Cindy McCauley, executive director of Tepper’s online master’s programs, adds that online MBAs provide the networking opportunities that some say are missing from a purely online MBA.

One of the key selling points of a business school degree is the chance to learn from diverse and intelligent classmates, as much as you do from the teachers. However, it can be hard to form strong bonds from a laptop screen.

“When students have the opportunity to get together in person, they have a much greater ability to connect with their peers,” says McCauley.

“In our [Online Hybrid MBA] program, they spend nearly three days together every six weeks taking classes, participating in workshops, co-curricular activities and socializing. Our students become very close and build a strong network that will last a lifetime.”

In the same vein, the opportunity to rub shoulders with employers is also a benefit of taking a blended MBA program. Some employers may now conduct interviews virtually, but others still prefer a face-to-face meeting before investing in an MBA hire.

“We do a networking fair once a year at The Shard [in London] which all MBAs can go to, but networking can be just effective via Skype and phone,” says John Colley, associate dean at Warwick, which runs the Distance Learning MBA.

“All MBA students can use their modules as a way of networking and exploring new industries and companies by approaching firms through LinkedIn or by email to work on assignments,” advises Colley. “This makes an initial contact and shows their passion for the subject. Then you’re able to short-track your way to an interview.”

A blended MBA also can provide a closer connection to campus and the school’s faculty and career services. Tepper’s Masters Career Center, for example, provides one-on-one career counselling, mock interviews, on-campus recruiting and corporate presentations.

“Our students have the opportunity to really connect with faculty since they start every course in person,” says McCauley. 

“In addition, they have the chance to really feel like they are part of the campus with access to career, leadership and other resources that might be harder to utilize if the program didn’t have an in-person component.”

Online MBA degrees are also well-placed to prepare participants for a world of work that is becoming more technology-driven, according to Colley.

“Increasingly modern businesses have offices all around the world that need to work together, so developing capabilities and discovering tools is an essential part of being a business leader,” he says.

Warwick’s blended MBA students are required to attend two weeks of face-to-face classes in Warwick or London and spend the rest of the time learning online through Warwick’s digital platform, my.wbs.

“Our Distance Learning MBA develops key skills needed in the digital world: being able to develop teams and relationships across the world via the internet,” says Colley.

There are downsides to a blended MBA, of course. These include the difficulty associated with balancing a full-time job with an intense academic program. Traveling to campus for in-person modules can require extra time off work. But with numerous workplace and employment benefits, the blended format may well be the future of the MBA.