Hi

I am currently doing distance learning MBA fron UK. I am in 2nd year now.

Are you planning to do in Switzerland or any preferred university?

If any help needed, feel free to reach me.

- Tanuja

Hi Tanuja,

Thanks a lot for your reply. As it's a distance learning it's not very important where the University is. But UK, if I can  I would avoid because of the visa issue.

I found one University in Zurich, but can not really decide. It's called Swiss Business School. Have you heard about this one?

If you are around GVA, I would like to meet you to discuss further options.

Enjoy well theses sunny days,

Zulaa

Hi I know that a few universities in UK or US are not bad, but please do some research by yourself,  I can only give you some names, such as, open university, MCCANN UNIVERSITY BAKER,PHOENIX,ASHFORD， you have to read carefully to find the most suitable one, I am planning to start next year, but haven't decide which one.Hope this can help.good luck!

Webster offers MBA classes online as well as evening courses in Genthod.  18:30-22:30, so you can do a combination of sorts.

As a warning though, its very expensive

Hi Yuyu,

Thanks a lot for your advice. What would be your orientation? I'm planning in the International relations or Communications.

If you looking for distance learning, I would like meet you up to discuss more.

Have a nice week-end,

Zulaa

The Lucerne School of Business is one of the best business schools in Europe.

Hmmm

Sorry, not Lucerne but Lausanne (IMD) :-)

Yeah that makes a huge difference.

Hi

Thanks, enjoy your weekend as well, actually I am with Open university right now and I am doing management studies, the price will be more expensive from 2012, and if you plan to apply right now, as I checked, it will cost aound 20000chf but for business management, I have no idea if they have for communication or international relations. I still have some time to decide, so I am in the same situation as you. I will finish what I have to do this year. I am not sure to stay with OU, I really like to meet you up sometimes, but it is quite difficult with full time job and full time studies,: (

please add me as friend and chat if it is possible.

Hope you can compare the options and find out the best match for you.

Take care and see you soon

yuyu

I did a comparison last year, the one that stuck out from the rest was the 'University of Liverpool'

Here is the link, this is one of very few distance learning Masters degrees officially recogonised by Naric.

 The degree is no different from the actual masters degree, you can pick up the degree on the same day the regular students graduate.

Speaking to a few alumni, I was informed it's very tough curriculum and you need to set aside a good amount of your time and in the end they did feel it was worth the effort. 

You also need to be mindful of the fact that it's fairly expensive 25K. I didn't go through with it, but if I had to to do it again, I would choose this route.

http://www.liv.ac.uk/study/online/#mgmt

Hope this is of some help :)

Cheers,

Milind

I did a fulltime MBA so I can't really help you to select a good program. But I do want to make a few remarks:

1. Doing a distance-learning MBA is probably tougher than a fulltime one; at a fulltime MBA it is easy to stay motivated and focused because you have nothing else. A distance-learning MBA means you're mostly by yourself.Part-time MBAs are quite easy to stay motivated for, but you need a job that allows you the freedom to work on courses if you need to.

2. For this same reason I would favor an distance-learning program that offers some kind of interaction with students, e.g. a few session per year together, and some shared assignments.

3. Still, if you can do a fulltime MBA (i.e. you have time and money) I would you encourage to do that. I learned as much from my fellow students as from my teachers, and the experience is unforgettable.7 years later I still have regular contact with many of my fellow alumni (Facebook helps).

4. Try to get in touch with some students who do a distance-learning program, ask them what's important. If you like I can help you with that, I have 2 friends who teach at such a course in the UK (PM me).

5. Try to be clear to yourself what you want to get out of doing an MBA, and then consider whether doing an MBA is indeed the best choice, and if so which program. If contacts at Swiss companies are important a school in Switzerland may be most useful. If you want to learn more about a specific subject (e.g. finance, marketing), perhaps a more specialized post-grad program is more suitable.

Hi Altanzul,

As you are in Geneva, I would strongly recommend you the MBA of IMD in Lausanne, It is a truely international MBA with a very high international scoring and recognition. Definitely expensive but you get what you pay for.

It is an eleven months very tough full time degree programme and you have to count on about 90-100hrs total of work per.week. You used to be able to do it in two parts but most students do it all at one go - otherwise there is a risk that you lose the rythme. No idea if this is still possible.

I know that you are working full-time but with saved-up annual leaves and some additional leave without pay you can do it. I did it that way.

You will find more info at http://www.imd.org/programs/mba/index.cfm?nav1=true and feel free to mail me.

Good Luck !

H

Hi Zulaa,

I was also doing the comparison last month and got the appointment with Swiss Business School in Zurich. Though I didnt found it too much intresting as far as my intrests are concerned. I also heard that IMD in Lucerne is also offering a distance learning course but I still havent contacted them. Since I am full time emplyed I would be intrested in joining a distance learning only instead of full time course. Moreover what I understand that distance learning doesnt means that you can study MBA in isolation. You also need to attend some practical classes held in the university every month or quater or something like this. Studying all alone and giving the exams doesnt makes sense to be an MBA. Please let me also know if you come across something good. I would be happy to give a try.

Thanks !!

Hi Zulaa and all the enthusiasts

I am doing my Distance Learning MBA from Henley Business School (University of Reading)...this is one of the first 5 and reputed business schools in UK. It may not have highest international ranking but curriculum is pretty good and unique (depends what you are looking for). It is mainly recognised for getting high potential careers as it is oriented towards practical on the job experience and flexible too. It costs upto £18K+ for 3 years which is not that bad.

Hope it helps :)

Any aspiring or experienced MBAs in the group ??? We should have a get-together sometimes to share experiences...please let me know if any one interested.

Cheers,

- Tanuja

Hey

Im in my last 2 months of my MBA with final dissertation due in August....cant wait to complete it so I can get on with enjoying my first Geneva summer, but it has been more than worth the time, money and effort.

It wasn't what i'd call distance learning, it was a 2 year part-time course but as it was aimed at full time professionals, the course was tailored so that you dont have to attend the Uni too much. For the first 12 to 15 months you have to attend 3 day modules around once a month, thurs to sat, so you only actually have to take 2 days off work a month for the first year, and I guess most companies would allow this as Study Leave??

The last 6 to 8 months is mainly focused on the dissertation. So although it wasnt distance learning, you dont actually have to be at University often at all. Was only 16,500 CHF too, which i think is quite cheap for an MBA, even if the business school isnt one of the 'best' in the world.

Uni: Anglia Ruskin (Cambridge and Chelmsford) Business School: Ashcroft International Business Scool

Web: www.anglia.ac.uk

Have you ever considered evening classes? it s nice not to study in solitary confinement. Webster University in Bellevue offers quite an interesting and varied range of post graduate programs. But it sure doesn't enjoy IMD's reputation.

(100 hours of weekly studies together with a full time job is going to be more than a handful. But as they say: Where there's a will there's a way).

Anyway, good luck in your query:)

Dear All,

Thanks a million for all your good advices.

To be honest, all I want is to do MBA in international relations or communications to get a more interesting position in the UN system. And sure I need more information on that in order to make a decision.

Your advices help me a lot on that, but I still have some more questions. Therefore, as Tanuja proposed, I would like to invite all of you (and of course whoever interested in joining us) to meet up to discuss on the subject "all about MBA".

Let's meet somewhere outside to enjoy these nice sunny days. I can bring some mongolian dishes: ravioli and potatoes salad. Probably for a sunday lunch?

I'll post an invitation and hope to meet you all. 

Zulaa

I would join (the first meeting).. My company propose me to start again to go to school for the "MBA"....

Like you, I would need to go after the normal job.. but no distance learning.. (Of course.. I´m not sure if a different way is possible...)

Andreas  

Andreas - many business schools offer part-time MBA programs, often called 'Executive MBA'. The curriculum is normally the same as a full-time MBA, but you may have courses on Fridays or in the weekend. It's different per Bschool so you need to check their websites to see which program suits your needs.

The fact that your company encourages you (and hopefully pays the fees) is great, and if they're willing to allow for some days per year to study instead of work that's even greater.

But one point of caution: an executive MBA tough; you will spend most of your weekends and many evenings studying and doing assignments. In particular if you have a partner make sure you know what's coming (i.e. talk with people who've been there). If you have young children I'd even discourage it.

To the others - I probably won't be able to make it to a meeting, since I'll be out of the country for the coming weeks. But I can provide input (on doing a full-time MBA) any time; just send me a PM.

Altanzul - I dont know of many MBAs that are themed around International Relations. But regardless of what you end up doing, as someone who works for the UN i'd suggest you buy a very good book called 'The Sustainable MBA'  by an author called Gisel who used to work at the UN. Its a much more modern approach towards an MBA and rather than being based on the bottom line of making money, like most MBAs, it discusses how modern day companies need to invovle sustainability in everything they do. Google it, its worth a buy.

Im in the UK this weekend so cant come along on Sunday. have a good one though!