Master in Management?

Mr.Nice Guy

Hey all. I got a postcard in the mail from UCD Business School about the Master in Management course, which apparently welcomes graduates from non-business backgrounds such as myself.

I was having a read about it and have heard some negative accounts, including here:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055277502

I'm curious to know if anyone on the board has done the course recently and what they make of it? It's not an area I'd considered beforehand and I'm wondering if it's a useful course to do?

mehmeh12

I got one of those postcards too..did the website link on yours work? mine couldn't be found on Google for some reason.

tbh i don't think this is a proper course..i had one of the lecturers who teaches on this as part of my undergrad degree and she was very unprofessional in the way she tried to sell it to the class as the end of the year...also as a teacher she was unbearably crap..no joke.

convert

mehmeh12 wrote: »

also as a teacher she was unbearably crap..no joke.

Lecturing skills vary hugely from lecturer to lecturer, and every course has a lecturer who is better than some of the other lecturers, so to put this forward as a reason not to do the course isn't entirely fair. Yes, one would expect a certain level of teaching, especially considering the fees involved, but if you know the lecturer of a certain course doesn't teach in a manner that you enjoy, and if it's an option course, then don't take it.

Regarding the merits of the course, it's up to the individual to decide. I think it depends on the academic discipline from which you've come, and on where you want to go, as well as whether or not you have experience in business.

I've spoken to two people who are just finishing the course this year. One was an engineering graduate, the other a science graduate. The former thoroughly enjoyed the course, got lots from it and would recommend it. The latter, despite having found it difficult and tough and not really enjoying it, still recommended it, but said it would really depend on the individual, their aims and focus.

number13

not too sure where to post this but here goes.
I have alaw degree from an IT finished bout a year ago. idont wabt to go the solicitor route as couldn t afford it kids house etc. I was loking to do the master in management part time in ucd as ia feel a law with business would take up me upa couple of steps to get a good job out of it. im currently on minumum wage job so hate it.Iwas just wondering what sort of jobs did people get out of this masters ?Please help

[Jackass]

It's a poor mans MBA really.

That's not to say it wouldn't be worthwhile, but if you're going to invest 1 or 2 years and 7 or 8 grand into something, you should weigh up the pro's and con's..

How does it fit in to your career plans? How much will it advance you in the direction of where you want to get to? (if you're working, questions that would be worth discussing with your boss), does it compliment your skills and experience (i.e. are you at a level or expect to achieve a level in the near future where you would both like to be considered for a management role and is there a demand for people with those skills and at that level in your office or in the job market? - a search on job sites might help).

Also it's worth considering, is this the best investment of your time and money? Is there a different course you could do that would benefit your career more if you went for it? Maybe you already have vast management experience and would benefit more from have more specialised skills, such as a masters in the type of work you do as opposed to get a formal qualification for a skill you already have and have much experience of, perhaps your experience would mean this wouldn't advance you CV as much as it would if you didn't have that experience on your side?

If a formal management course is what you want, the "gold standard" is an MBA - maybe that would be worth exploring, i.e. if you're going to commit to post-grad study, go whole hog if it's possible. Maybe something worth discussing with your employer too, if they want to explore the option of financing or part-financing you on an executive MBA for example (where they can specify much of the content and skills they would like for you to get out of the MBA and help tailor it for you as opposed to a standard MBA)]

Basically, if you can answer all those questions and still feel it's the right move for you (and it could very possibly be) then go for it!

Definitely do your research first though.

As far as I know, it's awarded from Smurfit Business School (best business school in the country and one of the best in the world), so I'd imagine the standard would be very good. Certainly potential employers would also.

Sugar Free

[Jackass] wrote: »

It's a poor mans MBA really.

That's not to say it wouldn't be worthwhile, but if you're going to invest 1 or 2 years and 7 or 8 grand into something, you should weigh up the pro's and con's..

How does it fit in to your career plans? How much will it advance you in the direction of where you want to get to? (if you're working, questions that would be worth discussing with your boss), does it compliment your skills and experience (i.e. are you at a level or expect to achieve a level in the near future where you would both like to be considered for a management role and is there a demand for people with those skills and at that level in your office or in the job market? - a search on job sites might help).

Also it's worth considering, is this the best investment of your time and money? Is there a different course you could do that would benefit your career more if you went for it? Maybe you already have vast management experience and would benefit more from have more specialised skills, such as a masters in the type of work you do as opposed to get a formal qualification for a skill you already have and have much experience of, perhaps your experience would mean this wouldn't advance you CV as much as it would if you didn't have that experience on your side?

If a formal management course is what you want, the "gold standard" is an MBA - maybe that would be worth exploring, i.e. if you're going to commit to post-grad study, go whole hog if it's possible. Maybe something worth discussing with your employer too, if they want to explore the option of financing or part-financing you on an executive MBA for example (where they can specify much of the content and skills they would like for you to get out of the MBA and help tailor it for you as opposed to a standard MBA)]

Basically, if you can answer all those questions and still feel it's the right move for you (and it could very possibly be) then go for it!

Definitely do your research first though.

As far as I know, it's awarded from Smurfit Business School (best business school in the country and one of the best in the world), so I'd imagine the standard would be very good. Certainly potential employers would also.

Good advice although on the matter of doing the MBA - the poster doesn't state it but without significant professional and some managerial experience, they have no hope of getting a place on the MBA course.

number13

Sorry yeah i have no managerial experience at all really. I work behind a fish counter in a supermarket.I just want a real career that can go places and not on minimum wage. Was just really looking fro advice