The Master of Business Administration Degree (MBA) is the most popular business qualification in the world, and is fast becomming a prerequisite for management positions.

The MBA is by its nature a general management qualification. An MBA program usually consists of a core curriculum covering the functional areas of management, including information systems, finance and accounting, and human resources, to name a few. The second stage of the MBA course is usually made up of a choice of electives (optional courses), to allow the student to either continue with general studies or to specialise in a particular subject or area. All this is taught through a variety of means, for example, lectures, study groups and case studies.

This site aims to help you choose the right MBA program for you, whether by full time study or via an online MBA. The articles in the left hand navigation bar offer general advice by geographic region whilst our mba programs article index contains a range articles on more specific MBA courses and advice in general. Best of all we also offer a Free Application & Information Service.

The MBA qualification began in the US about 90 years ago. Today, well over 1000 business schools, universities and other institutions across the world offer MBA programs, and these can differ vastly according to tradition and background. There are also innumerable methods of study, for example, full-time, part-time, modular and distance learning. With this bewildering choice on offer, how can a potential student decide which is the best programme for them?

Cost Considerations
Undertaking an MBA course is a large commitment both in terms of time (full-time programmes run for one or two years) and money (good quality courses cost in the region of £15,000 to £20,000). Therefore, before selecting an MBA program, it is important to ask yourself why you are pursuing the qualification in the first place.

The main reasons quoted by students for choosing to embark upon this route of study are for an increase in salary; to open new career opportunities; to further a career and to extend personal networks. A good quality course will allow for all of these by developing participants' personal skills at the same time as extending their knowledge base in the general management disciplines in the context of global business. MBA programs are an educational course, and as such should challenge students' assumptions and attitudes. Furthermore, knowledge accrued on the course should be highly transferable to the world of work. The courses which achieve this most effectively bring together top quality faculty with students from a variety of backgrounds who possess a wealth of experience and ambition (at Cranfield, for example, students on the full-time programme have an average of nine years' business experience). This combination produces the best possible educational experience which broadens horizons and equips the individual to embrace challenge and change in the future.

Each individual will have their own personal circumstances and requirements, but as an initial guide, our simple checklist of points to consider may assist when embarking on choosing MBA programs and institutions:

MBA Courses Checklist