MBA graduate earnings reach new highs

Research shows a lucrative package is in store for talented students

As graduates around the world continue to seek means by which they can differentiate themselves in the international jobs market, new expert research reiterates the continued value of a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA).

The 2018 QS TopMBA.com Jobs & Salary Trends report, released by global business school experts QS Quacquarelli Symonds, illustrates that MBA hirers in the region are prepared to offer increasingly large compensation packages to procure top talent. Average salary packages for MBA hires in the Middle East have risen from $89,400 to $90,700 year-on-year – almost $10,000 higher than in 2015 ($81,000).

Key observations illuminated by QS’s research include:

• The highest compensation packages in the world are based in Switzerland; they have risen to an average of $140,900 per annum. • Global demand for MBA graduates continues to rise. Hiring managers surveyed by QS recorded a 13 per cent increase in worldwide hiring opportunities in 2017, following 2016’s increase by the same amount. • The jobs market for MBA graduates in the Middle East and Africa is gaining momentum, with a 2 per cent year-on-year increase for graduates with the qualification. • Hiring managers report large increases in opportunities for those seeking to enter the technology sector (13 per cent year-on-year) or consulting (11 per cent year-on-year). • This trend is particularly propitious for those seeking to work in the U.S. or Canada, where QS report a 22 per cent increase in tech opportunities for MBA graduates.

Those seeking to take the first step on their journey to a top MBA – and the employability opportunities that follow – can schedule oneto-one meetings with top business schools as part of the QS World MBA Tour. The tour will visit Abu Dhabi on the February 21 and Dubai on the February 23.

Candidates seeking to meet Duke University’s Fuqua Business School, INSEAD, Imperial College London, IE Business School, and more, must pre-register online to book meetings in Abu Dhabi or Dubai. Events will also feature expert-led seminars on admissions and GMAT workshops, designed to optimise your chances of studying at a world-class business school.

Aspiring MBA students will have the opportunity to:

• Meet and network with admissions directors from SDA Bocconi, DukeFuqua*, Durham, EU Business School, MIP Politecnico, IMT HULT, LBS, Imperial, INSEAD* and many more. • Attend informative seminars on the benefits conferred by an MBA. • Gain access to an exclusive pool of QS scholarships worth up to $7 million. • Receive a complimentary copy of the QS Top MBA Career Guide. • Get bespoke advice on CV improvement at a clinic run by Bayt. • Participate in a free trip to the U.S., including campus tours of top business schools including Harvard, MIT, Stanford, UC Berkeley and more.

To begin your journey, pre-register for the QS World MBA Tour now at www.topmba.com/khaleej