What it means
The university opened in 1991 and its business school grew quickly alongside Hong Kong's role as a financial centre. Its programmes cover accounting, finance, economics, marketing, operations and management.
Students and executives come from many countries, which makes the school a place to build international networks. Business schools matter to finance careers because their degrees are used as signals of skills and ambition.
An MBA, or Master of Business Administration, is a general management degree that many employers value for senior roles, particularly in consulting, banking and corporate leadership. Executive programmes serve working managers who study part time.
For individuals, the decision to attend is an investment. The costs include tuition and living expenses and the salary given up while studying, and the benefits include a possible increase in salary, a wider network and a change of career.
Prospective students are encouraged to compare programmes using outcomes such as employment rates and salary increases, and to be sceptical of marketing claims. For employers, sponsoring staff to attend can improve retention and build leadership.
Companies often include agreements that require staff to remain for a period after the course or repay part of the cost. Finance teams budget for the fees and for the time away from work.
The school also publishes research and provides training in areas of interest to businesses, such as financial technology and sustainable finance. Its location in Hong Kong gives it a close view of Asian markets and the interplay between China and the global economy.
As with any institution, quoted rankings and figures change by year, so applicants should check current information from official sources. Alumni networks add another layer of value.
Graduates working in banks, funds and companies across the region can offer introductions, advice and job leads, and many schools run events that keep those links active. The strength of a network is difficult to price, but it is often cited by graduates as one of the main benefits.
In practice
Real-world examples.
Example
A 29-year-old analyst at a regional bank applies for an MBA to move into corporate strategy. She compares the likely salary increase against the cost and the year of lost earnings before applying.
Example
A manufacturing company sponsors its operations director to attend a part-time executive programme. It signs an agreement that she must stay for two years after completion or repay half of the $40,000 fee.
Example
An entrepreneur from mainland China attends a short executive course in Hong Kong to learn about financing and to meet investors. He later uses contacts from the course to find a co-investor for his business, who agrees to put in $500,000 for a minority stake.
Formula
Calculation
Payback period = total cost of the programme / annual increase in after-tax earnings
Total cost = tuition and expenses + earnings given up while studying
Suppose a manager considers a full-time MBA at an illustrative cost of $80,000 in tuition and expenses. She would give up a salary of $70,000 for one year.
Total cost = 80,000 + 70,000 = $150,000.
Suppose her after-tax earnings are expected to rise by $30,000 a year after graduation.
Payback period = 150,000 / 30,000 = 5 years.
If the increase were $50,000 a year, the payback would be 150,000 / 50,000 = 3 years, so the result depends heavily on the assumed salary gain. These figures are invented for the illustration and do not describe any school's actual fees.Case study
Seen in the real world.
Pinnacle Logistics is a fictional company that decided to send three high-potential managers on executive education programmes each year, at a cost of $45,000 each. The finance director wanted evidence of value, so she tracked promotions, retention and project results.
After three years in this illustrative review, all nine participants were still with the company, compared with a typical turnover of about 15% a year among similar staff. Two had led cost projects that saved a combined $2,100,000. The programme was kept, and she added a requirement for each participant to present practical lessons to colleagues.
Watch out
Common mistakes.
- Assuming a degree guarantees a salary rise, when results depend on the person, the market and the programme.
- Counting only tuition as the cost, when lost earnings are often the largest part.
- Relying on rankings alone, when fit, curriculum and outcomes matter too.
Questions
People also ask.
What kinds of programmes does the school offer?
Business schools of this type generally offer undergraduate, MBA, specialist master's, executive and doctoral programmes, so check the school's website for the current list.
Is an MBA worth the cost?
It can be, depending on the cost, the career goals and the likely salary gain, and a payback calculation helps compare options.
Can employers pay for study?
Many do, often with conditions such as staying for a set time afterwards, so check the policy before enrolling.
From the founder's library
Take it further with the book.
Build your financial confidence beyond this definition. Shihan's full-length guide, Accounting Fundamentals, takes the same plain-English approach and turns it into a complete, practical playbook for non-finance managers, business owners and students - with chapter-end quiz answers and presentation slides included.
25% off with code MMHQ25, applied at checkout. Priced in USD - checkout may show the equivalent in your local currency.
View the book and save 25%Related