A Masters of Business Administration qualification might not be a career maker or breaker, but it might just be what you need to make the next step in your career. Note that we say ‘next’. An MBA is not an entry-level qualification to be undertaken by those who have yet to build up any business experience.

If you are determined to reach the top and think an MBA will help you get there, there are a few things to take into consideration first.

Is it for you?

Studying for an MBA is a significant commitment in terms of both time and money, so you’ll need to be sure it is right for you, and that you will see a return on investment before you commit. Start by discussing it with your current employer, if you want to remain with them, to gauge how much difference the qualification could make to your career with them. Set out your career goals as best you can and determine whether these goals can be achieved without an MBA. The Financial Times reported last year that graduates saw a significant increase in salary after completing an MBA; however, don’t take that as a given.

Don’t be disheartened if you don’t possess degrees required for admission, as some institutions may be willing to accept business experience in place of these, though it may well need to be extensive.

Home or abroad

Studying for your MBA can prove a great opportunity to study abroad. You can, of course, find MBA courses all around the world, and this is a perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in another culture and classroom environment. For example, the MBA of Rome Business School, that offers numerous Master Programmes, is a one-year course tailored to busy professionals. This would allow you to perhaps work in Rome for the year, learn a new language, make contacts, gain valuable overseas experience, and of course see the Colosseum.

Type of MBA

There are many different disciplines to choose from when studying for an MBA, including business management, finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, risk management, and many others. You will, of course, want to choose whatever best suits your career plan.

There are also different kinds of MBA courses to choose from depending on your availability. A full-time MBA is usually two years in America, and often one in Europe, and requires everyday, full-time study. Accelerated MBAs are more intensive and give you a higher workload, but take up less time. Part-time can take three years or more, but gives you your days to actually go to work. If you don’t have a local institution to study an MBA, and you can’t or don’t want to move, you can study an online or distance learning course. The difference between these is that distance learning MBAs require you to attend class now and then throughout, and occasionally meet up with classmates. You can learn more about these and the handful of other types of MBA course in the above link.

Although the pros of an MBA outweigh the cons, there is still plenty to think about before you commit, and we hope this brief overview helps.