Prospects 2008 MBA Guide

CHOOSING AN MBA THE RIGHT FIT Finding the right MBA is not simply about settling on a location and subject. How you study is just as important and, as Prospects finds out, can be crucial in helping you make that final decision. When Jamie Hayes started thinking about studying for an MBA, time was on his side. Around September 2006, a full year before he would start a course at Cardiff University, Jamie was considering which method of study he wanted to pursue. ‘I could have done the full-time MBA, by taking a year out, but I wanted to learn with students with relatively similar work experience backgrounds as mine,’ explains Jamie, who is Director of the Welsh Medicines Resource Centre and Welsh Medicines Partnership. ‘The modular route, which I opted for, seems to attract that type of student.’ BEDROCK OF KNOWLEDGE Cardiff’s Modular MBA allowed study, allowing them to consolidate their knowledge before the next block of teaching.’ With an average intake of 20 students each year, and around 50 studying the Modular route at any one time, Cardiff’s approach favours those who are looking to obtain their degree by attending lectures without severing their employment completely. ‘The students all tend to be very busy managers but this programme allows them the flexibility to study around other pressing work and home commitments,’ remarks Dr Jenkins.’ DIFFERENT PACES Jamie is already benefiting from the course but says he is still getting used to meeting new faces. ‘It’s been both interesting and stimulating; Jamie to keep his job and spread the degree over a I’ve already been able to see a useful application of period of time; a minimum of two years and maximum new knowledge into my work environment. of five, but he hopes to complete it by 2009. ‘People are travelling through the course at different The exact structure of the course centres around eight taught modules (five core and three specialist) paces and while this can be an advantage for meeting new people, it can also be tricky to build a which are delivered through eight contact days over a network of close contacts.’ period of two to three months. At the end of the For distance learning students, working with others programme, students produce a dissertation. on an MBA course relies on another form of ‘It’s an extremely interactive programme in its style of teaching,’ says Dr Jean Jenkins, Lecturer in Human Resource Management at Cardiff’s Business School. ‘Intensive blocks of teaching give the students the communication. ‘The difference between a distance learning course and a full or part-time programme is in the interaction experience,’ explains Stephen Jones, bedrock of knowledge that they need and they’re then Senior Lecturer in Marketing and Management at the encouraged to discuss with other students how this University of Bangor. ‘This can be overcome if both knowledge applies to their particular organisations. The students then undertake directed reading and 8 PROSPECTS MBA GUIDE student and facilitator are committed to the adoption of the web for regular communication. If used

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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