An Online MBA and an in-person degree share many similarities. Both have a similar core curriculum, networking opportunities are available for each, and the degrees are largely valued equally by employers.

However, an Online MBA offers other unique benefits. The flexibility allows students to continue working while they’re studying, with the degree fitting seamlessly into their careers without a dip in income. They don’t have to worry about a long commute or moving away from home. Together, these factors make it a popular option, particularly for people who want to work alongside their studies.

Why choose an Online MBA?

Much like an in-person program, an Online MBA can lead you to a variety of career paths.

According to our most recent Prospective Students Survey, 38% of candidates who study an Online MBA aspire to become an entrepreneur. This was the case for Ezz El-Deen Abdelhay, who recently graduated from EU Business School with an Online MBA.

Ezz El-Deen had been working in sales in the healthcare industry for more than 10 years in Saudi Arabia. He knew he wanted to start his own company, but to do this he needed to know how each department in the company worked, as well as how to manage and lead a team—all while continuing to bring in sales.

Ezz El-Deen believed an MBA would help him achieve this but wanted to continue working while he studied. The practicalities of this ruled out most in-person degree options.

“The Online MBA was the solution I was looking for,” he says.

Ezz El-Deen (pictured) appreciated the time efficiency of the Online MBA. As someone who works more than 10 hours per day, the Online MBA meant he did not have to waste time traveling to and from campus.

For Anna Sargsyan, a 2024 EU Business School MBA Digital graduate, the program was an opportunity to accelerate her career and expand beyond her technical skillset. Having spent the bulk of her career in product management roles, she felt the MBA would bolster her leadership credentials and open new opportunities.

“I was feeling stagnated. I wasn't quite ready to change my company or what I was doing because I really enjoyed it. But at the same time, I felt like I needed to change something.”

Having decided to continue working while studying her MBA, Anna also welcomed the adaptable nature of the program. “As a busy working student, it gives you a lot of flexibility to do things at your own terms.”

How is the Online MBA experience?

At EU Business School, Online MBA activities can be accessed and completed on an easy-to-use digital platform at any time. There is a set time each week to speak to lecturers and peers during live lectures, but, as all sessions are recorded, candidates don’t need to worry if they miss a class.

Ezz El-Deen made the most of the degree’s networking opportunities—something that is typically a draw for in-person programs. “We had several channels to [meet with peers], which was really nice,” he says.

“I built a connection with my colleagues. I added them on LinkedIn and Instagram, and we have a good relationship.”

EU Business School encourages Online MBA students to develop their connections further during their annual On-Campus Week. This event allows candidates to network with their peers in -person at the institution’s modern campus in Barcelona.

Anna attended the compulsory On-Campus Week at EU Business School’s Munich campus, which included a ceremony, party, and opportunities to study together.

“It was really fun because I met a lot of the classmates who I had talked to online but never seen face to face,” she says. “After that, it helped us to bond.”

Ezz El-Deen enjoyed the experience so much that he attended a second, optional week in Barcelona. He is now utilizing the network connections he made during his MBA in his business, an AI company called Ru’ya AI. One of his first clients was one of the peers he met on the MBA, and he was also able to talk with one of his professors about his new start-up.

“I still have my professors as connections on LinkedIn and consult with them,” he says.

As well as the compulsory On-Campus Week, EU Business School is launching optional MBA Global Connect Days. These events are held over three days at EU Business School’s physical campuses in Barcelona (fall), Munich (spring) and Geneva (summer), bringing together MBA students from all four campuses—including the Digital Campus—for valuable in-person experiences including live challenges, applied learning and professional networking.

What is in the Online MBA curriculum?

The days of online programs being little more than a series of lectures are long gone. Today’s Online MBA is a series of practical learning opportunities, which allow students to tailor their learning experience to their career aspirations.

“I knew I wanted to run my own company in the future, so I chose [to focus on] international business, which covers more departments in a company and gives a general view about business,” Ezz El-Deen explains.

At EU Business School, the MBA curriculum, both in-person and online, has a strong focus on sustainability, ethics, data, and AI-driven decision-making. The degree integrates technical modules and innovative labs to help graduates build the practical expertise and skills they need to succeed.

Digital Campus candidates regularly take part in similar experiences to in-person candidates, such as business simulations, and collaborate on global virtual consulting projects with companies all over the world.

Candidates must also complete a capstone business challenge, an open-ended project in which they tackle an interdisciplinary business challenge related to digitalization, sustainability, leadership or innovation. They can then apply these new skills directly to their jobs.

How do you motivate yourself to study?

One of the key differences that Anna points out for Online MBA students is the need for discipline while studying.

“Learn to stay very organized while you are studying. That will definitely save you some time,” she says. “It’s not forever, so try to optimize your schedule.”

“The self-learning level is really high,” adds Ezz El-Deen. “You have to rely on yourself more than the in-person MBA, and that is going to make you feel like you got everything out of the program.”

For motivation and encouragement, Ezz El-Deen would suggest regularly talking to peers, even if this is just online. “[Studying online] doesn’t mean you can’t have a connection with them,” he says.

For students who are trying to decide whether to pursue an Online MBA, Ezz El-Deen says they should “definitely just go for it”.