I often have to explain that masters degrees are better than 'freshers' MBAs outside India.

By a freshers' MBA, I mean an MBA designed for students with more or less no work experience after their graduation from university. India is an exception, because many specialist, pre-experience masters degrees in India are called MBAs. In the rest of the world, the MBA is a post-experience degree. Elsewhere prestigious business schools, and all the 'triple crown' schools, require three years work experience for their MBAs.

Of course prestigious recruiters recruit from prestigious schools. They don't only need experience people, but also junior staff and analysts for entry-level management roles. In India, those roles are taken by MBAs. Elsewhere, there are specialist masters of science degrees to prepare people for those roles.
Many of the best programmes are ranked by the FT in finance (http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/masters-in-finance-pre-experience-2013 and in general management (http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/masters-in-management-2013 For other specialisations, check out Eduniversal's rankings at www.best-masters.com/

None of these are freshers' MBAs outside India. Generally, freshers MBAs outside India are offered by low-status schools which want to serve the huge demand for MBAs, especially from India. These work really well for student intending to return to their home country. However, the pre-experience MBA is now one that many employers outside India are familiar with, and the fact that they are offered by low-status schools limits the openings for graduates. These students will be better advised to go to a better school, where they will get a better education, a stronger network and more choice over where they work.

PS Easy proof that an MSc from top school is worth much more an MBA from a poor school: an HEC Paris MSc has a average salary of $93k http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/masters-in-finance-pre-experience-2013 and that is more than 16 of the top 100 MBAs in the world http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/global-mba-ranking-2014

Great post, Duncan.

One thing I'd add is that for an MBA to be effective, students should have some work experience, because it serves as a basis for really absorbing the content. Case studies are great for understanding business topics, but they are really only academic exercises. The real value comes when students can see their own experiences within the MBA frameworks - and only after that can they take their career to the next level.

I think that many people come directly out of their undergraduate education, and are attracted to an MBA because it seems like it can offer a shortcut to a high salary. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts!

Hi Duncan,

Please help me out here i am really confused on this one.

Firstly my profile:

Gmat: 600

Career Goal: Brand management and marketing

I have a total of 3+ of work exp.
I started my career with a Digital marketing agency and worked there for 1 year after that i started my e-commerce web site (a hyper local e-store) and sooner i registered for a pvt ltd company and expanded the operations in 2 cities. Currently i have 2 running websites.

I want to apply for MBA for fall 2014 in US and UK.

Now should i apply for MIM courses or MBA because i have a lesser corporate work exp.

If you will have three years work experience since your graduation by the time you enter the programme, then aim for an MBA. Even better take an extra year to improve your GMAT and apply in the very first round at better schools.

I am keen on applying in 2014 fall.
Is it true that schools near NY will help me land a job easily.


Also can you suggest some schools based on my profile
Computer Engineer (india)
Gmat 600, TOEFL giving on 28 dec
1 year corporate exp.
2+ entrepreneurship exp.

i want to get into Brand Management and Marketing

Some schools i have researched :
1. Pace Uni.
2.Fordham
3.Rochester (saunders)

I think you can answer this yourself:
How to use LinkedIn to find the best school www.find-mba.com/board/33571

Shortcut to find the best US MBA www.find-mba.com/board/36065

Duncan,

How are the MBA programs in Dubai, is it easy to get a job in Dubai than in US or UK.

Some of the uni. i have researched are :

1. IMT Dubai
2. University of Dubai
3. Spjain
4. Hult

This thread is about MiM degrees. There's lots to read about Dubai here already.

PS Try to search: http://www.find-mba.com/boardsearch/q/Dubai

[Edited by Duncan on Apr 12, 2020]

Hello Duncan.
I need a little help in choosing which specialization to opt for, for my MBA. I have a 2 year experience in the Production (Manufacturing) industry.
I wanted to know if I can go for a degree in Finance or Project Management with this background.
Or is a degree in Operations Management/ Supply Chain Management a better option for me?

You can apply for any degree you want to. I can't tell what the best option is for you: I don't know you. Read my profile page for more suggestions.

You might think about clarifying your career goals before starting your MBA.

That said, I know many students who started their MBAs without clear career goals, or even switched career goals during the program. You're exposed to many new things during an MBA program, and this can help you refine what you want to do.

Also, really consider whether you actually need to pursue a specialization, and instead just opt for a general MBA. It's not a requirement in most schools to pursue a specialization.

Great post Duncan.

what you mentioned about Indian students going abroad to pursue Pre-exp MBA is absolutely true. November 2014 i was suppose to be starting my mba in Charles Darwin university in Australia, Thankfully didn't.
That being said.

I have a question for you of a similar scenario.

With someone like me who has no work experience will a masters degree make me over qualified for the employers ?
This is what i have been told by the agents here in Mumbai, which i why i am going for a post graduate degree in new Zealand.

Does this theory hold any ground ?

I struggle to see how that is true in India, or anywhere else. The MBA, for example, is typically a pre-experience masters in India. Students from well-respected business schools are in short supply and obtain high wages. Of course there can be people who do the wrong masters degree for the job they are taking, but generally masters degrees holders have more employment and higher salaries.

Will Masters in management from a non ft ranked school bt triple crowned be better than a without-experience mba program.

Generally Yes. It might depend on your goals and on the schools. Certainly in Europe there are no freshers MBAs on offer from the best schools.