3 powerful benefits of studying your MBA face-to-face
Depending on your circumstances, it can be tough deciding whether to study your Master of Business Administration (MBA) in person or online. There are important factors to consider, including flexibility, cost and the quality of the program. While many MBA programs are transitioning to online delivery formats, studying your MBA in person has 3 distinct benefits for your career journey.
What are the benefits of studying your MBA in person?
1. More networking opportunities for lasting connections
One of the main reasons people enrol in MBA programs is to develop their professional network. Studying your MBA face-to-face presents a myriad of opportunities, from working closely with leading academics and industry experts to meeting MBA alumni at networking events and developing valuable connections.
The connections you build with your peers, teaching staff and even industry mentors can lead to exciting career opportunities and relationships that will support you throughout your career. Many MBA students at The University of Queensland (UQ) start innovative projects and businesses together, while others are in positions to recommend each other for jobs and other prospects.
There’s also the social element of studying with a close-knit group of peers in person. Your shared experience can lead to friendships that will last a lifetime.
““The opportunity to be part of a challenging, yet collaborative and supportive ecosystem, comprising of such diverse and brilliant people, was a clear highlight for me. I left UQ with the added capabilities and professional networks, that not only supported my transition into a management consultant career, but also kick-started some innovative ventures with colleagues from the program.” – Andrew Talbot, Managing Director, 2M Capital
2. Better quality of classroom discussion
Many people study an MBA to challenge their thinking, collaborate and create new ideas that can be tested through rigorous debate. Studying your MBA in person allows for rich and in-depth conversations that lead to real insights and innovation.
UQ MBA alum and lawyer Ben Ricketts explains,
“The first thing that struck me when I started my MBA – I was in a room that wasn't full of lawyers. There were people from all career backgrounds, and they all had one thing in common: they were all motivated go-getters. It reminded me of all the reasons I studied law in the first place – to change things for the better”.
3. Develop in-demand graduate business leadership skills
The 2022 QS Global Employer Survey revealed employers thought the most important skills for MBA graduates to possess were teamwork, problem-solving, flexibility, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Each of these skills are strengthened by dynamic classroom interactions and practical exercises in the UQ MBA. Studying in person allows you to openly collaborate with your cohort, diversify your problem-solving thinking, and communicate your ideas with confidence in front of industry professionals. By working on group projects and engaging in class discussions, you’ll learn to read the room and detect subtle nuances of behaviour or emotion.
These skills will be invaluable when you’re pitching ideas to clients, interviewing potential candidates or managing teams.
“The UQ MBA taught me how to collaborate effectively with different people to get things done. I can now debate with our CFO in his own language, which he very much appreciates.” – Athena Manley, Chief of Strategy, Aon
Why study your MBA at UQ?
At UQ Business School, we pride ourselves on offering a quality MBA experience shaped by lifelong personal and professional relationships. By developing these connections, your enhanced local and global networks will help you discover exciting career opportunities.
Our cohort is ranked #1 for student quality
Since 2019, the UQ MBA has ranked #1 in the world for student quality by The Economist, which surveys alumni from the top business schools globally. Our in-person program connects students with people from all backgrounds with a shared passion for creating positive change in their communities.
Our students come from a range of industries, with an average of 12 years of professional experience and around 6.5 years in management. The diversity and quality of our cohort leads to engaging classroom debates that challenge our students to think and see the world differently.
“The insight provided by my peers was often just as valuable as the content delivered by the academic staff, and was a major source of my personal and professional learning.”- Grant Joy, Managing Director, Protegas Australia, and Director, Airus
Wider networking opportunities
The UQ MBA connects students with a diverse alumni community and relevant industry contacts through industry projects, global student experiences and exclusive events to position you for career success.
“There are 3 things you can get out of doing an MBA: the content, the way the content is taught, and the relationships with the people you take the course with. I thought that last thing, the people you study with, would be an important part of the MBA and looking back, they’ve been an incredible part of my career journey so far. I don’t think I’d be where I’m at without that network of those people”. – Rob Sutton, Managing Director, Mirragin Unmanned Systems
Central location
Situated in the heart of the Brisbane CBD, the MBA’s central location provides many convenient opportunities to interact with other business professionals. You can learn from your peers and network in-class, at an event or even over a coffee at the on-site cafe.
“For me, a non-negotiable when looking for an MBA program was the face-to-face component. I knew it would be easier to juggle an online MBA with my other commitments, but I wasn’t doing the MBA to get a piece of paper, I wanted it for the interaction and network I’d develop during the process. I can’t recommend a face-to-face MBA enough”. – Helen Barker, General Operations Manager, Axis
Are there any downsides of a mostly in-person MBA?
One of the most common reasons against in-person study is that it doesn’t offer the same flexibility as many online programs.
With multiple ways to structure your studies around other commitments and priorities, the UQ MBA’s focus on in-person learning works to enhance the program’s adaptable delivery. You can enjoy studying online, in person at our Brisbane City location, or a mixture of both, depending on your schedule.
The quality of people you’ll study with, along with the personal and professional relationships you’ll form, demonstrates the value of an in-person learning experience and puts the UQ MBA in a league of its own.