Instead of thinking about their first step on the corporate career ladder, more and more students are starting postgraduate study with the aim of setting up their own business.
A postgraduate degree in business gives you a broad overview of all the major business functions, enabling you to make astute decisions, market your product or service and build the right team around you.
So, what do you need to look for to choose the right business school?
Credibility
When choosing where to study, look for institutions that really understand enterprise and the issues affecting small businesses. What experience does the school have in working with small businesses? Does the school conduct research in this area?
At Aston Business School we manage the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor for the UK, the largest study of entrepreneurial attitudes and behaviours.
This research informs both UK government policy on enterprise support and the teaching that is delivered to our students. It helps us to see the bigger picture, and to prepare our students to understand that starting a business is easy – the real challenge is growing and sustaining that business.
The reality is that most start-ups fail. But understanding the reasons why, you stand a much better chance of being successful.
Networks
In postgraduate study, as in property, it is all about location, location, location. Look at how the location of a business school can help you build the right networks to help launch your business.
Aston Business School is right in the heart of Birmingham, the UK’s second city, widely considered to be the best place to start a business outside of London. The latest Barclays and BGF Entrepreneurs Indexreport also showed that one in four companies in the Birmingham region are now considered high-growth.
Proximity to a vibrant business community gives you the opportunity to meet potential advisors, mentors and funders as well as customers. Look for business schools with lots of networking events that you can attend after classes, such as our monthly Aston Business Network events.
Enterprise and career support
Entrepreneurship is so vital to economic growth and the best business schools realise that just teaching enterprise is not enough. You also have to offer practical support so that students can put their learning into practice and develop their business ideas.
BSEEN programme
At Aston Business School students with viable business ideas have access to grant support, training and advice, mentoring and incubator space through the BSEEN programme (Birmingham Skills for Enterprise and Employability Network).
One of the benefits entrepreneurial alumni from Aston Business School receive is a free listing in the Aston Ventures business directory. The directory lists the companies that have been founded by Aston students and graduates, so that students can connect with them for advice and inspiration.
It is also important to have a team of career advisors and consultants that have an in-depth understanding of the current business climate. So whether you’re straight out of university and looking to study an MSc or have built your career and now want to embark on an MBA, we have the right careers support for you.
Role models
Would-be entrepreneurs choosing a business school should to look at success stories from alumni. Entrepreneurial alumni of Aston Business School get a free listing in the Aston Ventures business directory. This directory lists the companies that have been founded by Aston students and graduates, so that students can connect with them for advice and inspiration.
Find out more about our MSc student Koyelia Sirkar who founded Bee Found Marketing or full-time MBA graduate Ravinol Chambers and his company Be Inspired Films, just two examples of our alumni who have launched their own businesses.
Choosing the right course
If you have a business idea, want to prepare yourself to take over the family business or just like the idea of working for yourself, the right business school can give you the head start you need.
If you’ve never studied business before, then a broad programme like MSc Business and Management can provide you with a solid foundation. If you want to delve deeper into the theories and strategy of entrepreneurship then the MSc Entrepreneurship and International Business can give you an understanding of the global business environment and factors that influence entrepreneurial decisions.
If you have already started your career but still have a burning desire to take a step into the world of start-ups and entrepreneurship, the full-time or online Aston MBA can give you the skills and knowledge to help you to achieve your goals.
Visit our website for more information about our MSc and MBA portfolio.
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