- Schedule
- Weekday classes, mostly in the daytime
- Keep your job?
- Most students leave their jobs
- Length
- About two years in the US, with a summer internship between the years. One-year programs also exist.
- Often suits
- Career changers who want an internship and a full-time campus experience
The schedule
Full-time students take a full course load during the week, with classes mostly in the daytime. Outside class, the week fills with group work, reading, club events, recruiting events and career workshops. Most students treat the program as a full-time job, and many find it takes more hours than their old one.
In the common two-year format, the first year is built around the core curriculum. Students often move through the core in fixed sections or cohorts, taking the same classes with the same group of classmates. The second year is mostly electives you choose yourself.
The summer internship
The summer between the first and second year is the main reason many people choose the full-time format. Students use it for an internship, often in a new industry or role. For career changers, the internship is a chance to try the new field and show an employer what they can do before graduation.
Recruiting for these internships can start early in the first year. Schools usually have a career services office that runs workshops on résumés, interviews and networking, and helps students plan their search. Ask each school how its career team supports students and how early recruiting begins.
One-year and two-year programs
Two-year programs are the most common full-time format in the United States. One-year programs also exist, and they are more common in some other countries. A shorter program means less time away from work and fewer months of living costs. It also means a heavier pace and, in many cases, no summer internship. One-year programs can suit people who want to grow in their current field rather than switch to a new one.
The trade-offs
| What you gain | What it costs you |
|---|---|
| A summer internship to test a new career | Your salary for the length of the program |
| Time to focus on study and recruiting | Time away from your career path at work |
| A close cohort and a full campus life | Often a move to a new city |
| Full access to clubs, treks and school events | Living costs paid from savings or loans |
The lost income is often the largest cost of a full-time MBA, and it is easy to leave it out of a budget. When you compare programs, add up tuition and fees, living costs, and the pay you will give up. The financing guide lists the questions to ask a financial aid office.
Who it often suits
- People who want to change industry or role and need an internship to make the move.
- People early to mid career who can afford to stop working for a year or two.
- People who want a full campus experience and are open to moving.
If leaving work is not realistic, look at part-time or online programs. If you already have long management experience, an executive MBA may fit better.