10 key findings from the 2013 QS TopMBA.com Applicant Survey

Since 2011, the proportion of applicants who see themselves working a week of over 50 hours has risen from 45.2% to 51.4%. However, the greatest proportion of respondents (39.6%) expect to work 40-50 hours, and the proportion who believe they will work for over 70 hours has fallen from 5.5% to 4.6%.

While the US and the UK remain, as ever, the most popular destinations, others are closing the gap. Canada and Australia are the biggest winners in this year’s report, with increases in applicant interest of 5.4% and 4.8% respectively (taking them a total of 23% and 20%). Both have suffered lulls in recent years though, and it should be noted that these figures are lower than the 2009 equivalents.

Singapore was the only Asian destination on future MBA candidates’ radars in 2009, with 6.4% targeting the Lion City. In 2013, it is an established top-10 destination, with 15% of candidates expressing an interest. Even more interestingly, perhaps, is the rise of China and India, which now are plausible destinations for 7% and 8% of applicants respectively. It is particularly illuminating to note than 9% of Western European applicants are considering studying in China – a sign of things to come?

61.1% of applicants intend to fund their MBA study with a scholarship, crowning a steady rise from a low of 45% in 2008. In fact, 50% of applicants chose their preferred destination based on the availability of financial aid. On the other hand, the proportion of applicants relying on loans has fallen from 27.4% to 13.8%. The US & Canada is the only region where fewer than half of candidates intend to win a scholarship (45.8%). Candidates there are also over twice as likely as those from any other region to take out a loan (29.4%).

The survey reveals that slightly more female applicants than male cite improving their career prospects as one of their primary motivations to do an MBA (70% compared to 63.6% of male), while more male applicants intend to start their own business (33.8% compared to 27%). Male candidates are more likely to have come from a finance or consulting background, though these sectors still account for the overwhelming majority of female applicants. Only Eastern Europe has a higher proportion of female applicants at present, while there is nearly parity in the US & Canada.

Every year’s applicant research since the financial crisis of 2008 has seen full-time MBA study decline slightly in popularity, and 2013 is no expectation. However, the drop of 0.7% is the lowest yet, and suggests that we may see a leveling of the trend. Part-time study, on the other hand, is now being considered by 27.8% of applicants, compared to 26.7% in 2012.

Every region in the world, with the exception of North and South America, has seen a single-year drop in the age of candidates. However, candidates are older on average in every region, except Asia Pacific, then they were in 2011. The global mean now stands at 27.8, as compared to 27.6. Applicants in the US & Canada are two years older than they were in 2008 (29 as compared to 27).

• These are just a handful of the findings in this year’s report. For more and a greater level of detail and analysis