Are you thinking about attending a business school? You may want to enhance your business acumen by completing a Master in Management (MiM) or delve into specific industries with a Specialized Master’s degree; you’ll need to be aware of the experiences you’ll need.

There are a lot of business schools that need little or no experience to earn a master’s degree. However, pursuing an MBA program that requires previous work experience may assist you in making maximum use of your time.

You should be aware of the work experience required to earn a master’s degree at business school and whether you’ll need it.

What are the requirements for working experience to earn a master’s degree?

Experience in the workplace is not usually an essential requirement for business masters. Hanken Business School, for instance, encourages students who have completed their bachelor’s degrees to apply to its master’s degrees right away, and there aren’t any prerequisites for work experience to apply.

In the same way, Luiss Business School accepts students to its master’s program with various backgrounds and degrees of experience.

“Some people have worked or internship experience they accumulated during or soon after their bachelor’s degrees while others don’t have any experience in the workplace whatsoever,” says Professor Marco Mazzu. He is a professor of International Marketing and recruitment leader at Luiss Business School.

For the admissions committee of Luiss, the most crucial element is the previous academic record, he says.

But, having some experience before completing the master’s program will help you succeed when it comes to your academics. Cynthia Law, graduate admissions manager at Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business in Canada, believes that having work experience in a related subject can be helpful in your application and can help you stand out.

The work experience you have had in the past will help you write your application by presenting relevant professional examples and demonstrating how a master’s program will enhance your career prospects, Cynthia explains.

However, there’s no formal prerequisite for work experience in John Molson’s research-based master’s degrees.

Luiss Business School does not require you to have any initial work experience to apply | ©Luiss Business School / Facebook

Specialized vs. generalist programs

The requirements for work experience can differ by the program you’re applying for.

The MiM degree is a generalization of courses that introduce different aspects of the business. They are, therefore, not high expectations of prior experience before you begin.

For MiM programs, the applicant’s GPA score and extracurricular activities, your goals for your career, and general academic performance will be considered in the application process. Although experience in the workplace can assist you in getting an edge over your competition, it’s not an essential requirement.

Specialist masters, however, also appreciate these aspects in the program; some may ask for experience in specific industries or fields.

Masters in Finance (MIF) are typically highly quantitative degrees designed to assist students in launching careers in finance and banking. Because of their technical nature, certain MIFs are explicitly designed for students who have experience in finance. In the case of London Business School Master in Finance, For instance, it requires prior experience in finance to apply successfully.

Business schools provide degrees in various subjects, such as business analytics and marketing, supply chain management, and finance.

To make your application stand out from these masters specialized in their field, It is more crucial to know the lot you’d like to join.

Do you have experience applying for a master’s or MBA?

If you’re preparing to apply to a business school and have some prior knowledge, You might want to think about whether you should pursue an MBA or master’s level degree is the right choice.

In most cases, to take an MBA, typically, you must have at least a few years of experience in the field. For instance, John Molson’s MBA program is a requirement of two years before applying.

“For admission into the John Molson MBA program, working experience is crucial,” says Cynthia. “Employers seeking to recruit MBAs also consider work experience essential since they seek candidates willing to take their career into the next stage, and eventually to management roles.”

The amount of experience needed to be eligible for an MBA usually is contingent upon which business college you attend. Admissions competitive procedures can indicate that the average of the cohort’s years of experience is considerably more than the minimum required.

HEC Paris’ MBA program also requires at least two years of experience in the field; however, the students in the class average six years of experience in the area.

“Our students are highly-skilled, well-rounded, and have demonstrated potential for leadership through their career progression,” says Benoit Banchereau, the head of HEC Paris’s Communications, Marketing & Admissions department in the HEC Paris’s MBA program.

“We would like their professional experience will add value to their peers.”

HEC Paris also considers the student’s work experience and general diversity of professional backgrounds within the class. This makes sure that the students are made up of professionals from various fields and jobs, and with transferable skills, according to Benoit.