Course guide · updated Oct 2026

Business & MBA abroad

Management, marketing, operations, entrepreneurship and the MBA. How business degrees differ between the US, UK and Canada, who each suits, and what you need to apply.

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What you study

How organisations work, from the numbers up

A business degree covers how organisations run: accounting, finance, marketing, operations, organisational behaviour, strategy and business law, increasingly with data and analytics built in. Bachelor’s programs (BBA, BCom, BSc Business) build broad foundations before you specialise.

At master’s level there are two main routes. Specialist pre-experience programs, such as an MSc in Management, Marketing or International Business, suit recent graduates. The MBA is designed for people with several years of work experience and focuses on leadership and general management.

Popular specialisations

Where you can take it

Each card opens matching programs in the explorer, where you can filter by country, level and fees.

01

MBA & business administration

General management, leadership and strategy.

Browse programs →02

Marketing

Brands, consumers, digital marketing and research.

Browse programs →03

International business

Trade, global strategy and cross-border management.

Browse programs →04

Supply chain & operations

Logistics, procurement and operations management.

Browse programs →05

Human resources

People management, organisational behaviour and employment.

Browse programs →06

Entrepreneurship

Starting, funding and growing new ventures.

Browse programs →07

Hospitality management

Hotels, tourism and service businesses.

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Degree routes by country

How long it takes, and what comes after

Typical lengths and post-study work rules as of October 2026. Individual programs vary, so check the course page before you apply.

USAStudy in the USA →
Bachelor’s
A bachelor’s is usually a four-year degree, and you often take a broad mix of courses before you declare a major.
Master’s
Master’s programs commonly run one to two years, depending on the program and whether it includes a thesis or internship.
After you graduate
OPT gives up to 12 months of work at each degree level. Graduates of degrees on the DHS STEM list can apply for a further 24 months (STEM OPT). New OPT fees proposed by DHS in October 2026 are not in effect.

Business Administration (CIP 52.0201) is not on the DHS STEM list, but some programs are classified under listed codes such as Management Science (52.1301) or Business Analytics (30.7102). Full-time MBAs are commonly two years.

UKStudy in the UK →
Bachelor’s
Three years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, four in Scotland. A placement (sandwich) year, where offered, adds a year in industry.
Master’s
A taught master’s usually takes one full-time calendar year. Integrated master’s degrees (MEng, MSci) take four years, five in Scotland.
After you graduate
Graduate Route: 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027, and 3 years after a PhD.

Specialist MSc programs are usually one year, and many full-time MBAs are too. MBA programs generally expect professional work experience.

CanadaStudy in Canada →
Bachelor’s
Bachelor’s degrees take three to four years. Colleges also offer diplomas (two to three years) and certificates (one to two years).
Master’s
Master’s degrees take one or two years after a bachelor’s. Co-op programs add paid work terms in your field.
After you graduate
A post-graduation work permit (PGWP) of up to 3 years. Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral graduates are exempt from the PGWP field-of-study rule; college programs must be in an eligible field.

MBAs range from about one to two years. If your spouse plans to work, note that open work permits for spouses of master’s students need a program of 16 months or longer.

Live from official data

Business & MBA programs you can apply to

Counts by country from our database of official course data, updated as the data changes. Pick a country to see a sample, then browse and filter the full list.

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🇺🇸programs in the USBrowse →🇬🇧programs in the UKBrowse →🇨🇦programs in CanadaBrowse →

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Typical entry requirements

What universities usually look for

In general terms. Every university sets its own requirements, and they differ between programs at the same university.

Academics

For a bachelor’s: Class 12; some universities ask for Mathematics. For a specialist master’s: a bachelor’s in any subject is often accepted. For an MBA: a degree plus professional experience.

English

Most universities accept IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic, each setting its own minimum. For a UK Student visa your English must be at least CEFR B2 for degree-level study, and your university can assess this. See our IELTS, TOEFL and PTE guides.

Tests

MBA programs commonly ask for the GMAT or GRE, and so do some US master’s programs. Many UK specialist MSc programs don’t. See our GRE vs GMAT guide.

Your application

Statement of purpose, CV and recommendations. MBA programs usually add essays and an interview.

Career paths

Where graduates often go

Common roles for graduates of this field. Where you end up depends on your university, experience, work rights and the job market.

Management consultantAdvises organisations on strategy and operations.
Marketing managerPlans brands, campaigns and growth.
Operations / supply chain managerKeeps products and services moving.
Business analystTurns business needs into requirements.
Product managerOwns a product’s direction.
HR business partnerLeads hiring, people and culture.
Financial analystBudgets, forecasts and investment cases.
FounderStarts and runs a new venture.

We don’t quote salary figures on this page: they vary widely by city, employer and visa status. Ask a counsellor for current, sourced numbers for the roles you are considering.

Ready to shortlist Business & MBA programs?

Answer a few questions and the finder ranks universities by how well they fit your grades, budget and goals. Or talk it through with a counsellor who studied abroad.

Sources

Rules, durations and STEM codes on this page were checked against these official sources in October 2026. Live program counts come from our database of official course data; see credits and data sources. Always confirm details on the university’s own course page.

  1. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List (last updated 22 July 2024) (checked Oct 2026)
  2. Study in the States (DHS), F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) (checked Oct 2026)
  3. Study in the States (DHS), STEM OPT Extension Overview (checked Oct 2026)
  4. Study in the States (DHS), DHS publishes proposed rule establishing fees for Optional Practical Training (7 October 2026) (checked Oct 2026)
  5. QAA, The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies (2024) (checked Oct 2026)
  6. QAA, Master’s Degree Characteristics Statement (checked Oct 2026)
  7. GOV.UK, Graduate visa (checked Oct 2026)
  8. EduCanada (Global Affairs Canada), Common pathways to college and university (checked Oct 2026)
  9. EduCanada (Global Affairs Canada), Graduate studies (checked Oct 2026)
  10. IRCC, Post-graduation work permit: field of study requirement (checked Oct 2026)
  11. IRCC, Post-graduation work permit: about (length of the permit) (checked Oct 2026)
  12. IRCC, Work permits for spouses and common-law partners of international students (checked Oct 2026)
  13. GOV.UK, Student visa: knowledge of English (checked Oct 2026)