Online MBAs: A Lifestyle Decision

An MBA can be essential to moving up in one's career, but it doesn't mean it's easy to achieve. Whether it's business travel takes you far away from potential grounded classes for weeks at a time, or just the financial strain of supporting yourself or a family while taking time off from work for college, most degree programs -- and that promotion that comes with it -- can seem hopelessly out of reach. But not to worry! The online MBA option has been picking up steam for years, and is becoming quite the attractive option for many an enterprising businessman. In an article covering the subject, the Financial Times discusses the merits of online MBAs and the types of people who can benefit from such a degree program the most.

"I wanted a North American degree because I was already planning a move there. Online programmes are great for people who seek to relocate; you can prepare your integration for your future working environment," he says.

Mr Besseat already fitted one of the classic distance-learning profiles; he had a busy job, including travel across time zones. "This choice was driven by my working constraints; I needed a programme flexible enough to enable me to prepare my assignments off-line, and to log on at will, independent of time and location," he says.

Sures Muniandy, a Malaysian national with a degree in life sciences, was another "classical" online MBA recruit: "I'm married with two kids. I was a sales manager in pharmaceuticals before my MBA. I wanted a university that offered flexible times, without attending classes, as I was travelling extensively; and I wanted weekends for my family," he says.

The article goes on to talk about what exactly to look for in online degree programs, getting very in depth about the particulars to make sure that future college-goers make a well-informed decision (vitally important with every aspect of one's education):

So how to choose the specific school? The first criterion is the question of quality. An obvious question is to check on the accreditation of any online qualification. In addition, if the school also operates a conventional class-based programme, are the two degrees equal?

"Is the MBA/EMBA the same quality as that offered to students in class? Is it the same faculty, using the same resource materials?" asks John Toohey, head of the business school at RMIT, Melbourne, Australia. Then there is the question of student support, an aspect easily overlooked, but crucial, he says. "Does the school give the same student support to its full-time and on-line programmes?"

Then we come to another possible hurdle: how online is online?

Good questions indeed, and they only get better. Interested in reading more about pursuing a distance learning education, or if you fit the description for someone who could really get a lot of use out of one? Read on!