5 signs a distance learning MBA is right for you

Sponsored by Warwick Business School  

The benefits of an MBA are clear – you’ll gain business knowledge, networking opportunities and a higher salary – but can a distance learning MBA offer all the same benefits?  

In short, yes. A distance learning MBA offers many of the same opportunities as an in-person MBA, but with the added flexibility of being able to study remotely and fit your MBA around your work. 

By completing a distance learning MBA at a top business school, such as Warwick Business School (WBS), students will graduate with the skills and confidence they need to step into a senior leadership role and make a greater impact in the world of business. 

Considering a distance learning MBA? Here are five signs a distance learning MBA might be right for you. 

You’re looking for a flexible degree which allows you to study online while developing your career 

One of the major draws of the distance learning MBA is its flexible nature, allowing you to work while you study.  

At Warwick Business School, the bespoke online platform my.wbs gives students the opportunity to study wherever best suits them, removing geographical barriers. You will be able to watch recorded sessions and access teaching materials from anywhere in the world.  

Despite this, you are still able to engage with lectures and discuss issues in real time with peers and academics.  

WBS MBA student Ned Lamb writes in a blog post: “The Distance Learning MBA seamlessly fits around your life. Whether reading course texts before breakfast, watching live lessons in a Lagos café, or interacting with course tutors and colleagues through the engaging lesson content late at night, mostly I have the flexibility not to make unnecessary sacrifices in other parts of my life.” 

There is also the option to extend the two-year programme up to four years if needed. 

You want to benefit from world-leading teaching from the comfort of your own home 

In addition to benefiting from the flexibility of the distance learning MBA, you can also be assured that you won’t be compromising on the quality of the programme either. 

At Warwick Business School, the Distance Learning MBA is just as valuable to employers as its on-campus alternatives. The programme has been running for more than 30 years and offers all the benefits of the campus experience, yet it is specifically built for the online environment. 

Modules are designed and led by Warwick faculty, supported by a substantial team who produce and support the interactive materials. 

You like the idea of distance learning but also want the face-to-face element 

With an online degree, you may feel you are missing out on some of the face-to-face benefits of an MBA. However, some distance learning MBAs also offer an in-person element to complement the online learning part of the programme. This means students can enjoy the best of both options.  

At WBS, although the Distance Learning MBA is studied primarily online, the course includes two residential weeks at either the Warwick campus or the London campus, and one compulsory face-to-face elective. There is also the option to complete another face-to-face module, which can be studied at an additional cost.  

During these in-person sections of the MBA, you will meet other students, discuss case studies, listen to guest speakers and enjoy lectures and thought-provoking discussions with faculty and other participants. 

“There is a gently blended learning approach of a well-structured online platform with the in-person weeks twice a year, called Warwick Weeks,” writes Distance Learning MBA participant Neil Perrins.  

You’re looking for a way to network and become part of a global community  

One of the major benefits of studying an MBA is the business connections you will make while studying. Studying an online degree makes networking easier than ever. 

By studying the Distance Learning MBA at WBS, you will be joining an alumni community of 53,000 individuals from more than 167 countries. As a Distance Learning MBA participant, you will have the opportunity to network and exchange ideas with graduates both online and in-person at the numerous networking events held around the world each year.  

 “I’m massively valuing the diversity within the cohort and getting to genuinely create a global network of professional contacts, some of whom are already becoming good friends through the informal social side of working together and discussing topics on a distance learning MBA,” writes Neil Perrins. 

You’re looking to get comprehensive online support with your career  

The careers support offered for the Distance Learning MBA is just as comprehensive as the in-person MBA.  

Students at WBS will have access to a multitude of careers support resources, from the chance to gain feedback on your virtual interview technique to CV support and training opportunities which will prepare you for numerical, logical and comprehension exercises in job applications.  

The school’s CareerPlus website is updated multiple times a day with new content, events and opportunities, all of which are intended to maximise your chances of securing your perfect role.