on Monday, February 26, 2007 - 03:05 PM AST - 13450 Reads

Getting an MBA in China

By Geno Teofilo

As the Chinese economy continues to boom, an increasing number of university business students, both Chinese and foreign, are opting to seek a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at Universities within China to increase their knowledge beyond the bachelor’s degree level.

“For my masters program I was in Beijing first, and then I came to Shanghai for the second half,” said Valerie, an American student completing her MBA in China. Some of the MBA programs in China attract foreign students from many different countries studying not only business, but also Chinese language. These students are eager to study in China, known worldwide as the place to go for growing businesses.

Many job seekers hoping to climb the executive ladder are finding that they are more likely to be hired by multi-national firms, and their skills are more marketable, if they have an MBA listed on their resume.

“There’s a demand for talented and qualified people who can do the business,” said Jacob, an MBA holder who knows the Shanghai job market well. “They are trying to get MBA programs going that are good quality... It’s a credential that helps get you into upper management quicker and easier.”

Some of these MBA programs have connections to Shanghai, other courses are in Beijing, while still others are completed through online distance learning, with help from high speed internet connections.

With so many programs to choose from, potential MBA students are challenged in trying to find out which university is right for them. How long is each program? What city are they located in? And very importantly, how much do they cost?

Here is a look at some of the programs out there for those thinking about getting MBA’s in Shanghai, as well as some of the other cities in China.

Program Name: BIMBA – Beijing International MBA at Peking University

Locations: Beijing, China
Website: http://enweb.bimba.edu.cn/english/en/index.php
Cost: US$ 15,000
Length of program: 1.5 years for full time students, 2.5 years for part time students

Additional Information:“BIMBA is engaged in pursuing system innovation and high quality of education, and nurturing executive personnel with insights, cultivation and responsibility, who are familiar with both Chinese and international business practices and economic development.” – from the BIMBA program introduction information. Fordham, an American University, is associated with the program. The program has been highly rated by Forbes magazine, and by Fortune magazine.

Program Name: CEIBS – China Europe International Business School

Locations: Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen
Website: http://www.ceibs.edu/mba/index.shtml
Cost: For Chinese students: approximately US$ 21,000. For international students: approximately US$ 29,000.
Length of program: 18 months

Additional Information: “To support China's economic development and to further China's integration into the world economy by preparing highly competent, internationally-oriented business leaders capable of working within the Chinese economic environment, while adapting to the driving forces of business globalization, international competition, and international co-operation.” – from the CEIBS mission statement. Associated Universities include the University of Navarra in Spain, the HEC School of Management in France, the University of Michigan in the USA, and the Otto Beisheim School of Management in Germany. The Financial Times ranked the CEIBS program as the 11th in the world.

Program Name: Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business

Location: Shanghai
Website: http://www.ckgsb.edu.cn:8080/
Cost: Approximately US$ 31,000
Length of program: Approximately 17 months

Additional Information: “Founded by the Li Ka-shing Foundation, the CKGSB MBA Program is committed to providing a high quality business education to future business leaders both in the Greater China region and around the world.” – from the welcome page. This is a relatively new program to the Chinese MBA education arena.

Program Name: Fudan University School of Management

Locations: Shanghai, Hong Kong
Website: http://www.fdms.fudan.edu.cn/en/mba/
Cost: Shanghai campus: approximately US$ 18,000. Hong Kong campus: approximately US$ 20,000
Length of program: 2 years

Additional Information: “The objectives of the program are to provide advanced management education which has a multi-disciplinary approach and an international perspective with emphasis on the Asian region, to provide the opportunity for candidates to specialise in a number of fields in management and to develop essential managerial skills in dynamic international business settings.” – from the program introduction. The various programs are associated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the BI Norwegian School of Management.

Program Name: GEMBA – USC

Location: Shanghai
Website: http://www.marshall.usc.edu/web/GEMBA.cfm?doc_id=5203
Cost: US$ 39,000 – 52,000
Length of program: 20 months

Additional Information: The USC Marshall School of Business is a private research and academic institution committed to educating tomorrow's global leaders. The Marshall curriculum is designed to prepare students for the evolving realities of the global marketplace. The program is ranked in the top 20 by U.S. News and World Report, and by Business Week. Associated with the University of Southern California.

Program Name: Guanghua School of Management at PU

Locations: Beijing, Shenzhen
Website: http://mba.pku.edu.cn/index_en.html
Cost: Approximately US$ 15,000
Length of program: 2 years

Additional Information: Ranked as one of the most influential MBA programs in China by the World Executive Group. Guanghua’s mission statement: “To advance management knowledge and develop business leaders for China and the global society.” The program has both full time and part time courses.

Program Name: IESE Navarra

Location: Shanghai
Website: http://www.iese.edu/en/Programs/MBA/MBA.asp
Cost: Approximately US$ 80,000
Length of program: 2 years

Additional Information: “The IESE MBA program prepares students to lead in today's global business environment. Becoming a part of the close-knit community, students gain the necessary skills to make informed and ethical business decisions to later affect positive change in the corporate world and society as a whole.” – from the program introduction. The European program is highly ranked by the Financial Times, and the Economist Intelligence Unit. Associated with China European International Business School, and the University of Barcelona.

Program Name: Jiao Tong University/Marseille MBA

Location: Shanghai
Website: http://www.aemba.com.cn/home_en.asp
Cost: Approximately US$ 20,000
Length of program: 18 months

Additional Information: “In the AEMBA class you will personally meet prominent faculty members from both China and abroad. They are not only excellent in their academic research but also professional in relevant management practices.”- from the class description. Accredited by EQUIS, established by the European Foundation for Management Development. The program is associated with the Euromed Marseille Ecole de Management.

Program Name: Maryland/Smith MBA

Locations: Shanghai, Bejing
Website: http://www.rhsmith-umd.cn/Academic_Programs/China_Executive_MBA/Overview_china
_Executive_MBA
Cost: Approximately US$ 40,000
Length of program: 18 months

Additional Information: “Smith graduates know how to leverage change in today's technology-driven marketplace. The MBA in China prepares graduates to lead organizations in an economy fueled by technology, globalization and new venture opportunity.” – from the academic program overview. The school is accredited by the American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business. Associated with the University of Maryland.

Program Name: Renmin University of China

Location: Beijing
Website: http://www.rbs.org.cn/en/03/01_02.asp
Cost: Approximately US$ 20,000
Length of program: 2 years

Additional Information: Renmin is one of the first schools in China to offer an MBA program. The courses are designed for evening and weekend study. Associated with New York State University in Buffalo. “The MBA program is featured by paying equal attention to both advanced topics and systematic courses, distinguished professors coupled with entrepreneurs, advanced western theory integrated with domestic experience, simulated training with interactive case discussion.” – from the Renmin features of MBA education.

Program Name: Rutgers MBA

Locations: Shanghai, Bejing
Website: http://www.rutgers.cn/introduction.htm
Cost: Approximately US$ 37,000
Length of program: 14 months

Additional Information: “Provides for an enhanced learning environment, while the bond established among the participants endures and enriches their professional and personal lives long after the degree is conferred.” – Rutgers MBA Introduction. All Rutgers faculty are flown from the USA to China. The American Academy of Management Journal ranks Rutgers 34th among the top 100 business schools in the USA for research.

Program Name: Shanghai Maritime University

Location: Shanghai
Website: http://en.shmtu.edu.cn/
Cost: Unavailable at press time.
Length of program: 2 years

Additional Information: For those former sailors who are interested in the shipping business, or for those on land wishing to work in ports, this curriculum is oriented towards maritime and harbor operations. The program also offers MBAs with an emphasis on engineering.

Program Name: Shanghai University of Finance and Economics

Locations: Shanghai, Shenzhen.
Website: http://www.shufe.edu.cn/english/schools/MBASchool.htm
Cost: US$ 12,000
Length of program: 2 years

Additional Information: This program is designed to be an intensive weekend course. “The objective of EMBA Education is to upgrade the knowledge and capabilities of enterprisers and professional managers so that they can live up to high business moral principles, develop their abilities to make sound decisions and explore new realms, posses a systematic command of modern management, keep abreast of the latest trend of international economic and technological development, and successfully participate in international competition.” – from the EMBA program description. Associated with Webster University.

Program Name: SIMBA Tongji University

Location: Shanghai
Website: http://www.simba-tongji.com/EN/default.asp
Cost: Full Time: Approximately US$ 36,000. Part Time: Approximately US$ 44,000. Fees increase if sponsored by a company.
Length of program: 20 months

Additional Information: The SIMBA program aims to train internationally focused corporate managers, and is designed to train the next generation of business leaders. Ranked in the world’s top 100 MBA schools by the Financial Times. Associated with the Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chausses in Paris.

Program Name: Strathclyde MBA

Location: Shanghai
Website: http://www.ukmba.com.cn/
Cost: Depending on the program, tuition varies from US$ 10,000 – 24,000.
Length of program: Full time: 12 months. Part time: 36 months.

Additional Information: The study schedules are designed to be flexible. Their program emphasizes strategic management. Focus is at the level of developing stategy in any organisation – big or small, departmental or divisional. Strathclyde is one of the few ‘triple’ accredited business schools, accredited by AMBA – the Association of MBAs, EQUIS – quality assurance from the European Foundation for Management Development, and the AACSB – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Associated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Program Name: Tsinghua School of Economics and Management

Location: Beijing
Website: http://mba.em.tsinghua.edu.cn/Default.aspx?alias=mba.em.tsinghua.edu.cn/mbaen
Cost: Approximately US$ 11,000 – 15,000
Length of program: 2 years

Additional Information: Their goal is stated as follows: “The Tsinghua MBA program aims to cultivate future management elite with international viewpoints and high-standard sense of social responsibility, who will make extraordinary contributions to both China and the world’s economic development.” Associated with Northwestern University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and 48 other partner schools. One of the first economics and management schools in China.

Program Name: U21 Global MBA

Location: Singapore, plus online program
Website: http://www.u21global.edu.sg
Cost: Approximately US$ 10,000
Length of program: Approximately 2½ years

Additional Information: An online course, the program is oriented towards businessmen who wish to work toward an MBA, while still working full time. U21 Global is associated with the University of Virginia, the University of Birmingham, plus 17 other universities. “The program covers a wide range of topics relevant to business in the vibrant global economy. Facilitated by a dynamic online learning environment, the program stimulates interaction with other course participants, fostering co-operation and the sharing of ideas and experiences.” – from the MBA Overview.