The Different Study Options Available in Business Schools: Choosing the Right Program for You
There are a range of different study options you can choose from when it comes to business school and each has its own set of pros and cons. It’s key to find what works best for you, your personal and financial circumstances, and your career plans and goals.
In this guide, we’ll cover the various study option combinations typically available in business schools and the advantages and and disadvantages of each.
Schedule – Full-Time or Part-Time
For starters, you should consider the schedule of a business school program, whether it’s full-time or part-time. Some part-time programs have classes only in the evenings or on weekends. However, there are others where you can stay in your home country and fly a couple of times a year for a few intensive weeks of classes.
It’ll take longer for part-time students to graduate, but they often have more flexibility in terms of when they attend class and how they balance their studies with work and other commitments.
On the other hand, full-time students usually graduate sooner and may pay less for tuition, but they’re more limited on the days and times that classes are offered. They also will often have less freedom of time throughout their studies.
When deciding what schedule best suits your lifestyle, it will usually depend on whether you want or need to keep working while studying and what time you have available to devote to classes and studying.
Delivery Mode – In-Person, Online, or Blended
When it comes to the delivery mode for business school programs, there are three choices: in-person, online, or blended. But which option is right for you? It depends on your lifestyle, goals, and how you best learn and stay motivated.
In-person programs are the traditional way of learning where you attend classes on campus. These can be great for developing networking opportunities and making connections, but this is often a more expensive and time-consuming option that also typically provides less flexibility.
Then, there are online programs that are delivered fully online, so you can learn and study from anywhere in the world. This is often a more affordable route. However, some students feel they miss out on the on-campus activities and networking opportunities.
Combining in-person and online learning, blended courses provide a balance between the two. It’s a more flexible option and provides a mix of the pros and cons for each.
Duration – In Months
Another very important consideration for business school is the duration of the program. This depends on specific programs and whether you’re a full-time or part-time student. Additionally, sometimes a program has different durations depending on the pace you want to have for your degree.
Accelerated 12-month programs allow students to save on tuition fees and provide the opportunity to join or rejoin the workforce faster. But this does cram a lot of classwork and studying into a shorter amount of time. And there are less opportunities for networking, internships, and special projects.
There are also options to finish business school degrees in 18 months. But longer programs, such as two-year degrees, provide more opportunities for students to develop contacts and participate in internships and on-campus projects. This can be valuable for many students, but it’s naturally a more expensive route.
No matter what duration you pick, business school is a substantial investment of both time and money, so you need to find what fits best with what you want and need. It will also depend on how much personal and professional commitments you need to balance while studying.
Location – City and Country
As there are well-respected business schools across the globe, location is another important consideration when determining your studying options. Are you interested in studying abroad or do you want to stay local to where you currently live?
It can feel overwhelming to pick a country or city you want to attend business school in. There are a number of elements to think about to help you pick the right business school location. This is often influenced by personal preferences and the education and professional goals you have.
When you’re considering a location you may want to attend business school in, think about the area’s access to employers and networking opportunities, the cost of living, and quality of life, in addition to the specific institutions’ rankings and return on investment. Your decision should also take into account what your career goals are post-graduation.
Dual Degrees
Some programs offer dual degree options between MBAs and other degrees, such as finance, law, marketing, technology and data, or even international relations.
Dual degrees can be a good option for students wanting to specialize or have more in-depth knowledge in a certain area. This can help students propel their careers and unlock job opportunities they’re passionate about.
But keep in mind that dual degrees often take longer to complete, so that brings its own set of advantages and disadvantages. But whether this is right for you largely depends on what your career goals are and what you’re most interested in studying.
Explore Your Options for Business School
It’s important to figure out what the best study options are for you before applying to business school programs. Explore all of the options available to you and weigh the pros and cons of each before making a decision.
Keep in mind that each business school is different and offers various combinations of options, so sign up for Unify to help you discover a range of business school programs across the world.
Once you have an idea of what study options you want to pursue, you can compile a shortlist of universities and programs you’re most interested in on our platform. This allows you to easily compare them side by side, and our algorithm can even match you with programs based on your preferences and goals.
Get in touch with our team of career coaches and university counselors for hands-on support throughout the entire admissions process. They can answer any questions you may have about the different study options available at business schools around the world.