MBA after BA English: A Student’s Guide

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a globally recognised program designed for developing skills in the Business and Management sectors. An MBA is one of the most popular professional degrees in the world, which holds immense value in all professional sectors. It is not just limited to the business sector, but can be helpful in varied sectors, both private and public.

However, many students choose to pursue an MBA after their Bachelors in English. Read this blog to learn why students choose an MBA after a BA in English, and how it is helpful in their career scope. It will also discuss the best branches to pursue an MBA, top business schools and the eligibility that you should fulfil!

What is an MBA after a BA in English?

One of the most popular undergraduate degrees worldwide is the Bachelor of Arts. Many business and public sectors are hiring BA graduates. Industries include social work, civil services, event planning, BPOs, journalism & mass communication, and more.

Yet, many students today enrol in postgraduate programmes, with the MBA being one of the most popular, in order to advance their careers and increase their earning potential.

For BA graduates who want to pursue a career in business administration and management, an MBA is one of the most practical possibilities. It serves as a stepping stone to C-suite positions at big businesses and a resource for aspiring business owners.

A top B-School MBA can help people enter certain extremely competitive business areas and earn lucrative wages and benefits. An MBA after a BA can be a fantastic decision if you want to picture yourself in a managerial position in a top company or if you want to establish your own business.

Also Read: GMAT Focus Breakdown for MBA Aspirants: Format, Tips & More

Why Students Choose an MBA after BA English?

Many students nowadays are choosing an MBA after a BA in English. But have you thought why so? The following are the reasons discussed for pursuing an MBA after a BA in English for students:

1. Advancement in Career: There always comes a point in our career when we feel the need to up our professional skills, and adding management skills to our repertoire is a smart way of doing so. A degree in MBA degree can always add management, business, and leadership skills to your career.

2. Explore different Industries and Areas: An MBA can open your options for exploring different industries and areas. A degree in MBA after a BA in English can help you screen different sectors by learning Strategies and Industrial Research. You can analyse your fit for other roles in different sectors.

3. Stability: A decent MBA program can offer greater stability over money. Industries like Business and Management are looking for top-ranked MBA professionals, providing higher salaries.

4. Meeting New People: Doing an MBA can allow you to connect with different people from varied backgrounds. You can connect with a lot of people from businesses and other industries at events, conferences, and business meetings.

Benefits of an English Major in an MBA Application

How can your English Major be an asset to your MBA application? An undergraduate degree benefits a student in various ways while applying for jobs and working with organisations, but have you ever thought that it can also be an asset in your MBA application and further in your venture of MBA studies?

The skills of writing, speaking and listening always help communicate better compared to others. Analysing content is a skill that will also come in handy, and all these qualities are learned and refined by a good quality undergraduate education. These studies are very useful and valuable at business school when leading a team project and cracking case studies. Here we have discussed the benefits of an English major in an MBA application:

1. Communication Driven

Liberal arts like English encourage students to develop persuasive critiques and learn about literature, culture and history, and it opens a world of advantage for the students from this field. With a better and wider understanding of the world, it also helps in better decision-making on their part.

2. Helpful for GMAT Exams

Verbal reasoning and analytical writing sections are easier for students from English major backgrounds since they go through a systematic and progressive study of literature. They are also constantly reading and writing, and can do these activities with clarity and focus using textual evidence in support of their argument. All this gives them an edge over other people in the GMAT.

3. Diverse Classrooms

In recent years, humanities graduates have increased in number in business classrooms, and admissions counsellors are interested in creating the most diverse classroom environment possible.

Dee Leopold, former director of admissions at Harvard Business School, noted that Harvard’s case method benefits from different perspectives. She says about humanities students – “They’re used to managing ambiguity. They can think broadly, can take a stand, and yet know there are other approaches.” So this shows that your English major background may help more than you think.

Branches of MBA Courses After BA English

Having a specialisation in a particular field is important. Pursuing an MBA can help you curate your mind and skills. Communication is a big plus in an MBA coming from an English background.

Pursuing an MBA after a BA in English can add a management advantage to your career. It entirely depends on your interest in finding the best branch for an MBA after a BA in English. Here are the top and in-demand MBA branches after BA English:

• MBA in Finance
• MBA in Marketing
• MBA in Digital Marketing
• MBA in Operations Management
• MBA in Rural Management
• MBA in Banking
• MBA in Human Resource Management
• MBA in Information Technology
• MBA in Entrepreneurship
• MBA in Social Entrepreneurship
• MBA in Fashion Design
• MBA in Media Management
• MBA in Environmental Management
• MBA in Travel and Tourism
• MBA in Event Management
• MBA in Quality Management
• MBA in International Business
• MBA in General Management
• MBA in Sports Management
• MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Eligibility Criteria for MBA

Certain criteria need to be fulfilled while planning to pursue an MBA degree. Here are some of the general eligibility requirements for pursuing an MBA after a BA in English:

• Academic Qualifications: Candidates who are willing to pursue an MBA after a BA in English are required to qualify for their graduation from a recognised university. Candidates from open and distance education universities can also apply to some of the MBA universities abroad; they have to provide special transcripts approved by their universities to get admission.
• GMAT/GRE: Candidates who wish to pursue an MBA after a BA in English abroad are required to provide GMAT or GRE scores. These tests comprise language and mathematical sections to measure your aptitude and critical thinking. These tests are used as criteria for getting admission into MBA programs.
• Test of Eligibilities: English Proficiency Tests such as IELTS/TOEFL/PTE, etc., along with an SOP (Statement of Purpose) and LORs (Letters of Recommendation)are one of the major eligibility requirements if you are planning to study your MBA abroad after a BA in English.
• Work Experience: To get admission to business and management schools, having certain work experience is one of the most important factors. Most business schools require some amount of work experience.

Also Read: MBA Internship in USA for International Students: Eligibility, Tips

Top colleges for MBA after BA English

The top colleges for MBA offer top-quality education in this postgraduate degree. Here are the top MBA colleges and universities in the world as per QS Rankings 2025.

Top Universities	QS World Rankings 2025
Stanford Graduate School of Business	6
Penn (Wharton)	11
HEC Paris	2
MIT (Sloan)	1
INSEAD	NA
Columbia Business School	7
Harvard Business School	3
UC Berkeley (Haas)	12

Take a detailed look at some of the top business schools for an MBA after a BA in English:

• Harvard Graduate School of Business: Harvard is the highest-ranked University in the world, providing high-quality education in business and management disciplines. With its first MBA course commencing in 1905, Harvard is considered the pioneer in the MBA. Harvard is the world’s second most popular university for producing entrepreneurs and notable alumni. 

• HEC Paris, France: An International school situated in France, the university offers flagship programs in various courses. HEC is best known for Business and Management programs specialising in MBA, MA, and executive MBA programs. The university holds a special rank in having the highest rate of international students.

• Stanford Graduate School of Business: The university is situated in the US and is one of the top-ranked universities in the US. Known for numerous alumni in the technology sector, the university ranks fourth worldwide. Stanford Graduate School of Business is one of the leading universities for entrepreneurship.

• Columbia Business School: The university is situated in New York, the global hub for business. Columbia Business School offers various courses in Business and Management disciplines. 

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Preparing the applications and looking for suitable universities can be a long and tiring process. We at Leverage Edu can help you make the process of pursuing an MBA after BA English an easy one. Get expert advice and guidance which will help you choose your career options wisely.