You might be wondering, why do an MBA? Deciding to study for an MBA course is a big decision, but there are so many advantages associated with it. In this guide, we’ll be taking a close look at the benefits of doing an MBA and how it can help to advance your career.
In an increasingly competitive job market, having a postgraduate qualification like a Master of Business Administration (MBA) is hugely beneficial. Those looking to further their knowledge of business practices or diversify in their career find this type of higher education particularly useful.
Before we dive into the advantages and career benefits of an MBA, it would be useful to familiarise yourself with an understanding of what an MBA is. You can explore our complete guide to MBAs to learn more about what an MBA is, the different types available and how they differ from other forms of postgraduate qualifications.
At Warwick Business School, we offer a range of MBA courses designed to develop the global leaders of today. Visit our course pages to learn more about our Full-time MBA Programme, Executive MBA Programme, Global Online MBA and Accelerator MBA (London). Alternatively, download our course information brochures to find the right course for you.
A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a postgraduate qualification that teaches you the key principles of business practices. MBAs are designed to develop your skills in critical thinking, decision-making and communications skills to prepare you for higher-level roles in business.
MBAs differ from Master’s courses as they usually require you to have some professional work experience in a relevant field before you apply for the programme. While the length of work experience can vary, those who apply for an MBA typically have 2 to 5 years of work experience. And those looking to study an Executive MBA course will usually have over 8 years of experience.
To learn more about the differences between these two postgraduate qualifications, read our guide to uncover the key distinctions between an MSc and an MBA, to help you decide which is right for you.
An MBA provides a broad set of skills which can be applied across various sectors, leading graduates to pursue careers in a wide range of industries. For example, graduates from our full-time MBA programme have gone on to secure roles with the likes of Deloitte, EY, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Aston Martin and Kantar. They have taken on roles including Assistant Director, Chief Commercial Officer, Strategy Consultant, Senior Marketing Manager and many more.
MBA modules typically cover topics such as finance, marketing, strategy and business management, opening up a wide range of career opportunities depending on your interests and goals. Furthermore, the courses are purposefully designed to equip you with skills that can be immediately applied in the workplace.
Rob McKeon, Head of Business Development at ENGIE, reflects on how the Warwick Business School Full-time MBA helped him make his next career move. He sought to move beyond engineering into a more commercially focused role within his current industry:
“The MBA supported me in making this move by teaching me a lot about strategy and thinking ahead, which changed my outlook on my role. The MBA certification, along with the financial and mergers & aquisition modules, also enabled me to get a role at Deloitte, which rounded out my CV and experience greatly, allowing me to go back into the industry at a much higher level because of the learning and experience gained in that company.”
MBAs are structured through a series of required modules and elective modules that cover the fundamentals of business principles while taking a more detailed look at specific fields. The delivery methods include seminars, lectures, and workshops, allowing participants to understand the theory before engaging in discussions about practical applications.
The breadth of focus will allow you to gain an understanding of key business areas. For example, at WBS, we focus on areas such as financial management, entrepreneurship, marketing, operations management and strategic thinking. Elective modules will provide you with the flexibility to customise your learning to explore topics that relate directly to your career goals and interests.
Elective modules are often chosen once you’ve had some time to settle into the programme, giving you time to decide on the topics which will benefit your career the most. As Executive MBA participant Maria Zhukova points out, this helped her identify the focus areas that would be most beneficial:
“The programme comprises of eight core and four elective modules. The latter covered many areas and allowed me to delve deeper when studying modules of interest. I chose my elective modules a few months after I started the MBA. This way, I got a flavour of core modules before choosing electives that helped to decide what I really wanted to explore further.”
You may currently be in a mid to high-level senior management position but feel that you lack the skills and knowledge to address more complex business challenges when they arise. This is where an MBA can make a significant difference.
Pursuing an MBA will provide you with exposure to diverse perspectives and real-world case studies, which you can draw on for inspiration when approaching similar challenges. Programmes such as these will equip you with the comprehensive business acumen, advanced leadership skills and strategic insight needed to effectively tackle these obstacles.
Sufyan Khan, who is a Solution consultant at Oracle and a graduate of our Executive MBA course, explains how his experience on the programme empowered him to lead initiatives with confidence and conviction in his decision-making:
“The insights gained from this programme reshaped my leadership approach, particularly in spearheading initiatives and formulating Go-To-Market strategies. It has instilled in me a renewed appreciation for fostering a culture of innovation within my team, encouraging a mindset of continuously seeking novel solutions to business challenges. This shift in perspective is instrumental in enhancing the client experience, ensuring that our solutions meet their current needs and anticipate future trends in the financial services industry.”
An MBA programme encourages you to develop your own leadership styles and learn through the first-hand experiences of your peers and academics.
Warwick Business School offers an innovative LeadershipPlus module as part of its full-time MBA program. This module includes a variety of workshops, lectures, and seminars that introduce students to different leadership styles. Through hands-on experiences and self-reflection, LeadershipPlus enables students to apply the theories and concepts learned in the MBA to real-life leadership situations.
Nuo Xu, Careers Manager at Warwick Business School, provides more insight into what this module entails:
“LeadershipPlus stands as a ground-breaking and innovative module within the Warwick Business School Full-time MBA programme. LeadershipPlus diverges from conventional teaching methodologies by emphasising experiential learning, reflective practice, theoretical understanding, and experimentation. This approach enables our students to explore and define their own leadership identity, understanding deeply what they stand for as leaders.”
For professionals who have advanced in their careers, an Executive MBA programme can serve as a catalyst, enhancing the skills required at board level. By participating in an Executive MBA, you will gain essential skills that translate directly to real-world applications in boardroom discussions, such as risk assessment, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement.
When completing your MBA, you will be surrounded by other like-minded business professionals who are looking to expand their knowledge and business acumen. Workshops and seminars will provide you with the opportunity to share knowledge and exchange ideas that you will be able to apply to real-world situations.
These programmes also offer invaluable networking opportunities with fellow executives and industry leaders. This can help to facilitate connections that can open the door to future partnerships, mentorships and career advancements.
In addition to the workshops, seminars and lectures, you’ll also have the chance to work on meaningful projects throughout your MBA, which you can use to apply your learnings back within your business or organisation.
For example, on the Executive MBA at Warwick Business School, emphasis is placed on turning theory into practice through strategic consulting projects that build on the concepts explored through the classes.
Full-time MBA participant Sandra Sidlauskaite discusses how the balance between theory and practical application developed her skills and benefitted her career in consultancy:
“The MBA has helped me to become a more effective problem solver and a better learner. The academic teaching at WBS is definitely world-class. However, the true impact lies in the fact that the programme is very focused on practical application. The classes are structured in such a way that they allow you to apply critical thinking to a range of issues and consider various factors while being able to synthesise information in a very concise way. This is an extremely valuable skill in consulting as every day you are faced with issues you have never encountered before and projects vary significantly.”
Through collaborative workshops, case studies and group projects, you will learn from the real-life experiences of your peers and the academics who lead the course.
Engaging with diverse viewpoints will challenge your preconceptions and encourage you to analyse complex situations from multiple perspectives, further developing your critical thinking, strategic decision-making and problem-solving skills.
Oladoyin Adelowotan reflects on her time during the Residential Week on the Global Online MBA programme and how it’s helped her build a diverse network that has been paramount to opening her eyes up to different perspectives:
“The Residential Week brings groups of students to WBS from all corners of the globe. Students get to know each other beyond the classroom environment and develop lifelong relationships. The different unique cultures, diversity, perspectives, and experiences made the Residential Week dynamic and enriching. I have made amazing networks and friends that are going to transcend beyond WBS.”
An MBA equips you with the skills, network and knowledge needed to pursue new career opportunities. Whether you're aiming to move up in your current field or pivot to an entirely new one, the diversity of MBA programme specialisations provides you with the perfect opportunity to explore new potential career paths.
Luke Parker, who undertook our Executive MBA, was looking to transition from the British Army into the technology sector with a long-term ambition to establish his own company. He discusses how the structure of the programme benefited him:
“As a military veteran looking to complete a career pivot, I decided that an Executive MBA would be the catalyst to supercharge my new career. I was inspired to undertake a programme that would allow me to study without interrupting a full-time job, while allowing me opportunities to study abroad and exposure to global networks.”
If you are considering pursuing entrepreneurship and have aspirations to start your own business, then an MBA can provide you with the knowledge you need.
MBA programmes, like the ones offered by WBS, explore these themes through specific modules in entrepreneurship. These allow you to examine the principles and practice some of the key behavioural elements of an entrepreneurial mindset and develop skills in creative thinking and critical analysis.
On average, MBA graduates see a significant boost in their earning potential following their completion of the course. With the advanced skills and knowledge you’ll gain, you’ll be well-positioned to pursue higher-paying roles as you look to advance your career.
On average, graduates of our full-time MBA get an annual salary of $132,522 with an average salary increase of 28% 3 months post-completion.
Additionally, we provide a comprehensive career service that will support you throughout your studies and post-graduation. This includes access to online resources, unlimited career consultations and connections to our professional and geographical Alumni Networks, which can be invaluable when looking to move up the career ladder.
Discover the benefits of achieving a highly regarded qualification with MBA courses from Warwick Business School. Tailored to suit various levels of experience, our courses are designed with flexible structures to meet the needs of working professionals. Use our course finder or download a course information brochure to learn more about the MBA courses we offer.
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