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First, in light of scrutiny over the cost of an MBA, the Quantic MBA comes at a very low cost. Secondly, their MBA is entirely online, capitalizing on demands for online, distance learning programs that offer greater flexibility than campus-based programs.
So what is the Quantic MBA, and is it worth the same as a traditional MBA?
Quantic MBA | Curriculum and structure
Quantic School of Business & Technology offers what it claims to be the first app-based MBA. It takes around 15 months to complete, with an average of 150-200 students per intake.
The program is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), listed by the US Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency.
Tuition is delivered through an interactive app, using what Quantic dubs the ‘Active Learning’ method, designed by professors from top MBA programs. The curriculum is self-oriented, allowing you to go through the reading, assignments, and learning at your own pace in your own time.
It is designed to be more interactive and dynamic than traditional MBA teaching methods. The school’s website promises “no boring lecture videos, no tedious textbooks.”
Students complete 5-10 minute lessons that test their understanding of their prior learning while also confronting new course material.
The AI-enabled platform learns as students progress through the curriculum, ensuring that the assistance they receive at each stage is tailored to their evolving needs.
Students are often directed to other learning materials, such as studies from different schools, offering the option to read in greater depth on certain topics.
Studying isn’t an entirely solitary experience. On top of the learning platform, students take part in virtual discussions, case studies, and group projects over the course of the program.
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Quantic MBA | Admissions
Applying for the Quantic MBA has three stages.
First, candidates must complete a short online application, which includes information on academic qualifications and work experience. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree, at least two years of work experience, and English language proficiency.
The online application includes the following five questions:
1. Why are you pursuing an MBA at this point in your career and why Quantic?
2. How do you plan to use the MBA skills to advance your career?
3. What do you consider to be your greatest achievement and why?
4. If you could ask anyone for professional advice, who would it be, what would you ask them and why?
5. Is there anything else you'd like to tell us?
Successful applicants are shortlisted for a video interview. This is a chance to talk openly and informally about your motivations, your strengths, and what you feel you’d bring to the Quantic community.
After the interview, candidates are admitted to Quantic’s dashboard, where they have access to a small number of foundational business courses. Prior to being accepted, candidates are expected to complete a number of these courses.
Quantic MBA | Pros
Now you know the details of the Quantic MBA program, it’s time to weigh the pros and cons. First, here are the advantages of studying the Quantic MBA program.
It's low-cost
Low cost is one of the main headlines of the Quantic MBA, and remains a huge advantage for students. According to our BusinessBecause Cost of MBA Report 2023, in the US MBA tuition costs an average of $160,497, $107k in Europe, and $86k in Asia. Quantic’s MBA tuition cost of just $14,250 (excluding optional weekend events) certainly stands out.
It's effective
Many students may be skeptical of the value of online teaching, but studies support the efficacy of Quantic’s methods.
For example, one 2016 study found that Quantic students studying accounting and finance topics performed as well or better than students on traditional MBA programs.
In fact, many of the students they were compared to hailed from the top 10 business schools around the world.
You can work alongside your studies
Quantic’s appeal also comes in how students can complete it at their own speed in their spare time. Students aren’t committed to lectures and seminars at specific times and thus are able to orient their studies to fit around work and home life.
For self-employed consultant Hugh Wolton (pictured right), the cost and part-time nature of the program were two big factors in choosing Quantic. Hugh looked around top business schools, including London Business School, but he was reluctant to heap additional costs on top of his student debt from his bachelor’s. Moreover, with his own consulting business to run, he wanted a program that could fit around his work.
“I was aware of the time required for a full-time MBA that you need to take outside of work, and that wasn't something I wanted to commit to. I come from a background of learning on the job, and didn’t want to go back to full-time studying,” Hugh says.
You can apply your MBA learnings in the workplace
The part-time nature of the Quantic MBA means that the majority of student work alongside their studies. For many, this provides a healthy opportunity to apply what you are learning directly to your job.
Quantic MBA student Matt* felt that his degree was filling the knowledge gaps that he didn’t necessarily get from his full-time job at a major consulting firm.
“My consulting career has done a lot for that on a technical front, but I was conscious that I needed to address some knowledge gaps,” he says.
Now, nearing the end of the program, he can think of several scenarios at work where he directly applied what he had learned on his MBA.
*Name changed at the request of the interviewee.
It offers strong connections to recruiters
Quantic’s structure also creates a unique connection to recruiters which often results in employment. Recruiters across a variety of industries subsidize the cost of the program for students, in return for having first access to graduates. For companies, Quantic offers access to top talent; for students, it could fast-track you into an exciting new role or industry.
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Quantic MBA | Cons
Clearly, the Quantic MBA could be a great choice for students looking to learn as efficiently as possible and without interrupting their careers. But what are the drawbacks of the Quantic MBA’s methods?
It has less brand impact
One of the main drawbacks of Quantic may be the exact reason you’re reading this—you’ve never heard of it. Compared to globally recognized brands like Harvard, LBS, and Wharton, Quantic doesn’t quite have the reputation of the name on the degree certificate.
But reputation may not be as important for the type of student Quantic attracts, like Hugh. “I’m doing this more for myself than potential employers. I want to fill the gaps in my business knowledge, and whether I do that at Harvard, LBS, or Quantic, makes no difference to me.”
Work-life balance can be a challenge
Part-time study comes with the perils of trying to juggle a work-study-life balance. The self-oriented nature demands discipline and self-organization, especially when work can be more time-consuming.
“It can be tough to tie it into your routine and stay on top of things and work as hard as you want to on it. That's often the main challenge for me—am I putting enough time in?” Matt says.
It offers fewer networking opportunities than other programs
While the program incorporates group projects and some optional in-person events, networking is undoubtedly not equivalent to that of a full-time MBA.
That said, Quantic’s alumni base is around 2000 people, and growing, with several intakes each year. “The value of the MBA goes up in time, as the alumni network grows,” Matt says.
The Quantic MBA is a disruptive force in the MBA market. It lacks some of the additional benefits of a full-time program—enhanced networking opportunities, extracurriculars, and campus life, direct access to faculty, and the reputation of a business school degree—and in that sense can’t be considered a replacement for a traditional MBA.
But as an accredited program, it is a similar qualification on paper to a full-time MBA. The fact that it’s low-cost and fully remote, moreover, addresses several of the key challenges that full-time MBA programs are coming under increased scrutiny for. As it grows in popularity, it will be a format that business schools can’t ignore.
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This article was originally published in October 2020 and was updated in March 2021, May 2023, and June 2024.
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