Distance MBA PROGRAMS: how to choose, not to be mistaken

The market of distance MBA-PROGRAMS is huge basically at the expense of the USA. Historically in Europe people preferred traditional Full-time or Executive MBA-programs. In States where ÌÂÀ for a long time already has become commodity, in o University of Phoenix under program Înline MBA "is annually trained" over 60 thousand persons. Thus many of them have no first education that is inadmissible at receipt on classical formats of ÌÂÀ. Also there is a high share of people that are older than 40 years. Taking into consideration these two factors, it is possible to assume, that basically it is mature age average management, who simply wishes to receive a doploma to add in the resume. This motivation practically is not peculiar to candidates on Full-time programs.

If to speak about motivation of people entering MBA Programs, the majority of International students wish to improve (73,77 %)  and that coincides with motivation all over the world (70,31 %).
Last five-eight years the attitude to distance education varies to a positive side all over the world, including the Eastern Europe. In many respects it is caused by a situation in the market - people do not wish to leave business for a year or two because of missed possibilities. Requirements on Executive MBA in Top business schools like INSEAD, IMD, Chicago GSB, LBS, IESE are high enough (very often test GMAT is insuperable obstacle for candidates with a motivation of average level), therefore from 100 % of wishing to study programs there are  no more than 20 % will really submit documents. The remained 80 % of candidates are ready to consider alternative variants - and here is an arena of distance options.


One more of indicators of change of the attitude to a positive side is also quantity of  Distance MBA, offered by Top Business schools. As it is known, schools receive the international accreditations by all offered courses, therefore requirements to any program are rather high as in academic, and organizational sense. So now theentering can be assured, that choosing, for example, a distance MBA Program in Warwick Business School, his diploma will be quoted on one level with Full-time graduate program. An another matter, that access to career opportunities is much higher at the people trained on campuses, but it is more a questions of motivation of reception of degree.


It is very important for candidates to be ready  that Distance MBA from decent school is not "freebie" as some can expect. Training under these programs can occupy up to three years (sometimes even more), demands high level of self-discipline and the organisation, timely performance of tasks, the decision of cases, work in group under the co-ordinated schedule etc., that are all delights of high-grade training. For many people it can be simply difficult to keep motivation and to master the program on an equal level with schoolmates.


It is necessary to distinguish Online and Distance MBA. In the first case all training, examinations and even diploma reception is carried out without contact between the provider of education and the student. Requirements to the students here are much softer. In the second case the trained meet each other and professors at least few times and selectivity while entering is much higher. The majority of Top business international schools do not offer pure Online MBA though their elements are used actively enough by Executive by MBA-programs.


Let's imagine, that we have the certain International candidate interested in distance MBA program, wishing to learn:

    1. What  programs have the best reputation among international recruiters?

    2. Where is the highest criteria of selection of candidates (an estimation of complexity of receipt)?

    3. Where is the most diversified student's structure, that is those communications which will be received as a result of training?

    4. Availability of the financial help.

I would recommend to the International candidates to consider those schools, whose names are more or less familiar to local recruiters. Otherwise it will be rather inefficient expenditure of time - not only that program Distance MBA seldom causes trust in the classical market of recruiting, and also from the school, which name is not spoken.


Here are some Top business schools,offering distance MBA programs entering in top lists of ratings of US News and World Report, Business Week, Economist and recognised all over the world:


Duke Cross Continent, the USA - structure of students practically the same, as on usual Full-time programs. Duration is of 20 months, is required some trips on educational modules in the basic campus in Northern Carolina plus at session in Europe and Asia, but the basic training is carried out remotely. It is one of the first top business schools which have begun promoting this format of training in countries of Eastern Europe.

Manchester Business School Worldwide MBA, the Great Britain  - the two-year program combining training through the Internet with modules in six points of the world: the Great Britain, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Malaysia and Jamaica. Those International students which are assured of the choice of programs and are ready to pass preliminary interviews, can make an application for an individual meeting with representative of  Manchester Business School within the forum QS TopMBA Connect 1-2-1.

IE Business School, Spain is one of the most progressive schools of Europe which offers various options of training, including distance (also some options for a choice depending on experience of the candidate). Besides virtual lectures, videoconferences and other educational activities, students are obliged to participate personally also in blended sessions in various cities of the world: Madrid, London, Moskow, New York etc.
Warwick Business School, the Great Britain - the program can be stretched for eight years if it is impossible to give enough time (though it is formally possible to finish for 18 months).

Thunderbird Global MBA, the USA - online study is combined with live sessions in States, China and Europe. On this program yet it is a lot of natives of the Eastern Europe. However the school plans to increase a share of students from this region.

Any perspective student should execute certain homework on selection of programs which correspond in the best way to his career and personal purposes. On the annual forums I see that the quantity of strong candidates is great enough, however, unfortunately,many them is far from impressing selection committees during a meeting. And in many respects  people are lazy to make small research, to understand, that they actually want from MBA education, what expectations they have from structure of students, professors, courses, employments etc. If they have answered these questions in advance, and on meetings with representatives of the international business schools came more prepared, the percent of successful acceptance could be much higher.


So the autumn is an excellent time to think of planning of the career and to begin the MBA recearch.