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Posted April 29, 2013

The Rising Number of Women Enrolling on MBA Courses

Traditionally women have made up around 32% of students enrolling onto MBA courses, but this year there has been a dramatic increase in this number, with some universities such as the Nyenrode Business Universiteit in the Netherlands seeing figures rise up to 49%.

So what are universities like Nyenrode doing to encourage more women to enrol on MBA courses, and how is the education / employment system also making a difference?

Historically, women with young families have been prevented from enrolling onto MBA courses due to issues with childcare and time management. Many universities have recognized that this has prevented women from enrolling onto courses, and are providing family friendly learning and accommodation facilities to make life a whole lot easier. There is no reason why anyone should be at a disadvantage when it comes to advancing their education simply because they have family responsibilities to take care of. Business schools are eager to increase the number of women enrolling on courses, and one of the reasons they are doing this is that woman in particular are extremely good for business, with research showing that women with an MBA in senior level jobs are producing the highest return on investment.

Women Role Models

Another reason that schools have seen a higher number of female applicants is due to increased women specific marketing conducted by institutes. Among other things, they have been using strong women role models to inspire potential students into believing in the value of the course, and providing a host of supportive measures to break down any perceived barriers to their participation. The results of individual universities efforts to boost female enrollment numbers on their MBA courses are clear to see, as whilst the average figure is close to 1/3, institutes such as Lancaster University Management School, Cranfield, Durham, and Surrey Business School, all have reached figures between 40% and 50% due to their proactive strategies.

Distance Learning

Distance learning is another reason why more women are enrolling on MBA courses , and this is due to the flexibility that this type of course offers. The average number of women on a distance learning course is much higher than campus based courses, at around 40%, which backs up the theory that enrolment figures have been traditionally low due to employment and childcare issues. It is now easier than ever for women to take up an MBA course, and this is great news for industry as we are seeing more highly successful women taking up top positions in the business world.

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Prodigy Finance is one of many potential funding options for international postgraduate students. Other student funding options are available and Postgrad.com advises you to research all your options thoroughly before making such a commitment. Postgrad.com accepts no responsibility for your choice of loan and does not endorse or support Prodigy Finance. Prodigy Finance Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and entered on the Financial Services Register under firm registration number 612713.

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