What is an MBA?

An MBA, or Master of Business Administration, is a degree program aimed at business professionals to help them further their career. There are various types of MBA, the most common being the two year MBA, which, as the name suggests, takes place over two academic years. Students tend to have several years of experience and attend lectures during the week, the same as other university students. Some institutions offer accelerated MBA courses, which take less than two years to complete, but have a higher, more intense workload, with no holidays. It is also possible to take a part time MBA, which is similar to a standard part time degree. Following this method allows you to spread the load of the course over three years or more. This scheme tends to be taken by professionals who want to keep their job while studying. Next, there is the Executive MBA, or EMBA, which is a different type of program designed to educate managers and executives over two years, while working full time. This course is usually taken by professionals with much more experience, often over 10 years. Finally, we have the online, or “distance learning” MBA, in which students complete the course at home, in their own time. This method will usually take three years or more, like a part time course, with added freedom. The course material is delivered through post or online, or sometimes even through video conference with teachers. If you have an MBA qualification on your CV, you will be in an excellent position when it comes to finding a job, or perfectly placed for a promotion or pay raise if you keep your current job. A recent study showed that employees with an MBA can earn up to 50% more than those without!