Should You Choose A Specialisation For Your MBA?

Specialise your MBA - other options for your b-school journey

If you’re looking into the next stage of tertiary studies with an MBA, you might be considering if specializing is right for you. The good news is that there are lots of options either way. Read on to find out more about your potential MBA journey.

Do you have an area of interest or expertise?

First of all, consider why you might choose to specialize in your MBA. It may be to cement your understanding of a certain field or of an interest. Or perhaps it’s to gain skills to further your career. Whatever the reason, think about what the benefits will be to you and your professional prospects. If there’s a particular area standing out for you – this is potentially a sign that choosing a specialization is right for you.

Ask yourself, ‘where do I want to be in 5 years, and what can I do now to achieve that?’ Say, for example, you already work within your chosen field and want to take on more responsibility. You may decide to specialize in business management and leadership to get the foundational skills to progress in your field. With prior experience in your career, and goal-directed learning through your MBA studies, this is achievable.

Do you want to gain a spread of skills and knowledge?

If you’ve applied for an MBA but don’t have a specific area of interest or end goal, opting for a generalized course of study may be the best option for you. This allows for a level of flexibility and freedom to choose what interests you. Not only that, but you also have the ability to undertake units from specialized streams as well.

When doing a general, non-specialised MBA course, there is the added benefit of not locking yourself into one specific area in your career later. Employers value the range of skills picked up by MBA graduates, as they can provide insight across a range of subjects and skills.

How to make your choice

Once you’ve decided on a specialization, you must elect to follow this path through your course application. If you’ve recognized prior learning or work-place experiences you believe will support you to progress further during your MBA, let this be known during the application process. Institutions will assess this case by case before making a decision. Providing a letter of recommendation from your manager or a bachelor’s degree transcript will also support your application. Getting in touch with your chosen institution and discussing your prospects can also help you kick-start this process, and allow time to ask questions you may have.

The benefits of studying online

Studying online is a great alternative to traditional on-campus learning – especially if you work full-time or have a busy schedule. So whether you decide to generalize or specialize, you can be working towards your MBA anytime, anyplace.


Consider specialisation for your MBAWith SCU Online, you can study a generalist MBA and graduate with an understanding of every facet of business, or narrow your focus with one of four specialisations.