Online MBA Australia: What to consider when choosing an online MBA

According to a 2020 study by Forbes, online MBA applications have increased by 50% since 2020. This isn’t surprising when you consider that most recruiters now seek out candidates with strong business-focused and soft skills. In fact, the Graduate Management Admission Council claims that 91% of hiring managers plan on employing more MBA graduates in the future.

Choosing to undertake an online MBA is a big decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. So how do you know which online MBA is right for you? Read on to learn what to consider when choosing an online MBA.

Traditional MBA vs online MBA

Whether in-person or online, a high-quality MBA will equip you with the knowledge, skills and network you need to stay ahead of the competition and accelerate your career. You’ll still learn many of the same concepts, participate in and complete similar assignments and gain access to the best experts within the industry. The main difference is the flexibility that an online MBA in Australia provides.

As a working professional, you probably already have enough on your plate with work, family and social commitments without adding the constraints of physical classes. An online MBA such as AIB’s MBA is designed to suit the needs of business people who are already working full time – so you can still achieve your career goals while you study.

Check your eligibility for the AIB MBA here.

Is an online MBA right for you?

The secret to success for any online course? Self-motivation. Many online MBAs in Australia use an asynchronous format, meaning that you’re not required to watch lectures or participate in discussions in real-time – although to get the most out of your learning, it’s highly encouraged that you do.

If you are someone who thrives on independent learning or more structure and face-to-face interaction, then an online MBA is perfectly suited to meet your needs. At AIB, our MBAs are as autonomous or interactive as you choose to make it, giving you the flexibility to work around your individual learning style.

Talk to one of our Course Advisors to see if our MBA is right for you.

What to consider when choosing an online MBA in Australia

Accreditations

With countless online MBAs to choose from, it can be overwhelming to pick just one. So assessing their accreditations is a good starting point – not only does the right accreditations verify that the MBA is reputable, but it also ensures its quality.

Accreditation ensures that the qualification you earn meets a national set of standards. AIB is registered as an Institute of Higher Education, while our MBA is accredited by Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), the independent regulator in Australia. Both AIB and our postgraduate programs are also recognised internationally by employers and industry associations.

Our Fast-Track MBA and Human Resource Management MBA are accredited by the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI). Our MBA is also accredited by the National Centre for Management Accreditation (NCMA) of the Canadian Institute of Management (CIM).

Other well-known MBA accrediting agencies include:

• Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT)
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).

These independent agencies evaluate the standards of an MBA’s teaching, faculty, services and students. They also have extremely high, strict academic standards that every MBA must adhere to. So if your potential online MBA is accredited by one of these agencies, you can be sure that you’re choosing a high-quality, supportive program.

Timelines

What timeline are you hoping to achieve your career goals by? In order to answer this, take a look at how much time you have availability to study.

Use our MBA Time-To-Study Calculator.

This will determine if you need to enrol in a part-time or full-time online MBA in Australia – which ultimately affects how quickly you can rise up the ranks in your industry.

The AIB MBA allows you to study six subjects in one year – so you can complete your MBA in as little as two years, even while you work. We also provide the option to accelerate your study to two subjects at once (subject to meeting concurrent study criteria).

It’s also important to consider your return on investment. While other online MBAs in Australia charge up to $50,000 – $100,000 AIB is committed to keeping education affordable so you can pay back your course fees and see a return on your investment faster.

When you study with AIB you can be confident the time you invest in your MBA is likely to result in a significant return on investment. For example,  AIB MBA graduates receive on average a $34,000 pay increase.

Use our MBA ROI Calculator here.

Career benefits

An online MBA in Australia isn’t just a degree – it’s an investment in your future. So it’s only understandable that you want to choose an MBA that will provide a wealth of career opportunities after you graduate.

Read ‘How An MBA Can Boost Your Career’.

While you can look up rankings, accreditations and reviews, nothing will give you the insights you’re looking for like the people who have experienced it first-hand – alumni.

Many online MBAs allow prospective students to engage with past alumni, whether that be through site visits, events, or through an online messaging system. At AIB, we have large alumni networks on social media that welcome all AIB graduates. There, you can not only receive updates on our valued alumni community but also meet and interact with them to find out what they’re up to now.

Alumni community on Facebook

Alumni community on LinkedIn

While everyone is different, talking to past students can give you a strong idea of career prospects – and even give you ideas on exciting new career paths you never considered before.

Support services

Deciding to apply for an online MBA in Australia is a huge undertaking. So it’s important to know what kind and how much support you’ll receive as an online student.

At AIB, we offer our students access to the following to support them on their learning journey:

• Office 365 
• LinkedIn Learning
• Access to online academic libraries with personalised support
• Endnote
• AIB App
• Our Online Orientation Program

With over 180 academic, student support and professional staff dedicated to guiding you through your MBA, the entire AIB team are here to help – no matter how big or small. That’s why we offer Study Support – your go-to for help and resources to make the most of your studies and the support available. Our support systems guarantee that you’ll get just as much academic and wellbeing support studying your MBA online as you would if you studied it in a physical classroom.

Each class also has a dedicated Online Learning Facilitator (OLF) who is a qualified lecturer as well as an experienced leader in their industry. All classes have a limit of 50 students to ensure that you’ll benefit from high levels of interaction, relationship building and learning.

When considering an online MBA, there are several factors that make the AIB MBA  a strong option. Firstly, our MBA is delivered completely online, giving you the freedom to study anytime, anywhere. It also caters to all learning styles so you can learn by reading, watching, listening or participating. And finally, our industry-leading Student Learning Portal is your ultimate digital resource with everything you need to successfully complete your MBA. Our online learning approach doesn’t mean we simply put PDFs and lecture recordings online. Instead, we ensure our students have the best possible study experience by continuously updating the portal with our latest innovations. Learn more about our MBA.

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