What is the length of the MBA for Working Professionals program?

The MBA for Working Professionals Program is approximately 22-month. Students come to campus for one week, approximately once every 6 weeks to complete classes. Students will complete a Quantitative Prep course online during the month of June, and classes will formally begin in July.

What is the size of the MBA program? How many students are there in the class?

The MBA for Working Professionals class size is determined solely by the quality of applicants. We are targeting a class size of 40, as we believe it provides the optimum experience for students in the classroom.

What is the current class profile?

Our MBA for Working Professionals MBA Class of 2020 is our very first cohort. We deliberately kept the first cohort small to ensure agility as we launched a new program.

• Total Number of Students: 18
• Average Age: 33.47
• Average Work Experience: 9.7
• Female: 39%
• Malaysian: 67% / International: 33%
• Number of Countries Represented: 5

Companies Represented:

• AirAsia
• Andong Kwon Chumilgong
• CIMB
• Daiwa
• Edaran Bio-Medik (EBM)
• E-T-A
• Mr. DIY
• Olive House
• Phu Hung Securities Corporation
• Sapura

What Degree is listed on my Certificate?

Students in the MBA for Working Professionals program receive a Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree.

Who issues the MBA degree? ASB or MIT

Students who complete their degree requirements receive a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Asia School of Business. However, as the only MIT international partner program in Asia that offers a 1 month immersion program at the MIT Sloan School of Management, ASB students will receive a certificate of completion from MIT.

ASB graduates receive ASB Alumni Status, and are also granted MIT Affiliate Alumni status, which gives them an MIT Email For Life (EFL) address as well as certain access to MIT Alumni events and communications around the world.

What does MIT Affiliate Alumni status mean?

The MIT-ASB Partnership provides students with an MIT Affiliate Alumni status, which includes the following benefits:

MIT Sloan Alumni Portal

• Ability to create a profile within the MIT Sloan Alumni Portal and have access to the Sloan People Database (SPD)
• Granted an Email for Life (EFL) address: @sloan.mit.edu
• Ability to search and connect with MIT Sloan Alumni and other Affiliate Alumni
• Access to password-protected MIT Sloan Alumni webpages

MIT Sloan Events

• Access to events through the MIT Sloan events calendar
• Affiliate Alumni receive invitations to select events; based upon location and conference organizer

MIT Sloan Electronic Communications

• Monthly MIT Sloan alumni e-newsletter (September – June)
• Electronic copy of the Alumni Magazine in the Fall and Spring
• Monthly communications and invitations to participate in the virtual MIT Sloan Alumni Online Program

MIT Sloan Clubs

• Affiliate Alumni are able to attend club events and become members of an MIT Sloan Club in their region
• Membership and event attendance is determined based on individual club governance Customer Service
• Affiliate Alumni are supported by the Program Office at their school as well as the MIT Sloan Alumni Relations staff

Will the courses I take at ASB allow me to earn credits towards an MIT degree?

Currently, ASB courses cannot be applied towards an MIT degree. However, ASB MBA graduates also have the opportunity to pursue the Master of Science in Management Studies (MSMS) degree at MIT, which is only available to alumni of MIT Sloan partner schools. Further details on the MSMS program may be found here.

Does ASB accept transfer credits from other MBA programs?

Transfer credits are not accepted towards the completion of the ASB MBA program.

Do Students Need to be Employed while being enrolled in the MBA for Working Professionals Program?

Yes, MBA for Working Professionals requires all students in the program to be fully employed.

Does ASB offer a Full Time MBA Program?

Yes, ASB offers a MBA Full Time Residency Program.

What is the difference between the MBA for Working Professionals Program  and the MBA Full Time Residency Prooes ASB offer a Full Time MBA Program?

Is ASB Accredited?

Yes, ASB and MBA for Working Professionals have been granted full accreditation by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), a quality assurance body that monitors and oversees the quality assurance practices and accreditation of entities offering national higher education degrees. ASB, being a private higher education institution operating in Malaysia, is regulated by the Ministry of Education (MoE), and as such is required to undergo MQA’s quality assurance process. ASB’s MQA accreditation status may be searched here.

For global business schools, the international accreditation body is AACSB. Business Schools must be in operation for 5 years before being allowed to apply. ASB is a member of AACSB, follows AACBS standards, and is currently working towards achieving international accreditation from AACSB as soon as we are eligible.

How do I register for an MBA for Working Professionals event?

To register for an event please check our Calendar of Events.

Who teaches MBA classes at ASB?

ASB MBA for Working Professionals students are taught by approximately 50% MIT professors, who physically travel to ASB to teach classes, as well as approximately 50% by ASB resident faculty who live in Asia, research in Asia, and understand Asian problems within a global context.

Students also spend one month on the MIT campus taking classes with MIT faculty in Cambridge, MA.

In what format are MBA classes delivered?

ASB MBA for Working Professionals classes are taught in a variety of formats. The curriculum is designed in a hybrid format with approximately 90% of each class being delivered in residency and 10% of each class in distance learning.

Class sessions taught on campus will include a mixture of the following formats:

• Lectures
• Case studies
• Group discussions
• Breakout sessions

Classes taught “in distance” [remote] will include a mixture of the following:

• Lectures – Delivered by online either pre-recorded or “live” via Zoom.
• Q&A Sessions live with Faculty

All classes will include required deliverables for assessment. Depending on the course and the topic covered, students should expect to see a few of the following types of deliverables in each class:

• Case Study Write-ups
• Group Assignments/Papers/Presentations
• Quizzes and Tests
• Class Participation Assessment

You may view the curriculum and class offerings here.

What is Action Learning?

Action Learning is an experiential based teaching method that was created by and became a hallmark of MIT Sloan. ASB has taken this teaching method and highly integrated it throughout the ASB curriculum.

Action Learning is the process of learning by working on real business challenges, using tools and frameworks taught in the classroom with the support of mentors, faculty experts and industry leaders. The MBA for Working Professionals incorporates Action Learning projects throughout the entire MBA experience, allowing students to immediately apply what they learned in the classroom to significant projects within their company to make measurable and substantial impact.

Is there a difference between Action Learning in the MBA for Working Professionals and the MBA Full Time Residency Program?

Yes. MBA for Working Professional’s Action Learning is individual based where students work with a faculty mentor and business coach to solve problems within their company. For MBA Full Time Residency students, Action Learning is an immersion course with a host company.

What is a Practicum?

A Practicum is a team-based immersion where students spend 1 week in a team, applying the skills they’ve learned to solve a company problem and report out to senior leaders. MBA for Working Professional students complete 3 practicums throughout their MBA studies which can be located anywhere within Asia.

What is ASB looking for in an MBA for Professionals candidate?

The ideal ASB candidate is energetic, talented, curious and entrepreneurial minded. 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 for Working Professions Program is rigorous. We seek students who have demonstrated a track record of success both through their professional achievements and their academic achievements. Students must juggle their career, their studies, and their family during this program, so we look closely for students who demonstrate integrity, perseverance and focus toward achieving goals.

There is a stated minimum 2 years work experience, however, most who apply to the MBA for Working Professionals have at least 5 years work experience, often significantly more.

Does the MBA for Working Professionals only accept applicants with work experience?

Yes. The MBA for Working Professionals Program looks very close at the quality of work experience. Students work experience can vary from a minimum of 2 years work experience to more than 20 years, but the quality of the work experience is looked at closely. MBA for Working Professionals have on average 9.7 years of work experience.

What is the minimum requirement to apply to the MBA for Working Professionals 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:

• All applicants must have 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)
• If the GPA is below the minimum requirement, the applicant must have at least 5 years of work experience
• All applicants must either be native English speakers OR have received a university degree taught in English. If you do not fulfil one of these requirements, you must provide proof of English language proficiency.
• A minimum of 2 years work experience.

I have several years of experience, but do not have an undergraduate degree. May I use my work experience to meet this qualification?

• For Malaysian Students: The Malaysian regulatory body, MQA, has established a way that you can receive credit for prior experiential learning, through a process called APEL. If you complete and pass all exams/interviews, you will be issued an MQA certificate that is the equivalent of a Bachelors’ degree. With this, you are eligible to apply. Click here to access the site.
• For non-Malaysian Students: In rare cases, for very highly qualified individuals, it may be possible to appeal to MQA for special consideration of approving your work experience as the equivalent of a bachelors’ degree. If you would like to be considered for this, you need to reach out to Juliana our registry team might be able to appeal to MQA for special consideration to seek their approval as to whether they will consider your previous experience as an undergraduate equivalent. If you are a non-Malaysian and interested in pursuing this path, please apply very early, as this process will take a minimum of 3 months, and could easily take longer. Prior to applying, please reach out to Juliana Roth directly, so we can review your case prior to moving forward with the process. Please note, because this is a process through the Malaysian regulatory body that follows very, very strict guidelines, all decisions received from MQA are final and cannot be appealed.

Is the GMAT/GRE Required for MBA for Working Professionals Program?

No. If Applicants are applying to other programs and have taken the GMAT or GRE exam, we highly encourage submitting these scores to help your application. However, if the MBA for Working Professionals is the only program you are applying for, we do not require taking the GMAT/GRE. There is a significant amount of preparation that must go into preparing for the exam if you have not seen the material in several years. We would prefer you spend your time thoroughly refreshing your quantitative skills. The MBA for Working Professionals is a quantitatively rigorous program. The more you refresh your skills, the easier it will be for you during the program. All admitted MBA for Working Professionals students will be required to complete and successfully pass a quantitative prep course prior to beginning the program.

Please note this is a significant difference between the MBA for Working Professionals Program and the MBA Full Time Residency program, as the MBA Full Time Residency Program strongly encourages the GMAT/GRE.

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 the optional essay part of the application.

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 to ASB’s MBA for Working Professionals Program need to have work experience?

Yes. Students who enter the MBA for Working Professionals program are required to have at least 2 years work experience, but most have substantially more.

Does internship experience count as full time work experience?

No. Applicants should have at least years full time work experience without counting the internship.

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

Full time employment is a requirement of the MBA for Working Professionals program. If you have been out of work previously, but currently employed, we encourage you to address the gaps in your resume via the optional essay.

How do you measure the quality of work experience in such a diverse range of work experience?

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 made progression within your chosen industry, and you are reflective of the successes and learnings achieved during this time.

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

Often, 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 degrees may provide important evidence of academic accomplishment and success, and will be considered alongside an applicant’s undergraduate transcripts.

Does PhD research count towards work experience?

Yes, PhD research is considered as work experience.

Does ASB prefer applicants who have a more quantitative background?

ASB evaluates applicants’ verbal and quantitative abilities. All admitted candidates are required to successfully complete a Quantitative Prep course that is assigned in June, prior to starting the MBA for Working Professionals Program. Usually, this is sufficient to demonstrate your quantitative capabilities. Occasionally, if the admissions committee is unable to assess a candidate’s quantitative capabilities, it may request a candidate complete a series of math preparation modules as a condition of admission.

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, and their collaborative spirit. Ultimately, the Admissions Committee is looking to assemble a class of highly qualified and diverse individuals who will bring the most to ASB and the MBA for Working Professionals Program.

How does the Admissions process work?

Application: Applications are accepted through the online application which opens every July for the following year’s class intake. There are three admissions rounds* with the following application deadlines:

• Round 1: Tuesday, 28 January 2020
• Round 2: Tuesday, 7 April 2020
• Round 3: Tuesday 16 June 2020

Any candidate that applies after the final application deadline will be evaluated on a rolling admissions based on seat availability.

Interviews: Highly qualified candidates will be invited for an in-person or Skype interview.

Interviews will be conducted by invitation only.

Admissions Decisions: All applicants are informed of admission 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?

At this time, ASB does not require an 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
• 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 you are applying for.

Does ASB compare international applicants against one another?

All applicants, domestic and international, are evaluated on the same set of criteria. There are no quotas based on country or citizenship for international applicants.

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

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

Who reads the MBA for Working Professionals applications and conducts the interviews?

Applications are reviewed and read by the MBA for Working Professionals Committee members. 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 and we look at past behavior as an indication of how you might handle future situations.

We are also looking at the applicant’s 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 on-campus in Kuala Lumpur, and occasional in regional cities if a member of our admissions team is in town. When necessary, interviews are conducted via Skype.

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 MBA for Working Professionals offer deferrals?

We will consider deferral requests on a case-by-case basis.

May I have feedback on my application or interview?

Due to the size of our staff and the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide individual feedback. However, if you applied previously and you are considering applying again, we strongly suggest you reach out to Juliana Roth and have a conversation about 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. 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 diploma(s)/ degree certificate(s)?

You are also required to scan and submit all diplomas/degree certificates 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.

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

We require an official translation of all transcripts and/or degree certificates, if not already in English. You may need to engage a professional translator in your city. If your university is able to do this, we will accept that as well.

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 would require official English translations of these as well.