How to find the right MBA for you
So you want to do an MBA, but the choice is endless. Knowing where to start can be overwhelming, so it can be useful to know what to look for before you start your research. Follow our process below so you know what you want and what your non-negotiables are.
Know what you want
We’ve put together some key questions to ask yourself first. Knowing the answers to these six questions will help you narrow down potential Business Schools quickly, and then you can deep dive into what each School can offer you.
- What do you want to achieve from your MBA? Are you focused on learning the theory only or do you want to gain practical experience too?
- How do you prefer to learn? In person, online or hybrid?
- On an MBA you learn from each other as well as from the academics, in an exchange of ideas. Think about the make-up of class, the students’ level of experience or seniority can inform whether you choose to do a Full-time MBA or an Executive MBA.
- Where do you want to study? A UK Business School? A European Business School? A US Business School? Asia? The Middle East? Australia?
- How do the fees compare among Business Schools and how will you fund your MBA? Will you fund it yourself or will you be funded by your employer? Perhaps half and half?
- Are there any scholarships available? Many Business Schools offer scholarships to help with funding your tuition.
Attend information events
Once you know what you want and you’ve found some Business Schools you’re interested in, it would be a good idea to attend an information session and sign up for MBA in a Day or masterclass events. These are an excellent opportunity to see what it’s truly like to study an MBA at the Schools you’re interested in, meet faculty and current students and ask any further questions you have about the programme.
Do you have what it takes?
At this point it's also a good idea to make sure you have a clear understanding of the admissions criteria. Do you have enough experience? Do you need to do a competency test? Will you need a Visa? Recruitment Managers can help you navigate these questions and guide you through the admissions requirements you might need to tick off before you apply. Bayes offers personalised feedback on your eligibility if you submit your CV to kick-start this process.
You should now be fully equipped with all the information you need to make an informed decision. Happy researching!