5 Alternatives to an Online MBA

This blog has been sponsored by the University of Birmingham, University of Bath and University of Glasgow.

If you’re interested in doing an online Business Masters then you’ve probably heard of the online MBA (Master of Business Administration). This elite professional qualification focuses on building leadership skills across different sectors for those who have senior-level work experience. If you don’t have this level of experience or want to go down a more specialised route, then an MBA might not be for you.

We wanted to explore some of the alternatives online Masters you could do that still feature Business at their core and will get you where you need to be, without having to have pre-existing management experience.

#1 International Management

Do you have a global mindset and want to work across cultures and continents? An International Management postgraduate degree could help. Whereas an MBA pushes management professionals into senior leadership roles, a Masters in International Management (such as the online MSc offered by the University of Birmingham) focuses on accelerating your ability to perform at a management level! It covers the basics of business with the added bonus of developing knowledge in cross-cultural issues as well as global business challenges so you feel confident to excel in an international business workplace. Jobs you can expect to get with this qualification include Global Marketing Director, International Human Resources Manager and Global Logistics Manager.

#2 Entrepreneurship Management and Innovation

If you like to think outside the box, then Entrepreneurship Management and Innovation will push you in the right direction. Because an MBA is focused on helping you become a leader, it’s really looking at setting you up for success in an already existing large business. Entrepreneurship Management and Innovation (such as the University of Bath’s online MSc) will instead help develop your startup mentality and innovative mindset! So if you’re looking at starting your own business, developing at an existing start-up or championing business innovation from within a larger company, this could be the way forward. Jobs you can expect to get with this qualification include Product Development Manager, Chief Innovation Officer and Change Agent.

#3 Engineering Business Management

Do you have an engineering background or are you looking to get into the engineering and technology sector? Then Engineering Business Management (such as the online MSc from the University of Bath) is right up your street. While an MBA gives you a broad knowledge of the general approach to management, Engineering Business Management will hone your management skills and deepen your expertise in your field, helping you develop an in-depth understanding of engineering and technology leadership as well as business, operations and strategy. Jobs you can expect to get with this qualification include Business Consultant, Technology Specialist and Project Manager.

#4 Business Analytics

If your interest lies with numbers then Business Analytics might suit you better. It has more of a technical focus than an MBA, merging data science and business management into one. An MBA will give you a broad overview of analytics but a specialised analytics degree (such as the Business Analytics online MSc from the University of Bath) will appeal to companies who are more focused on the technical side. You’ll be looking at big data as well as improving your strategic, problem-solving and decision-making skills to ultimately drive change. Jobs you can expect to get with this qualification include Machine Learning Engineer, Statistician and Chief Data Officer.

#5 Marketing

If you currently work in marketing and are thinking about your next step, then a Masters in Marketing (like the online MSc offered by the University of Glasgow) might be the best option. While an MBA would help develop your cross-functional leadership skills, a Masters in Marketing will focus on in-depth practical marketing, helping you to get a more specialist and senior-level marketing role. If you’re interested in exploring areas such as analytics, user experience (UX), brand development, marketing management or consumer behaviour, then a Masters in Marketing is the way to go. Jobs you can expect to get with this qualification include: Marketing Director, Marketing Manager and Digital Marketer.

Remember, a huge benefit of completing an online Business Masters degree (whatever the specialism) is the international business network that you’ll have access to. You’ll join a community of like-minded driven professionals on a global scale! Online learning is also more interactive so if you’re after an experience that gets you actively engaged in quizzes, discussion forums and videos, an online Business programme is the way forward for you!