Thinking of applying to study Business at postgraduate level? Are you good at writing business plans but Have no idea where to start looking for information or how to decide which course is for you? Read on for some helpful information all about Business degrees at postgraduate level, specifically MBA’s.
Business is a particularly popular area of postgraduate study, especially as students are not always required to have a Business related background. There are many different types of postgraduate Business courses available, the most commonly referred to perhaps is the MBA (Master of Business Administration).
MBA Courses
An MBA is normally aimed at those students who have experience in the field of Business whereas for other courses this is not essential. MBA’s are an excellent way to boost your career development but with a choice of nearly 500 MBA’s across institutions in the UK there are a lot of decisions to be made!
An MBA (as with other postgraduate business courses) will vary in length, study mode, cost, location and reputation according to where you choose to study for yours. The reputation of the university of your choice is even more important for your MBA than it was at undergraduate level. Future employers really do care where you studied. There are ranking tables available to help you decipher the business reputation of various universities. Here at Getting in we thoroughly recommend that you check this before applying, especially whether your MBA of choice is internationally accredited (for example, by the Association of MBA’s).
Business schools specialised in particular areas of business, so it is a good idea that you also consider this. If you have your future career path mapped out in front of you (lucky you!) then choose an institution that is best suited for your career needs. Simple, right?!
If you’re keeping up, we’ll move on to the next decision you’ll need to make! There are several different options of learning formats for MBA’s: full-time, part-time, Executive MBA or distance learning. The part-time option might be ideal for people who are working and cannot halt their career in order to study. Most of the contact time will be in the evenings or weekends, allowing you to continue at work. An executive MBA is ideal for a working professional with at least five years experience in the industry.
Full-time courses are usually available as a one or two year course, depending on the institution you choose. The one-year, intensive MBA courses which are being offered more and more at the moment are a good choice if finances are a concern of yours. It means you are only out of work for 12 months instead of 24 months!
Talking of finances, the cost of MBA’s can vary considerably – a two-year course at a university in the US can cost north of £75,000 (we can hear you gasping from here!) whereas a one-year course at a European institution could cost around £20,000. Don’t forget, there are ways that you can get funding and help for your postgraduate study – have a look at our fees and funding section for more information.
Finally and most importantly, make sure you choose to study in a location that you are going to be happy in for the duration of your course. It really doesn’t matter if you think you’re getting a bargain on tuition fees if you spend two years being miserable because you hate where you live!
