What’s the difference between a Management MSc and an MBA?
Dr Hayley German
Senior Lecturer in Management
Hi, I’m Dr Hayley German. I am Director of Postgraduate Taught Programmes at the AACSB-accredited Huddersfield Business School, the Times Higher Education Business School of the Year. I’m also a Senior Lecturer in Management and I teach on our MSc and MBA courses at the University of Huddersfield.
A Master of Science (MSc) in Management and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) are level 7 qualifications focused on business and management. At the University of Huddersfield, we offer both MBA and Management MSc, plus a wide range of other management and business-related postgraduate courses. Both are highly respected by employers and globally recognised management qualifications.
These qualifications can provide students with valuable skills and knowledge to effectively manage organisations, drive growth and excel their career in their chosen fields. However, despite some similarities, the two degrees have key differences such as the curriculum, audiences and entry requirements. In this blog, I explore these differences.
Curriculum
Both our MBA and Management MSc courses have a world-class curriculum delivered by an award-winning Academic School with highly qualified academic tutors; however, the scope and course content differ. Generally, MBAs offer a broader business education, covering the main aspects of business and management such as finance, human resources, marketing, innovation, and business economics.
Many MScs in Management have a specialism or specific training, such as the Management MSc (Distance Learning) at Huddersfield, which provides an overarching technology focus, as well as specialist modules in project management and digital marketing strategy. While our Management MSc (Distance Learning) has a strong emphasis on real-world application, MScs are generally more theory-oriented with curriculums that focus on developing strong foundations within specific areas of management.
Audience
The Management MSc and MBA are designed for different learners. An MBA is aimed at individuals with prior management experience who want to progress into senior management or executive roles. Those who study for an MBA typically have at least two years’ professional management experience, with the idea that the learning further develops the skills gained through their work experience.
The Management MSc (Distance Learning) at the University of Huddersfield is suited to individuals without any prior management experience. It’s designed for those starting out in or switching to a career in business. This includes industry professionals aiming to progress to their first management role, as well as recent graduates of any discipline aiming to enhance their business and management skills and knowledge. As previously mentioned, many Management Master’s degrees have a specialism, like the one offered at Huddersfield, which will appeal to learners with an interest in that area.
Entry requirements
The entry requirements between the Management MSc (Distance Learning) and MBA differ as they are tailored to learners at different stages in their career. While entry requirements will vary between higher education institutions, at Huddersfield, our MBA requires applicants to have a minimum of two years' relevant work or managerial experience in addition to an honours degree (2:2 or above) in any subject, or an equivalent professional qualification.
Our Management MSc (Distance Learning) does not require any previous work or management experience, but like most MSc courses, we ask that applicants have achieved an undergraduate degree at grade 2:2 or above. Some universities will specify the subjects they will accept at bachelor’s level; however, like our MBA, the University of Huddersfield Management MSc (Distance Learning) is open to graduates of any discipline, making it ideal for those who wish to pursue further academic study in a new field.
Performance Based Admissions (PBA) entry route
There is also a second entry route onto our Management MSc. Our Management MSc (Distance Learning) offers a Performance Based Admissions (PBA) entry route, whereby, if your academic background doesn’t match our entry requirements, you may still enrol onto the course. This is based on you successfully completing a 20-credit course module, after which you would be invited to continue with the full Management MSc at the next available intake (September, January or May).
Final thoughts
Although an MBA and a Master’s in Management share similarities, with both providing valuable skills and knowledge, the best choice for you depends on your individual career stage, goals, and interests. MBAs are suitable for professionals with managerial experience looking to advance into senior leadership roles, offering a broad overview of business management and a strong focus on practical leadership skills.
Whereas the Management MSc is ideal for people beginning their management careers with a more theoretical approach and a focus on specialist areas of management. Understanding your current situation, future aspirations and interests will enable you to determine which course aligns best with your objectives.
If you’d like to find out how to apply for an MBA or Management MSc, please visit our postgraduate taught application information page.
Want to find out more about online study? Read this handy blog.