MBA courses : General MBAs

General MBAs

Considered one of the best investments in higher education, a general MBA provides students with training in a wide range of business skills

A general MBA focuses on applying the academic models that students study to real-life scenarios, as well as developing soft skills such as time management and teamwork.

What experience do I need to gain a place on an MBA course?

Universities and business schools can be extremely selective about their applicants and will expect a high-quality degree from a reputable university and prior business experience.

It is usual for MBA course providers to expect an appropriate level of management experience and generally 4-5 years of postgraduate work experience. As part of the selection criteria for gaining a place on an MBA course applicants often need to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).

How will I benefit from taking a general MBA?

One of the many benefits of a general MBA is that you will be able to apply the skills you have learned to any business role. You will develop a broad understanding of the key functions of a range of business areas and use these skills to contribute to the strategic direction of a business.

If you are looking to boost your management career, gain versatile skills and potentially increase your salary, then the general MBA may be right for you.

'Studying for an MBA proves that you have a broad understanding of a range of functional areas, but also that you have the ability to use tools and analysis to contribute to strategic planning and decision making,' says Rachel Killian, marketing and recruitment manager at Warwick Business School.

According to Professor MacCarthy, director of MBA programmes and professor of operations management at Nottingham University Business School, it also 'provides an opportunity for an individual to reflect on their career to date, identify new opportunities and to reposition themselves in terms of their future career'.

Where should I start in preparing to take an MBA?

If you are considering taking an MBA, the first step is to research individual business schools to see which one is the best fit for you. Many companies are prepared to part-fund MBA courses if they feel that your participation will benefit the company in the long run. Many MBA students may need to juggle work commitments and a family throughout the course of their study, which could be anything from 12 months to seven years if you choose distance learning.

Use social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to find out more about the business schools and to interact with other MBA students.

How much will it cost?

Costs vary between the various business schools, but it's important that you don't put the cost over the quality of a course. The reputation of the school is the most important factor when you're choosing a school. An employer will be as interested in where you studied as the fact that you have an MBA.

Always check that the MBA programme is accredited by the Association of MBAs before making a decision. Schools are assessed every five years, after which they must be reassessed to ensure that the quality standards are maintained. Accreditation is not to be confused with media rankings which are based on a limited range of benchmarks.

Questions to consider

• What type of MBA do you want to study and at which institution?
• Do you want to study part time or full time?
• Will you be able to attend lectures or will you have to study at a distance?
• How will you fund your MBA?

Case study

Many full-time programmes are strongly international meaning you will get to engage with a diverse range of people. Ayse Yasar is from Turkey. She has just completed a general MBA at Warwick Business School...

I chose to do a general MBA because I wanted to be ready to face any business challenge that I will have in my career. I also wanted lectures that bring alternative solutions from a multi-perspective angle. This gives me the opportunity to learn through comprehensive real-life case studies that are tied to academic theory.

I was impressed with the lecturer's appreciation for diversity. In one of my first lectures the professor knew our names, our profession and where we came from. He used specific examples about our countries and related the subject to our experiences.