Cape Town University Graduate School of Business

Located in the heart of Cape Town, one of Africa’s most vibrant and culturally diverse cities, the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB) has earned a reputation as a destination school, and is dedicated to creating a positive social, economic, and environmental change for today and future generations.

The B-school practices sustainable education management, as a Champion of Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), the United Nations-supported initiative founded in 2007. Their values don’t go unnoticed ​– the Financial Times has consistently placed the UCT GSB among the top dozen schools globally, in corporate social responsibility, ranking the school 12th globally for corporate social responsibility in 2020.

“Our program brings together some of the world’s best MBA students who are looking to combine cutting-edge business and leadership skills with new ideas, innovative approaches and creative thinking about real challenges in a way that has a broad, positive impact on business and society,” explains UCT GSB Director Catherine Duggan.

Taught in English, the full-time MBA begins each February and consists of a total of 16 core courses over 11 months ​– a compressed time frame that some candidates have said intensifies the experience. The B-School also offers a selection of 14 electives to customize the experience.

The Social Innovation Lab is a newer addition to the UCT GSB’s MBA curriculum that puts students’ skills to the test, with practical application of concepts in real-world contexts. Also notable is Philippi, a satellite community about 30 minutes from the school’s waterfront campus, which has proved revolutionary to the way the UCT GSB students create solutions to African challenges.

The UCT GSB Career Leadership Center offers students and alumni year-round support, helping them develop the confidence and tools to manage their career journey. Students often join societies such as the Africa Business Club, the Entrepreneurship Club, and Women in Business which offer a great opportunity to expand their networks and business skills.

“As a global business school with a broad international reach and a distinctly African identity, our students explore the lessons of developed markets and the fast-paced innovations of emerging ones,” adds Dr Duggan. “This unique approach gives our MBAs new insights into opportunities in Africa and beyond. Our graduates join a network of extraordinary alumni around the world whose success is a testament to the value of this approach, and whose enduring support for the UCT GSB is a testament to the transformative nature of our MBA.”