Non-Bachelor MBA

Are there any thoughts or experiences out there with respect to gainng entry into a RA PhD program with no bachelor's degree?

i.e. How feasible is it for, say, a Heriot-Watt MBA grad with no undergradate degree to gain admissions to a US RA PhD program?

BM

 

Probably not your best choice.

Many universities do not consider "any" MBA suitable preparation for a Phd program, so you may run into some difficulties.

If they do accept an MBA they will probably want a very robust major... more than you can obtain in a 1 year MBA program.

Finally, they will probably want a thesis as part of the program and HW doesn't provide a thesis.

Alternatives... look to the university of London.

They offer Master's degrees in both Organizational Behavior, Financial Management and Financial Economics... all are 100% non-resident, inexpensive and good preparation for a US Phd.

 

Mr. Migliazzo asks: i.e. How feasible is it for, say, a Heriot-Watt MBA grad with no undergradate degree to gain admissions to a US RA PhD program?

During the seven years (1991-98) I was involved in marketing the Heriot-Watt MBA, this was a common qustion. We surveyed 50 major US universities, asking them specifically that question. I don't have the data, but my clear memory is that something between 1/3 and 1/2 said that they do not accept any MBA for a Master's requirement into a Ph.D. program -- not Heriot-Watt, not Harvard -- that if a person has that as a goal, they should do an MA or MS in economics, org behavior, etc. The rest all said that a Royal Chartered British university MBA would meet their requirements.

As always, one should be sure that any degree will meet predictable needs before spending any money on it.

 

MSc in Organizational Behavior program offered by University of London (through Birkbeck College) is the least expensive among the U. of London's DL master degree programs. The whole program, including course materials, readings and textbooks, is GBP3,795 (around US$5,400).

For details of the program or other DL programs, the following link may be useful: http://www.lon.ac.uk/external

It is possible for MSc graduates to apply for study in PhD program at Birkbeck College, other colleges of U of London or other universities.

 

I like them odds!

So, to get to the heart of the matter:

Based on your research, If I assume that 1/2 to 2/3 will accept a royal chartered MBA as a master's requirement into a Ph.D. program, how feasible then would it be for the applicant (who possess an MBA) to gain acceptance into the Ph.D. program if he/she does not possess a first degree (bachelor's)

Comments/thoughts?

BM

 

I was not aware that UoL offered DL PhD degrees.

Residency requirements or stright DL as the rest of their program?

Christian

 

I mean on compus PhD programs. The UoL external PhD programs were terminated several years ago.

 

I don't think a US Phd program will have a requirement of an undergrad but they will look at your entire application and consider:

all prior academic work, work experience, ability, grades, your area of interest, the ability of the school to support your interest and, to be honest, how many applications they have coming in that year (if it is a slow year they will tend to be more flexible).