Seeking advice: Need a degree for career progression, thinking MBA, do not have a BA

Hi Everyone,

I'm 40 years old and stuck in a bit of a rut in my telecoms career although very well paid so don't feel sorry for me. I have about 15 years or so of senior experience and currently work in the Middle East. I would like to aim for more senior roles but particularly in this region the lack of a degree is a handicap to advancement.

I'd like to obtain a qualification of some sort and an MBA seems to make the most sense. I'm not so conceited that I believe I have nothing to learn but honestly I don't think that the study will be all that useful in my career and really it's about having the qualification on my CV. How would you advise me to proceed? Any suggestions for accredited distance learning MBA courses that take students without an undergraduate degree? The level of prestige of the MBA is really not important to me, I'll consider any course in any country.

Many thanks!

 

I believe I'm correct when I say that the only legitimate MBA program that will potentially admit a person without an undergraduate degree is the Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University.

Edinburgh Business School: Distance Learning MBA and Online Business Courses

 

Dude are you my future self? I just posted a similar question and I work in the middle east too!!!!

 

Thanks for the reply. Actually a surprisingly (surprising to me anyway) large number of places will admit students onto their MBAs without a BA. I found plenty with only a quick search, they generally require a certain amount of experience in industry.

 

I would be extremely interested to learn more! I have no particular leaning toward a MBA per se, my main goal is to attain a recognised degree of some sort, if I can learn something useful in the process then so much the better.

Thanks!

 

OK, so maybe you'll do all our members a favor by listing these programs...

 

Sure thing!

Here are a few that I came across already:

Smurfit business school: UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School: Smurfit
Article discussing schools here: MBA Without an Undergraduate Degree? Yes, it’s Possible! « MacQuil.com Global Portal
The much maligned -) Robert Kennedy College / Universtity of Cumbria program: Welcome to Robert Kennedy College | Robert Kennedy College
MBA UK - Henley Business School MBA UK - University of Reading
MBA Requirements
Entry Requirements - The Bournemouth MBA - Bournemouth University
London Business School: MBA Applying, London Business School
Open University (requires an introductory certificate course): MBA entry requirements | Open University in Europe
University of Kent: How to Apply & Entry Requirements - Kent Business School - University of Kent
University of Roehampton Entry requirements
University of Manchester: Business Administration MBA (The University of Manchester)

This is not intended to be an exhaustive list by any means, from what I can see it seems that the UK universities seem to offer possible exemptions more often than not.

 

Sure thing!

Here are a few that I came across already:

Smurfit business school: UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School: Smurfit
Article discussing schools here: MBA Without an Undergraduate Degree? Yes, it’s Possible! « MacQuil.com Global Portal
The much maligned -) Robert Kennedy College / Universtity of Cumbria program: Welcome to Robert Kennedy College | Robert Kennedy College
MBA UK - Henley Business School MBA UK - University of Reading
MBA Requirements
Entry Requirements - The Bournemouth MBA - Bournemouth University
London Business School: MBA Applying, London Business School
Open University (requires an introductory certificate course): MBA entry requirements | Open University in Europe
University of Kent: How to Apply & Entry Requirements - Kent Business School - University of Kent
University of Roehampton Entry requirements
University of Manchester: Business Administration MBA (The University of Manchester)

This is not intended to be an exhaustive list by any means, from what I can see it seems that the UK universities seem to offer possible exemptions more often than not.

 

Sure thing!

Here are a few that I came across already:

Smurfit business school: UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School: Smurfit
Article discussing schools here: MBA Without an Undergraduate Degree? Yes, it’s Possible! « MacQuil.com Global Portal
The much maligned -) Robert Kennedy College / Universtity of Cumbria program: Welcome to Robert Kennedy College | Robert Kennedy College
MBA UK - Henley Business School MBA UK - University of Reading
MBA Requirements
Entry Requirements - The Bournemouth MBA - Bournemouth University
London Business School: MBA Applying, London Business School
Open University (requires an introductory certificate course): MBA entry requirements | Open University in Europe
University of Kent: How to Apply & Entry Requirements - Kent Business School - University of Kent
University of Roehampton Entry requirements
University of Manchester: Business Administration MBA (The University of Manchester)

This is not intended to be an exhaustive list by any means, from what I can see it seems that the UK universities seem to offer possible exemptions more often than not.

 

@Maniac Craniac: I'm still struggling through the same issues as gzaklu here, so if you would be so kind as to elaborate on the "ways to quite rapidly finish an undergraduate degree", I would be most grateful!
thank you,
KC

 

OK, great! How many of these programs are online/distance learning?

 

I did try to post a list but nothing has appeared :-(

 

Please refer to this thread for your "Where did my posts go?" questions.

http://www.degreeinfo.com/general-distance-learning-discussions/35100-new-users-ask-where-did-my-posts-go.html

I have been extremely busy watching an NCIS marathon and totally goofing off as it applies to my moderation responsibilities. My follow up question remains: are any of those listed programs distance learning in nature?

 

No explanation necessary, many thanks for your assistance. At least some of them are distance learning - Robert Kennedy, Open University, Herriot Watt (as you pointed out.) Would I be right in thinking that the US programmes seem to be more rigid in their requirements than the European ones?

 

The Open University (UK) is not available to US residents and so it doesn't get much action here. Otherwise, we tend to ignore non-DL programs as not meeting the needs of our members.

 

Both Henley and Manchester offer MBA programs via DL. Moreover, both are triple accredited (AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA).

 

Not all courses are available to US residents but they do offer some: Study at the OU - USA

 

I think a Bachelor’s is a prerequisite for most MBA programs – online or otherwise. Now that you have decided to pursue higher education, why don’t you do it the way it should be done? Enroll for an undergrad business program before joining an online MBA program. With the availability of accelerated and flexible degrees, you should be able to graduate from both the programs in much less than normal completion time.