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MBA or MS dilemma


Posted Oct 26, 2020 13:37

Hi Everybody,

I am an Indian female working in IT for 14 years now and would like to do my masters for career progression. Truth be told, I feel stuck and would like to enhance my skills and a masters programme is something on my mind now. I work as a Senior business analyst and have many years of experience in IT operations. I would like to do a course with a sharp focus on digital transformation and e-business. I would not mind a 2 years masters course either instead of a traditional MBA. I have had the opportunity to work in Germany for a few months and would like to study and work there. I have started to learn German but that will take me a while since I only have A1 level German now. I have not taken my GMAT yet. These are my questions.

(1) Am I too old to be looking at studying now ?
(2) should I focus on MS or MBA programs?
(3) Could you advice me on the universities that I should target mainly in Germany, Switzerland and Austria?

Thanks in advance,
D
Hi Everybody,

I am an Indian female working in IT for 14 years now and would like to do my masters for career progression. Truth be told, I feel stuck and would like to enhance my skills and a masters programme is something on my mind now. I work as a Senior business analyst and have many years of experience in IT operations. I would like to do a course with a sharp focus on digital transformation and e-business. I would not mind a 2 years masters course either instead of a traditional MBA. I have had the opportunity to work in Germany for a few months and would like to study and work there. I have started to learn German but that will take me a while since I only have A1 level German now. I have not taken my GMAT yet. These are my questions.

(1) Am I too old to be looking at studying now ?
(2) should I focus on MS or MBA programs?
(3) Could you advice me on the universities that I should target mainly in Germany, Switzerland and Austria?

Thanks in advance,
D
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Posted Oct 26, 2020 15:37

1. No.
2. Given your focus, an MSc will be better. An MBA will generally be focussed on general management. 
3. Visit daad.de and find the Compass directory of degree programmes. There are 45 masters with that keyword, or which 14 are taught in English. One is at a research University, and it's an MBA at the Goethe school:
- Digital Transformation Management • Frankfurt University • Frankfurt am Main 

PS Other interesting options include masters in digital transformation at:
- XU Exponential University of Applied Sciences - looks very student centred
- Munich University of Applied Sciences - strongly entrepreneurial
- FH Dortmund University of Applied Sciences - looks tech-savvy. 

[Edited by StuartHE on Oct 26, 2020]

1. No.<br>2. Given your focus, an MSc will be better. An MBA will generally be focussed on general management.&nbsp;<br>3. Visit daad.de and find the Compass directory of degree programmes. There are 45 masters with that keyword, or which 14 are taught in English. One is at a research University, and it's an MBA at the Goethe school:<br>- Digital Transformation Management&nbsp;•&nbsp;Frankfurt University&nbsp;• Frankfurt am Main&nbsp;<br><br>PS Other interesting options include masters in digital transformation at:<br>- XU Exponential University of Applied Sciences - looks very student centred<br>- Munich University of Applied Sciences - strongly entrepreneurial<br>- FH Dortmund University of Applied Sciences - looks tech-savvy.&nbsp;<br><br>
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Posted Oct 26, 2020 15:54

Thank you very much Stuart ! I will definitely take a look at these schools.
Thank you very much Stuart ! I will definitely take a look at these schools.
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Posted Oct 27, 2020 04:15

The Goethe business school seems to have this course as part-time. As an international student, I will not be able to get a student visa for part time courses. So, if I have to enroll into this course, I should be in Germany on a different visa in order to pursue this.

The XU exponential course teaches the course in German and English. It requires a B2 level German proficiency. 

Do you have any suggestions as to what I could do ? Should I be looking at general management courses ? 




The Goethe business school seems to have this course as part-time. As an international student, I will not be able to get a student visa for part time courses. So, if I have to enroll into this course, I should be in Germany on a different visa in order to pursue this.<br><br>The XU exponential course teaches the course in German and English. It requires a B2 level German proficiency.&nbsp;<br><br>Do you have any suggestions as to what I could do ? Should I be looking at general management courses ?&nbsp;<br><br><br><br><br>
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Posted Oct 27, 2020 09:49

The Frankfurt course would probably work well together with a full-time course at the ISZ, Goethe's intensive language school. 

If the Munich and Dortmund courses don't meet your needs, then perhaps you need to rethink your goals. A general management course will obviously not focus, it will be general. However, your goals seems to be about focus. 
The Frankfurt course would probably work well together with a full-time course at the ISZ, Goethe's intensive language school.&nbsp;<br><br>If the Munich and Dortmund courses don't meet your needs, then perhaps you need to rethink your goals. A general management course will obviously not focus, it will be general. However, your goals seems to be about focus.&nbsp;
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Posted Oct 27, 2020 12:21

You seem to be mistaken about the XU. Undergraduate programmes are bilingual, but the Masters does not require German:  see Bit.ly/XUrequi 
You seem to be mistaken about the XU. Undergraduate programmes are bilingual, but the Masters does not require German:&nbsp; see Bit.ly/XUrequi&nbsp;
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Posted Oct 27, 2020 14:25

Hi Duncan, Stuart , Thank you for replying. I will check these courses once again. I had initially started to look for MBA courses but I am being told that I am too experienced for a 1 year MBA course and the executive MBA courses seem to be part-time for which I don’t get a visa. Disappointed, I started to look at masters courses and which area I might be interested. 

Do do you have any suggestions for my predicament?
Hi Duncan, Stuart , Thank you for replying. I will check these courses once again. I had initially started to look for MBA courses but I am being told that I am too experienced for a 1 year MBA course and the executive MBA courses seem to be part-time for which I don’t get a visa. Disappointed, I started to look at masters courses and which area I might be interested.&nbsp;<br><br>Do do you have any suggestions for my predicament?
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Posted Oct 27, 2020 15:14

Who is telling you that you are too old? In Germany, it's not unusual to have MBA students in their 30s and 40s. The oldest students at ESMT and WHU are in their mid-40s, for example. 

PS You can see typical age ranges for schools in The Economist MBA rankings. Click on the school and then the Students tab. 

[Edited by StuartHE on Oct 27, 2020]

Who is telling you that you are too old? In Germany, it's not unusual to have MBA students in their 30s and 40s. The oldest students at ESMT and WHU are in their mid-40s, for example.&nbsp;<br><br>PS You can see typical age ranges for schools in The Economist MBA rankings. Click on the school and then the Students tab.&nbsp;
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Posted Oct 27, 2020 15:15

Again, you can get a full-time visa for a full-time language course and then take an EMBA on the side. 
Again, you can get a full-time visa for a full-time language course and then take an EMBA on the side.&nbsp;
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Posted Oct 28, 2020 04:18

The problem with MBAs is not age, it's goals. You want a degree focussed on digital transformation. The MSc options Stuart outlined are better for that goal than a part time MBA degree, with around 15 days on digital. The MSc programmes will have much more content. 
The problem with MBAs is not age, it's goals. You want a degree focussed on digital transformation. The MSc options Stuart outlined are better for that goal than a part time MBA degree, with around 15 days on digital. The MSc programmes will have much more content.&nbsp;
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Posted Oct 29, 2020 18:22

Are you looking to go back to India after the course? 
Are you looking to go back to India after the course?&nbsp;
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Posted Oct 29, 2020 20:58

She explains in the opening post that she is not. 
She explains in the opening post that she is not.&nbsp;
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Posted Oct 29, 2020 21:49

No Laurie .. I am not looking to come back to India.
No Laurie .. I am not looking to come back to India.
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Posted Nov 05, 2020 18:44

In that case work on your German skills to a point where you can do a degree program, in-country, in German. 
In that case work on your German skills to a point where you can do a degree program, in-country, in German.&nbsp;
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Posted Jan 18, 2021 09:05

Hello Everybody,
 
      I have been looking at English taught Masters courses with a blend of management and IT and would like your opinion on a few of them. Are these courses well regarded for candidates with experience ? I am still only learning German at A2 level.

(1) European Masters in Project Management (M.A) : Fachhochschule Dortmund
(2) Msc. International Management in Project management and data science - HTW - Berlin
(3) M.A International Managemt and Sustainability. - Univ of Hamburg


Hello Everybody,<br>&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; I have been looking at English taught Masters courses with a blend of management and IT and would like your opinion on a few of them. Are these courses well regarded for candidates with experience ? I am still only learning German at A2 level.<br><br>(1) European Masters in Project Management (M.A) : Fachhochschule Dortmund<br>(2) Msc. International Management in Project management and data science - HTW - Berlin<br>(3) M.A International Managemt and Sustainability. - Univ of Hamburg<br><br><br>
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Posted Jan 18, 2021 09:47

Well regarded by whom? 
Well regarded by whom?&nbsp;
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Posted Jan 18, 2021 11:38

Hi Duncan,

   I meant well-regraded for the academic subjects being taught and  by the industry in terms of employment opportunities in Germany.  I did check linkedIn to find people for the 3rd option (sustainability) but I found most of them are presently doing the course.  I didn’t check LinkedIn for the other two options.


Hi Duncan,<br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;I meant well-regraded for the academic subjects being taught and &nbsp;by the industry in terms of employment opportunities in Germany. &nbsp;I did check linkedIn to find people for the 3rd option (sustainability) but I found most of them are presently doing the course. &nbsp;I didn’t check LinkedIn for the other two options.<br><br><br>
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Posted Jan 18, 2021 11:59

English-language MScs are really optimal for German speakers who want to work more internationally, and for international students who want to return home with a European degree. I would think that native speakers of German would do pretty well from these degrees, especially from the two schools in the West. If you want to work in Germany, as someone who will not get to professional fluency in German through an English-language degree, do a DSH course full-time and then take an MSc taught in German.

[Edited by Duncan on Jan 18, 2021]

English-language MScs are really optimal for German speakers who want to work more internationally, and for international students who want to return home with a European degree. I would think that native speakers of German would do pretty well from these degrees, especially from the two schools in the West. If you want to work in Germany, as someone who will not get to professional fluency in German through an English-language degree, do a DSH course full-time and then take an MSc taught in German.
quote

Posted Jan 18, 2021 13:06

Hi Duncan,
  Thank you for your response. So I would need to get to German B2, then do a DSH course after which I could apply to a 2 year masters course in German. This would need an investment of more than 3 years hopefully after which I would have a good German fluency. 
Hi Duncan,<br>&nbsp; Thank you for your response. So I would need to get to German B2, then do a DSH course after which I could apply to a 2 year masters course in German. This would need an investment of more than 3 years hopefully after which I would have a good German fluency.&nbsp;
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Posted Jan 18, 2021 14:52

You could find at DSH prep course aimed at people who have completed A2 (I did one at the DKFA). One level every 8 weeks means you could maybe enter a programme this year. Most MSc degrees ar 2 years in Germany but I am sure you could fine some that are one year. Try masterportal.com 
You could find at DSH prep course aimed at people who have completed A2 (I did one at the DKFA). One level every 8 weeks means you could maybe enter a programme this year. Most MSc degrees ar 2 years in Germany but I am sure you could fine some that are one year. Try masterportal.com&nbsp;
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