“This year marks the 20th anniversary of MBA education in China,” says Ma Jia, director of marketing and admissions for Tsinghua University’s IMBA program, adding that the speed at which the market has grown is, like most things in China, astounding. “China grew fast from the original nine programs to 236 programs.”

Twenty years on, it is unlikely such expansion will continue for much longer. Instead, Chinese business schools are competing now on the quality of their education.

Competition among China’s business schools is set to become much more fierce in the coming years as students - both international and Chinese - begin to recognize the value of gaining their MBA in China instead of traditional centers such as Western Europe and the US.

At present there are a few well-recognized business schools offering international-standard MBAs in China and yet more offering MBAs partnered with Western schools such as the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT: Sloan), which partners with Tsinghua University’s School of Economics and Management, amongst others.

With such variety in China though, choosing the right MBA is crucial.

There are nevertheless some distinct benefits and drawbacks that apply to MBA programs in China regardless of the individual business school.

Perhaps the most common benefit of studying for an MBA in China is the widely accepted view that, as a developing marketplace, MBA holders see their career development progress much faster than in more mature economies.

The rapid movement of industry to China requires a great deal of well-qualified managers who can understand both Western and Chinese business practices. Moreover, a benefit to students considering studying for an MBA in China is the current lack of such talent throughout the country.

“The lack of management talent is quite significant,” says Ms Ma. “MBA graduates will have more job opportunities and room for development.”

Insight into Chinese business through an MBA

Obtaining an MBA in China allows students to see firsthand what business practices in China look like, and will give those hoping to work in China a significant head start over those planning on transferring their MBA from the West to China.

Transferable experience does not only concern moving from West to East but also concerns moving within China itself, as the distinction between Hong Kong and China must be made clear.

At times Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, is indistinguishable from the People’s Republic, but in terms of MBA education there are some acute differences in the experience an MBA student can gain.

"Hong Kong has a lot of competitive MBA courses with highly diversified student demographics," says Patrick Groom, international admissions manager at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business in Beijing. "Often, Hong Kong students will be the minority in an MBA course, such is the multi-national make up of Hong Kong MBA students.”

But the courses available in Hong Kong, he says, look West a great deal more than they really examine business operations in China and China's impact on the rest of the world.

"Students that study in Hong Kong can lack a genuine foothold in mainland China's business environment as well as an understanding of the mainland's cultural differences, when compared with those who take their MBA in the PRC," he adds.

The Hong Kong MBA experience

That is not to say that Hong Kong does not offer separate, unique opportunities to international students.

 “The strategic location of Hong Kong with the world’s freest economy and its close connection to the business environment of mainland China offers [MBA students] outstanding networking and career opportunities,” says Pauline Cheung, marketing and admissions officer for the MBA program at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s (HKUST) Business School.

“[MBA students] can be exposed to the international culture in Hong Kong with a focus on China business which is hard to be found elsewhere.”

For some international students, the issue of culture shock may act as a disincentive to study for an MBA in China, in which case Hong Kong may be a better option. However, most business schools in the Chinese mainland will provide Mandarin language courses to all students not already fluent in Chinese.

Furthermore, integration with the culture that accompanies the world’s second largest economy is a crucial asset that MBA students can only gain by studying in China itself.

“We believe that every serious business manager, no matter their location or area of expertise, can benefit from a deeper knowledge of China,” says professor Lydia Price, associate dean and academic director of the Chine Europe International Business School’s (CEIBS) MBA program.

Furthermore, China can offer practical examples of markets in action, professor Price says: “The rapid pace [of development] heightens our students’ sensitivities to innovation, competitive dynamics, market evolution and many other strategic business concepts that can seem rather abstract when learned in the West.”

The QS World MBA Tour, which brings representatives of the top business schools from around the globe to meet with local MBA applicants will be in Shanghai on September 3rd and November 8th, Beijing on September 5th and November 5th, Taipei, Taiwan on November 10th, Hong Kong on November 12th, and Guangzhou on November 13th. Connect 1-2-1, which allows registrants to meet with business schools in informal one-to-one meetings will be in Beijing on November 5th, and Shanghai on November 7th.