With the rise of studying online and the increasing associated credibility, a lot of students have now started opting for online MBAs. COVID has also significantly increased the popularity of remote work and study, and there have been many associated developments in technology and frameworks to make online learning even more accessible. We look at some of the best online MBAs and discuss the pros and cons, to help you make an informed decision.
Is an online MBA respected?
Online MBAs are becoming more and more accepted and respected in today’s society. And this is only likely to increase as they become more and more commonplace. However, the credibility of an online qualification goes hand in hand with the credibility of the school from which it was gained.
Make sure you research the schools you are considering thoroughly, and it may be worth taking a look at their alumni network. All the schools in our list are professionally accredited and well-ranked institutions.
What are the pros and cons of studying online?
For many professionals looking to invest in an MBA, finding the time to attend a campus-based, full-time programme is simply not an option. For those with full-time jobs, family commitments and more, studying online is the perfect solution to prevent students from having to significantly disrupt their lives.
On the flip side, there are many benefits that come with studying in person. It can be easier to build deeper relationships with lecturers and fellow students face-to-face. And for many, building their professional network is a key component of studying for an MBA. Studying remotely also requires an extremely high level of discipline as the boundaries between, work, home and study can become blurred.
It is worthwhile noting, however, that many business schools have created solutions to help students build their own communities. From online platforms to virtual study groups, developing relationships with peers is possible. If you are unsure whether to study an online or on-campus MBA, we can help you assess your options.
The 10 Best Online MBAs:
EU Business School
The EU Business School offers bachelor’s, foundation, master’s and MBA programmes. Established in 1973, EU Business School (EU) is an international, professionally accredited, high-ranked business school. Their online MBA mirrors the widely acclaimed on-campus programmes. Online students study from anywhere in the world and have the freedom to combine their studies with work and travel. EU Business School’s MBA has been ranked number one in the world by CEO Magazine’s online global rankings for four years running and is listed in the top 20 worldwide by QS.
The International School Of Management – ISM
Established in Paris, ISM is an international school for executive education. Headquartered in Paris, and with partner institutions in New York, Shanghai, New Delhi, São Paulo and Cape Town. Their Online MBA is called IMBA which is the International Management of Business Administration. The IMBA offers the flexibility to study without interrupting your career and the duration is self-paced where a student can complete the course between 1.5 to 2 years.
IE University
IE University is recognised as one of the top schools in the world. Their Global MBA has been recognised as number 2 in Worldwide rankings for Distance MBAs. They have over 15 years of experience as the global leaders of Blended Methodology and they have established some of the most innovative online educational environments.
Their Global MBA is led by some of the best professors in the world. While their Blended Methodology allows you to interact in live video conferences, take part in virtual activities and dynamic discussions. It allows students to have a customised class structured according to their needs. The duration of this programme is 17 months.
GBSB Global Business School
GBSB Global Business School is a Spanish private institution with campuses in Madrid and Barcelona. Business education provided by GBSB is topnotch and validated by numerous international accreditation bodies such as ASIC, ECBE, and ATHE. All programmes, both on-campus and online, are offered in English. Some of their online programmes include Masters in Digital Business, Business Innovation, Fashion and Luxury Business Management, and the MBA in International Business.
Warwick Business School – WBS
At Warwick Business School – WBS, their Distance Learning programs are considered some of the best worldwide. WBS is one of the few educational institutions to hold accreditations from major management education associations such as EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA. Their latest innovations ensure that the students get a fully immersive online MBA experience. Their website, my.wbs, enables students to engage in lectures in real time, test their knowledge, watch archived sessions, access teaching materials and connect with other students.
Apsley Business School
Apsley Business School is registered in London and offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels of various partner universities which are based across Europe. This MBA in Strategic Management is designed for professionals who want to practice the day-to-day of real-world business. The programme is flexible but there is a strict focus on the quality of your assessed work. The programme can be completed in nine months depending on your study plan. The whole MBA is accredited at 90 ECTS. For entry to this MBA, you need to have a Bachelor’s degree plus 3 years of professional practice.
London School of commerce
Since 1999, the London School of Commerce has increasingly been earning a well-respected global reputation. It has campuses in London, Malta, Colombo, Kuala Lumpur, and Dhaka but also offers online programmes, like the full-time 1-year Online MBA.
As one of the largest independent higher education institutions in the UK, it’s a great choice for students looking for an internationally recognised British qualification.
Vlerick Business School
Vlerick Business School offers programmes in management and business at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. As well as providing courses on their Ghent campus they also offer online programmes.
Vlerick has ranked highly in a number of respected business school indexes, including ranking 15th in the Financial Times list of European business schools in 2015.
Berlin School of Business and Innovation – BSBI
Berlin School of Business and Innovation – BSBI helps graduates to become exceptional leaders in their chosen field. Their Global MBA is blended between an online course and a campus course. The duration of the course is 18 months at their campus in Berlin. Their master’s programmes have been selected by BSBI among many prestigious international programmes offered by Università Telematica Internazionale UNINETTUNO.
Rome Business School
As the name suggests, this business school is situated in Rome. However, Rome Business School also offers online Masters and MBA programmes, both full-time and part-time. Students of their International MBA can also take part in residential programmes in Rome, Barcelona, or New York at extra cost. Students of merit will also be granted the opportunity to do an internship in either Dubai, USA or Italy.
HAVE YOU DECIDED WHERE TO STUDY YOUR MBA?
Perhaps you’ve made your decision as to where to study your MBA online. Or maybe you are still unsure where to study, or even if an online programme is the right way to go for you. We can help! Our expert team can help you find the right programme based on your individual needs and circumstances.
You may also be interested in reading about the 10 Most Affordable Online MBA Programmes.
Editor’s note: This article was first published on the 29th of April 2019. We’ve updated it for current readers.
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