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MicroMBA

The UC San Diego Rady School of Management’s MicroMBA

Program Dates: July 8th - August 26th, 2026
Application opens May 1, 2026

If you have general questions regarding the 2026 MicroMBA program, please direct your inquiries to rsm-micromba@ucsd.edu.

Business is a science at the UC San Diego Rady School of Management, and our MicroMBA program is perfect for graduate students and professionals with STEM backgrounds, providing a unique opportunity to gain exposure to business concepts like operational strategy, finance, analytics, entrepreneurship and more.

You will be introduced to world class researchers who will serve as your instructors, become immersed in our quantitative STEM-designated coursework, learn alongside like minded peers and build your network.

The MicroMBA is an eight-week program, with each course offering a glimpse into the full MBA program at the Rady School of Management. The courses will be held online via ZOOM with select in-person networking opportunities available.

Courses include:

  • Accounting for Startups
  • Business Analytics and Generative AI
  • Corporate Finance
  • Financial Decision Making
  • Power and Leadership
  • Innovation
  • Marketing
  • Operational Strategy
  • Leading with Emotional Intelligence

The program will provide you with essential business tools and insights to bring back to your graduate studies or full time work in science, health or technology.

See what our previous students had to say!:

"The MicroMBA is a great way to expose non-business people to the excellent programs and expertise that Rady has to offer.” - W. Jenkins ‘22

“The professors did a really good job of summing up very heavy topics into short lectures!" - K. Sudqi '22

 "I really enjoyed engaging with the faculty and other students in the program.” - A. Phillips '22

The UC San Diego Rady School MicroMBA will prioritize UC San Diego graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, followed by general public applicants.

 

 

 

Program Format

This is an eight-week program which meets from 4:30pm - 6:00pm on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Each course is a glimpse into the full MBA program at the Rady School of Management. The lectures will be held online via ZOOM. Additional career-exploration and networking sessions will be offered through coffee chats with industry professionals online with select in-person sessions. There is an application process and if accepted, you will be notified and allowed access to the online sessions, materials and other information.

Pricing

The cost of this 8-week program is $1500.  Students and postdoctoral scholars, along with UC San Diego affiliates, are able to attend at a reduced rate:

  • UC San Diego graduate students and postdoctoral scholars: $350 (note, students graduating in June 2025 are still eligible for the student rate)
  • UC San Diego affiliates who are not matriculated students/postdoctoral scholars: $525 (note, this includes alumni and researchers associated with key San Diego Mesa collaborators: Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, Salk Institute for Biological Studies,  Sanford Burnham Prebys, and Scripps Research) 
  • Non-UC San Diego graduate students and postdoctoral scholars: $525

*When applying, please use your university email address; and UC San Diego students please be prepared to provide your student ID.

Attendance Policy & Grades

You must attend 10 of the 12 lectures and two coffee chats in order to receive a certificate of completion. There will be no grades but attendance is tracked.

Upon successful completion of the MicroMBA program, students will receive a verifiable digital credential. The digital credential (badge) may be shared on social media, with colleagues and/or employers in recognition of the achievement. In addition, official university transcripts are available upon request to verify participation in the MicroMBA program.

Class Location

All lectures will be available via Zoom. For those coffee chats with an in-person option, the room information (on campus at the Rady School of Management) will be sent in your chat confirmation email (see below).

Coffee Chats

We will host networking events called “coffee chats.” These are conducted at different times throughout the program and will feature prominent executives, entrepreneurs and other business professionals from the San Diego region who you will be able to connect with directly in an informal setting. You must attend a minimum of two coffee chats. The Coffee Chat schedule will be sent directly to enrolled students.