Admission requirements 

Profile of a successful applicant

Having completed your degree and spent several years in a working environment, you may find yourself at a point in your career where you need more direction or a greater challenge. Should you be working towards a career in general management, or wish to open doors to further opportunities, then the GIBS MBA can help you achieve your objectives.

At GIBS, we have a rigorous selection procedure to admit the best possible class from the large applicant pool and to ensure that our students are likely to succeed.

 In order to qualify for a place on the GIBS MBA the following criteria must be met:

·         A minimum of a degree or equivalent qualification;

·         Five years’ work experience, at least two years of which must have been at management level;

·         Postgraduate level of intellectual ability (as assessed via the GIBS Entrance Test or the Graduate Management Admission Test 
       (GMAT));
·         Leadership potential (your experience, letters of reference and application essays should all reveal that you can assume a 
       leadership role in the workplace);

·         Good English language skills to actively participate in academic debate;

·         A minimum of Matriculation certificate-level competence in Mathematics;

·         Competence in the use of a scientific or financial calculator; and

·         Competence in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and a web browser.

Please note:

·         Only certain subjects from the GIBS PDBA will be considered as credits towards the GIBS MBA. This is conditional on students 
        attaining a 65% aggregate in these subjects and commencing the MBA within five years of completing the PDBA. No other degrees 
        are eligible.

·         All foreign students must submit copies of their study and work permits.

The average age of the GIBS MBA student is 32.

An undergraduate degree and a desire for further challenges alone are not sufficient for eligibility. Energy, leadership potential, maturity, ambition and a drive to make a meaningful contribution to the world of business in South Africa are all essential qualities in a successful GIBS MBA applicant.

MBA Admission Requirements

You meet the GIBS MBA requirements, what’s the next step? Once you have examined the MBA admission requirements and feel qualified to apply for the MBA degree, you can begin the application process. Be sure to read through the application process before you complete any forms or book your entrance test. We advise that you prepare your application essays before you start filling out the application form. The essay topics can be found on the application process page. If you meet the requirements for the MBA, you will need to fill in the online MBA application form, supply all the required and relevant information, and follow the application process correctly. In order to qualify for the GIBS MBA, you must complete the entrance test or the Graduate Management Admission Test. You will also have to ask your referees to complete the electronic reference forms which they can submit directly to GIBS. What to expect Visit the curriculum page to read about core courses, elective courses, the compulsory global module and the integrative business research project. The programme schedule is also available online.