Have you thought about pursuing a business degree? From large corporations to non-profits, the business world spans every corner of modern life, drawing students globally.
Without business, the world’s familiar functions would grind to a halt. Each transaction, company interaction, and advertisement roots itself in the realm of business.
Curious about getting a business degree or what you can do with one?
This guide explores the essence of a business degree, and potential career paths, and helps you determine if it aligns with your goals.
Understanding a Business Degree
When thinking of business, images of the local supermarket, recent online shopping, or bustling business districts may come to mind.
Essentially, business refers to organizations engaged in producing and/or selling goods and services. Opting for business programs abroad provides a significant advantage in today’s globalized world.
The international nature of the business realm enhances soft skills crucial for navigating diverse workplaces. Reflect on the global businesses you engage with daily, perhaps buying clothes from Zara or enjoying music on Spotify—unaware of the multitude of businesses operating across borders.
The Difference between Business Administration vs. Business Management
Wondering about the difference between business administration and business management?
Despite their similarities, key distinctions set them apart.
Business administration typically delves into specific industries or roles, emphasizing operations and leadership. It provides a broad business skill foundation, allowing later specialization in areas like finance or entrepreneurship.
In contrast, a business management degree focuses on supervising, organizing, and managing resources, encompassing places, information, ideas, staff, or revenue.
Both prepare you for diverse business careers, with administration usually leaning towards specific fields or industries.
Which areas of Business can you study?
Whether contemplating business studies abroad or locally, abundant options await.
The response to ‘What can I do with a business degree?‘ is ‘Nearly anything!’ However, let’s start with the basics. What type of business degree are you considering?
Duration of a Business Degree
Wondering about the duration of a business degree? Prospective business graduates have various options. A diploma or certificate suits those building foundational skills for an advanced degree.
Alternatively, a bachelor’s or master’s degree might be a suitable choice!
Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Business
- Bachelor’s Degree: Typically takes around three or four years, introducing students to the business world from basics to specific degrees. A signal to employers that you’re skilled, hardworking, and dedicated.
- Master’s Degree: Takes around one or two years, offering various options including marketing, business management, and international business. An MBA, or master’s degree in business administration, is a popular choice. While some programs require experience, completing an MBA could take as little as one year, offering more earning potential and professional upward mobility than bachelor’s graduates.
Why Study Business Abroad?
Thinking about studying abroad? Enhance both your education and future career:
- Grow Your Career: Ideal for those aspiring to move up the ladder in a specific field or industry, leading to higher salaries and leadership roles.
- Innovation: Step into a new world, sparking creativity and widening horizons for aspiring entrepreneurs. Utilize professors’ office hours for expert advice on blazing your own path in business.
- Multicultural Environments: Develop intercultural communication skills crucial for navigating diverse business landscapes, and preparing for the globalized nature of today’s careers.
- Understand Global Markets: Study an international subject on a global scale, honing problem-solving, critical thinking, and leadership skills while observing universal business influence.
- Create a Global Network: Networking with future business professionals and employers, building long-term relationships beneficial for personal and professional development.
- Language Skills: Seize the opportunity to gain proficiency in another language, a valuable asset in the global business landscape.
Careers in Business
Curious about potential job titles for business degree graduates?
Explore roles such as Administrative Assistant, Account Manager, Branch Manager, Business Analyst, Consultant, and more.
Freedom and flexibility exist to explore and grow in areas of interest, varying based on company type, industry, size, or specific business degree pursued.
Tips for Choosing a Business Degree
The competition for good business programs is fierce.
Consider program merits and key aspects before applying. Questions to ask yourself include program time and financial commitment, travel requirements, admission prerequisites, desired industry focus, and the relevance of different certifications or degrees to your career goals.
Consider your goals and priorities before exploring programs. Once you clarify the type of program and location, choosing a degree becomes more straightforward, whether it’s an online program, an undergraduate study abroad, or a graduate program at home. For those aspiring to be part of the increasing number of international students pursuing business programs abroad, refer to our country guides for detailed study abroad information.
A bachelor’s degree in business offers less specialization compared to a master’s degree, but this doesn’t preclude specialization in a particular area.
Explore our degree guides to understand the requirements and benefits of various degrees, aligning them with your career goals. Examine job advertisements matching different programs to ensure they align with the requirements of your dream job.
Questions for Universities
When researching programs, inquire about program flexibility, professors’ business experience, career counselling and job placement services, relevant curricula and specializations, study formats, and hands-on opportunities. Connect with current students and alumni for insights. here
Consider asking the following questions when evaluating universities before applying:
- Is the business program accommodating to extracurricular activities, internships, and jobs?
- Do prospective professors possess practical business experience to enhance classroom teaching?
- Does the institution offer career counselling or job placement services for business graduates? What additional support and services are available?
- Identify schools with curricula and specializations aligning with your interests.
- Understand the study format for potential business programs.
- Inquire about hands-on and experiential opportunities, including group work and case method projects.
Choosing the Right University for Business Studies
Considerations when choosing a university for studying business include:
- Location: The location of your school becomes crucial when exploring internships and jobs during your studies. Identify industry hot spots relevant to your career goals. For instance, those aspiring to a career in the car industry might consider Germany, while tech enthusiasts may focus on Northern California.
- Industry Connections: The connections of your future professors and program alumni play a pivotal role in securing positions post-graduation. Investigate the industry ties of your professors and seek information on the top employers hiring graduates from your program. Engage with alumni to gather insights about the program.
- Practical Curriculum: Ideally, professors should blend extensive business experience with academic expertise. While understanding traditional business theory is fundamental, the importance of practical projects, group work, and internships cannot be overstated. These elements serve as tangible indicators of hard skills valuable for your curriculum vitae (CV).
