Thompson Rivers University - TRU
speciality: MBA

Benefits of an MBA

Having graduated with an MBA degree students have a wide choice of career options. They can find employment across different industries in both the public and private sectors and are not strictly limited to a career in business. MBAs also provide students with the opportunity to explore different business functions, such as accounting, operations, marketing, etc., and understand how each of them works. This increases their resilience and flexibility and enables them to work in different departments of an organization.

Throughout their programs, students gain practical experience and valuable skills as well as tackle challenges faced by business professionals in a real-world business setting by working on consulting projects. They develop important skills and knowledge thanks to the collaborative work with classmates which is common in MBA programs.

MBA programs also offer multiple opportunities for students to expand their network. Meeting people who they may collaborate with in the future creates many professional opportunities, such as finding a new job, transitioning to another industry or starting a business.

Additionally, the completion of an MBA degree is a prerequisite for quicker career progression and higher salaries. Individuals become more likely to land jobs high up in the organizational hierarchy, such as executive positions, or find employment abroad by completing an MBA degree program.

Last but not least, there are numerous part-time and online MBA degree programs, which offer high flexibility. Such programs enable individuals who are currently developing their professional careers to fit their studies into their busy schedules. Students on such programs are able to do the required work at the most convenient time and place for them without having to commit a full year (or two) to their studies. Sometimes MBA programs may be offered in the form of a hybrid between online and on-campus delivery, which provides the best of both worlds. Students enjoy the flexibility of an on-line program but also get that on-campus experience.

MBA Structure

The average duration of a full-time MBA program is 18 months (or about 2 years). However, 1-year MBA programs are gaining popularity around the world. It is important to note that the duration of MBA programs may be largely influenced by the mode of study (part-time or full-time) and the type of the program (e.g. online or hybrid).

The traditional MBA is followed by EMBAs, which take 20 months to complete, and professional MBAs, which take 26 months to complete.