THE ASB MBA
The Asia School of Business MBA program – experience world class academic rigor while being immersed in Asia, and choose your own post-MBA pathway.
Globally Recognized, Asia Oriented
Established through a partnership between MIT Sloan and the Central Bank of Malaysia, the ASB MBA is built on MIT’s heritage and pedagogy, and the formidable network and resources of Bank Negara Malaysia.
Our approach to learning draws from MIT’s motto (mind and hand) and heavily focuses on classroom rigor combined with onsite Action Learning experiences throughout Asia. Since our inception, ASB has been imbued with the philosophy of the world’s No.1 University for the 11th straight year.*
*QS World University Ranking
**Subject to MQA/MoHE approval
***Further study abroad at MIT or Yale/Fellowship/Entrepreneur-in-residence
An Action-Packed 12-Month MBA
Our full-time MBA program features a core curriculum taught by MIT Sloan and ASB faculty, complemented by Action Learning projects with organizations across Asia and beyond.
The curriculum includes up to three-week MIT Sloan Immersion in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and 1-week study treks where students visit companies and institutions of interest in global financial hubs.
Course Offerings
Our MBA program provides students with a well-rounded curriculum to strengthen their understanding of all functional areas of business. See below for examples of courses taught throughout the program. The actual course schedule and availability are subject to change.
Core Subjects
- Operations Management
- Organizational Behavior & Leadership
- Marketing
- Data Analytics
- Managerial Economics
- Competitive Strategy
- Finance & Accounting
- System Dynamics
- Negotiations
- Entrepreneurship
- HR Management
- Ethics and Corporate Accountability
*Subject to change
Elective Subjects
- Supply Chain Management
- Digital Marketing
- Services Marketing
- Advance Analytics
- Macroeconomics
- Platforms, Auctions & Competition through Games
- Politics and Non-Market Strategies
- Energy: Markets, Public Policies, and Sustainability
*Subject to change
Learning In Action: Where Mind Meets Hand
These opportunities will take place across Malaysia, Southeast Asia, and beyond, depending on a matching process and available opportunities at the time.
Four Action Learning Opportunities
Industry Trek (optional)
Be immersed in a fast-growing economy as part of an international industry trek that will give you the opportunity to network with and learn from top companies in the region
Business Practicum
Work as a class to tackle key business challenges of the host organization in an accelerated one-week format
Group Project
Work in small groups of three to five people to deep dive and apply your learnings to a clearly scoped-out project in your host company over the course of a semester
Summer Associate Program
As an individual, spend six to eight weeks applying the Action Learning approach to address the needs of your host organization
MIT Sloan Immersion
These courses are some of the most sought-after at MIT, covering subjects from Bill Aulet’s 24-step program in Disciplined Entrepreneurship to Nelson Repenning’s unique System Dynamics framework.
Upon completion of the ASB MBA program, students will earn an MIT Sloan Certificate of Completion, receive affiliate MIT Sloan alumni status, and have the privilege of having an MIT e-mail for life.
Learn more about the student experience during the MIT Sloan Immersion program through our Student Stories blog.
Industry Treks (optional)
This flexible program offers students opportunities for in-depth exploration of the industries they most want to pursue. To date, Industry Treks have been conducted in the United States, China, and the United Arab Emirates.
Extended Learning Opportunities
After graduating from ASB, you will still have options to continue learning and leveraging ASB’s unique offerings and the access we can provide to other academic institutions of global stature:
- Extend your stay at ASB for up to 4 months as a Scholar/Entrepreneur-in-Residence. We will provide you with office space for your entrepreneurial venture in the ASBeehive or we will provide you with the opportunity to work with a professor in one of our research centers.
- Apply to continue your studies at MIT in the Visiting Fellows Program. The MIT Sloan Visiting Fellows Program is a customized course of study that provides the freedom to explore all that MIT has to offer while cultivating the skills and tools required to generate impact where it matters most.
- Apply to enroll in a 9-month Master’s degree program from MIT Sloan. The MS in Management Studies (MSMS) program is a STEM designated degree, providing international students with work authorization in the U.S. for three years. The program offers the opportunity for a deep dive into an area of your interest, comprised solely of elective courses which can be completed at MIT. The MSMS degree is available exclusively to graduates from MIT partner schools such as ASB.
MBA CLASS PROFILE
Our students have started businesses, earned advanced degrees, and moved abroad to expand their companies.
They come to ASB to experience working life in different countries, learn new skills, and gain the confidence and experience to launch new ventures.
Do you think you have what it takes to become a change-maker? If so, apply for our next MBA intake.
ABOUT OUR STUDENTS
What ties ASB students together is their unique backgrounds. Our students come from diverse countries, industries, and functions and bring remarkable experiences to the table.
Download Biotables
During university, Marina worked with Amnesty International in London as well as refugees in Calais, France. She has worked for design firms and non-profits and helped produce the 29th Southeast Asian Games.
After serving for six years as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps, Michael and his wife started the first Crossfit affiliate in Cambodia, turning it into a successful enterprise within a year.
An Ex-Googler, Jishnu worked with top global advertisers to enhance their online marketing, managing the performance of 500 specialists at global professional service companies.
UNPARALLELED DIVERSITY
At ASB, we pride ourselves on our unparalleled diversity, not only in terms of gender, race, and nationality, but also in terms of industry background, skills, and outlook.
Our students and alumni come from all over the world, representing over 30 countries from six continents. Diversity deepens their MBA experience by encouraging unique perspectives and enabling innovative solutions.
STUDENT STORIES
From career moves to Action Learning projects, our students weigh in on the most exciting and transformative aspects of their ASB experience.
An ASB Student Shares How to Become the “World’s Best Networker”
I Went From Multinational Agency to Full-Time Entrepreneur and Never Looked Back
How My MBA Made a RM 500K Impact on My Business
STUDENT CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES
Our students have diverse interests, so no matter what your passions are, there is likely a group at ASB that is a perfect fit for you. And if a group doesn’t exist, we invite you to start one!
MBA CAREER PATH
Are you Asia-ready? Southeast Asia is the world’s fastest-growing region by GDP, with the highest relative salary increases for MBA graduates due to a significant talent deficit.
Accelerating your career in Asia is a smart move, and the best way to do so is through earning an MBA degree from a school that knows the market best.
At ASB, we maintain deep relationships with over 150 corporate partners in the region, and our career development curriculum is designed for Asia’s hiring environment.
Many of our graduates from all over the world transition into management positions in Asia, further strengthening the global ASB network year after year.
The Process
At ASB, we know that each student’s career journey is unique, so we have created a bespoke process to ensure success regardless of career goals.
We provide insider access to prominent Asian and international companies via Treks in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Dubai, as well as a comprehensive career development curriculum.
The Results
Over two-thirds of our job-seeking graduates are located in Asia, primarily in Southeast Asia, primarily with multinational or prominent Asian companies.
Many company-sponsored scholars have had the opportunity to transfer to a new location or advance in their positions when they return to their companies.
As Alumni
Our career support doesn’t end at graduation. Our alumni services include one-on-one career coaching, exclusive webinars and workshops, and ASB’s internal job board.
Additionally, ASB students can leverage alumni connections, as well as MIT connections, to maximize their career opportunities.
CAREER OUTCOMES
At ASB, we have demonstrated that the hiring market is receptive to our unique approach to career development. We compete favorably with our peer institutions in terms of adjusted salaries (see chart below).
We hope to improve our outcomes as we strengthen our partnerships with over 150 companies throughout the region. The data below are based on our graduating Class of 2019.
Annual Salary (USD)*
| Malaysia | ASEAN | Rest of the World | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median | 113,899 | 139,865 | 103,661 |
| Average | 134,871 | 150,480 | 85,161 |
*Salaries are adjusted for Purchase Power Parity based on World Bank Purchase Power Parity Conversion Factors, March 2018
STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
One of the key elements of succeeding in my new job is bringing a perspective to the table and backing it up with logic and evidence. Because I went through so many AL experiences with so many diverse teams, I felt comfortable sharing my perspective early on and had the problem solving skills and business acumen to back up my ideas.
When ASB came about with a focus on the Action Learning agenda, I was initially unsure of how it could be used across different industries. Now in retrospect, having gone through the entire process, I have found it be of immense value to me at my current workplace – to the point that I believe I would not be able to do my job without.
