MBA vs. Master’s degree: What’s the Real Difference?

Pursuing higher education is an investment for the future and increases the chances of earning a senior job position. Going for a Master’s degree or an MBA is well worth it.

What’s the difference between an MBA and a master? The answer ultimately comes down to where students position themselves now and where they see their career path going in the future.

What’s an MBA?

It stands for a Master of Business Administration degree. It’s a general graduate business degree that teaches students technical, managerial, and leadership skills. In general, there are multiple types of programmes to choose from, including full-time, part-time and executive MBA programs.

At EMLV business school, the MBA is both general and specialised, its aim being to train operational managers with at least three years of professional experience who are looking to acquire and/or improve their knowledge in the field of digital marketing.

The programme is:

• RNCP accredited
• 1 year, full-time
• 500h of class, projects and visits
• 6 months internship
• 60 ECTS credits

Any student considering an MBA as his/her next academic milestone should answer three key questions:

• What are your career goals?
• What are your expectations from the programme?
• Are you ready to invest time and energy?

MBA holders, and depending on the specialisation, work in industries related to finance, management, business, digital marketing, HR, and even healthcare. Graduates will be expected to help plan out strategic goals and set targets to minimise while at the same time increasing efficiency and productivity.

What’s a Master’s Degree?

A master’s degree is an advanced graduate degree that shows a high level of mastery in a particular subject area. Just like an MBA, students pursue it in order to improve their opportunities for advancement in a particular field. Also, some jobs and leadership roles may require a master’s degree as a minimum qualification for employment.  Choosing the right programme will allow students to boost both their knowledge and technical skills in parallel.

Generally speaking, the fields of study can revolve around:

• The arts
• Humanities
• Healthcare
• Natural sciences and many more

Most master’s degrees fall under one of two categories:

• Master of Arts (MA) The Master of Arts encompasses most liberal arts, humanities and social sciences.
• Master of Science (MS) The Master of Science encompasses most STEM field subjects, including mathematics and the “hard sciences,” like chemistry, physics and engineering.

In particular to the managerial and business side, programmes such as Masters in Management at EMLV trains future managers and helps them to acquire professional and personal skills needed to manage a company in the most efficient way. Students will be able to make decisions in digital and global environments.

• “Grande Ecole” Programme
• EFMD Master accredited
• RNCP accredited
• 2 year, full-time
• 120 ECTS credits

What’s the Difference?

Narrowing down to the business sector, a business Masters and an MBA are both Masters-level postgraduate degrees granted to students pursuing a more niche field of study. An MBA degree in particular, through its curriculum of multiple business disciplines, offers a broader view of business management and it may require at least two years of full-time professional experience, while Masters programmes are targeted at those who are at the beginning of their career.

Finally, it’s important to keep in mind that these two degrees approach different target groups, provide different learning experiences, and offer different career prospects.

Interested in studying digital marketing strategy? Learn more about the MBA at EMLV, French business school.