Should you choose a Master of International Business or an MBA in International Business?

An international business degree can help you expand your career prospects across different countries and expose you to the relevant skills required for a global career.

Today, renowned universities offer diverse programmes like a master’s in international business (MIB) or an MBA in international business. The question remains: Which international business programme will suit your professional aspirations better?

To an untrained eye, both degrees might seem the same. However, there are distinct differences between the two programmes. Struggling to decide which path to take in the MIB vs MBA debate? Read this blog to find out the difference between the two qualifications.

1. Student profile

The simplest way to differentiate between the programmes is to look at their target audiences’ profiles. The average age of MBA students tends to be a little older than students enrolled in MIB programmes.

This is because international business MBA programmes usually require a few years’ experience. In contrast, master’s in international business courses are open to admitting students without any experience credits and academic backgrounds.

Therefore, you should pick an MBA programme if you want to interact with more experienced professionals but stick to a MIB degree if you want to mix a younger crowd.

2. Leadership development

With the increasing relevance being placed on leadership as an innate business skill, leadership development should be a part of any international business programme.

The inclusion of leadership development in the programme curriculum can differ depending on the school or programme type. Generally, most MBA programmes have modules focusing on the leadership or management aspect of an international business. However, this might not be the case for most MIB programmes.

Therefore, it makes sense to opt for an international business MBA if you are vying for leadership or senior management roles in the domain.

3. Choice of electives and specialisations

Usually, both MBA and MIB programmes offer diverse specialisations and electives to help you customise your degree as per your career goals. This diversity in curriculum subjects can help you gain a comprehensive understanding of the global business domain. You can also use your expanded knowledge base to improve your career prospects.

However, since some MBA programmes usually account for a larger number of credits, they can offer a broader range of electives and specialisations than their MIB counterparts. Hence, you should stick to an international business MBA if you are looking for a diverse curriculum.

4. International exposure

When it comes to providing international exposure, both courses are usually comparable, mostly if offered by an international university.

You can learn much more about the global business culture just from mingling with people on the campus. You can also learn how to respect cultural differences and work in cross-cultural teams.

5. Previous work experience

Your programme choice will also depend on whether you have previous work experience working for an international business. MBA programmes most often require at least two to three years of relevant experience for admissions.

This can create problems for fresh college graduates who want to continue their studies after their bachelor’s programmes. They can instead rely on MIB programmes from reputed universities to introduce them to the global business domain.

These factors aside, you must also consider the quality of faculty or the career services and support offered by the business school. You should also look into the scope of MBA in international business versus a MIB after-credits course options.

If you are still undecided, you can contact the admission counsellors at your preferred business school to discuss your academic profile or career aspirations.

In search of a college that offers the right international exposure for your international business programme? The London School of Business and Finance (LSBF) campus in Singapore offers relevant MBA and MIB programmes that offer immense global exposure.

LSBF in Singapore offers an MBA in International Business and MA International Business programme in partnership with the University of Greenwich in the UK. Both courses can prepare you for a global business career by giving a comprehensive understanding of how international businesses work.

You can also benefit from the flexible study modes and strong partnerships of LSBF with other international academic universities.

Check out the programme details in depth from the LSBF in Singapore’s website to learn more.