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4.4.8 Percentage of Finance Required

The mean average amount of finance applicants perceive they will require to make an MBA a feasible option has increased in 2006 from 50% to 60%. The percentage estimating that they will require 100% or higher funding has also increased from 13% to 20% in 2006.
On average, men tend to estimate needing higher levels of funding than women, who, on average estimate they will need below 60%. 19% women estimate needing 100% finance or higher and more than 20% of men.

4.5 POST MBA ASPIRATIONS AND ATTITUDES TO EMPLOYERS

4.5.1 Why an MBA?

There are almost no differences between men and women in their immediate study motivations. The most important reason remains to improve career prospects 73% (71%) ((74%)). Learning new skills still comes second with 57% (55%) ((66%)).

In strong third place comes a new category, the desire to build a professional network, which is selected by 42% of applicants. Enabling a career change - once the traditional reason for taking an MBA, has continued to fall this year with 37% (40%) ((47%)). Boosting salary stays at 29% (29%) ((34%)) and starting one’s own business immediately after the MBA falls slightly to 24% (25%) ((28%)). Although the number of respondents taking an MBA to 'improve their education' has increased again to 26% (22%) ((11%)), the overall data strongly reinforces the view that an MBA is a highly vocational course taken specifically to achieve career related goals.

Starting one’s own business comes in last position as a reason for taking an MBA. Interestingly, however, when candidates are asked where they see themselves ten years after the MBA, running their own business comes in second place after a high level corporate career.

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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