What is ASB looking for in an MBA candidate?

The ideal ASB candidate is energetic, talented, and curious with an entrepreneurial mindset. We seek highly motivated students who are excited to be a part of an innovative MBA program and whose presence will enhance the experience of their peers. Smart, humble, curious, thoughtful problem-solvers who make things happen — these are adjectives that describe our students. The ASB MBA program is rigorous. Students must have performed at a superior level in their previous university studies. They must also demonstrate the ability to pursue personal goals, exhibit a high level of personal integrity, and should have a minimum of two years of professional work experience.

Does ASB only accept applicants with work experience?

Applicants are strongly encouraged to have at least 2 years of full-time work experience post-Bachelor’s degree. Work experience suggests that the student will get more out of the MBA program and will have more to contribute to their peers.

What are the minimum requirements to apply to the ASB MBA program?

The Admissions Committee has a comprehensive process of evaluating applications. As part of the evaluation process, the minimum requirements mandated by the Ministry of Education in Malaysia must be met. These minimum requirements include: 

• A Bachelor’s degree (or proven equivalent), with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5 on the 4.0 GPA scale (or equivalent). 
• 5-year working experience, if the applicant do not meet the required minimum requirement 
• A native English speaker OR have received a Bachelor’s degree taught in English. If you do not fulfill one of these requirements, you must provide proof of English language proficiency. 

We strongly encourage applicants to have at least 2 years of full-time work experience post-Bachelor’s degree, the average work experience of current ASB MBA students is 7 years). 

Applicants are also strongly encouraged to submit scores from a GMAT or GRE exam, which demonstrates to us their level of commitment in pursuing MBA studies as well as level of quantitative competency. 

Do I need an undergraduate degree in a specific field of study?

No. ASB welcomes applications from those with undergraduate degrees in all concentrations, including the humanities, the social and physical sciences, math and engineering.

I already have an MBA. Am I eligible to apply?

Candidates who hold an MBA degree from another university are eligible to apply. However, these candidates should detail their reason for pursuing a second MBA degree in their applications.

I already have a PhD. Am I eligible to apply?

Candidates who hold a PhD degree are eligible to apply.

I have a three-year bachelor’s degree from outside the United States. Am I eligible to apply?

Candidates with a three-year bachelor’s degree are welcome to apply. While assessing your academic background we take into consideration the competitiveness of the institutions you attended and your academic performance.

Does ASB allow married couples to apply?

Married couples are allowed to apply. Each person must complete and submit an individual online application.

Do applicants need to have work experience?

Work experience suggests that students will benefit more from their MBA studies and have more to contribute. Thus, we strongly prefer students with at least 2 years of work experience post- Bachelor degree prior to applying to ASB.

Does internship experience count as full-time work experience?

Internship experience is not accepted as full-time work experience. However, it will be considered as part of our application evaluation.

If I have been absent from work for a period of time, does it affect the chances of being admitted?

You are encouraged to address any time gaps present in your resume through the Optional Essay in your application.

How do you measure the quality of work experience among such a diverse applicant pool?

ASB uses a comprehensive competency model to evaluate candidates. ASB seeks candidates who demonstrate evidence of these competencies, which can come from a wide range of professional experiences.

Are there specific types of work experience and industries that you look for in candidates?

We are not looking for any specific industry experience. Instead, we want to see that you’ve been successful at, and reflective of, whatever it is you’ve chosen to do prior to pursuing your MBA.

Would lack of work experience in a major organization count against me in my application, despite the success of my independent venture?

We do not discriminate any kind of work experiences. Working in a small organization or start-up can provide very interesting and rich experiences, so you do not need to have worked in a large organization.

How do you factor in applicants with advanced degrees?

Advanced degree(s) may provide important evidence of academic accomplishment and success, and will be considered alongside an applicant’s undergraduate transcript(s).

Does PhD research count towards work experience?

Yes, PhD research is considered work experience.

Does ASB prefer applicants who have a more quantitative background?

ASB evaluates applicants’ verbal and quantitative abilities. Successful applicants with less quantitative experience may be asked to complete a series of math preparation modules as a condition of their admission to the MBA program. This is to ensure the success of candidates admitted into the program.

How important are extracurricular activities? Is it acceptable if some of the activities are work-related?

Applicants are encouraged to share their extracurricular activities and hobbies in the cover letter, essay(s), resume, and video sections of the application.

Is there a preference towards certain jobs before graduate business school?

We encourage applicants from a broad range of professional and academic backgrounds to apply.

What are the criteria by which the Admissions Committee evaluates applicants?

ASB is seeking candidates with intellectual capability and a high degree of emotional maturity. When reviewing applications and interviewing applicants, we are looking for candidates who articulate their professional and academic success, their ability to lead and influence others, their collaborative spirit and their interest in being at the center of emerging markets in Asia. Ultimately, the Admissions Committee is looking to assemble a class of highly qualified and diverse individuals who will bring the most to ASB and who will benefit the most from the MBA program.

How does the Admissions process work?

Application:

Applications are accepted through the online application which opens in January 2023 for the 2023 intake. There are three rounds of the application deadlines:

• Round 1: Thursday, February 28, 2023
• Round 2: Sunday, April 30, 2023
• Round 3: Friday, June 30, 2023

Interviews:

Highly qualified candidates will be shortlisted and invited for an in-person or Zoom interview. Interviews will be conducted by invitation only.

Admissions Decisions:

All applicants are informed of admissions decisions through the online application system, including those who do not get invited to interview.

*It is always recommended to apply early in the admissions cycle. International students are strongly encouraged to apply in Rounds 1 or 2 due to timelines for processing international student visa applications.

Are some parts of the application valued more than others? In other words, what is the most important part of the application?

Every component of the application holds the same value. Applications are evaluated comprehensively and holistically, and all of the information captured helps the Admissions Committee evaluate the candidate’s unique qualifications.

What is the application fee?

There is no application fee.

How does ASB evaluate the English proficiency of an applicant?

The Admissions Committee requires all applicants whose native language is not English OR applicants who have not received a university degree taught in English to provide proof of their English language proficiency by submitting one of the following valid test scores. The minimum required score is in brackets:

• IELTS (Overall band 6.0)
• TOEFL (Paper-based 550, Internet-based 79)
• Cambridge English Advanced/Proficiency (169)
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic (50)
• Malaysian University English Test (MUET) (Band 4)

We will only accept English language proficiency test scores taken within two years of the date of the intake for which you are applying.

If your undergraduate degree was taught in English and your institution was not from the following countries; USA, United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand, you will be required to provide supporting letter to confirm English language as the medium of instruction for the undergraduate degree.

Does ASB compare international applicants against one another?

All applicants, domestic and international, are evaluated equally. There are no quotas based on country or citizenship for international applications.

If I am an international student, when should I apply?

International students are strongly encouraged to apply in Rounds 1 or 2 due to the processing timelines required for international student visa.

Who reads the MBA applications and conducts the interviews?

Applications are reviewed and read by the professional admissions staff. Additionally, interviews are conducted by the members of the Admissions Committee.

How important is the interview within the final admissions decision?

Receiving an interview invitation means that the candidate has been shortlisted for further consideration. The interview is a very important part of the application process. We conduct behavioral based interviews, looking at past behavior as an indication of how you might handle future situations. We also evaluate your ability to communicate in a clear and professional manner. Furthermore, the interview is used as a platform to get to know you better beyond what is found in your written application. The interviewer will provide his/her recommendations to the Admissions Committee.

How long does an interview last?

An interview typically lasts approximately 45 minutes.

Does an applicant have to travel to Kuala Lumpur for interviews?

Interviews are conducted in hub cities around the world as well as on-campus in Kuala Lumpur. When necessary, interviews are conducted virtually through Zoom.

What does being on the waitlist mean?

The waitlist process differs from year to year, and will depend upon the number of applications we receive. Generally, waitlisted applicants will be automatically considered in the following round and will receive an updated decision in that round.

Does ASB offer deferrals?

ASB’s general policy is to not offer deferred admissions. We will consider deferral requests on a case-by-case basis.

May I have feedback on my application or interview?

Individual feedback on your submitted application and attended interview will not be provided during the admissions process due to the volume of application received. However, you may consult with members of our Admissions Team for advice and guidance before submitting your application.

Do I need to submit copies of my transcripts?

You will be required to scan your transcripts from all institutions that contributed to a degree and submit them as part of your online application. During the application process, we will accept unofficial transcripts. However, if your transcript is not in English, you will be required to provide an official English translation of your transcript when applying. You may use a professional translator in your locality or an English translation done by your university.

If your educational institution does not use a 4.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) grading scale, you must ensure that your transcripts include a description of the grading scale. If your transcripts do not provide this information, you must submit supplemental official documentation describing the grading scale used, or upload a CGPA equivalent calculation using Scholaro’s GPA Calculator. It will also be useful if you can provide supplemental official documentation that indicates the GPA (on a 4.0 scale) based on the grades or points awarded by your academic institution.

Applicants admitted to the program will be required to provide an official transcript signed and sealed from each school attended. All admitted students will receive further instructions after they receive their admission decision. Any discrepancy between the scanned transcripts and official transcripts will result in withdrawal of our offer of admission.

Do I need to submit copies of my diplomas and/or degree certificates?

You are required to scan and submit all diplomas/degrees certificates/testamurs for programs from which you have received a degree. If the original is not in English, you are required to submit an official English translation. Please note that we may not be able to move forward with consideration of your application or issue a decision should this document not be submitted.

If my transcript and/or degree certificate is not in English, will it need to be translated?

If your transcripts and/ or degree certificate is not in English, we will need them to be professionally translated into English by a professional translator in your city. We will also accept translations completed by your university.

How relevant are previous academic grades to be admitted into the program?

All of your previous academic work is important to us, and we will consider it, alongside everything else, in the evaluation process.

If I have a Master’s and/or PhD degree, would I need to submit transcripts and degree certificates of these?

Yes. We require scanned copies of your transcripts and degree certificates for all degrees as part of your application. If these documents are not in English, we require official English translations of these as well.

If I have a professional qualification such as ACCA, CFA etc, should I submit these as well?

Yes. Please scan/PDF these documents and upload these in the transcript section of the application.

Which test scores are required?

GMAT/GRE/EA:

While not required, the ASB Admissions Committee strongly encourages all applicants to submit a valid GMAT, GRE or Executive Assessment (EA) score as part of their application. We accept GMAT, GRE or EA test results and have no preference for one over the other. ASB does not require a minimum GMAT, GRE or EA score in order to apply.

GMAT, GRE and EA test score information is useful for the admissions committee when making scholarship decisions. Furthermore, the GMAT is often requested by top companies when evaluating graduates for employment opportunities.

English as a Second Language (ESL):

Applicants should be native English language speakers or have received a Bachelor’s degree that was taught in English. If you do not fulfill either of these requirements, you must submit an ESL test score to prove your English language proficiency. We accept one of the following test scores: TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge English Advanced, Cambridge English Proficiency, PTE Academic and Malaysian University English Test (MUET).

Should I take the GMAT?

Submitting a valid GMAT score as part of your application can only help the Admissions Committee in our evaluation. Furthermore, the GMAT is often requested by top companies when evaluating graduates for employment opportunities, and may also be required as part of the application for affiliated graduate programs (such as MIT Sloan’s MSMS program).

Where can I get more information on the GMAT and EA?

Applicants may visit MBA.com for more information on the GMAT exam, and gmac.com for EA exams, including sample questions and information on the test and registration.

What is the ASB school code for the GMAT or EA?

There is no program code required for the GMAT or EA.

Where can I get more information on the GRE?

Information on the GRE exam is available here.

What is the ASB school code for the GRE?

MBA GRE School code: 7568

Is there an exemption for the GMAT, GRE or EA?

While ASB strongly encourages applicants to apply with their GMAT, GRE or EA test results and ultimately reserves the right to require a test score from all applicants, the Admissions Committee does not require one of these test scores in order to apply.

Applicants who chose not to apply with a GMAT, GRE or EA test score are advised to show evidence of “quantitative competency” in their application. This may be, but is not limited to, strong quantitative academic credentials during university academics, evidence of quantitative competency in their work experience, evidence of post-graduate quantitative-based certification, etc.

Please note that applicants without a test score may be granted conditional admission – that they have to take one of the mentioned tests or complete a 100-hour Math Prep course before matriculation. Failure to complete the Math Prep course before arriving on campus can result in withdrawal of admission, or being asked to defer admissions to the following year.