MBA after BA – Is It The Right Choice for You?

Can I do MBA after BA? This is a common question which comes up in the mind of a BA graduate looking forward to making a successful career in Business Administration. After graduation, every student has one burning question in their mind, “What should I do next?

While different undergraduate students plan to pursue courses that line with their bachelor’s specialization, some pick universal programs like MBA. Whether you belong to the Commerce, Humanities or Science stream, you can study MBA.

The only requirement to enrol in a Masters of Business Administration after BA is the specified aggregate total percentage in under-graduation. If you are someone looking out for an answer for “Can I do MBA after BA ” or “Can BA graduates do MBA“, then here’s a blog that will make the process more understandable!

Why MBA After BA?

Taking up a stream that matches your individual career expectations and then working towards it with proper internships is sure to move your career in the right direction. However, students who have studied fine arts stream subjects and want to pursue BA should carefully consider an MBA as the subjects in both the degrees have very little in common and the switch from one to the other will be a gradual one!

A postgraduation degree course, MBA runs for a duration of 2 years and can be pursued after Bachelor of Arts, BBA, BSc, BCom or Btech. Apart from the major constituents, there are other MBA subjects which have to be studied like foreign languages, social sciences, natural science, and likewise.

Candidates that do not want to be typecast in a particular career option and want an overall personality development opt for a degree in Bachelor of Arts. In this subject framework, skills like creative writing, journalism, etc. are explored and given the space to bloom.

Budding theatre, music and media artists find better coursework and opportunities through this program!

Eligibility Criteria for MBA

Can I do MBA after BA? This is a popular question that bugs all undergraduate students planning to make a career in the Management domain. The answer to this question is yes!

You can pursue MBA after completing a bachelor’s in any stream be it Arts, Commerce or Science. It is essential to get a minimum of 50% in the undergraduate degree to apply for various MBA entrance exams like – CAT 2020, GRE, GMAT, XAT, SNAP, and more.

Some of the business schools ask for work experience before selecting students for the MBA program. Personal interviews and GDs are also a part of the MBA selection process in India. Read the next section to learn about the specializations in MBA for Bachelor of Arts graduates.

MBA after BA: List of Programs

From fashion to healthcare, with the onset of digitalization, many streams in which one can do an MBA after BA have opened up. The table below explains everything you need to know about MBA specializations:  

MBA in Marketing	MBA in Finance	MBA in Insurance
MBA in Insurance & Risk Management	MBA Operations	MBA in Productions
MBA Healthcare Management	MBA in International Business	MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
MBA in Banking	MBA in Interior Designing	MBA in Airport Management
MBA in Information Technology	MBA in Aviation Management	MBA in Agribusiness
MBA in Entrepreneurship	MBA in Power Management	MBA in Material Management
MBA in Media Management	MBA in Data Analytics	MBA in Agriculture
MBA in Energy Management	MBA in Communication	MBA in HR
MBA in Logistics	MBA in Computer Science	MBA in Pharmaceutical Management

MBA after BA in India

There are multiple MBA entrance exams in India which one can give to take admission to some of the top B-schools in the country. Listed below is a summary of the 3 popular exams:

CAT

Common Admission Test is one of the most coveted entrance exams conducted by one of the host IIMs every year. With 3 sections namely, Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, the total weightage of the exam is 300 marks.

With notification generally released in the month of July, the exam opens the gateway to more than 100 B-schools including those from the list of IIMs for those who want to study MBA after BA. The official notification is released usually in the first week of July. You can refer to our blog on CAT 2020 to understand the process in detail!

Official Notification Release	July 30, 2024
Registration of CAT	1st week of August
Exam CAT 2024	24 November

Also Read: MBA in Travel and Tourism

XAT

Xavier Aptitude Test, which is conducted by the Xavier Institute of Management (XLRI Jamshedpur) every year, opens the door to 150 plus MBA colleges in India. The XAT exam pattern consists of 4 sections namely, Decision Making, General Knowledge, Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation, and Verbal and Logical Ability. To complete this computer-based test, 3 hours are allotted.

MAT

A slightly easier test in comparison to the above-mentioned exams, the Management Aptitude Test, which is conducted by All India Management Association(AIMA) is another option for students who want to pursue MBA after BA or PGDM courses from 600 plus universities spanning across India.

Available in both online and offline modes, this exam is organized 4 times a year in the months of February, May, September, and December. The 200 questions asked in the exam are bifurcated into 5 sections namely, Language Comprehension, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, Indian and Global Environment, and Intelligence and Critical Reasoning.

Study MBA Abroad

With MBA qualification, students can make a career in any field of their choice. Our blog on Career goals for MBA aspirants in 150 words can help you do the same. Apart from MBA colleges in India, candidates can also select one of the below-mentioned study destinations to pursue an MBA after BA:

MBA in Japan	Best MBA colleges in Australia	MBA in Dubai
MBA in USA	MBA in UK	MBA in Germany
MBA in New Zealand	MBA Course in Canada	MBA in Europe
MBA in Singapore	MBA in Ireland	MBA in France

Top Universities

The MBA program is offered by a wide range of colleges in India as well as abroad. Leverage Edu has formulated lists of the best universities to study MBA after BA for prospective students. Let us have a look at them:

Top Universities Abroad 

Universities	Fees	QS World University Rankings 2023
Harvard University	INR 60 lakh to INR 69 lakh	5
University of Oxford	INR 73 lakh	4
University of Toronto	INR 27 lakh to INR 41 lakh	34
Stanford University	INR 63 lakh	3
University of East London	INR 17 lakh	801-1000
University of Melbourne	INR 27 lakh	33
University of British Columbia	INR 43 lakh	47
University of Cambridge	INR 65 lakh	2
James Cook University	INR 18 lakh to INR 19 lakh	461
National University of Singapore	INR 52 lakh to INR 56 lakh	11
McGill University	INR 60 lakh	31
Yale University	INR 38 lakh to INR 65 lakh	18
The University of Edinburgh	INR 37 lakh	15
Nanyang Technological University	INR 43 lakh to INR 46 lakh	19
University of Sydney	INR 29 lakh	41
Fudan University	INR 20 lakh	34
University of New South Wales	INR 43 lakh	45
Erasmus University Rotterdam	INR 58 lakh	208

Top Business Schools in India

University	Location
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade	New Delhi
SVKM’s NMIMS	Mumbai
Management Development Institute	Haryana
Faculty of Management Studies – University of Delhi	Delhi
S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research	Mumbai
XLRI – Xavier School of Management	Jharkhand
Indian Institute of Management	Multiple Locations
Institute of Management Technology	Ghaziabad
Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies	Mumbai
Christ University	Bangalore
Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology	Prayagraj

Types of MBA to pursue after BA

The online, full-time, and part-time MBA degree programmes have varying lengths of study. With the widespread recognition of the MBA degree, it tries to be in line with the aspirant’s goals and provides a great deal of flexibility for both students and working professionals. Following your BA, the leading B-Schools offer the following main MBA course types:

• General MBA
• Online MBA
• Distance Learning MBA
• Part-time MBA
• Specialized MBA courses
• Executive MBA

Scope of MBA After BA

If they have the necessary knowledge, graduates from the arts can freely join startups with the aid of an MBA. Graduates of the programme will have exposure to both general and niche business administration topics.

The graduates will be better able to appreciate how any organisation functions and provide pertinent solutions to managerial problems.

Alumni work in management-related professions like marketing, logistics, and human resources in addition to starting their enterprises. Many businesses hire MBAs after BA graduates, including digital marketing, BPO, law, logistics, international relations, hotel management, and economic management.

MBA After BA Salary Scope

In the end, everything comes down to money and returns on investment. Because management courses are expensive, it is crucial to know when candidates can take the first step towards a corporate career and how much money they would make after completing an MBA programme.

A list of the job profiles and associated pay grades accessible after earning an MBA following a BA is provided below:

Job Profile	Average Annual Salary Package (in INR)
HR Manager	7,25,000
Marketing Manager	6,85,280
Product Manager	17,32,442
Operations Manager	3,50,000 – 8,00,000
Supply Chain Program Manager	4,50,000 – 12,00,000
Product Marketing Manager	16,00,000
Manufacturing Manager	7,80,000

Thus, there are an array of specialization courses and universities that offer MBA after BA. Every path demands hard work to overcome the obstacles. It depends on the student on how he navigates and reaches his destination.

You might fall, take a step back, have doubts or may feel like giving up, but always remember, nothing is permanent, neither your failures nor your problems.

We hope this blog answered the question – “Can BA students do MBA” well.

Also Read: BBA Tourism and Management

FAQs

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To explore study abroad MBA options stay tuned to Leverage Live and Leverage Edu.