A good MBA degree from a recognised business school is a passport to an international corporate career.

 

 

Thankfully, you can study for a part-time MBA degree in Singapore as there are many part-time MBA programs which cater to busy working executives.

 

Fortune 500 multinational companies typically require managerial candidates to have a MBA degree from a reputable university. If you plan to attract the attention of an employer like Goldman Sachs or McKinsey, then you would need to have an MBA from a Top-20 business school like Harvard, Wharton, Kellogg or Chicago. In Asia-Pacific, the Chicago MBA program is available in Singapore and the Kellogg MBA program is available in Hong Kong.

 

 

 

For most of us who are working executives, attending a full-time MBA program is not a tenable option as there are the inevitable career sacrifices to be made. So the next best alternative is a part-time MBA program or an Executive MBA program.

 

 

In Singapore, there are close to 50 MBA programs available in the marketplace as shown in Edupoll MBA Directory on this website.

 

 

However, it is important to note that not all MBA programs are created equal. Only a good MBA from a good business school can make a difference to your career and income.

 

 

Before signing up for your MBA program, you have to be clear about your objectives for wanting to acquire an MBA qualification. Some common objectives include:

 

 

 

Your objectives will help you to choose the MBA program that is most appropriate for you. As a rule of thumb, the more prestigious MBA programs tend to cost more as MBA teaching is highly labour intensive. Besides, top professors command higher fees and may have to be flown in from overseas campuses. Additionally, some MBA programs require the students to complete certain courses overseas or to go on overseas study trips.

 

 

Students should also look for MBA schools whose programs are accredited by one of the 3 major accreditation bodies: AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA. The most important MBA accreditation is from AACSB. Beware of other non-accredited accreditation agencies. Smart MBA students should be able to recognise the dubious accreditation agencies.

 

 

AACSB stands for the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. This American institution is widely regarded to be the leading business schools accreditation body in the world. It was founded in 1916. All the top business schools in America are accredited by AACSB.

 

EQUIS stands for European Quality Improvement System. Founded in 1997, it is managed by EFMD – the European Foundation for Management Development. Unlike AACSB, the EQUIS accreditation extends beyond business schools and covers all programs offered by an institution from first degree to PhD.

 

 

AMBA stands for the Association of MBAs. It was founded in 1967 by a group of UK graduates of Wharton and Harvard. AMBA is more UK-centric whereas AACSB is more international.

Why is accreditation important? It is a rigorous quality process used around the world to monitor, assess and evaluate the standards and ( source:edupoll.org) quality of the education a student receives at a college, university or institution of higher learning. Accreditation status indicates that a college, university, institution, or program meets the standards of quality set by the accreditation organization, in terms of curriculum, faculty, school administration, libraries, financial strength, and student services.

 

In addition to accreditation, other factors that you would have to consider include: