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Proportions vary by region. In the US & Canada, women interested in an MBA now outnumber men 53% / 47% as they do in Central Europe 51% / 49%. The ratio of women/men elsewhere: Latin America 38% / 62%, Asia Pacific 31% / 69%, Western Europe 29% / 71%, Middle East & Africa 28% / 72%.
The relatively low proportion of women in Western Europe interested in an MBA is striking.

4.2.3 Marital Status

The typical MBA applicant is still single, 77% (76%), and has no children, 87% (87%). However, there are significant differences between men and women. 73% of men are single and 84% of women. 84% of men have no children and 93% of women. These figures confirm the greater difficulties perceived for women in combining professional / educational and domestic responsibilities.

South Korea 38% and Nigeria 35% have the highest proportions of married applicants and Taiwan 98% and Thailand 97% the highest number of single applicants.

4.2.4 Children

While 84% of male applicants have no children, the percentage rises to 93% for the number of female applicants who have no children, reflecting the perceived difficulties of combining childcare and the intensive study required for an MBA.

Only in Argentina did 100% of respondents have no children, followed by Spain, where 98% reported no children. By contrast, only 51% of respondents in South Africa had no children followed by Nigeria with 67%.

4.3 PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

4.3.1 Work Experience

The trend continues for MBA applicants to have a lowering of the average length of work experience, now: 3.9 years (4.5) ((5 years)). Men have an average 4.1 years of work experience and women 3.7.

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Back to Index MBA Applicants 2006 Survey

Source: -
QS World MBA Tour - TopMBA.com Applicant Survey 2006
© QS Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd. 2006
Website: www.topmba.com