Prospects 2008 MBA Guide

‘I think the programme is worth the cost. I wanted to gain structured management knowledge and with that knowledge I am preparing the development of a new business.’ Sadly not all applications for funding will be as successful as Nuno’s and the competition for scholarships will be fierce. Nonetheless, there are plenty of awards on offer and the earlier you find out about them the better chance you stand in securing one. their skills without leaving their salary behind. Employer-funded study seems an ideal arrangement. You get to study for a qualification that will improve your skills and advance your career prospects, and your employer benefits from a better-qualified, more productive and better-motivated employee. But convincing your employer of this may not be so simple. You will have to put together a proposal, rather like a business plan to persuade them of the benefits an MBA will bring them. It is also likely that Some universities advertise funding opportunities in you will be tied into the company for a period of the press, whilst others have dedicated sections on time set by your employer, which may not suit you if their websites outlining funding opportunities. you have plans to move on. EMPLOYER-FUNDED If you are unsuccessful with How you fund your programme will be a personal university funding, you could always ask your employer choice, but it is important you consider all your to help you out. This is not ideal for those hoping to options carefully. JOANNE O’CONNOR give up their day job to complete a full-time programme but perfect for those who want to upgrade For more information on postgraduate funding visit www.prospects.ac.uk/links/fundstudy WAGES AND SAVINGS For Alan Piper, full-time work was the only way to make ends meet. Alan, a production manager in Manchester, completed his MBA via distance learning at Bradford School of Management. ‘I was working as a software engineer and realised that the future of software engineering wasn’t as secure as for management,’ says Alan. ‘Also, I’d come to software engineering late and would never be good at it, whereas I already had years of management experience.’ Alan’s course cost £9,000, excluding reading materials. ‘My employers were concerned about me doing the programme, and so I had to do it in my spare time and pay for it myself using my wages and money I had saved.’ As well as the course fees, you will need to consider how much of your time an MBA programme will take up. Even studied part-time, such programmes are intensive. ‘I didn’t really enjoy doing the MBA because it felt like a chore. I did it simply to make myself employable,’ says Alan. Despite the hard work, he is glad he completed the programme. His MBA has given him more confidence in his current role and more options for his future. ‘The main benefit has been that I have become far more confident as a manager and (I hope) a better writer. I also learned to think about workplace issues in a much more focused way.’ PROSPECTS MBA GUIDE 11 http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/fundstudy

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Prospects 2008 MBA Guide

Added Value - The Benefits of an MBA MBA Success at Bath The World MBA Tour The Right Fit - Finding the Best Programme MBA Funding - Money Talks MBA Diary University of Nottingham Business School MBA Brunel Business School MBA University of Leicester School of Management MBA Derbyshire Business School MBA Bournemouth University Business School MBA Loughborough University Business School MBA Search for a MBA to suit you

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