MBA in Australia - Melbourne Business School

[tammireddy]

Dear Friends,

Firstly let me advise the reason for putting this post.

I have been receiving quite a few email for advise. I thought I should post it here.

Please be advised, I have just been blessed with a lovely son, working full time and studying part time and my work involves lot of travel, therefore at times I may not reply immediately.

However I shall try my best.

I am currently in my final semester (part time).

I work at Telstra (Largest Australian Telco) Heading Mobile Games.

I have been doing 2-3 subjects per semester and my classes are from 5:30pm to 9pm.

1)What is the reputation of MBS in Australia & Asia among students and recruiters?

Reputation of MBS MBA is pretty good. You have to understand the ranking you see on FT, FORTUNE are those conducted with students who have graduated in 2003. At that point in time, MBS never concentrated on recruitment. So far in 2007 around 40 employers have come on board to recruit; I am not sure how many of them have received offers. But I would presume around 1.5 students per company.

Campus placements are difficult without having the correct VISA. By studying at Melbourne Business School most students get a work visa for 1 year and the Australian Govt. made it very easy to get PR. That’s what I have been led to believe. I am not sure on this, as I am a citizen here and have been living in this part of the world for the past 25 years. So I may not be the right person to give advice on Visa’s.

There is a huge contingent of students from India at MBS.

Campus placements are not the best in the sense, it heavily depends on your networking capability, your work experience etc.

Having said that most students get placed within 3-6 months.

Most of the Indian students advised that it’s easy to get placed in India than Australia.

But hey please be aware that Australia is a small country with just 25million population. Similar to Mumbai population.

I am planning to move to India once I complete my MBA. I have been working here all my life.

2) How good are the MBS campus placements

I think I have answered this above.

3) How good is the job market in australia? Do people(indians) need to come back to india to find jobs?

The job market in Australia currently is very good. Well if you are in IT, FINANCE, Business Process Management it makes life easier. It’s even better if you are a very good programmer and good in Maths and statistics.

4) How well reputed is the general management program (as there is no specialization)?

I think MBS is in the top 10 business schools in ASIA according to FT. AGSM is no longer recognised as the school now belongs only to UNSW.



5) I have seen in the MBS 2006 placement stats that most of the placements happen through own networks of the students(and average work ex is 7 yrs). So in that case would you recommend MBS to me(3yrs work ex by the time I go)?

I think 3 years work exp. Is good to start with. I have started my MBA after 5 years of work experience.

6) How are you finding people in your batch? Do u think the peer learning is/will be good?

Peer learning is very good as you get to meet people from different parts of the world.


7) Is there option to defer admissions?

Yes you can do that, I have deferred my admission by one year.
The critical thing is the fees. How much do i have to spend for the course including the living expenses?

Fees - $2500 per subject, this is what I am paying right now.

Living expenses – this is variable based on your accommodation. If you do flatting/sharing a house with 2-3 people and living close to MBS, then the average weekly rent is around $300 - $400, divide that with the number of people you would sharing.

Travel – based on the proximity to University. If you enjoy walking then it’s very good. If not then a monthly zone 1 full fare is $96.00

Food – again depends I would say $50-100 a week per person.

Power, telephone etc - $100 a month per person

Monthly Expenses:
Monthly Rent if you are sharing a house with others: $450
Utilities per month: $100
F & B if cooking at home: $200
Travel: $100
Miscellaneous: $200
Melbourne is a better city to live. Its extremely cold in winter, which is May – October.


Will i be able to get any assistantship?
There are scholarships for outstanding Students every year. Please check at MBS: Melbourne Business School

Is there any 1-year full time MBA program?
The short-test time you can complete is 16-18months I think. I am a part-time student.

Is there any MBA program in e-business?
Please check at MBS: Melbourne Business School on subjects offered. I am specialising in operations and Mktg, so have no clue or idea.

What is the brand value MBS enjoys?
Its an Ivy League school. MBS is 55% owned by Corporate business houses, so most of the teaching in highly practical. Its rated No.1 by financial times. MBS is rated higher than AIM (Asian Institute of Management), IIM's in India, Hong Kong School of Economics etc in the AsiaPac.

Also forbes has rated MBS and AGSM as one of the top programmes in Asia pacific ahead of AIM, HSE.

Well Melbourne Business School stands on equal footing with INSEAD, LBS, STERN, IMD or any Ivy League school.

If you take UK immigration department giving special quota for students who study in the top 50 business schools in the WORLD. That will assist you in benchmarking the school.

MBS: News

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/..._50mbas_50.pdf

http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/sit...df?view=Binary

Working in the UK - Information about the MBA Provision

Working in the UK - Information about the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme

I hope the above links will clear your doubts.

So that gives you an indication.

Yes if you study full time MBA at Melbourne Business School (MBS) then u will have good chance of getting a PR.How do recruiters perceive MBS?
This year we had Boston Consulting group, Booz Allen Hamilton, McKinsey, Bearing Point, Deloitte Touche, KPMG etc, so I think its perceived quite highly.

Is it worth the money?
I think based on the info, it does. I would also advise you to browse MBS website thoroughly as most of this is there.

They even have the placement statistics.

Is an Australian MBA considered at par with other MBAs around the world – most importantly, an American or an Indian MBA?
Once again if you look at the student exchange programs of MBS, it gives an indication. As Ivy League schools only exchange students from other Ivy League schools.

What about opportunities in IT consulting – how is the consulting scenario at MBS and in Australia (both strategy and IT)?
Ans: The current market scenario looks good. If you are planning to join
Mc Kinsey / Booz Allen Hamilton/ Goldman Sachs, BCG, Merrill Lynch, UBS, Infosys etc. come very regularly and present at MBS. But they only recruit the top 10 students like any other top B-school

Is it true that the student VISA which one gets expires the day your course gets over in the school? If yes, does that mean that one has to return back to his home country the moment he gets his MBA degree?
this is not true, you could apply for a bridging VISA that will assist while your PR is getting processed. Normally a bridging VISA will assist you for 3 months.

How would you rate MBS vis-à-vis AGSM?
for the past 5 years MBS is topping more than AGSM.

I am looking at a IT consulting profile post MBA. So which school do you think will suit me more - MBS or AGSM?
MBS
How easy or difficult is it for people with my kind of profile to get good jobs after passing out from schools like MBS or AGSM?
MBS has a success rate of over 85% in placements. so you shouldn't have a problem getting placed into top consulting houses. MBS gives an opportunity to network. If you see MBS website, its one of the few business schools in ASIA. Melbourne Business School has received full EQUIS accreditation, the global quality assurance scheme of the European Foundation for Management Development.
Dean and Director, Professor John Seybolt, said EQUIS quality endorsement confirmed the School’s status as a premium business school within the international management education arena.
Please visit MBS: Melbourne Business School again, as there is much more info on placements, statistics. It has good faculty.


I hope I was able to assist you.


Thanks and Regards,
Krishna Tammireddy
Mob: +61-439756433
Google Talk: tammireddy@gmail.com

[tammireddy]

Australian visa policy changes benefit Melbourne MBAs

International students who complete their MBA at Melbourne Business School are set to benefit from changes to Australian visa policy.
From September 2005, students will be able to meet the 'two year study requirement' for a General Skilled Migration Visa, if they can demonstrate that they have completed the equivalent of two years’ full-time study within a minimum of 16 months.
Previously, applicants had to complete two consecutive years of full-time study before being eligible for this visa.
The changes, announced recently by the Department of Immigration , Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, follow representations to government made by Melbourne Business School and the Australian Graduate School of Management to improve post-graduation employment opportunities for international students.
Professor Richard Speed , Associate Dean for Faculty Resources, said the modifications enriched the Melbourne Business School student experience, enabling our highly educated, international MBA graduates to use their qualifications in Australia.
“These visa policy changes enhance Australia’s overall appeal for international students as a great place to live, study, work and network,” he said.
The changes also underline the world-class quality of the leading Australian MBA programs that are delivered in less than two years. The Melbourne MBA is offered in intensive 16-month full-time format as well as in a new 20-month full-time option (inclusive of an employment internship). Programs commence in January and September, offering students increased flexibility and program choice.
Professor Speed said the benefits to an economy of a highly skilled and internationally diverse workforce are well established.
“MBA graduates from a school such as MBS can contribute to business performance, earn well and pay taxes in whatever community they eventually choose to live. Governments around the world recognize this, and are using visa policy as a weapon in the war for talent.” he said.
Further information about changes to the two-year rule are available on DIMIA’s website or via email: skilled.migration@immi.gov.au

In other recent major developments, Melbourne Business School has:

• Launched a second intake into its full-time MBA. Students can now commence the program in either September or January.
• Announced a new 20-month, full-time MBA option with a work experience internship, supported by the School’s fully dedicated Career Centre department.
• Earned a place in the British Government’s Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (MBA provision), which entitles MBA graduates to work in the UK for 12 months, bypassing some of the usual visa requirements.

[Jerrykantrell]

Hi,

Thanks for the info!

Could you tell me if it worth getting an MBA from Australia if I plan on shifting back to India after the course ?

How tough is it for Indians to get an admit ?

Thanks in advance
JK

[Simz]

Originally Posted by Jerrykantrell

Hi,

Thanks for the info!

Could you tell me if it worth getting an MBA from Australia if I plan on shifting back to India after the course ?

How tough is it for Indians to get an admit ?

Thanks in advance
JK

My question is also pretty similar.. But i dont wanna come back to India anytime soon.. So i want to know how easy is it to get a job for Indians.. and also about PR..

Sam

[maverick2k7]

Neat info there about MBS. I am currently getting my PR processed for OZ and have reached the halfway mark. I come from an IT background with about 12 years of exp.

Only thing is I wanna get rid of the "IT guy" tag (yeah.. all 12 years of it !!) and I am thinking of a career shift into finance. Does MBS offer any specialization in Finance?

PS: I am more inclined towards AGSM viz MBS, becoz my relatives stay in Sydney .. But its a good question on whether I will get a seat in either of them

[tammireddy]

Originally Posted by maverick2k7

Neat info there about MBS. I am currently getting my PR processed for OZ and have reached the halfway mark. I come from an IT background with about 12 years of exp.

Only thing is I wanna get rid of the "IT guy" tag (yeah.. all 12 years of it !!) and I am thinking of a career shift into finance. Does MBS offer any specialization in Finance?

PS: I am more inclined towards AGSM viz MBS, becoz my relatives stay in Sydney .. But its a good question on whether I will get a seat in either of them

Hi There,

Firstly congratulations in coming to OZ.

I am planning to make a move to the subcontinent.

Let me advise you the strengths of MBS based on the available information i have.

MBS is good @ Finance, Mktg, Strategy, Consulting, Operations, Brand Management.

AGSM - The school no longer exists.

MGSM (Sydney) - I think their strength is Finance.

I think with 12 years of exp. you shouldn't have an issue getting a place in any of the schools as long as you have GMAT score above 650-680.

Best Regards,
Krishna
tammireddy@gmail.com

[maverick2k7]

Thanks for the information.

Originally Posted by tammireddy

AGSM - The school no longer exists.

Thats a bit of shocking news!! Their website is still up and talks about 2008 intake. Are we talking about the same school? Australian Graduate School of Management

[eng_harsh]

Are you serious? After working for 12 years in IT, it would be very difficult to switch to Finance. And, may I know why do you want to want to switch to Finance in the first place?
If you think you can get more money by switching to Fin, then forget it as IB firms tend to prefer young people. If you want to move to retail banking etc. then do you think it would be worhwhile to let go of your 12 yrs work-ex? You should have a clear cut plan as to why you want an MBA, and how would you achieve that. IMHO, you can aim for Strategy consulting roles post-MBA becuase you might be having enough Managerial experience.

Regards,
Harsh Agarwal

Originally Posted by maverick2k7

Neat info there about MBS. I am currently getting my PR processed for OZ and have reached the halfway mark. I come from an IT background with about 12 years of exp.

Only thing is I wanna get rid of the "IT guy" tag (yeah.. all 12 years of it !!) and I am thinking of a career shift into finance. Does MBS offer any specialization in Finance?

PS: I am more inclined towards AGSM viz MBS, becoz my relatives stay in Sydney .. But its a good question on whether I will get a seat in either of them

[maverick2k7]

Originally Posted by eng_harsh

Are you serious? After working for 12 years in IT, it would be very difficult to switch to Finance. And, may I know why do you want to want to switch to Finance in the first place?

Interesting questions there.. but completely off topic to this thread. Can u please point me to a thread which covers oldies trying for MBA (Cant locate that now )..I'll answer it there. Lets keep this thread for discussion on MBS and related topics.

[vivek_jasani]

Hi

I did my B.Tech (Mech) and joined Capgemini (IT) in sept 2006. Currently having 18 months of work exp. Now I am planning to get MBA from Ausi. And after searching about list of good B. Schools over there, I found MBS has very great repo over otere schools there.

So and I am preparing for GMAT, and planning to take test in month of Sept. cuz till then I ll b completing 2 yrs of Work exp.

I just want to know that how much Score is fair enough to get in for a person like me having just 2 yrs of Exp. And Can I apply for Part time? And how easy is to get part time jobs in Melbourne, cuz I can not afford not to work while study.

Looking forward for information..

Regards,
Vivek