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- by Charlotte King
- In General, Courses, International Students, Study in UK, Distance Learning / Online Study
Posted June 4, 2025
Is an Online MBA worth it? Here’s what you need to know
Invest in your career, not just your qualification!
For many professionals, the idea of an MBA surfaces at a key moment: a shift in focus, a sense of restlessness, or a clear step-change in ambition. It’s not always about making a career change. Sometimes it’s about refining what you already do. Leading with more confidence. Thinking more strategically. Or simply opening up more options.
In this article, we unpack the real value of an online MBA, and compare it to traditional, campus-based MBA study. We look at cost, credibility, flexibility and career impact – and offer a practical guide to help you make the right decision.
Why people still choose MBAs – and what to expect
There are many reasons to study an MBA – it remains one of the most respected qualifications in business, not just for the title, but for the skills it helps you build. You’ll cover essential areas like strategy, finance, leadership, marketing and operations, giving you a complete understanding of how organisations perform and grow.
Along the way, you’ll sharpen your analytical thinking, strengthen your communication and planning abilities, and develop the tools to lead with clarity and confidence.
Increase your earning potential
The financial return can be compelling too, depending on sector, role and experience. MBA graduates earn twice as much as those with an undergraduate business degree, and 58% more than those with other postgraduate business qualifications – with typical graduate salaries ranging from £50,000 to £120,000.
And best of all, there’s a wide range of specialist MBA pathways, with some fields commanding higher salaries than others. If you’ve got a specific career in mind or a skillset you want to deepen, there’s likely a programme that aligns with your goals.
Online MBAs are respected, and built for the way we work now
There’s a lingering view that online MBAs don’t quite match their on-campus counterparts. The reality is very different.
Well-designed online programmes offer the same qualification, the same academic standard, and the same recognition – without asking you to hit pause on your life.
Instead of lectures and campus blocks, you’ll work through structured online modules with support from digital resources, case-based learning, and applied tasks like business plans, strategy proposals, and presentations.
At Walbrook Institute London, we’re proud to have built our MBAs for online delivery from the ground up – not retrofitted from campus, but designed to support the way professionals actually live and work.
Get your MBA, the Walbrook Way
- Start any month from July 2025
- Complete your MBA in just 14 months
- Balance learning with work, home and life
- Pay per module with flexible funding options, and UK postgraduate loans
- Access career services from day one
- Learn from industry-shaped content built for real career growth
- Study full or part time
💡 Top tip
If you’re exploring online MBA options, make sure to dig into the programme details. Look at the delivery model, study format and student support. Ask whether it fits your schedule, your priorities – and your plans for what comes next.
Understanding the cost of an MBA
There are many ways to think about cost. You can look at return on investment, assess it against your goals, or start with face value. However you approach it, the numbers tell a clear story – as we’ve already seen, an MBA can lead to significantly higher earning potential over time.
But MBAs aren’t cheap. In the UK, MBA tuition can cost up to £65,000 per year, and in some cases more. Price doesn’t always reflect quality, and what really matters is clarity: how you’ll pay, what’s included, and how both the costs and the programme itself align with your plans.
When comparing options, watch out for:
- Assessment or admissions fees that appear after enrolment.
- Bundled pricing that makes it hard to pause or change direction.
- Lack of flexibility in how and when you pay.
Unclear information about student loans, employer sponsorship or other funding routes.
Study an MBA for just £8,880
At Walbrook Institute London, our MBAs are digital-first, and that makes a difference. With no campus costs, we’re able to keep fees affordable without compromising on quality. You’ll develop the same skills, study from anywhere, and access structured, career-focused learning, at a total cost of £8,880.
Best of all, you can pay per module as you go. And with multiple ways to fund your studies – from UK postgraduate loans to self-funding or employer support – it’s a model designed for real flexibility.
Finding the right online MBA, and the right specialism
No two careers are the same, and no two online MBAs need to be either. While most programmes cover core areas like strategy, finance and leadership, many now offer specialist pathways tailored to specific sectors, skills or professional goals.
Here are a few questions to help narrow down your options and find a programme that works for your goals and your life.
Format and flexibility
-
Is it fully online, hybrid or campus-based?
-
Can I study full time or part time?
-
Are assessments fixed or flexible?
- How easily does the programme fit around work, home and other commitments?
Specialism and support
- What optional modules can I take?
- Is the content aligned with my role, or the role I want?
- What kind of academic and career support is available?
What networks, employer links or industry exposure does it offer?
Explore specialist MBAs at Walbrook Institute London
At Walbrook, we offer six career-focused MBA pathways – each shaped to reflect different industries, goals and ways of working. All 100% online.
Use them as a guide to see how content, structure and career outcomes can vary across routes, and to help narrow down what’s right for you.
- MBA >
- MBA Artificial Intelligence >
- MBA Banking & Finance >
- MBA Finance >
- MBA Innovation >
- MBA Project Management >
So – is an online MBA worth it?
An MBA can offer more than a qualification. Whether you choose to study online or on campus, you can be confident you’ll graduate with real-world skills, a clear sense of direction, and the potential to significantly increase your earning power.
And if you go down the online route, you can expect the same quality, recognised qualification, depth of learning, and access to career and network opportunities.
The main difference is how you get there, in a format designed to work around your life.
Discover Walbrook’s 100% online MBAs
Explore how flexible online study can still take you exactly where you want to go – with the structure, support and focus to help you move forward on your terms.
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