Is an MBA worth it?

Posted on: 31 March, 2025

MBA programmes are often viewed as the path to leadership – but are they worth the time and investment?

If you’re on the path to leadership or see yourself becoming an entrepreneur, you’ll likely be asked if you’ve considered getting a master’s in business administration (MBA).

MBAs are synonymous with the business world. In the eyes of many, it’s a fundamental step on the ladder to corporate success, and for some areas, it’s difficult to make any progression without it.

However, like any other qualification of this calibre, studying for one isn’t a walk in the park. If you’re considering an MBA, here are some key things you should know.

The benefits

There are a wide range of reasons why people undertake an MBA:

1. Career advancement

One of the key drivers for completing an MBA is the opportunity to progress in your career. The skills you’ll develop will make you a better fit for leadership and managerial roles with your employer, which can lead to promotion and career advancement.

The value of accredited degrees like UCEM’s Master of Business Administration (accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Chartered Institute of Building) are also well-recognised among management circles and can help your employer identify you as a candidate for new job opportunities.

2. Job opportunities

If you’re setting your sights on the next rung up the ladder or need a new challenge, it may be the case that you’ll need to move to a new company to realise your goals.

Getting an MBA can help with this. Various studies have been conducted by higher education institutions illustrating how these qualifications increase employability among their graduates.

3. Skills development

MBAs are focused on developing your management decision-making skills by teaching you the theory and concepts behind effective leadership, entrepreneurship and business administration. If you have experience or interest in these areas, it will solidify and formalise your expertise.

Where you take these skills is up to you – it could make you more effective in your current role, take you up the leadership hierarchy in your current organisation, help you move to an exciting role at a new company, or even equip you with the knowledge to launch your own startup.

4. Higher earning potential

There’s a solid body of evidence supporting the fact that, if you study for an MBA, you have a very good chance of improving your earning potential. In 2024, the average salary for MBA graduates in the UK was £59,000, compared to a median nominal salary of £40,000 for undergraduates and £45,000 for postgraduates.

What’s more, this calculation is only an average – for many graduates pursuing roles in senior management, this can increase to well over £100,000 a year.

While this is by no means a guarantee of success, it illustrates that if you’re keen to increase your salary, obtaining an MBA is a compelling option.

5. Access to top employers

There are many areas of business, particularly in consulting, finance and management, where having an MBA is essential, and employers simply won’t consider your application without one.

Obtaining an MBA can give you access to employment from impressive companies, which can in turn advance both your earning potential and your career progression.

6. Career changes

Another benefit of completing an MBA is how it can present opportunities for work in new careers and industries. If you’re looking to transition from your current profession and want to give yourself the best chance of success, an MBA could be the answer.

MBA degrees can be both specialised and broad, giving you the opportunity to either focus your development on a single industry or gain the valuable, transferable business skills to enter another. Similar to conversion courses, they can be an effective pathway to an exciting career in a new profession.

Learn more: Why it’s never too late for a career change: a Q&A with UCEM Programme Leaders Jon Hubert and Nicola Allen

7. Networking

One crucial aspect of an MBA that often gets neglected is the capacity for networking, which can prove invaluable later on in your career. In your studies, you’ll meet plenty of like-minded people that could well prove to be vital connections in the future. Through them, you may be able to secure future employment or business, or even find yourself partnering with them to start your own company.

As a fully-online programme, UCEM’s MBA is no exception to this. Through the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), students have access to an active and engaged forum, both of their peers and their lecturers. Once they graduate, they’ll also have access to Global Community, a platform that gives students and alumni the opportunity to network and remain connected.

The challenges

The benefits of studying for an MBA are undoubtedly compelling. However, it isn’t without its challenges, which you should be prepared for before you consider applying.

Like any other degree, getting your MBA is going to require effort and commitment. If you’re planning to do this alongside your existing role, you’ll need to manage and prioritise your time effectively to keep on top of deadlines and avoid burning out.

There’s also the cost to consider. In the UK, you can get funding for postgraduate study which can go a long way to helping offset the expense. If your employer supports your development and sees the benefit it could offer them, they may be able to support you in your studies through sponsorship.

UCEM’s MBA is part-time and fully online, which gives students the freedom to conduct their studies around their day-to-day work and personal commitments. With this flexible learning model, you have far more scope to balance your time and can undertake your studies at a time (and location) that works for you.

There are also financial support options available for students, in the form of bursaries and scholarships.

Is an MBA right for you?

It’s clear that there are a many compelling reasons to study an MBA, but rather than asking if it’s worth it, the question should be whether it’s worth it for you.

For those that are enticed by the prospect of returning education, have ambitions of moving into management roles or want to develop their entrepreneurial and leadership skills, obtaining an MBA is absolutely worth it, and it can have a significant impact on your trajectory.

However, if you’re already in a management role and want to formalise your knowledge and leadership style, an MBA can be hugely beneficial for you too.

If you’re an existing built environment professional or are looking to make your mark in the sector, UCEM’s specialist MBA can give you the knowledge, tools and experience you need to succeed.

Find out more: Master of Business Administration (MBA) – University College of Estate Management