I am from Europe and I consider doing an MBA in Australia or New Zealand. Which one of the 48 programmes in Australia/NZ can you guys recommend?

I read some things about the 16-month MBA offered by the University of Otago. Has anyone done it or heard about it? I would be happy for any info on this programme!

Otago is the oldet uni in NZ, as far as I know. For the rest, it is not in Auckland, which can be an asset or not, depending on what you like to do in your pastime. Dont know much about how their MBA compares in quality and esteem though.

I know that Otago is ranked 87 in the global Economist overall ranking, which is pretty good (for comparison: ESCP-EAP European School of Management is 76 in this ranking, RSM Erasmus University is 89, Thundebrird -Garvin is 91, Melbourne Business School is 99 -- all of those are internationally very reputed schools). Otago may not be as well-known as these programs, but I guess it will be one of the best known MBAs in Australasia for sure.

Thanks for your answers, guys. Did anyone in this board actually do the Otago MBA or has heard from anyone else who did? I would appreciate any input!

Hi I am currently doing the Otago dBA this year(2007) and transferring it to the MBA next year. I did it this way so that I could do the MBA part time. The 8 papers I am doing this year will be credited to the MBA next year. The papers for the dBA are exactly the same as the ones for the MBA just a lesser number. Because I am part time, I'm finding the whole experience just fantastic!! I love it. Everything I am studying is valuable and if you are into moving up across or whereever in management, this is the course to do. The group we have this year are mostly internationals and they come from Germany, USA, India, China and Korea. We have had some fun times together amidst all the study pains and it has been truly the most wonderful experience. Getting my head around producing group projects has been fascinating. A powerful experience with the right mix of people. Ive been fortunate because the syndicates I have been in for Modules 1 and 2 have been simply superb in terms of effort and application to group work. Other sundicates havent fared so well with 'loafers' in the mix or just plain and simple personality clashes. There are two more Modules to go and I think people are finding it gets easier as the year progresses. At first it was simply hell because of the 24/7 focus in terms of producing work. Family life is non existent. Have had lots of arguments with the partner but that initial rough patch has fortunately calmed as people realised that you can only do this sort of thing 24/7 to the exclusion of all else. We have some great teachers especially Gary Heaton who does Management Accounting and Control and Financial Accounting. Vicky Browning is amazing as well. She takes Organisational Behaviour. Yeah, totally enjoying the MBA at Otago. I recommend it. :) Hope this helps. Ronda Tokona

Hi Ronda,
Indeed ur inputs were of great help.
Can u elaborate on the placement policies of the Institute. How does it work? and what is the scope of getting a job in NZ after the Otango MBA.
Thx
Ronen

You need to contact Glenn Munn -email will be fine [email protected] -regarding the specifics of entry into the programme. Glenn can also give you an indication of where students who've done the MBA programme have gone onto in their careers. We have had past MBA's as guest speakers who have done very well in the big wide world. However, I dont know what the statistics are overall. -Ronda

Hello Ronda,
this is Iuri from Indonesia.
Thank you for the great insights!
I have two questions: What was your personal benefit of the MBA for your career?SIn terms of salary, and level of responsability?
Could you tell me from your class, who found a job in the region? I'm interested in those people coming from abroad, especially from Asian countries like me.
Iuri

Job prospects seem to be quite good, but it looks Otago MBA grads all go to the same employers. This is from the Economist website:

Criteria Rank (out of 100)
Overall rank 97
Open new career opportunities 83
Diversity of recruiters 100
Number in jobs three months after graduation 28
Student assessment 71
Personal development and educational experience 74
Faculty quality 88
Student quality 14
Student diversity 46
Education experience 100
Increase in salary 100
Post-graduation salary 94
Final salary 100
Potential to network 51
Breadth of alumni network 8
Internationalism of alumni 100
Alumni effectiveness 90

http://mba.eiu.com/index.asp?layout=school_snapshot&university_id=1060471506&mba_program_id=1070471507&university_name=Otago%2C+University+of+%2D+School+of+Business

Otago is included in the global Top 100 MBA Schools list by The Economist , see http://mba.eiu.com/index.asp?layout=top100 - so all the data in the rankings provided by LaVoz compare to the other 99 top MBA schools worldwide.

Otago is one of only 13 Asian schools within the Economist top 100 MBA programs: http://mba.eiu.com/index.asp?layout=2002rankings&rank_category_id=20000002&region_id=290000429&x=19&y=13
For comparison, there is not even one German business school within the top 100 schools. However, with all the aspiring business schools from China and India Otago may a hard time to stay in that list in the next years. The Economist currently still ranks NUS Singapore and the Indian Institute of Management (Ahmedabad) behind Otago, despite the size of their programs and their strong international reputation.

I wouldn't place too much emphasis on MBA program rankings outside of the top 30. The ranking agencies publish the ranking criteria so the various business schools just do their best to meet the specific criteria of one ranking agency.

You will notice that a school will appear very high on one ranking, but don't even register on another depending on which one they focus on.

Waikato Management School is the No 1 ranked business school in New Zealand based on the New Zealand government academic research rankings.

There are a number of good MBA programs in New Zealand. Top school are Waikato, Auckland, and Otago. Only the Waikato and Auckland MBA programs are accredited by all three international accreditation agencies (Equis, AACSB, and AMBA).

Rankings are only an indicator, that is clear. And it is not surprising that schools tend to comply with the criteria for a good placement in the rankings, but at the same time might negelect other points unfortunately. To be sure about a program you definitely have to gather all kinds of other information.

But if you only take the top 30 ranking, or top 10, you are almost forced to study in the US... or let´s say, many regions of the world are not represented there, although they do have good MBAs to offer. If you have the specific wish, for instance, to study in NZ, but don´t know anything about the schools there, rankings are one way to start.

Another indicator of quality are the accreditations you name. But coming from outside of the country, you need also a certain international appeal of the MBA. If the program is to be found in some of the rankings, international visibility is higher, the chance that international recruiters have heard about it is higher, classmates will not only be local etc. Internationality has to be achieved to make an MBA interesting for an international crowd of students.

I have not heard about Waikato until now, so I wonder if recruiters have... Sounds good, but I personally would consider Waikato mainly if I had the intention of finding a job in NZ afterwards. And, I must admit, this could be an attractive idea....

Robd said that Waikato Management School is the No 1 ranked business school in New Zealand based on the New Zealand government academic research rankings (which is called PBRF). If I understand it correctly Waikato was the only University to submit their results collectively as an entire business school as opposed to all the other universities in NZ that submitted results for individual departments within their business schools. For example Accounting, Finance, Marketing etc all submitted their own results and received individual scores, rather than one submission for the entire business school score. Therefore its pretty easy to gain top business school if everyone else submitted as individual departments. Its all about working the system I guess so you can put put out a press release!

I'm a kiwi and spoke with a guy who did the Otago MBA in 2007 and he said that when he was deciding where to go he went for an interview at Waikato. He was offered a place during the interview without having to sit a GMAT, and at the time he hadn't even submitted an application. Admittedly this guy was smart (later getting a 700+ GMAT for his Otago application) - but at that stage for him alarm bells started to sound regarding Waikato's MBA. It was too easy to get into so what does that say about the programme and its graduates.

One of the reasons he did the Otago MBA was the stricter entrance requirements which weed out a lot of the people that won't be able to contribute well to the class. This guy also went on student exchange to the USA as part of his MBA - I think he went to Duke but didn't need to pay extra because his Otago fees covered his Duke tuition which is a huge bonus as some of those US schools are pretty darn expensive.

As Rhonda mentioned above Otago has a good mix of both international and local students and the small class size creates a unique environment. International students have 6 months at the end of their student visa to find employment in NZ, with many doing just that, and latter applying for permanent residency, so yes as an international student you can live and work in NZ after the course finishes, it's really up to you to find a job that appeals. Otago grads seem to end up in all sorts of jobs from Managing Ski Resorts in the US, working for financial organisations in Aussie and places like Dubai, running a coal mine in Aussie, and of course working in NZ and abroad in finance, marketing, manufacturing, local government etc. Otago's MBA is a general management MBA so job placement isn't restricted by having an specialist MBA in for example Marketing which means your job options might be limited.

I don't know anyone who has been through Waikato Uni (in any degree!), but you stumble across loads that have been through Otago and Auckland. Although I haven't done an MBA (I've done a bit of research into it though) I am in a position that means I interact with business people at all levels. I can't honestly recall running into someone who graduated from Waikato with an MBA. If their MBA is like their regional beer then I'd steer clear.

As a New Zealander I would choose either Otago and Auckland and would only recommend these two programmes to either kiwis or international students. Otago would be my choice, but am yet to study for my GMAT and make the big decision to actually apply!

I would like to know how far is Otago from Auckland and how long would it take to drive to Otago from Auckland?

I am from Malaysia and my wife and I are both considering applying for MBA program in Otago. However, my wife who is currently pursuing a University of South Australia's MBA Program in Malaysia who like to know if she would be able to get credit for some of the subjects taken under the UniSA's program assuming she is successful in her application to Otago.

Thank you.

The University of Otago is based in the city of Dunedin which is a coastal city on the lower East Coast of the South Island - very much New Zealand's only true University City. In contrast Auckland is near the top of the North Island. I have never driven from Dunedin to Auckland, but think it would take at least 2 days of solid driving (maybe 8-10hrs driving per day) plus you would need to use the ferry to cross Cook's Straight which separates the North & South Island (perhaps another couple of hours). It would be more convenient to fly using cheap airfares (www.grabaseat.co.nz). Google a map of NZ and have a look to see where each city is geographically located.

In terms of cross-credits, I don't think Otago offer cross-credits because they have a modular programme, meaning you progress from module to module and knowledge gained in one module is extended upon in subsequent modules or complements other papers within the course. This approach reinforces learning and prepares students for such things as live-case studies, and their consulting project later in the year. Easy answer is to email them through this site, or their website: www.otagomba.co.nz

Thanks for your reply. My bad on the first question. After I sent, then only I realized I have mixed up Otaga with Waikato which is located in the North Island.

Given its location and our intended city of emigration is Auckland, we will have to research the programs offered by schools in the North Island.

Thank you.

Hi tiz is dinesh from India,i want some information about New Zealand's MBA. Is there any scope for MBA in HRM or FINANCE over there because i would like to do MBA in New Zealand and which is the best university for freshers i dont have any sort of work experience thats why i m searching for good univ will any one guide me....plz

Thank you.

hi...any one can tell me abt auckland insti of studies...in NZ..plz

Hi,

You might want to try Auckland University of Technology or University of Auckland as a start.

University of Otago's program is good, that's what I understand.

However, your choice of university may need to be consistent with your long term objectives as well as intention once you have obtained your MBA.