BA or Diploma and MBA - Which should I do?

BA or Diploma and MBA - Which should I do?

Author
Discussion

wolfy1988

Original Poster:

1,426 posts

162 months

Friday 3rd July 2015
quotequote all
Hi All.

I have decided that's its time to further educate myself. Other that a handful of GCSE's i have no formal qualifications. I have worked in Sales and IT management for the past 5 years. I will be learning Via Distance Learning around a full time job in Kuwait. We are planning on moving back to Ireland in 3 years so plan on doing as much as I can before then.

Having looked into several degrees and paths to take I have narrowed it down to two;

1) BA In Business and Information Technology, 3 years and 8k. Is this a better accepted degree by employers?
or
2) Post Grad Diploma Level 6 in Management, followed by a MBA, 3 years and 10k. More prestigious but will it stand without the BA?

I have spoken to University and they have indicated that I would be accepted. I know I could do a BA followed by a MBA but I'm basing this on 3 years.

Would love to hear peoples experience and opinions on what would be best?

I must say I'm finding this decision making process quite frustrating as i simply do not know which is best, any help much appreciated!


elanfan

5,516 posts

226 months

Friday 3rd July 2015
quotequote all
If you're struggling with this decision process sounds like you need the management course!

edc

9,230 posts

250 months

Friday 3rd July 2015
quotequote all
Level 6 is equivalent to an undergraduate degree whilst level 7 is aligned to Masters. On your CV you could write an MBA qualified .....

wolfy1988

Original Poster:

1,426 posts

162 months

Friday 3rd July 2015
quotequote all
edc said:
Level 6 is equivalent to an undergraduate degree whilst level 7 is aligned to Masters. On your CV you could write an MBA qualified .....
Masters is level 9 from what I can see, Honors is 7 or 8. Its probably quite a jump from 6 to 9 but the University assure me its possible and that they accept that progression.

wolfy1988

Original Poster:

1,426 posts

162 months

Friday 3rd July 2015
quotequote all
elanfan said:
If you're struggling with this decision process sounds like you need the management course!
Thanks, I'm struggling with the decision as I do now know which will be best when applying for a job in 3 years time etc

rog007

5,748 posts

223 months

Friday 3rd July 2015
quotequote all
If you have the time/money/support/drive, I'd go for the highest award; so an MBA would get the vote.

You haven't named the provider however; I'd go for the best you can. More expensive, but should provide a higher quality learning experience and better networking opportunity. Good luck!

brickwall

5,192 posts

209 months

Sunday 5th July 2015
quotequote all
You might be eligible for a student loan if it's your first undergraduate degree.

The debt is income-contingent, so risk free. That might swing the decision.

davepoth

29,395 posts

198 months

Sunday 5th July 2015
quotequote all
If you've got an MBA you'd probably sweep the BA under the carpet on your CV anyway. MBA every time IMO.

wolfy1988

Original Poster:

1,426 posts

162 months

Monday 6th July 2015
quotequote all
Thanks everyone, I have decided to go ahead with the MBA, just need to get this Diploma out of the way first biggrin

I'm very excited about it all, feels nice to do some self improvement.

smile

Willeh85

760 posts

142 months

Monday 6th July 2015
quotequote all
wolfy1988 said:
Thanks everyone, I have decided to go ahead with the MBA, just need to get this Diploma out of the way first biggrin

I'm very excited about it all, feels nice to do some self improvement.

smile
Glad to hear it OP, an MBA on your CV would look great and put you in a very prominent position over other candidates for most roles, even more so if you decide to carry on further and do a Doctorate. Although depending on your field that can sometimes be more of an academia route than industry.

There are a great many people out there with a 2.1 degree, and a reasonable number with a 1st Degree these days. Whilst I'm not belittling anyone's academic achievements here, (I currently only have A Levels), it's starting to become commonplace and a prerequisite for jobs that 10 years ago wouldn't have required it, so you need to do something to stand yourself out above the rest whether that's through placement years, internships, volunteering, or you in your case going on to further study.

I work in a university as a student advisor and even now for what I would call a relatively low level job at the university they're starting to put 2.1 Degrees as 'desirable' in the job descriptions which sooner or later will lead to 'essential'. And I've spoken to many students who haven't been able to find work straight away, although I believe in some cases it was them being a bit picky about roles they would accept, and werent quite ready for 'real life'.

A little bit of helpful information regarding levels of study: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Qualificati...

Whatever you choose to do, good luck with your studies

hogansghost

80 posts

182 months

Thursday 16th July 2015
quotequote all
wolfy1988 said:
Hi All.

I have decided that's its time to further educate myself. Other that a handful of GCSE's i have no formal qualifications. I have worked in Sales and IT management for the past 5 years. I will be learning Via Distance Learning around a full time job in Kuwait. We are planning on moving back to Ireland in 3 years so plan on doing as much as I can before then.

Having looked into several degrees and paths to take I have narrowed it down to two;

1) BA In Business and Information Technology, 3 years and 8k. Is this a better accepted degree by employers?
or
2) Post Grad Diploma Level 6 in Management, followed by a MBA, 3 years and 10k. More prestigious but will it stand without the BA?

I have spoken to University and they have indicated that I would be accepted. I know I could do a BA followed by a MBA but I'm basing this on 3 years.

Would love to hear peoples experience and opinions on what would be best?

I must say I'm finding this decision making process quite frustrating as i simply do not know which is best, any help much appreciated!
I'm also having similar thoughts. Just about to join this Q&A online at the FT website http://blogs.ft.com/mba-blog/liveqa/2015-07-16-2/

ft web site said:
"In the second part of our live series with guest expert Chioma Isiadinso, co-founder of consultancy Expartus and former admissions officer at Harvard Business School, we continue answering questions submitted by students interested in applying to business school."