5 reasons you should consider an MBA
Posted on: 28 May, 2025
Studying for any degree is a big decision that needs to be considered carefully. It’s a major time commitment, it costs money, and you’ll have to make sacrifices to get the grades you need.
An MBA is no exception. As a postgraduate qualification, it’s often the next step for undergraduates, but is also a popular route for existing professionals in positions of leadership.
Regardless of your background, here are several reasons why an MBA is worth considering:
1. It can advance your career
If you’re ambitious, want to step out of middle management or would like to position yourself for a future leadership role in your organisation, getting an MBA can put you on the path to success.
Programmes like UCEM’s Master of Business Administration place an emphasis on the leadership and management skills you need to take this next step, including:
- How to strategically manage change
- Encouraging innovation
- The different types of leadership styles
- Knowledge of financial processes
2. You can earn a higher salary
Another key reason students complete an MBA is because of the impact it can have on their salary. The opportunities to progress your career – whether that’s with your existing employer or at a new firm – can bring with it a more competitive salary and more compelling benefits.
Last year, the average UK salary for MBA graduates was £59,000, compared to a median nominal salary of £40,000 and £45,000 for undergraduates and postgraduates respectively.
3. It can help you start a business
Success means different things to different people, and as such, your goal might have you at the helm of your own new business rather than as a leader for your current employer.
An MBA can be particularly useful if this is your ambition. The brevity of the skills you’ll learn – from management through to finance and even marketing – will give you the broad knowledge you’ll need to be a capable business leader and entrepreneur.
However, another key benefit of an MBA will be the opportunity to network. Your fellow cohort of students could be like-minded professionals with similar ambitions you could partner with, or well-connected individuals who can put you in touch with mentors, partners or even investors.
4. You want to build your knowledge
You don’t have to have imminent career plans to benefit from an MBA. In fact, if you’re already in a position of leadership (or are simply curious to learn how business works), there’s an awful lot you can gain from this qualification.
The networking opportunities alone could be extremely valuable for you. What’s more, if you have aspirations of working abroad, the international context many of these programmes offer can open doors to opportunities across the world.
5. You want to specialise in a certain area
While MBA programmes are broadly focused on leadership and management, there are plenty of qualifications that deliver these learnings in the context of a specific industry. This means that you could make yourself an extremely valuable asset if you’re looking to work in a specific sector.
UCEM’s Master of Business Administration, for instance, takes the principles of leadership, strategy and management and applies them to the built environment, making it the ideal programme for someone looking to develop their opportunities in industries like construction and real estate.
If you’re an existing built environment professional or are looking to make your mark in the sector, UCEM’s specialist MBA can give you the knowledge, tools and experience you need to succeed.
Find out more: Master of Business Administration (MBA) – University College of Estate Management
