Part Time MBA programs are open to working professionals with some years of experience. Programs are designed in a manner that allows professionals to study besides their jobs. The structure is modular wherein students learn individually and come together on a monthly or a weekly basis for an interaction with their teachers and the other students. The advantage is that the students can apply their learning from the classrooms to their current professional roles and then bank upon this practical application for reflection in their next class.
Part Time MBA Programs:
Part Time MBA programs can be pursued on an online basis (the distance education mode). The contact with professors and fellow students is maintained through a web application and intranet. Residential periods may only be required for an exam. The institution most closely associated with distance learning in the UK is the Open University. Then there are blended programs that emphasize combination of residential periods and online study mode.
Caveat: Part time MBA programs are seen as less competitive than the full-time programs and may take longer than two or three years for completion. The main challenge for part-time students is to balance work and studies, many times at the expense of social or family time.
Focus Areas for studying Part Time MBA Programs
A student in the UK can select an area of concentration and focus approximately one-third of their studies in that particular area. Some of these areas are:
- Financial Management
- Accounting
- Business Intelligence
- E-Business
- Finance
- Financial Services
- Human Resource Management
- IT Management
- Marketing
- Public Relations and Reputation Management
- Dual Program – Master of Business Administration Combined with Association of Chartered Certified
- Global Management
Best Universities offering (online) Part Time MBA Programs in the UK:
- Imperial Global
- Nottingham University’s Business School: This also offers training in data analytics and fashion management
- Middlesex University, London: Offers MBA in Private Equity.
- University of Birmingham: It’s MBA program accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA)
- University of Leicester: Its online program is delivered by Kaplan Open Learning
- University of Essex
Associated Costs
One carefully needs to look into the costs as students need to pay the fees for longer periods as compared to their full-time counter parts. Furthermore, full-time students account for more than 90 percent of all MBA scholarships and fellowships. Hence, deciding between a full-time and a part-time MBA program is a matter of weighing the costs and benefits against each other. It should be underscored that Executive MBA is also pursued on a part time basis but the associated costs are the highest.
Admission Requirements
Academic requirements in terms of GMAT or GRE scores for full-time MBA admission are higher than those for part time programs. Therefore, students who want to study at reputed Business schools then consider the part-time offerings if they fall short of the cut-offs.
Substitutes to Part Time MBA Programs
Some students have taken the smart move in the past and have enrolled themselves for the Master in Management (MIM) programs. MIM does not require working experience and are way cheaper. The course contents between MIM and MBA overlap by about 30 percent. However, MIM focuses more on the theoretical side of the management field.
