Why Business Degrees are Worth the Investment

Dr Paul Hopkinson, Associate Head of Edinburgh Business School for Heriot-Watt University Dubai and Academic Lead for Heriot-Watt Online, provides an overview of why students should consider investing in a business degree.

Studies indicate that business and related subjects (such as the FAME group - finance, accounting, management and economics) are among the most popular fields of study at Universities worldwide. From nonprofits to multinational corporations to government entities, people with business qualifications are much sought after.

Market Demand - In today's dynamic business landscape, business management degrees are favoured by employers and are often a qualifying criterion whilst hiring. The reason is this degree equips individuals with multiple skills that are useful across industries.

Lucrative Salaries - In general, students who graduate with a business degree enjoy higher than normal average salaries. Compensation data company PayScale states that the average annual salary for an entry level job for an MBA graduate degree is Dh173,389. Additionally, projected pay increase is slightly higher than average.

Career Versatility - One of the biggest benefits is the variety of career paths. Be it a career in finance, insurance or banking, a business degree can provide students with requisite skills. It can be equally useful for creative careers such as marketing or brand building. And it can equip you to start a business of your own if you so desire.

At Heriot-Watt University's Edinburgh School of Business (EBS), students don't just learn facts and figures. Leaders across the world stress that real-life skills are as important as education and intellect, and EBS aims to help students of today become managers of the future. Our programmes are designed to encourage students to develop practical business management and problem-solving skills through team development courses and group projects, expose them to theories of business management and case studies of companies and provide the opportunity to work on practical problems. Some examples are our M.Sc. programmes in International Marketing, Managing Innovation and International Business Management.

EBS also offers the opportunity to study from anywhere in the world via the online MBA, a programme which attracts many on account of its academic rigour, intellectual challenge and proven ability to enhance career prospects. Another advantage is its sheer flexibility - students can study the subjects they choose in the order they like and can begin and end when they choose. No other MBA programme today offers as much freedom.

For more details of programmes offered by Edinburgh Business School, please call +971 52 213 9432, or email dubaimba@hw.ac.uk or visit hw.ac.uk/dubai

You can also make an appointment via email to visit the Admissions team at Conference Center, Block 1, First Floor, Dubai Knowledge Park from Saturday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm 

• Supplements