relying on an MOI letter or 50% of the first-year fee with an approved English test. Leicester is arguably Britain's most Indian-friendly city — the Golden Mile, major Diwali celebrations and a large existing student community mean most Indian students feel at home quickly.
Full guide for IndiaFor master's entry DMU asks for a bachelor's degree with a GPA of 2.5/4.0 or 55% and above; undergraduate applicants usually route through A Levels, IB or a foundation year such as the DMU International College pathway. The most important practical point: Nigerian applicants are currently required to pay the full first-year tuition fee (minus any DMU scholarship) before a CAS is issued, which is a significantly higher upfront commitment than the £4,000 bands some other universities offer Nigerian students. Budget for this early, and speak to us about universities with lower deposit requirements if it is a constraint.
Full guide for NigeriaStudents from UAE schools are assessed on their qualification: A Levels, IB or strong CBSE/FBISE grades are considered for direct undergraduate entry, an American High School Diploma typically needs a 3.0+ GPA plus Advanced Placement subjects, and the UAE secondary school certificate usually routes through a foundation year. Master's applicants need a recognised bachelor's degree at around 2:2 equivalent. UAE nationals fall under the UKVI differential evidence requirement, so the pre-CAS deposit is currently a minimum £4,000 — expatriate applicants are assessed on their own nationality — and the February mid-year intake suits Gulf-based professionals who cannot wait for September.
Full guide for the UAECompare
FAQ
DMU’s postgraduate band is unusually wide — £16,100–£25,700 for 2026/27 — so the programme-specific fee in your offer letter is the number that matters. We confirm it (and your country’s deposit, from around £4,000) before you compare DMU against alternatives.
A curriculum framed around international strategy, cross-cultural leadership and global operations — reinforced by Leicester itself, whose international business communities give the cohort live examples of exactly the enterprises many students plan to build.
One of the best in England for first-time arrivals: deeply established South Asian and East African communities, affordable rents, and a compact city. Birmingham’s bigger market sits under an hour away for the Graduate-visa year.
Yes — the MBA expects managerial or substantial professional experience. Fresh graduates get better value and easier admission through DMU’s MSc International Business and Management, and we will tell you which fits before you apply.
Fees, entry requirements, English-language policies and intake dates are correct to the best of our knowledge at the date shown, but universities review them every cycle and immigration rules change. Always treat figures as a guide — we confirm the exact, current requirements with the university before you apply. Facts on this page last checked July 2026.
Intakes shown are for this course specifically; DMU runs other intakes for other programmes — see the full DMU profile.
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