PhD after an MBA

MBA is a professional degree designed for career advancement; is it a very stupid idea to do a PhD right after the MBA?

As a foreign student, I'm going to finish my MBA soon and intend to switch career from engineering to finance related industry. Though I have done very well in the MBA, I can't really get any job interview invitation, mainly because I do not have related experience. Fortunately or unfortunately, I'm given a full scholarship to futher study in engineering for PhD degree. Such opportunity is hard to come by given the fact that I'm an overseas student and they actually do it above and beyond the usual.

This is a lifetime decision. It's about going into engineering or business/finance for the rest of my life. I guess I favor business/finance after doing the MBA, but right now nothing seems to work out in term of job opportunity. Engineering is something I can do but perhaps I wish to have some other exposure as well.

I'm not sure how to persuade myself to give up the scholarship. I'm not a top student and such opportunity is really precious for a foreign student. A part of me wanted to go into the business/finance world, with great uncertainty and perhaps great future; another part of me long for stability which is right in front of me at the moment. It's a dilemma.

Your opinion is appreciated.

Reply 1

silvia

i understand how this feels...
it is sorta like u r at a major crossroad in ur life and u have to pick one...

i had a similar situation awhile ago... and i asked one of my dearest professors for his opinion... he told me... going into a particular field for phd does not mean u will be forever stuck in that field... phd is sorta like a process to make u a "professional researcher"... and after completing it, you will learn the skills involved and can apply such to any other field...

having said that... a phd does take 3 to 4 years to complete... it requires passion/enthusiasm in the subject to keep one going... many people end up having a very rough time (or even quit their phd) becoz they figured it wasnt really what they wanted... so you gotta make sure u will "enjoy" it... and not just doing it coz u have the funding...

hope that helps a bit...

Reply 2

Jazzza

Had you considered doing a DBA - a doctorate in Business Management which is the natural follow-on from an MBA? It's a high level programme at doctoral level and involves conducting research in your field - but is focused on applied research in the same way that MBA's are "applied" research. There are a number of programmes, mostly part-time (because managers are usually working full-time) for example Surrey has one in the UK and in Hong Kong. With a DBA you can continue to work in engineering because managers are often a manager in a particular field. A DBA does not mean you end up being "stuck" as a management researcher.

Reply 3

lhwjud

Thanks for the reply. Finding a finance/consulting job in UK is indeed challenging and nothing has worked out so far, so the full scholarship has becoming more viable option should I want a stable future. Really I'm still confuse: should I just let go the scholarship and dive into a different career with great uncertainty?

Reply 4

rhododendron

Ihwjud - What Business School are you at for your MBA

Reply 5

lhwjud

I've decided to give up further studies. God bless I'll find a job soon.

Thanks everyone for your opinions.

Reply 6

fydh

Thanks everyone,

I'm currently studying for an MBA after my first degree in Marketing. I'm having the feeling to chart my career path towards lecturing, and want to know if i could get a place for Phd with an MBA qualification. I would also need advice on the possibility of scholarship opportunities and in which UK universities, considering the fact that I'm not from the EU.
I particularly wish Ihwjud could tell me the University that offered him full scholarship.

Your advice would be highly appreciated. Thanks

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 7

sj27

Original post by fydh

Check the unis you are interested in. Generally an MBA is not considered a suitable degree for PhD admission, but you should be able to get onto a DBA programme with it.