There are many elements that are very specific to the MBA degree: the admissions process, the module formats, the emphasis on networks and the cost, to name a few. As is the case with all other Masters degrees, the MBA can take on a variety of formats. Here are the basic ones:
Full-time:
a full-time MBA can take anywhere from 12 to 24 months depending on the country, the institution and the actual program. Most MBA programs in the US tend to be two-year programs. Students enrolled in a full-time MBA program typically do not work during the time of study, as the program is often quite demanding. There are advantages and disadvantages to one-year and two-year programs. Two-year program often accept the widest variety of pre-requisites (a four bachelor and some work experience at a minimum) while a one-year program frequently has more stringent admission requirements, as the program might be more demanding within a shorter period of time.
Part-time:
these programs are intended for working professionals and classes are usually held in the evening. Many business schools will offer a full-time as well as a part-time MBA program. In some cases a part-time program might require fewer courses than their full-time equivalent but includes only a basic body of knowledge without the possibility to specialize. Other part-time programs offer the same courses as a full-time program but will be twice as long in duration. Part-time MBA programs are popular with career-oriented professionals who cannot afford to take time off
work to complete a full-time program and the cost for the program can be spread over a longer period of time.
Executive
: The Executive MBA (EMBA) is a type of MBA program that is designed for working executives who wish to enhance their careers. These executive programs are often sponsored by the company and benefit those students who are already specialists in their field and need to sharpen their general management skills to progess in their career path. The executive MBA student remains fully employed throughout the course of the MBA program and it therefore often does not include an internship component. Classes are held either at night or on the weekends and the course material is condensed into sometimes as little as four lecture days a month. As the schedule is very compact, there is little opportunity for specialization. An executive MBA program can be one of the most demanding courses of study and students must be prepared to work 80+ hours a week between job and studies.
Distance Learning:
as in other distance-learning Masters programs, a distance learning MBA program is delivered through remote means, i.e. Internet, email, video and other communications channels. It is becoming and increasingly popular MBA format and a significant number of highly reputable business schools now offer these programs. A distance-learning MBA program may have the least impact on your professional life and is often a more convenient mode of study for those managers who wish to study in their own time. A significant draw back of such distance learning programs is the limitation in interacting with other class members, building a network and engaging in general exchange as it is custom in other modes of MBA study. MBA programs can either be general in outlook or focus on a specialized area. The variety of such specialized MBAs is enormous, from MBA in Accounting to MBA in Tourism or Telecommunications. What mode or type of MBA is best suited for your intended career path depends entirely on your own individual situation, your background and ambitions.
