Why Studying Business?

Why Studying Business?

Business and related subjects , such as the Finance, Accounting, Management and Economics, are among the most popular fields of study at universities worldwide, particularly at graduate level. You might have some vague ideas about why this is the case – Buisness graduates are in high demand worldwide and touches on pretty much every aspect of modern human society. Careers with a business degree are diverse and often highly paid – and these assumptions are likely to be largely true. But if you’re still not quite convinced, here’s a deeper exploration of the question, ‘Why study Business? First, it’s important to recognize that there are many different degrees to choose from, offering different specializations and benefits, and applicable to people at different stages of development and with very different career goals. The term ‘business degrees’ is typically understood to include a fairly wide group of courses, some highly specialized and others more interdisciplinary; some more academic and others primarily focused on practical professional development. You can categorize TYPES OF BUSINESS degrees by level (ie. undergraduate, graduate, professional), and also by subject focus. At undergraduate level, and on some graduate-level business degrees, students are able to gain a foundation in many of these aspects of the business world, before choosing a specialization. From master’s level onwards, it’s more usual for business degrees to be focused on a particular aspect of business, though there may still be a lot of flexibility for students to shape the course to match their own interests. Meanwhile MBA (Master of Business Administration) and Executive MBA programs are targeted at those who have already gained significant professional experience, and typically have more of a focus on professional development.

The combination of academic challenge and practical focus makes the prospect of studying a business degree highly appealing for those attracted to the competitive yet collaborative learning environment offered by many business schools and departments. Business graduates go on to work in myriad different sectors, and not all of them are those you would typically associate with business in general. More obvious careers with a business degree include roles in accounting and finance departments, which take in large numbers of business degree graduates. Other sectors with high demand for business graduates include marketing and advertising, as well as retail, sales, Human Resources and Business Consultancy. The diversity and plenitude of careers with a business degree underlies the subject’s appeal for many students. If you’re unsure of how to start developing your career after graduation, you may consider joining one of the many graduate training schemes which many large and international companies run. These often allow graduates to spend time completing traineeships in different parts of the business, and often different regions of the world, before opting for a particular career track to pursue. You could also use your business degree to pursue roles within SMEs (small- to medium-sized enterprises), innovative new start-ups, charities, non-profit organizations and NGOs. If you have a bright idea and the knowledge to back it up, you may even consider launching your own business.

As already mentioned, earnings potential is at the heart of many business students motivation. While you shouldn’t expect a huge business degree salary as soon as you graduate, the skills and knowledge gained from a business degree should facilitate your career progression, making it easier to climb into management-level positions with higher salaries. The message really is: the business degree itself does not automatically mean a high salary – though graduating from a highly

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