International Students: Here’s What To Consider When Looking At Online MBA’s

In 2019, Online MBAs became the largest population among all other professional MBA program types according to a GMAC survey.

Without a doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic has also added to the popularity behind the online degree. For many international students who have faced U.S. visa barriers, the online MBA may be an appealing option. Anayat Durrani, a contributor at US News, recently offered a few tips that prospective international students should consider when searching for the right online MBA program.

FIND YOUR FIT VIA CURRICULUM

Fit is incredibly important when it comes to the MBA. When considering online MBA programs, Durrani recommends looking at a B-school’s curriculum.

“Finding the right fit means considering an online MBA program and curriculum that matches an international student’s career goals and is applicable to the region in which he or she plans to work,” Durrani writes.

LOOK FOR DIVERSITY

One of the biggest benefits to the MBA degree is the network that you build while at business school. Experts recommend looking for online MBA programs that attract a diverse student body.

“Collaborating with people from a broad range of different backgrounds gives me the opportunity to learn from them firsthand,” Chinese national Yufan Shen, who is in the USC Marshall online MBA program, tells US News. “It also helps me to expand my knowledge about the business world, and especially those parts of it that are not part of my own personal experience.”

CONSIDER COURSE FORMAT

Since online MBA’s don’t require an on-campus presence, the course delivery is even more important when looking at different programs.

“Depending on the university, classes may be offered in a synchronous format, where students view live lectures online and interact with fellow students, as well as an asynchronous format, in which students complete coursework on their own time,” Durrani writes.

Sources: US News, GMAC, P&Q