Top 6 business schools to kick-start your career in the industry

16 Jan 2017

Business and management degrees are among the most popular academic courses in the world. According to a 2016 report by The Independent, business studies graduates are more likely to be employed three months after graduating when compared to other graduates. With an increasingly competitive job market, this is good news for prospective students contemplating the pursuit of a tertiary education in this field. With the rise of computer science subjects and their increasing demand within the digital era, you may be left wondering if a business or management degree is still relevant…

The answer is undeniably yes. A study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and reported in Forbes shows that business administration and management degrees are among the top 10 in-demand degrees, while a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) is among the top 10 most highly sought-after postgraduate programmes. For those dreaming of working on Wall Street, you’ll be pleased to know that most U.S.-based investment bankers majored in either finance, economics, or business administration.

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If your career goals include climbing the corporate ladder, you’ll be delighted to know that a degree in this field – specifically a master’s in management – will increase the chances of this happening. According to Business Because, the network for business schools worldwide, the growing demand to study a master’s in management is a response to career market trends where undergraduates feel a need to boost their employment credentials, giving themselves a competitive edge in a busy job market.

But pursuing a degree or postgraduate degree in the field of business and management could be one of the biggest investments you make for your studies and your career. But it’s important to figure out what you really want to get out of your degree before you start. With so many universities that offer different business school options, how do you know which one is right for you?

According to the Financial Times, one of the key things to look out for when choosing your tertiary institution is to look at the school’s alumni network and links to companies that could help with your career goals later on…

Intrigued to know more? Well, we’ve selected 6 business schools that offer a well-rounded academic programme on top of a variety of partnerships and industry links to help get you started.

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS, AALBORG UNIVERSITY – DENMARK

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At Aalborg University, each student participates in the ‘Problem Based Learning’ model, also known as ‘The Aalborg Model’, where you’ll be placed in teams to work on real-world issues happening in the industry. The school offers a Bachelor programme in Economics and Business Administration, as well as a top-up programme for people who are enrolled as guest students for a few semesters.

The three-year, full-time degree is an interdisciplinary and problem-oriented study programme that covers areas like markets, finances, operations, business policies and strategies, and problem management. The beauty of this degree lies in its flexibility, allowing graduates to find employment in a wide-range of areas within Business Administration. The integrated company project in the fifth semester of the course reflects the commitment of the programme to cohesive business-university interaction.

In addition to its Bachelor programme, the Department offers a range of masters’ programmes that include majors such as Innovation Management, International Marketing, International Business Economics and Innovation, Knowledge and Economic Dynamics and two one semester specializations, Creative Genius and New Venture Creation.

ANTWERP MANAGEMENT SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY OF ANTWERP – BELGIUM

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Catered to graduates and working professionals who are looking for a change or hoping to boost their expertise for their current job, Antwerp Management School offers master’s programs that help make a difference.

AMS offers six master’s programs and 12 programs for experienced professionals, all taught in English. Its postgraduate degrees are practice-oriented and offer interactive classes while the final project combines theory with practical experience, allowing students to apply what they’ve learned to their work.

Throughout their degree, students will be placed in small groups as part of teamwork training and learning how to deal with and work alongside different personalities. AMS also believes in an interactive way of teaching where classroom participation is expected.

Moreover, students can attend talks by guest speakers within the industry and get the chance to build a network with various companies and sectors, ensuring that students have close ties with the academic world as well as the business world.

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE – SCOTLAND

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If you’re looking for a university with excellent student support and an unbeatable student experience, you’ve come to the right place. The University of Dundee has been ranked as the Scottish University of the year for a second year in a row, and as one of the world’s best for international student experience in this year’s International Student Barometer (ISB). This institution is well-known for providing students with quality teaching through an internationally-experienced team of academics and practitioners, who are connected to the professions, industry, commerce and the public sector.

Students aiming to kick-start their business career (accounting, finance, economics, management and marketing) will be pleased to know that Dundee’s School of Business offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in areas like Accounting, Finance, Economics, International Business and Management, and Marketing. If your interest lies in more than one area, the School also offers a list of combined degrees.

In addition to quality teaching, the School is a research informed connected School which has a strong focus on research, engaging with practitioners, policy makers, organisations, and academic institutions in the UK and overseas to push the boundaries of knowledge and its application to make a real impact on society.

Located in the heart of Dundee’s West End, the university is situated in the cultural hub of the city. From contemporary restaurants to cultural hotspots, the city has something for every student.

BIRMINGHAM BUSINESS SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM – ENGLAND

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Accredited by the AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS, Birmingham Business School is one of the few institutions in the world to hold a triple-crown rating placing them within an elite group of global business schools.

Undergraduate programmes available include Accounting and Finance, Economics, Business Management, Money Banking Finance, Mathematical Economics and Statistics, as well as undergraduate degrees in partnership with the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM).

Over 50 Postgraduate degrees are on offer covering Economics, HR, Accountancy and Business Management, including Advanced Engineering Management and Human Resource Management. In addition, the School offers a full-time, executive and online MBA programme for students.

Postgraduate students at the Birmingham Business School can benefit from a brand new multi-purpose and exclusive study and learning centre. The Alan Walters building offers high quality professional facilities including a ‘Harvard Style’ lecture theatre, dedicated MBA teaching floor and a mock trading room.

Birmingham Business School is already globally renowned for the quality of its teaching and research. The cohort represents over 60 countries with a global alumni community of 29,000 graduates. To this end, the goal is to provide an education that will inspire and equip graduates to navigate the ever-changing and evolving landscape of global business.

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF BATH – ENGLAND

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As one of the world’s leading business schools, the University of Bath aims to equip students with the best opportunities through its academic programmes which are accredited by EQUIS and AMBA, and world-class research.

At the School of Management, students can choose from six undergraduate degrees which includes Accounting & Finance, Business Administration and Management with Marketing. Each degree comes with an option to do a 12-month placement where you can undertake a real job with one of the 250 companies the University has links too.

Here, students are advised to go for placements as it represents an opportunity to increase their chances of finding employment, as graduates who have undergone placements tend to have specialised knowledge and special project work on their curriculum vitae (CV), as well as an invaluable external viewpoint on the industry.

WESTMINSTER BUSINESS SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER – ENGLAND

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Set in central London, this diverse business school offers a wide-range of academic programmes ranging from undergraduate, postgraduate, MBA, and professional and short courses. Here, students can choose from the following specialisms: Accounting, Finance and Economics, Business and Management, Human Resources Management and Marketing.

The degree also comes with a choice to do a placement year, where you get to gain practical work experience within an industry relevant to your studies. Besides boosting your graduate employability, the placement allows you to experience the working world and test drive your career of choice. Previous students have gone to do their internship at the following companies: Allianz, ESPN Sports Media Ltd, Goldman Sachs, House of Fraser and Volkswagen Group.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International