Arab Open University's Faculty of Business Studies (FBS) is non-traditional in approach, creative in application, and unique in perspective. FBS is the Arab World's most comprehensive Blended learning business school, offering the full spectrum of business and management education options from single courses through to bachelor's and, master's degrees- all delivered with the flexibility, accessibility and quality that students expect from AOU leading blended learning university. The FBS prepares students for careers through British educational experience consolidating top notch scholarly challenge and ethical professional practice.
Offered Programmes:
1. The Diploma in Business Studies at the Arab Open University is a two-year program designed to equip students with foundational knowledge in key business areas such as marketing, human resource management, finance, and information technology. Conducted in English the diploma aims to develop a deep understanding of business principles, organizational dynamics, and the broader market environment. Students will gain essential skills in communication, analysis, and practical IT application, preparing them for diverse business environments. The program includes practical assessments and continuous skill evaluations, with a curriculum structured to meet both academic and real-world industry needs.
2. The BA in Business Studies at Arab Open University provides a well-rounded education with an honours-level focus, equipping students with essential business knowledge, skills, and confidence. Students begin with core business courses before choosing from eight specializations, including management, marketing, accounting, economics, human resource management, finance, systems and inormation management systems. Graduates are prepared for roles in junior and middle management with a solid foundation in decision-making, teamwork, and ethical business practices. This programme is composed of eight pathways as follows:
- The Accounting Pathway aims at providing students with the skills needed for measuring and analyzing financial information used basically by managers, investors, tax authorities and decision makers for the purpose of resource allocation and distribution within enterprises, organizations, and governments. Business Administration graduates in the field of accounting have a broad range of challenging and rewarding job opportunities in the accounting of businesses and organizations in the public and/or private sectors.
- The Economics Pathway aims at improving the students' proficiency in the field of economic analysis and at strengthening their understanding of economic changes in addition to appreciating their influence on the business sector. It also aims to develop the students' ability to describe and evaluate the economic behavior of households, businesses, and markets.
- The Finance-Micro Finance Pathway aims to provide students with an understanding of the financial sector of an economy, the role and services provided by the main financial institutions and markets, and an understanding of how international corporate financial decisions are made. Students will also gain an understanding of economics as a social theory, and an understanding of the main principles of economic analysis and their organizational and policy implications. The program also aims to develop students' specialist skills in Finance and microfinance. Students will acquire relevant and practical skills in numerical and financial analysis, and they will develop their critical thinking skills. Business Administration graduates in the field of finance have a wide range of challenging and rewarding job opportunities at financial institutions, financial markets and banks.
- The Human Resource Management (HRM) Pathway provides the students with a general understanding of business organizations, their key elements, wider considerations such as environments, markets and processes, and how all these work together. Students will be able to analyze how businesses develop strategies, handle risk and take decisions. Business Administration graduates in the field of Human Resources Management have a broad range of job opportunities in service, commercial and industrial firms as HR specialists, HR officers and training and development officers.
- The Management Pathway aims at giving students the needed skills for managing investments through an organized behavior which takes into consideration the principles of financial management and organization for public and private sector enterprises. Business Administration graduates in the field of Management have a broad range of job opportunities in service, commercial and industrial firms as project managers, business advisors and administrators.
- The Marketing Pathway aims at providing students with the required skills necessary for discovering the needs and desires of customers in order to develop a group of products or services capable of satisfying those needs and of insuring a good profit for the organization within an acceptable time frame through the focus on marketing tools such as the product, distribution, promotion and price. Business Administration graduates in the field of Marketing have a broad range of challenging and rewarding job opportunities in private and public organizations as marketing executive, marketing researcher, media planner, etc.
- The Systems Practice Pathway aims at providing the students with the skills needed to improve the process of administrative decision-making. It also aims to improve the student's abilities to apply systems thinking and practices for managing and solving complexities in accordance with administrative requirements.
- The Management Information Systems (MIS) Pathway aims to equip students with the expertise to manage information and enhance business processes effectively, the Management Information Systems (MIS) Pathway at AOU develops skills for collecting, processing, and analyzing data to support decision-making across all management levels. The pathway emphasizes data integration from various sources to streamline operations, enabling students to generate comprehensive reports and deliver timely, reliable information essential for strategic planning and organizational management. This foundation prepares graduates to make informed decisions, optimize operations, and enhance overall business performance.
3. The OU-AOU MBA program is a professional, strategic management-focused degree for experienced professionals, blending theoretical and practical skills essential for leadership roles. Graduates are equipped to solve complex business challenges, communicate effectively, and lead in diverse sectors. The program offers both Project and Thesis Pathways with core courses and electives, tailored to specializations like Finance and HRM, preparing students for advanced roles in their fields with strong analytical and decision-making skills.
Master in Business Administration - General
This internationally recognized MBA is designed for practicing managers aspiring to higher positions. The emphasis for your learning is directly rooted in management practice – the 'master' in the degree title signifies your 'mastery' of the art and science of management. To achieve this level of capability the program concentrates on strategic analysis, interdisciplinary skills, intellectual stimulation and independent judgment and builds these upon a solid foundation of core disciplines, including human resource management, organizational behavior, accounting and finance, marketing and operations. You will learn to analyze, synthesize and evaluate a wide range of situations within the broad framework of organizations, their external context and internal management. Among these you will look at economic, environmental, social and technological change issues, corporate governance, markets and customers, managing resources and operations, financing organizations, management and development of people, developing information technologies for application in business and management within a global knowledge-based economy, and development of appropriate business policies and strategies within a changing context to meet stakeholder interest.
Master in Business Administration - Finance
The MBA in Finance will equip students with necessary skills to analyze and solve complex amorphous business finance problems. In addition, graduates will be able to communicate their finance related findings and will develop the skills to implement them effectively and efficiently. Students will also develop strong relational capacities and will be able to relate commendably with a range of finance related topics.
Master in Business Administration - Human Resource Management
The MBA in Human Resource Management offers an in-depth understanding of human resource (HR) management combined with a broader understanding of the organizational and management context within which HR management specialists must operate. It combines an emphasis on the development of HR management strategies with opportunities to develop specialist skills essential for practitioners. It is suitable for those who are at the start of their career as an HR professional or who aspire to enter the HR profession and it is also relevant to the experienced manager/HR professional with a degree who wants to gain a postgraduate qualification. The qualification provides a route to professional membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and students following this route are expected to be student members of CIPD throughout their studies. Throughout the program you will be encouraged to explore the strategic choices available to organizations in relation to human resource management and development. You will also consider international examples of human resource management and some aspects of comparative HR practice which will help to prepare you to work in the global economy. There will be a strong emphasis on practice-based learning so that you will be asked to evaluate research and theory and consider its relevance to practice. Training is also provided in academic and research skills, as preparation for further study and research in the field of HR management.
Duration of the programmes:
