Weighing up the pros and cons of studying your Master of Business Administration (MBA) online vs in person? There are important factors to consider, including flexibility, cost and the quality of the program.
With renewed appetite for in-person MBA study (73% favour this format, according to the 2025 GMAC Prospective Students Survey), we believe there are 3 distinct benefits of studying an in-person MBA to maximise your career and student experience.
What are the benefits of studying an in-person MBA?
1. More networking opportunities for lasting connections
One of the main reasons professionals enrol in an MBA is to develop their network. Studying your MBA face to face presents a myriad of opportunities to do this. Attending in-person MBA classes allows you to get to know your peers on a deeper level than in online MBAs. This occurs from:
- having valuable in-class discussions
- hallway chats before and after class
- the time you spend together working on group projects
- debriefing at social events after a busy week.
2. Diverse insights that enrich your learning
Many people study an MBA to challenge their thinking and test new ideas through rigorous debate. Studying your MBA in person allows for rich and in-depth conversations that lead to real insights and innovation.
3. In-demand business leadership skills
The 2022 QS Global Employer Survey revealed employers thought the most important skills for MBA graduates to possess were teamwork, problem-solving, flexibility, communication and interpersonal skills.
Each of these skills are strengthened by dynamic classroom interactions and practical learning exercises in the UQ MBA. Studying in person allows you to openly collaborate with your cohort, diversify your problem-solving thinking, and communicate your ideas with confidence in front of industry professionals. By working on group projects and engaging in class discussions, you’ll learn to read the room and detect subtle nuances of behaviour or emotion.
These skills will be invaluable when you’re pitching ideas to clients, interviewing potential candidates or managing teams.
Interestingly, two-thirds of employers believe in-person programs impact stronger technical skills than predominantly online or online-only programs, according to the GMAC Prospective Students Survey (2023).
Why study your MBA at UQ?
At UQ Business School, we're proud to offer a quality MBA learning experience enriched by the personal and professional relationships you’ll make. By developing these connections, your enhanced local and global networks will help you discover exciting new career opportunities.
The cohort effect
What puts the UQ MBA in a league of its own is the people. Affectionately known as ‘the cohort effect’, our program connects students with people from all backgrounds with a shared passion for creating positive change in their communities.
Our students come from a diverse range of industries, with an average of 13 years of work experience and around 6 years in management. The quality of the peers you’ll share the classroom with will lead to engaging classroom debates that challenge you to think and see the world differently and strong relationships that can last a lifetime.
Networking opportunities beyond the classroom
In addition to the highly qualified professionals you’ll study alongside, you’ll also have opportunities to make connections with:
- our award-winning academics
- industry experts
- our global alumni network.
The UQ MBA connects students with a diverse alumni community and relevant contacts through industry projects, global student experiences and exclusive events. The connections you build during your MBA can lead to exciting career opportunities and relationships that will support you throughout your career. Many UQ MBA students start innovative projects and businesses together. Others are in positions to recommend each other for jobs or projects.
Convenient CBD location
The UQ MBA’s location in the heart of the Brisbane CBD makes it convenient to attend class after a day in the office and to connect with other professionals in class, at an event or over a coffee at one of the nearby cafés.
And if you can’t make it to class in person, our hybrid learning mode means you can dial in online. It’s your choice on the day.
Please note that student visa holders must maintain full-time study and can complete no more than one-third of their program online.
What our students say
“For me, a non-negotiable when looking for an MBA program was the face-to-face component. I knew it would be easier to juggle an online MBA with my other commitments, but I wasn’t doing the MBA to get a piece of paper. I wanted it for the interaction and network I’d develop during the process. I can’t recommend a face-to-face MBA enough.”
– Helen Barker
It was important to me to travel from the Sunshine Coast to attend MBA classes in Brisbane because you can get so much value from connecting with your peers and your lecturers in person. There are things you can learn from others when you’re in the same room that you’d miss out on if you only study online, such as invaluable conversation before, after and between classes.
“I’ve made lifelong connections with my cohort and gained a support network that spans across industries. It’s a fantastic feeling to know I have many people I can count on for trusted and expert advice.”
– Kevin Balshaw
The insight provided by my peers was often just as valuable as the content delivered by the academic staff and was a major source of my personal and professional learning.
“Doing the MBA in person was important to me. My career has been relatively siloed and studying alongside professionals from across different industries to develop my network was a key benefit of the program. Beyond skill development, the program expanded my network well past the mining sector into power generation, emissions reduction and carbon markets. Those connections continue to be valuable contacts for my business.”
- Scott Barker
Are there any downsides of an in-person MBA?
One of the most common reasons people don’t like in-person study is that it doesn’t offer the same flexibility as many online programs.
With multiple ways to structure your studies around other commitments and priorities, the UQ MBA’s focus on in-person learning works to enhance the program’s adaptable delivery. However, you also have the flexibility to attend classes online or a mixture of both, depending on your schedule.
From the rich classroom discussions to the lifelong personal and professional relationships you’ll gain, the UQ MBA can set you up for a rich learning experience and rewarding career like none other.
