In the same study conducted in 2011, repeated by Carrington-crisp, European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and Association of Business Schools (ABS), 14% of Indians said they would consider a specialist Masters, and across the world it was as high as 28%. At the same time, GMAC reported that applications for Master of Finance programmes rose by 83%, Master in Management by 69% and Master of Accounting by 51%.
Comparison Between MBA and Specialist Masters : One part of answer lies in the problems of the MBA rather than the attraction of the specialist masters. The MBA jobs market has tightened in recent years, especially with declining recruitment in the financial sector. Where recruitment has continued relatively strongly, it has tended to be concentrated at the top MBA schools.
On the other side, a specialist Masters will often provide skills in a specific field, making a graduate well-suited to a particular career and, more importantly, a particular vacancy. The second part of the equation is cost. It is not in-heard of for an MBA at a top school to cost over 100,000 and possibly as much as double this figure once income foregone from giving up a job is taken into account.
A Specialist Masters degree has lower fees than an MBA at the same school. It may also be quicker to complete than an MBA. Even with a lower paid on graduation, the sums add up, offering a quicker return on investment for the individual.
So, are you an Management student? What would you opt for, an MBA or Specialist Masters? Which according to you is the best choice and Why?