The supply of online MBA programs continues to expand, giving prospective students more options to choose from. In a sign of confidence in the future demand for online MBAs, which was turbocharged after the COVID-19 pandemic, business schools are rolling out evermore virtual degree programs.
In 2024, three top schools — Edinburgh Business School, Georgia State University and EDHEC Business School — are launching new online MBA programs that offer students greater flexibility, allowing students to balance their studies with professional and personal commitments.
They feature new curricula that integrate the latest trends and technologies in business, ensuring that graduates are well-equipped to tackle contemporary challenges.
Moreover, these programs provide robust career support, including personalized coaching, networking opportunities and access to extensive alumni networks, to help students advance in their careers.
Here’s a closer look at what each program has to offer.
Edinburgh Business School’s Online MBA
Edinburgh Business School in Scotland is introducing an Online MBA designed to complement its full-time and executive MBA offerings. The new Online MBA will enable students to benefit from Edinburgh’s teaching without needing to pause their careers or relocate.
According to Julian Rawel, the director of MBA programs at the school, the pandemic underscores its capability to deliver high-quality education virtually, paving the way for this new program. “Determined to ensure their learning experience continued, I was proud of how quickly both our academic and professional support staff pivoted to deliver the Edinburgh MBA virtually,” she says.
The Online MBA focuses on three pillars: strategic leadership, professional development and global business. Amanda Singleton, deputy director of MBA programs at Edinburgh, highlights the importance of the for-credit professional development course.
“It is designed to help our students enhance their leadership capability and professional competence and, most importantly, it gives students the opportunity to reflect upon their own personal strengths and development needs, whilst gaining increased self-awareness,” she explains.
Georgia State University’s Online MBA
Starting in fall 2024, Georgia State University’s Robinson College of Business will offer its flagship MBA as an online program. This follows a recent redesign of its curriculum, reducing total credit hours from 54 to 42 and increasing emphasis on AI literacy, big data analysis and emotional intelligence.
The self-paced program includes skills development, team-building exercises and a case competition, supported by an expanded career services team.
Richard Phillips, dean of the business school, highlights the program’s flexibility and accessibility, making it an attractive option for working professionals. “Offering our MBA online makes one of the region’s most robust part-time programs even more flexible and accessible for working professionals,” he notes.
U.S. News & World Report, a publication, ranks Robinson’s Flexible MBA 27th among part-time programs in the nation and 17th among public university programs.
Students can choose between a business administration and a STEM-designated business analysis major. The broad selection of electives and concentrations allows students to customize their studies to suit their career goals.
EDHEC Business School’s Online MBA
EDHEC Business School is launching a 100% online MBA. The 24-month program offers an immersive experience through consulting projects, master classes and learning expeditions, all delivered via a cutting-edge e-learning platform.
“With this new Online MBA Program, we identified an opportunity to provide a tailored solution for learners and participants who cannot join us physically on our campus,” notes Loïck Menvielle, an associate professor at EDHEC.
“Dedicated to those based in France or abroad, this MBA is designed for participants driven by the same desire: to optimize their time while remaining employed and learning flexibly from home.”
The program leverages EDHEC’s academic research, addressing global transition issues such as green finance and criminal risk management. Menvielle notes that this combination is beneficial for students. “Through these close collaborations with research chairs and centers, the EDHEC Online MBA will give future leaders the keys to understanding a complex, ever-changing world,” says Menvielle.
Students will also have the chance to specialize in specific areas of business management, such as strategy and innovation or climate finance. Personalized career counseling and the Transform 360 program, which includes coaching sessions, workshops and face-to-face meetings with EDHEC researchers and faculty members, also feature in the new online MBA.
As the demand for flexible, high-quality business education grows, these new online MBA programs from Edinburgh Business School, Georgia State University and EDHEC Business School offer exciting opportunities for aspiring business leaders.
