MBA Distance Education Courses Abroad

What is covered in this article?

• What is the full form of MBA? What is the course all about?
• What are the benefits of MBA distance education?
• MBA distance education courses in the USA
• MBA distance education courses in the UK
• MBA distance education courses in Australia
• MBA distance education courses in Canada
• Entry requirements for distance MBA
• FAQs on distance MBA at universities abroad

Your options are engineering, medicine or MBA.

Only an Indian student will understand this note. After Medicine and Engineering, MBA is one of the most sought-after masters courses in India. People from varied fields opt to do an MBA as part of their higher studies. It is a course preferred by professionals too,  to add value to their resumes and help them work their way up the ladder in their organization. MBA distance education options make it convenient for them to complete the course while working.

What is the full form of MBA? What is the course all about?

The full form of MBA is Master of Business Administration. Business principles, and managerial and leadership skills are taught as part of this course. You will learn bits of marketing, finance, accounting, entrepreneurship, communication and several other subjects to upskill you. It is particularly advisable if you are planning to start your own company.

What is the duration of a typical MBA programme?

Most MBA programmes are of a 2-year duration. But there are 1 year MBA programmes too and some can be completed as a distance education course.

Why distance MBA abroad?

Business/entrepreneurship is one profession that is never going to go out of trend. An MBA degree will greatly increase your value in the job market. An international degree can take that value up a notch. If you are opting for a distance MBA course, several advantages come with it. Let’s explore that next.

What are the benefits of MBA distance education?

1. Limited requirements – The major requirement for effectively completing a distance education course is an active internet connection.
2. You can take it from anywhere in the world – if the first requirement is met, a distance learning course can be taken from anywhere in the world. It doesn’t matter whether you are travelling to your hometown or going on a vacation. If you are keen on continuing your course, you can do so from anywhere.
3. You can decide the pace of the course – Even though there might be a deadline to complete the course, you can set the pace and time for your studies.
4. International networking is still possible – A major disadvantage attributed to online learning is that the scope of networking is limited. However, it is not impossible either. Nowadays, most online courses have a forum or discussion section, prompting students to interact with other learners.
5. Limited or no hassles – You don’t have to worry about commuting and being in class during the lectures.
6. Cost-effectiveness – An international degree with reduced expenses – that is the major advantage of distance learning. You can surpass the expenses involved in going to a foreign land, getting accommodation there and living there during the entire duration of the course.

In short, distance learning will have a major role to play in making the world more cosmopolitan!

This article focuses exclusively on the MBA distance learning opportunities offered by universities in the USA, the UK, Australia and Canada.

MBA distance education courses in the USA

There are close to 500 institutions in the USA that offers distance MBA courses.

Popular universities: Some of the universities that offer MBA courses as distance learning courses include:

• The University of Nevada, Las Vegas: This university offers online/distance courses in Executive Master of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration.

• Northern Kentucky University
• City University of Seattle
• Duquesne University
• Pace University

Course durations: The course durations are expressed in terms of credits/credit hours. The duration required to complete the distance MBA course can range from 33 to 54 credit hours.

Course fees: Course fee range from 12,10,000 rupee per year to 22 lakhs.

MBA distance education courses in the UK

Our database lists close to 60 institutions in the UK that offers distance or online MBA courses. If you are interested in applying to any of them and need some professional guidance, just fill out the form on this page and our experts will get in touch with you.

Universities offering distance MBA courses: The universities that offer MBA distance/online courses offer generic MBA courses as well as unique specialisations. Scholarships are available for some of these courses.

• City, the University of London (They offer a Global MBA course)
• The University of Bradford (They offer 2 MBA online courses; Innovation, Enterprise and Circular Economy MBA and MBA distance learning)
• The University of Cumbria offers MBA in varied topics (MBA Artificial Intelligence, MBA Digital Marketing, MBA Legal Leadership and MBA International Relations and Diplomacy)
• Teesside University Middlesbrough offers a generic MBA course and one that specializes in Digital Transformation.
• Anglia Ruskin University offers MBA and MBA Educational Leadership and Management courses.

Course durations: The majority of the distance MBA courses offered by institutions in the UK are for a duration of 1 year or 2 years. For example, the Online MBA Leadership course offered by the University of Lincoln is a 2 years course, while the MBA in Digital Marketing offered by the University of Cumbria is a 1-year course. You can pick one based on your preferences and requirements.

Course fees: The course fee ranges from 10 lakhs to 18 lakhs per year to study distance MBA in the UK.

MBA distance education courses in Australia

Distance or online MBA courses are available only in limited universities in Australia.

Universities: Some of the universities that offer distance MBA courses include:

• Victoria University offers a 2-year MBA course that can be done online.
• The Swinburne University of Technology offers an MBA course in 2 study options: Online/distance and Online/distance with attendance.
• RMIT University offers an executive MBA course
• The University of Adelaide offers an MBA course that can be completed in 1.5 years.
• The University of New England (UNE) offers an MBA course that can be completed in 6 years.

Course duration: The duration for MBA courses in Australia varies from 1 year, 1.5 years to 2 years.

Course fees: The course fee can range from 14 lakhs per year to 32 lakhs per year. It depends on the university that you apply to, and the course specialisations.

MBA distance education courses in Canada

More than 30 institutions offer online/distance MBA courses. However, most online MBA courses offered by Canadian universities will have a short face-to-face segment too. Hence if you are looking for a purely online/distance programme, your options will be limited.

Universities offering online courses:

• Dalhousie University: Dalhousie University offers a blended learning experience for the MBA course. You can learn online and at the end of each term, attend a 3–5-day intensive session.
• Brock University offers a hybrid, concurrent degree programme in MBA/MPH (Business Administration and Public Health). It has a mandatory 32-week internship in the second year of study.
• The University of Alberta offers the Energy MBA course, which is a 32-month online, with 3 weeklong in-person programmes.

Course duration:

Course duration can range from 21 months to 32 months. Some institutions like Dalhousie University allow a more variable course duration.

Course fee:

The course fee for an online/distance MBA with face-to-face elements will cost you between CAD 21,000 to CAD 34,000 per year. This is around 13 lakhs to 21 lakhs in Indian rupee.

Universities offering online/distance MBA courses:

Brock University in Canada offers Business Administration and Public Health (MBA/MPH) Concurrent degrees

Entry requirements for distance MBA

The requirements for entry into an MBA course at foreign universities include:

• A bachelors degree

Some institutions simply ask that the candidates should have a bachelor's degree, while some others have specific requirements. For example, UNLV in the USA requires their applicants to possess a 4-year baccalaureate degree. Most Canadian institutions too, demand a 4-year baccalaureate degree or equivalent.

• A minimum GPA score

The GPA requirement can vary, but the minimum needed is 2.75.

• English language proficiency

A minimum score in any English language proficiency test is required by most institutions.

The minimum overall IELTS score for entry into an MBA programme in the USA is 6.5. Some universities ask for a higher score. In the UK, some institutions prefer a minimum IELTS score of 7.0 while others ask for a minimum score of 6.5. At Brock University in Canada, candidates are expected to have an overall of 7.5 in IELTS.

• Professional experience

Some, like the City, University of London ask for a relevant professional experience if you do not have a bachelor’s degree. The University of Bradford demands that candidates should have a minimum of 3 years of work experience.

FAQs on distance learning MBA at universities abroad

Can I do a distance MBA from abroad?

As you must have understood from the article, you have numerous options to do distance MBA courses. It doesn’t matter which part of the world you are in. If you have a computer with a working internet connection and you meet the entry requirements, you can indeed do a distance MBA from abroad.

Is a distance MBA degree valid?

Yes, MBA, whether done full-time or online, is valid as long as the institution offering it is legitimate. The course materials will be similar to that of a full-time MBA course and the exams are conducted in a foolproof manner. Hence distance learning MBA degree is indeed valid. Always ensure that the university or college you choose is genuine.

Is distance MBA easy?

A distance MBA course will be as difficult as a regular MBA. The aspect that makes it easy is that some institutions offer the flexibility to do it at your own pace. It is particularly beneficial for working professionals who are looking to enhance their careers with an MBA qualification.

Which country is best for an online MBA program?

As per the QS Online MBA rankings 2022, IE Business School in Spain, Imperial College Business School and Warwick Business School in the UK, Australian Graduate School of Management, Australia and Marshal School of Business in the USA bagged the top 5 ranks. If you look at the top 50 ranks, the United States and the United Kingdom are two of the best countries to study online MBA.

Is a distance learning MBA better than a regular MBA?

It really depends on individuals and their priorities/preferences. Online education is convenient for professionals who do not want to leave their job to do a 2-year masters course. It also offers the flexibility of doing your course from the comfort of your home and at your pace.

It is clear now that there are umpteen opportunities for people looking to get an international MBA degree from the comforts of their homes. Why wait? Get in touch with our counsellors for more comprehensive information and kick-start your study abroad journey. If you are looking for other courses abroad, just try out our Course Matcher tool. Our tool will help you sift through the thousands of courses and find the one that suits your profile and fits your preferences. All the best for your study abroad journey!