Understand your strengths

Choosing a specialisation based off previous or current work experience or a passion for a future change. If you work in project management and the industry is where you want to be for the foreseeable future, consider a University of Southern Queensland MBA (Project Management).

Ensure you have weighed your ROI

With some MBA qualifications costing over $100,000 you need to ensure you are likely to gain some return from your investment. Consider the return of a specialisation, however don’t make it your sole focus or you risk a loss of passion part way through your study.

Plan your long term goals

If you are planning to head the department, be a manager or create and grow your own business consider if a specialisation is right for you. Senior management may want to consider an Executive MBA. There are a number of other specialisations available, including an MBA (Entrepreneurship) from Kaplan Business School.

Pick your MBA specialisation

Search through the list of MBA specialisations offering at a number of Business Schools around the country.

Pursuit of an Masters in Business Administration, in particular, is exceptionally time intensive. If you’re going for your MBA, odds are you’ve already got some management experience, and therefore you are likely working full time while enrolled in studies part time. That’s why, in this article, we want to give you a few simple tips to manage your time while studying for your MBA.

Schedule Your Week, Every Week

You simply cannot get by and be successful in your MBA studies unless you stay ahead of the game. For this reason, we suggest setting a regular appointment with yourself on a day that is usually less busy than others. For most people, this is Sunday.

During your appointment with yourself, sit down somewhere quite with nothing but your calendar and a list of your to-dos for the week. Make time for all of your responsibilities. Don’t neglect to include time to complete required readings and assignments, as well as time to study for any upcoming examinations. A good recommendation is to allow at least one hour outside of class for every hour in class. So, if you meet for class 3 hours a week, block out 3 hours in your schedule every week for study and other coursework.

Plan Your Leisure

When setting your schedule, don’t forget to to include time for fun and family. Although it might seem like you are wasting precious work hours, leisure time helps recharge your mental batteries and prevent burnout. Even one hour a week that you set aside solely for relaxation can go a long way towards boosting productivity.

Make Extra Time for Group Projects

At the beginning of each semester, be sure to check the syllabus for any group projects. Often, these are much more time intensive than work that you complete on your own. Plan accordingly, and be the one in your group to push everyone else to set and meet deadlines.

There you have it, a few simple time management tips for those studying for their MBA. We hope they help you keep your mind and calendar on track once you decide to get started with your MBA.

Answering the question of which is better for you really relies on two primary factors: your goals and your business schools.

Your Goals

Articulating exactly what you want to achieve with your MBA will go a long way towards helping you decide which path is best for you. An MBA will likely increase your salary, and thus it is worthwhile to pursue early if you are looking to maximize your earnings over a lifetime of employment. Think of it this way, every year you work at a higher paycheck adds up over time. If you can earn that paycheck relatively quickly by attending MBA school early, then you’ll earn more throughout your life.

On the other hand, if you are continuing your education, that may mean sacrificing work while also building debt. To avoid accruing student loans, it may be best for your financial situation if you delay your MBA. Some people have the freedom to work and pursue their MBA at night or on the weekends. And some employers may actually pay for part or all of your tuition. In either of these situations, going for your MBA immediately after graduating is worth it if you can keep up with the work.

Your Business Schools

An often overlooked but very important factor in the decision of whether or not to defer your MBA till later is the schools that you are accepted to. Simply put, an MBA from a top school will benefit you more in a job hunt. Employers will desire to hire you if they can see you got your MBA at one of the most rigorous business schools in Australia.

Keeping this in mind, acceptance into a large amount of MBA programs rely on a certain amount of work or managerial experience. This could mean you might benefit more from entering the workforce, building experience, and then applying for one of the top schools. This allows you to build both an income and a network while also setting you up for future educational success.

We hope this guide has given you a better idea of when the best time to study an MBA is. If you think that now is the time for you, a good place to start is our database of almost 100 MBA schools.

ANU MBA Scholarships

For the 2019 ANU MBA intake the Research School of Managagement is looking to offer up to 30 scholarships ranging between 25% to full 100% scholarships.

“We are looking for an academically and professionally strong, diverse cohort with a minimum 5 years’ work experience, including at least 3 years’ management experience.”

If you are looking to study your MBA, have considered ANU as an option and think you have what it takes to be considered for a scholarship, make sure you mark off one of the below dates on your calendar. To find out more about the Business School, check out our overview here.

MBA Scholarship Information Evenings

ACT – ANU MBA Scholarship Information Evenings

ANU – MBA Scholarship Info Evening – 14th June

ANU MBA Scholarship Evening – 20th June

There is no one size fits all choice when it comes to specialisations. Just like some doctors choose to become pediatricians, neurologists, or audiologists based on their own preferences, so you too should pick the MBA specialisation that fits your business goals and areas of interest.

In this look we’ll take a look at some of the most popular specialisations so that you can have an easier time choosing which one is right for you.

Human Resources

Choosing to specialise in HR prepares you for the much needed task of hiring and managing employees for an organisation in a manner that is efficient, effective, and in accordance with the law. While Human Resources often gets a bad reputation as a bureaucratic web of red tape, the skilled HR manager is one who clears paths for employees rather than leads them off track. In essence, HR is the red tape that holds the company together. One course the review for this speciality is the MBA (Human Resource Management) from the University of Southern Queensland.

Entrepreneurship

Some might baulk at the idea of going to a university to learn how to be an entrepreneur, but an entrepreneurship MBA scaffolds future business builders with a curriculum that teaches them how to weigh risks, craft business models, and learn from setbacks and successes alike. UTS Business Schools offers a Master of Business Administration (Entrepreneuship) aimed to develop networking skills, project execution for both start ups and established organisations.

Marketing

If entrepreneurship is what launches a business, marketing is what grows it. With an MBA in marketing, you’ll have the skills necessary to acquire clients for your company, grow revenue, and reach new audiences. One part market analysis another part advertising, a marketing MBA specialisation focuses on connecting key audiences with the products and services they need.

Operations Management

Operations management MBAs know how to take a top down look at an organisation’s entire process and procedure framework. In operations management, the goal is to create and manage standard operating procedures that ensure efficient delivery of products or services. This includes stages such as design, manufacturing, and distribution.

There are many other specialisations for an MBA, but these present some of the most popular. Others include finance, consulting, information systems, and more. When you are ready to find your MBA, be sure to look into the specialisations available at your institution of choice so that you can find the best one for you.

There isn’t an answer that fits everyone, but with a little guidance and some self-reflection, you should be able to choose the path that’s best for you. In this guide, we’ll look at several factors to consider.

Career Goals

What you plan to do with your degree bears a large weight on whether you decide to specialise or not. If you have a clear idea of what it is you want to do for a living, or how you want to advance in your current organisation, than an MBA specialist may be the best direction to take.

For example, if you’ve always wanted to start your own business, you would probably feel most fulfilled with an entrepreneurship specialty. Likewise, if you are currently working in the marketing department of a well-established company and have plans to seek upper management, choosing a Master of Business Administration (Marketing) may be best for you.

If, on the other hand, you don’t have a firm grasp on what your career goals are, you would leave more doors open with a generic MBA. Specialising forces you down a specific path, but if you aren’t one to be pigeonholed, you don’t have to decide your career goals too early.

General Managerial Training

For those people seeking to become general managers within an organisation, you may be better off not specialising. This is because the generalist will have a better understanding of all aspects of business management rather than just a specific concentration. The specialist may rise to upper ranks within their department, but a generalist will have a better chance of performing well at managing many different types of employees. Compare MBAs from over 40 Australian business schools.

Length of Program

Shorter MBA programs have a tendency to not offer specialisation tracks. Therefore, the time you have to pursue your MBA may force you down one path or the other. If you are pursuing a quick, 1-year program, you may have no choice other than a generic MBA. Specialising will likely require you to enroll in a longer program, but you should always check your institution of choice for the exact details.

If you think you can decide whether you want to generalise or specialise, the next logical step is to find your MBA by searching our database of almost 100 MBA programs throughout Australia.

Professional Enrichment

One of the chief driving forces for students today is their growth as a professional. The corporate sector, in fact, demands a strict level of professionalism. With a degree programme in MBA, one gets verification of the minimum necessary level of expertise in the field. MBA is where you start your corporate dream and transform your existing management experience into a suite of fine tuned skills that business leaders are actively seeking.

An MBA is the roadmap to heading an organization’s management. When this degree flashes on your CV, potential employers know that you’ve got a solid educational background supported by relevant experience. The MBA programme itself offers a thorough development of the professional in you, preparing you to be a leader in the field of business.

Honing Your Skill Set

Another vital factor to consider while choosing a postgraduate MBA programme is what it has to offer for your unique skill set. The nourishment of your existing skills and development of new ones is so convincing that you may see tangible changes in your post-MBA persona. You learn the art of thinking strategically, weighing costs and benefits, conducting needs analysis, and other skills that will allow you to maximize effectiveness and efficiency in any businesses standard operating procedures. Furthermore, pursuing your MBA will force you to become a leader by challenging what you know about communication, teamwork, and initiative. In sum, an MBA degree empowers you to make use of your managerial skill set to the optimum potential.

Connections and Exposure

If you are planning to enter the corporate world, you have got to build your network. Relationships matter. It is the case for all sectors in the corporate domain. An MBA degree provides just that. It helps your professional network of people thrive via internships, networking events, and much more. In addition to building your network, the programme gives you quintessential exposure in the field. With the right experience, you can progress in no time.

GMAC Survey Ideas

The Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) conducts public surveys concerning the worth of an MBA degree in Australia. The survey covers people’s opinions on three broad dimensions regarding the programme: financial, professional, and personal. It is worth noting the conclusions that the survey has inferred over years of its use.

A number of graduate students reported their salaries increased when they progress from a pre-MBA to a post-MBA credential. The new graduates that are placed are also offered premium salary packages. The study also concluded that graduates are able to retrieve their total financial investment in the course within 4 years. It is clear that an MBA degree in Australia offers beneficial opportunities for the future.

In the professional sphere, a majority of respondents opine that their degree is essentially helpful in landing their first job. Candidates with full-time MBA qualification also concluded that they encountered increased opportunities for promotion. They collectively agreed that the programme has offered them the right path for career development and enhanced their commitment towards their job.

On a personal note, respondents of the survey believed that their MBA programme was rewarding. Their overall experience in the course of study honed their abilities as leaders and matured their managerial skills. It was also crucial in preparing them to balance their professional and personal life simultaneously.

On the whole, in answer to the question of is an MBA worth it in Australia, the conclusions drawn by GMAC present an excellent analysis. A majority of aspirants are satisfied with their education and employment, and they specifically credit their success to their MBA.

Find Your MBA

If you’re convinced that it’s time to pursue your MBA, make sure it’s the right choice of institution and concentration. There are a number of specializations in an MBA degree, such as Human Resources and International Business, to name a few. We’ve collected a database of nearly 100 MBA programmes throughout Australia to make the job easier for you. Browse by state, availability of financial aid, and modality of course (online, on-campus, or both). Click here to get started and Find Your MBA.

MGSM Women In MBA Partnership

Macquarie Graduate School of Management has taken a big step towards equalising the balance within their own MBA qualification. Already known as one of the leading Business Schools globally, the impact of this offer is likely to further boost their own international recognition and growth.

The new program, Women in MBA (WiMBA) corporate partnership program encourages this diversity in leadership, through corporate and government organisations. The WiMBA program aims to identify leading and up-coming talent and foster their growth through an MBA.

The investment they have put towards this cause so far has been over $4 million. This is the largest investment an Australian Business School has made in the postgraduate education of women.

Key Parts of the WiMBA

1. MGSM is matching dollar for dollar the contribution each corporate partner is investing in their talent.
2. Ensuring practical support is given for those who are part of the WiMBA. This includes the ability to spend attend classes, complete assignments or extra time for group study.
3. Partners chosen have the scale required to make this a success, both in investment and quantity of applicants.
4. In-house mentors/sponsors are provided by the employer to provide support, advice and guidance. This would also include post-MBA career path advice.

Partners

Key partners of the Women in MBA partnership include CPA, Johnson & Johnson, Philips, the Royal Australian Navy, Qantas and The Star.

One recent discussion from user shawnwasim asked for some tips from recent graduates and below are some of the top comments.

On networking: you can never be too early to start preparing your introduction
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On leveraging your professors: the wealth of information your professors can provide should never be underestimated, or underutilised.
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On career planning: this all links back to your planning, why do you want to study your MBA?
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While the ranked 27th globally, in Asia Pacific, the Executive MBA was ranked in the top 5.

Executive MBAs, designed for managers with significant experience are a popular choice for those leaders wishing to complete their MBA without having to put their career or company on hold.

The EMBA from Melbourne Business School offers their students 17 modules over 18 months, including a week overseas

Find out more about the MBS EMBA.

Already offering full-time, part-time and the new MBAX, the EMBA has again been recognised as one of the best in the world.

Students of the AGSM EMBA have an average of 11 years work experience, across industries including finance, consulting, technology, government and engineering.

Entry to the program is moderated by the Admissions Selection Committee on a session by session basis. You will be required to have a “strong undergraduate degree”, at least 2 years professional management experience and at least 6 years of professional experience.

Find out more about the AGSM EMBA.