Why study an MBA Program? Ellen Buchan, Communications and Insight Assistant at the Association of MBAs and Business Graduates Association offers valuable advice for anyone wanting to know more.
Deciding to apply for an MBA program is a big decision – and will lead to an equally huge commitment – but the decision to complete an MBA will also be a solid investment for hardworking, ambitious and motivated people with senior management aspirations.
MBA stands for ‘Master’s in Business Administration’ and programs which are accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA) have demonstrated that they are of the best quality and most relevant in global postgraduate management education.
AMBA-accredited MBA programs will require three years’ worth of previous work experience from applicants, so are designed for people who hope to take their career to the next level.
Fitting the MBA around your lifestyle
An MBA can take many forms to fit around busy lifestyles. Students can opt to study full time, part-time, in short, intensive modules, or online, depending on what suits them best. This flexibility often allows students to continue to work full time or part-time alongside studying for their MBA, which can help with funding the course – or give them the option to continue in a role that they have worked hard to achieve and enjoy.
What will the MBA cover?
The MBA covers knowledge-and-practice-based areas to give an in-depth understanding of the management strategy. Core themes vary depending on the Business School, but they usually cover marketing, operations and finance. Other specialist topics may include sustainable business or innovation.
Most MBA programs are designed to give students an overview of the management, but some Business Schools offer specialist programs for those that want more in-depth insight into areas such as healthcare, oil and gas, entrepreneurship, or innovation.
Students will also have the opportunity to develop their soft skills, through teamwork and group projects, which foster a unique environment to enhance capabilities in people management, negotiation and public speaking; all of which are essential competencies for leaders and managers.
The MBA does not solely educate people on their own area of work, but develops an understanding of all the various roles in commercial organisations, putting MBA graduates in prime position to develop as business leaders.
A unique learning experience
This unique learning experience makes MBA graduates stand out from the crowd during the recruitment process. It doesn’t matter whether students are aiming to gain promotions in their current organisation, change organisations or change career completely; an MBA will help fill knowledge and experience gaps, which may be stopping them from reaching the next level in their professional development.
Upon completion, for most MBA students, the MBA can lead to many benefits as revealed from AMBA’s Careers Survey 2019. MBA graduates see themselves as having an upwardly mobile career trajectory, with 61% of those surveyed seeing themselves as a board member, a CEO or owner of a business within the next 10 years. Additionally, the MBA can be seen to facilitate a career change with almost half of MBA graduates seeing themselves working in a different sector within three years.
Graduates also see the reward from their MBA in terms of their skills development, personal growth and a broader mindset. Nearly 70% of gaduates also feel their MBA increased their ability to help those in society who needed it most, showing that an MBA can promote positive impacts in and beyond the business world.
A global network
Studying for an MBA at an AMBA-accredited School automatically allows students to become part of the AMBA membership network. This is comprised of 45,000 MBA students and graduates in 150 countries and exists to help students and graduates forge new connections and business partnerships beyond their chosen Business School.
Members will also be invited to events all over the world, and webinars to provide them with continual learning and networking opportunities. AMBA membership gives students and graduates access to business strategy thought leadership, groundbreaking research, career advice and access to an exclusive MBA jobs portal. Membership is completely free for those who studied at or are currently studying at an accredited School.
AMBA accredits 265 of the leading Business School MBA programs in more than 75 countries, which equates to the top 2% of Business Schools worldwide. AMBA accreditation is a mark of approval letting students know that they are receiving the best possible post-graduate business education available.
If you’re thinking about studying an MBA, you can find out more and access a wealth of resources to help you make the right decision. Check out the Association of MBAs guide.
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