A Masters of Business Administration (MBA) continues to represent one of the most popular advanced degrees, designed specifically for managers and executives who are looking to take their career to the next level. With a number of options open to individuals, understanding the benefits that come with this course of study is incredibly important.

There is also no shortage of reasons to consider pursuing an MBA. Here are four of the most common benefits behind choosing this masters qualification.

1) Build your skill set

Perhaps the single most important reason to consider pursuing an MBA is to improve your skill set and find new opportunities that you wouldn't otherwise have access to.

For many people who have entered management or executive roles, their skills will have evolved on the job, but they won't have necessarily invested in them through an external course. Addressing this gap is one of the biggest benefits to come from a business qualification.

Furthermore, taking this time out can also give you time to spot holes in your own skill set that you might not have otherwise noticed, giving you an opportunity to find areas to work on either professionally or within the context of your MBA.

2) Flexibility

One of the biggest pressures on professionals who are looking to start studying is finding time in their schedule. Given how many other responsibilities individuals are likely to have, finding this time can certainly be difficult.

However, this is one of the key advantages that sets an MBA apart from other study options - it is designed for busy professionals. As a result, the courses can be completed around a full-time role or through an online course. With the ability to study from anywhere and progress on your own terms, an MBA is much easier to complete than alternative study options.

MBAs are designed to fit around full-time work.

3) A new perspective on business

Every manager's perspective on the business world is tempered by the experiences they have had as they worked up the corporate ladder. While specialisation in one industry or sector is important for building your own career, it can still make it harder to absorb ideas from other parts of the business world.

An MBA gives you the chance to take a step back from the specifics of your previous experience and look at the major trends that are affecting all companies, not just the one you work for. This overview can make it much easier to contribute to discussions around organisational strategy and bring new perspectives into the teams you work with.

Connections made on a training course can provide ongoing benefits to your career.

4) Build your network

Students in an MBA course come from a range of different sectors, giving you the opportunity to network with individuals who are in a very similar position to you in their own careers.

While this is incredibly similar to the aforementioned point on bringing a new perspective to business, there is a further benefit here, which is that these contacts will last well into your future career. With contacts across different industries, it becomes much easier for you to differentiate yourself from other managers who might not have this same experience.

Clearly, pursuing an MBA can give your career an important boost, while helping you build on your skills. To learn more about these study options, get in contact with our team today.

Hear from one of our current students, Kevin Hannon about his MBA experience.