Why you should take a MBA

The world's leading, and most popular, business qualification, is the Master of Business
Administration, or MBA as we know it. A generalist qualification designed to equip students with
an understanding of all the major functions of a business, in some industries the MBA is now not
so much a desirable attribute, but an essential qualification whose importance cannot be under-
estimated.

Progression
Most notably this is the case in consultancy and finance where not having an MBA can be a
barrier to career progression. Its importance is reflected in the fact that over 10,000 degrees were
awarded last year.

Learning to adapt to the social and business cultures of another country is a key skill for those
likely to work with overseas partners. The Association of MBAs reports that there is a growing
trend among overseas executives to supplement their international business experience by
studying for an MBA within the UK.

Britain is the world's major provider of MBA courses for students from abroad. One key factor: for
most of the world, the language of business is English. That rules out a number of otherwise
excellent programmes in non-English speaking countries.

Crossroads
Britain is at the crossroads of world trade, forming a part both of the "Anglo Saxon" business
culture of the US and of Europe's plurality – its many languages, distinct business practices and
ethics. It has unique access to a range of markets, including EMEA, North America, EC and
emerging markets in Eastern Europe.

Business schools increasingly recognise that today's global company requires managers with a
broader outlook. They have therefore made great efforts to internationalise their MBA
programmes – by attracting overseas students, employing faculty members with overseas
experience and forming effective links with business.

As a result of globalisation you can learn wherever you are by downloading teaching materials
and communicating with tutors and fellow students on the Internet. E-business MBAs extend the
length of time used for learning and are convenient for those who find it difficult to travel to the
business school.

You can study the Open University Business School MBA from anywhere in the world, and the
OU recently announced an agreement with the Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Paris to
translate and adapt one of its courses for French-speaking markets.

Warwick Business School's treatment of e-learning gives students the opportunity to work with,
and learn from other students from across the globe. This month, it has launched an online
course in e-business for their distance learning MBA students.

This gives international groups of students the opportunity to tackle real e-business issues and
problems with input from e-business practitioners. Even though there is an increasing demand for
e-business courses, Warwick claims that its use of on line learning will always complement face-
to-face teaching, rather than reducing the amount of contact with tutors and other students.
Track record
Henley Management College, another institution with a track record in distance learning, now
makes its MBA content available online to all students. Assignments are submitted electronically
and several of Henley's MBA electives are also offered solely on the Internet.

"The shift towards e-learning and the development of real-time electronic activities, such as Web
seminars, helps us to get closer to our roots," says Professor Ian Turner, the director of graduate
business studies at Henley.

"E-learning enables us to operate across traditional country barriers and connect our students in
different time zones around the world."

The reputation of the institution from which the MBA is gained is crucial. Employers do not simply
ask whether an applicant has an MBA, they also want to know where it was studied. A
prospective student needs to consider a range of factors including the size and culture of the
School, programme content, quality of faculty and student body, facilities and location. The
internationalism of a School, its administrative efficiency, success/failure rates and careers and
placements services available should also be considered.

Quality control
One of the most important functions of the Association of MBAs today is providing quality control
by validating MBA-awarding bodies through a system of accreditation. Currently 36 of the 118
business schools in the UK have programmes that are accredited by the Association. Assessment
criteria are rigorous and act as a kind of consumer protection for prospective students.

The value attached by schools to such accreditation is highlighted by the fact that many overseas
schools, including those in Asia, are now seeking this mark of quality control. Foreign students
should also note that in terms of reputation and prestige, many business schools in newly
industrialised countries, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, do not as yet match European and
North American ones in this respect.

A MBA differs from many other postgraduate courses in that it requires that you have prior
experience of business. It is not normally appropriate to start this course of study immediately
after your first degree, and most schools will require that you have 4-5 years experience of
business.

Borderline
The main questions a business school will ask will be about your CV, your qualifications, work
experience and references. If your qualifications are borderline in terms of the demands the
programme will make, you will be asked to do a GMAT – expect that a score of at least 550 will
be required with an equal balance between the verbal and numerical scores.

Students with a good standard of spoken English will find it easier to adjust to living, working and
studying in the UK. If your chosen school judges that your English is not up to standard, you will
be required to take either an IELTS or TOEFL exam. It is important to remember that both
understanding and being understood are vital since so much work takes place in groups and
syndicates.

The Association of MBAs' website (www.mba.org.uk) is an important source of free information for
the any prospective student and its annual Official MBA Handbook is essential reading. In
addition to listing details of schools worldwide, it provides comprehensive advice for would-be
MBA students, including the size and culture of the school, programme content, quality of faculty
and student body, facilities and the availability of distance learning.