Gordon W. Cheung PhD Professor Department of Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

This article tries to distinguish different types of postgraduate business courses.

Academia Training

Postgraduate education in business can be divided into two kinds: academia training and executive training. Academia training includes Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) in Business programs and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Business programs. These research programs are for people who want to teach and do research. These generally consist of only a few taught seminars, but students must complete a thesis or dissertation to fulfill their degree requirement.

Unlike disciplines like pure science, very few Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA) pursue a higher degree in research programs. Hence, most universities here have difficulty finding professors who know the local culture. This is unfortunate, because a key element of business education is the application - in the local community -- of theories developed overseas (mainly U.S.A.). Hence, we encourage undergraduates to consider academia as a career.

Executive Training

Executive training can be sub-divided into postgraduate diploma courses, general higher degree programs such as the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and specialized higher degree programs such as the Master of Science in Business (MSc in Business).Postgraduate Diploma Postgraduate diploma courses were common in the past but not today. These courses specialize in subjects like marketing, human resources management and training. These usually last about one year on a part-time basis. In recent years universities have been upgrading their postgraduate diploma courses to MSc programs by extending the study period from 1 to 2 years. These courses are now offered mainly by professional associations or schools of continuation studies.

Full-time MBA

MBA is suitable for people who do not have a bachelor degree in business. There are, in general, three types of MBAs. The first is a full-time MBA which lasts about two years. These courses normally require applicants to have at least two years of working experience and good academic records. Many students perceive MBA as advanced BBA because the course contents are similar, although the mode of delivery is very different. There are many discussions in MBA classes and the environment is very competitive. A major objective of MBA is to provide training in analytical skills, conceptual skills and communication skills in business.

Part-time MBA

Part-time MBA is suitable for working managers. This normally lasts about three years. The length and type of working experience of applicants are more important than good academic records as selection criteria. The course contents are similar to those of full-time MBA, but since the students normally have longer working experience (five to eight years), the class discussions are generally more practical and intellectual. Candidates should know that attending a 3-hour class after a day's work can be tiring, and that classes take place two to three nights a week for three years!

Executive MBA

Executive MBA (EMBA) is designed for senior executives. Students normally have 10 to 15 years of working experience and are senior executives. Some have MBAs or even PhDs. Professors only play a facilitator's role stimulating discussions and encouraging students to share their working experiences. Building network is another major function of an EMBA course. Finding the right classmate and a good alumni profile are important.

MSc in Business

While MBAs cover mainly general business education, MSc in Business are programs that specialize in a specific function, such as MSc in Marketing, MSc in Global Business and MSc in E-Commerce. Since most of the BBA and MBA are inadequate in developing technical skills, the aim of MSc programs is to fill this gap. These programs usually require students to have long working experience in a relevant field.

How to Select

Choosing programs is not difficult, because these have very clear objectives and requirements. But you should ask yourself what you want and whether you have the required qualifications. You should also know whether you are prepared to invest the time and money.

Taken from Career Times 2002/01/18