MBA students often speak about the importance of interacting with fellow classmates and professors, something that’s described as a real benefit of full-time MBA programs. Those who aren’t able to study on campus because of either family or work commitments don’t need to miss out though, thanks to the rise of the online MBA.
Due to technological advances, schools are increasingly able to offer effective digital interactions, so students from across the globe can connect in the same way they would in the classroom.
Overall, business schools featured in the QS Distance Online MBA Ranking 2018 offer programs where around 50 percent of assessed coursework comes from assignments and projects where students interact directly.
The following 10 business schools beat this average with flying colors. Each of the following top 10 schools ensure at least 70 percent of coursework is completed through peer interaction, which helps students build virtual teamwork skills and a strong future networking resource.
Rank | Institution | Location | Percentage of interaction |
2 | United States | 85 | |
10 | Netherlands | 80 | |
=12 | United Kingdom | 80 | |
=15 | United Kingdom | 100 | |
17 | United States | 90 | |
=20 | United States | 80 | |
22 | United States | 100 | |
24 | United States | 70 | |
32 | United States | 90 | |
44 | United States | 100 |
Indiana University (Kelley Direct Programs)
Online MBA students earn their degree at Kelley through experiential learning opportunities, in-class career coaching and networking opportunities.
Faculty make regular revisions to the course content based on new business knowledge and practices and also deliver weekly live sessions which are recorded for the ease of students.
One program bonus is Agile – Accelerating Global Immersion Leadership Education. Each quarter, an elective AGILE course is offered taking students to global hubs of emerging economic opportunity including: Gaborone, Botswana; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Beijing, China; Johannesburg, South Africa; Havana/Viñales, Cuba.
The AACSB accredited 30-month course is US$60,000-70,000 with start dates in March and August.
EuroMBA Consortium
The EuroMBA boasts a consortium of six prestigious b-schools: Audencia Nantes Ecole de Management; EADA; HHL-Leipzig Graduate School of Management; IAE Aix Graduate School of Management; Kozminsky University and Maastricht University School of Business and Economics.
The 24-month blended learning MBA program mixes 10 online courses with face-to-face sessions. Students attend an introductory seminar followed by six residential weeks with each one taking place at one of the partner schools.
The aim of EuroMBA is to bring together a globally diverse group and educate international managers. During a course, students work in groups with at least three nationalities in each team.
University of Strathclyde Business School
Strathclyde Business School has offered the flexible learning MBA since 1983, making it the first UK business school to offer a distance learning MBA.
Strathclyde’s Flex MBA values the importance of self-study and group interaction, and, through the virtual learning environment MyPlace, those studying off-campus have all the necessary tools.
The b-school believes collaborative learning is at the heart of an MBA and makes efforts to encourage peer interaction and group learning.
The AACSB|AMBA|EQUIS accredited Strathclyde MBA costs US$20,000-30,000.
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