Application Trends for Master's Programmes-Report by GMAC

Application trends for specialized master's in business programmes show mixed results in this year's survey (Figure 6). Master in Management programmes continues to show evidence of strong cumulative growth in 2013, with the majority of programmes (61%) reporting increased application volume.

Master in Management programmes: The continued growth among Master in Management programmes appears to be driven primarily by foreign applicants. Globally, 62 % of Master in Management programmes reported increased applications from foreign candidates in 2013 compared with 40 % of programmes that reported growth in domestic applications.

Master of Accounting programmes: For the first time in five years, fewer than half of the Master of Accounting programmes reported growing application volumes. Just slightly more than a third (35%) of Master of Accounting programmes reported increased application volume; 60 % reported declining volume. A large proportion of Master of Accounting programmes reported declining application volumes for both domestic (55%) and foreign (47%) candidates, as well as for women (51%), who typically fill more than half the seats in these programmes.

Master of Finance programmes: For the second year in a row, fewer Master of Finance programmes reported increased application volume compared with the previous year. As noted earlier, 2013 was the first time in five years that a majority of these programmes (53%) reported declining volumes.