The degree is gaining a global appeal, but will doing a Masters in Management in the United States pay off?
A master’s in management degree has long been a passport to the boardrooms of Europe’s largest listed companies. But the French-made qualification is becoming a route to the top of corporate America, thanks to the increasing popularity of MiMs in the US. The courses have had to overcome teething problems in America, where the MBA is still arguably the best-known business school qualification. US schools have had to work diligently to help corporate recruiters understand what the MiM is, and how its graduates are prepared for their talent pipelines.
Kris Muir, director of the MS Business program at Mays Business School at Texas A&M University, recalls that many job applications did not even list the MiM as an option when the program launched in 2016—eliminating students from consideration for the roles.
But this bias has largely evaporated, according to Kris, due in no small part to business schools’ efforts to educate employers. Mays, for example, hosts an annual networking shindig for MiM students and recruiters to mark the program’s launch each summer. Kris also visits employers personally during Mays’ career fairs to help educate them about the MiM degree.
“US recruiters are more accepting of the MiM now than in the past,” he says. “Last year one very large company hired one of our students and significantly changed their hiring process as a result of that experience in order to make it easier for their recruiting team to hire our students.” He adds that the degree is not under-valued by US employers.
At , 60% of master’s graduates work in the US, with top companies such as Bank of America, Apple, and Macy’s, to name a few. “This speaks for itself in terms of the degree’s appeal to US recruiters,” says Momtchil Kovatchev, Hult’s vice president of strategic initiatives.
The school, with its Masters in International Business program, was one of the pioneers of the MiM in the US. Hult’s MiM intake has grown more than 30% over a five-year period.
Despite a booming economy approaching full employment, 46% of US employers are struggling to recruit candidates, according to ManpowerGroup, suggesting a talent shortage. US companies with large talent pipelines, such as consultancy firms, are also broadening their reach beyond MBA programs as their hiring needs outstrip the growth in size of MBA cohorts.
“Employers appreciate that our graduates are able to work independently in cross-cultural, global teams, work with minimal supervision, and define and solve problems,” says Katharine Boshkoff, vice president of global career advancement and alumni relations at Hult.
In recent years, big-brand US schools Duke Fuqua, Michigan Ross, Kellogg, and USC Marshall have setup MiMs alongside their highly successful MBAs.
The MBA is the US’s best-known qualification, but could the MiM give it a run for its money?
Its popularity is growing among a generation of students who are, increasingly, not willing to give up two years of work and salary to get an MBA. When CarringtonCrisp, an education research company, surveyed 1,000 prospective business school students last year, two-thirds said they were considering getting a MiM instead of an MBA.
The most recent application data from the Graduate Management Admission Council show that MiMs globally received 7,834 applications in 2018, a 2.6% increase on the 7,635 applications the year before.
But in the US, seven in 10 programs saw declines in applications in 2018. This mirrors a broader decline in applications to all US master’s programs including the MBA on the back of immigration concerns. It could also signal that the MiM has some way to go in becoming a staple of US business education, even though recruiters are warming to it.
Nevertheless, Eric Larson, academic director of the MS Management program at the Gies Collge of Business in Illinois, is optimistic on the future of the MiM in America.
“I don’t have a crystal ball, but I do believe we will continue to see strong interest in this degree," he says. "A student can get a world-class education in liberal arts and sciences and then complement that with a one-year immersion in business education. It’s a combination that is tough to beat."
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Duke University Fuqua School of Business
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The professors at Duke university exhibit exceptional commitment to the success and well-being of their students by ensuring their academic growth and fostering a supportive social atmosphere. Moreover, the entire community is recognized for its amicability and inclusiveness.
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The people or the students are without a doubt Duke's greatest asset. While all students are driven to succeed, they are also enthusiastic about a variety of hobbies. You run across a huge lot of diversity. It is the ideal example of a school with well-rounded students and the ideal balance of campus life in a metropolis.
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All I could ever hope for is Duke University. That really epitomizes the "work hard, play hard" philosophy that elite colleges frequently pursue. Even though you'll have a lot of schooling to complete over the week, it's simple to keep focused because all of your friends are putting in similar amounts of effort. Many events taking place on and around campus on the weekends provide a great way to unwind. The combination of demanding academics and traditional college fun strikes the perfect balance.
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DU remains one the greatest and best universities that I have ever stepped in. The school is beautiful and neat. The classes are spacious and also very nice. I enjoyed attending my Lectures in those lecture halls. I also loved the Lecturers because of the good work they did. The university also has very good dorms that are given to students on first come first serve basis and they are affordable
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I received my B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Global Health with a minor in Chemistry from Duke University. I was able to grow as a student, scientist, and global health advocate with the help of my friends, professors, and other mentors I met along the way. A lot to learn if you look and ask, a great place to learn for those who want to learn.
whirlwind of growth and change
An amazing 2 years, with covid and everything else happening Duke has been a place of growth for me. The courses , classes were one of a kind, online and on campus. But the valuable lessons learned in the classes are irreplicable. The students are amazing here, so much diversity , I had no problem fitting in. The teachers are down right brilliant and so helpful. Don't be afraid to ask them anything. Graduated with my MBA with Duke and now my future awaits.
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Graduated with an MBA. The classes were very insightful and engaging. The staff are very easy to deal with. The teachers and students, are truly amazing people. Grateful to all the people I've met along the way at Duke. I've learnt a great deal that will help me in my future endeavors. The campus itself is a marvel, it is beautiful.
The university campus is awesome
I graduated with a masters degree in Religious Studies from Duke University. One thing I really liked about the university is its huge campus. It is spread in a large area with a lot of greenery and also have the facilities of reading rooms for single person also. My department building was very well taken care of. The library is immensely populated with books for all your needs. The faculty is very nice to students. The classes are equipped with latest technology to cater the needs of students. The University also provides room rentals for international students. They are very well maintained and priority is given to the International students for a comfortable stay there. There are weekly events conducted by the University as well as Student clubs for the entertainment of students. Anybody can take part in them and show their talents. I enjoyed my degree and I graduated in 2021 and was very happy that I had graduated from a reputed University.
