Whether you are looking to advance in your current career or want to take on an exciting new challenge, an MBA is one of the best ways to progress. It provides a strong set of hard and soft skills to succeed in today’s rapidly changing business environment, including training in new management tools and techniques, and helps you develop your leadership abilities and adaptability.
In addition to core subjects, many MBA programs offer specialisations in specific areas such as International Business (which can be very useful if you work in a multinational company) or Strategic Management. Some also include a Research component in the form of a dissertation or major project, or offer the option to take a course that provides practical experience such as an overseas field trip or guest lectures by managers from top companies.
An MBA can be completed on a college campus, online, or through a combination of both. On-campus MBA programs are often more expensive, but allow you to benefit from the facilities and networking opportunities available on a university campus. Online MBA programs can be more affordable but lack the face-to-face interaction with professors and fellow students that on-campus courses provide.
In general, most MBAs require a minimum of three years’ full-time professional experience before applying. In addition, you will need to have a good academic record and high GMAT scores. But don’t be put off if you don’t have straight A’s: many respectable MBA programs consider a GPA between 3.5 and 4.0 as acceptable, even for older applicants with significant work experience. mba