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Study an MBA

Choosing to study an MBA abroad can be a life changing decision, so it’s important to know what is involved. You’ll want to find out the different options available such as the types of MBA available and whether or not you meet the requirements to study an MBA abroad. Studying an MBA in the UK will have different requirements to studying an MBA in USA for example.

This article will guide you through the stages of studying an MBA in the country of your choice. Once you’ve read it, you can search for an MBA to study overseas using the intuitive search box at the top of the page.

Read MBA subject guides

Read our study guides for popular subjects in MBA to help you choose your course.

What is an MBA and Studying Abroad

An MBA or Masters of Business Administration is available at universities, colleges and business schools worldwide, but finding the right one for you can be a difficult, but important choice in advancing your career.

Since the first MBA was established in 1908, students with an MBA have enjoyed an advantage in business. Studying an MBA is an excellent way for business people looking to gain additional skills or for managers aspiring to leadership positions. Find out more about The History of the MBA.

MBA courses that you can study abroad can vary in length and study modes; you could study an MBA part-time, full-time or as a distance learner. Equally, you could take an MBA abroad that lasts one, two or more years.

StudyLink offers you choice from over 600 MBA programs and courses worldwide:

  • Compare each MBA program that interest you
  • Quality MBA course descriptions and up to date fees and entry requirements

Choosing an MBA

You’ve now decided that studying an MBA abroad is the right decision for you. You now need to decide on things such as the location you’d like to study your MBA in and what type of MBA you wish to pursue.

There are 1,000′s of MBA Programs to choose from so we have selected over 600 at different levels of cost, location, work experience and reputation for you to compare and apply to online. Using our MBA course search tool, you can quickly find the MBA that is perfect for you.

The most popular destinations to study an MBA are:

We’ve also got a good selection of helpful in-depth guides and articles about studying an MBA abroad. Whether you want to find out more about the difference between the MBA and other postgraduate management degrees, or you want to discover the in’s and out’s of MBA accreditation and what it means to you, we’ll have a guide for you. Here you can find all of our MBA related articles.

Types of MBA Program

You can take an MBA in a variety of study modes. Many MBA Programs are for 2 years, but other options are available depending on your needs. You can click the links below to find out more about each study mode:

The Specialised MBA

MBA programs are also available to students who wish to expand their business knowledge within a specific area of their choice. The specialized MBA is designed to further help students throughout a career in that field. You can find out more about common MBA specializations and search available courses by clicking the below links:

Next Steps before studying an MBA

You should have now decided the type of MBA you’re going to study and where you would like to study. This next section will make sure you’re ready to apply for your MBA and what to expect when you get there.

Requirements for studying an MBA

MBA courses aren’t open to everybody. There are some requirements, which will be stipulated by the university or business school that is offering the MBA. You will usually require to have prior knowledge of business, through an undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification in any subject area. This is a requirement for most MBA programs but requirements vary – see the course descriptions for more details.

Most US business schools will also require GMAT score but other destinations vary. GMAT is the Graduate Management Admissions Test used to measure your ability to succeed in graduate business studies. What is the GMAT?

See course descriptions for more details for specific courses.

Often, you’ll require some work experience within a managerial role.

Typically, this is 2 or 3 years, but some MBA programs are more flexible and may require less if the candidate is suitable. Again, see the course descriptions for more details.

When you’re studying an MBA abroad, you’ll probably be studying it in English. As such, you’ll have to hold suitable English language levels. These are assessed through English language testing.

Tuition fees for studying an MBA abroad vary greatly, but in general they range from US$10,000 to US$25,000+ per year. Find out why an MBA can be so expensive.

Visas

If you’re studying an MBA abroad, you’ll need to check you can gain the relevant visa for studying in that country. Because there are many countries that you may choose to study your MBA, we’d recommend you read each country page for advice on student visas.

Applying

Applying for your MBA is a big undertaking. There is the personal statement to think about and the actual application. Luckily, in many cases you can apply to your chosen MBA directly through our website and if you can’t, there is normally a link to the institution’s website where you will be able to find the relevant contact details or application form.

As far as writing your personal statement goes, we’ve got a great advice article that will give you loads of help. See our guide to writing a personal statement for studying abroad.

You’ll also need to consider that you might be asked for an interview as part of the application process. If you aren’t sure how to prepare for your MBA interview read our useful tips.

MBA Scholarships

Studying abroad is expensive. Studying an MBA abroad can be very expensive. As such, many people look for scholarships to help them afford their dream. Scholarships are often fiercely competitive and as such require a lot of time to ensure your application is successful. Even with this dedication, there is no guarantee you’ll receive a scholarship for an MBA. We’ve previously created a helpful instructographic that will help you receive a scholarship for studying an MBA abroad.

Studying an MBA

Once you’ve been accepted on your course, the help from StudyLink doesn’t stop there. We’ve got helpful advice from our blog and Ask Anna, our resident study abroad expert. And once you’re in your dream destination studying your MBA, we’d love to hear from you. We regularly publish student stories on our blog, so get in contact with us on Facebook and let us know how you’re getting on!

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