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[Thread] My experience at Gibs:
First things first, you need to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in General Management (PGDip GM) before commencing with the MBA. The PGDip is phase 1 of the MBA Programme. A 60% average is required in this phase in order to proceed onto the MBA.
First things first, you need to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in General Management (PGDip GM) before commencing with the MBA. The PGDip is phase 1 of the MBA Programme. A 60% average is required in this phase in order to proceed onto the MBA.
Combined, both phases take two years to complete if done in the part-time/modular format, or just over one year for intensive students (this is the one I did).
The minimum requirements are:
• Completed degree/ SAQA accredited NQF 7 qualification;
• Minimum of five years’ work experience, at least two years of which must have been at management level;
• GIBS Entrance Test or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT);
• Completed degree/ SAQA accredited NQF 7 qualification;
• Minimum of five years’ work experience, at least two years of which must have been at management level;
• GIBS Entrance Test or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT);
• Leadership potential (in accordance with your experience, references and application essay);
• Good English language skills to have the ability to articulate your arguments verbally and in written format;
• Competence in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and a web browser...
• Good English language skills to have the ability to articulate your arguments verbally and in written format;
• Competence in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and a web browser...
• Should you not hold a degree or a SAQA accredited NQF 7 qualification, you will be required to complete the GMAT test. The GMAT is facilitated by an external company and the minimum score required for your application to be considered is 550.
These are the subjects that you study during the PGDip phase: I really enjoyed this phase. You get to brush up on what you studied in Varsity (I studied Economics and Accounting) and you learn new disciplines (I loved Operations Man and Marketing). And you do a group project.
We had students who studied Drama at University and they were worried that they would not do well for Economics, Accounting, and Stats. Let me tell you, they were top of our class for these subjects. So don’t worry if you have no business, maths or accounting background.
Depending on what stream you choose (General Management, Entrepreneurship, and Consulting) you get these core MBA. I loved doing these subjects. You learn so much about how the business world works and what companies that are successful do differently to others.
You learn about planning, strategy, implementation, innovation, pivoting, environment of business, corporate culture, entrepreneurship, leadership, thinking outside the box etc. You also learn what to do (or not to do) when your company is in trouble. It’s comprehensive.
You then do 5 electives. You have many electives to choose from. I chose Expert Negotiator, Business Connectedness in Southern Africa, Business Opportunities and Innovation, Dynamic Innovation, and Strategy and General Management. I enjoyed every single elective of mine.
My favourites were Expert Negotiator and Strategy and General Management. The way I negotiate or the way I view leadership and strategy is completely different to when I got in. Professor Benedell is an excellent motivator.
You then go on your global trip. The global module is meant to show you what the rest of the world is doing differently to SA and what we can do to improve the companies we work for or own. I went to San Francisco and Los Angeles. Very motivational trip. The sky is the limit.
You can go almost anywhere in the world. Some went to Paris, Israel, Dublin, Singapore, China, Vietnam, Spain, Italy etc. Not so much around Africa. But those options were given to us.
You then focus on your MBA dissertation (thesis). You work from it early on but only after the global module to you knuckle down and work on that exclusively for the next couple of months. Doing my thesis is probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But it taught me a lot.
In closing, yes the MBA is ridiculously expensive. They kept on saying that only 1% of the population can afford it. That’s messed up. I really wish that the MBA in South Africa can be made more accessible to the majority of South Africans. The reality is that not all can do it.
If you can afford it or you work for a company that can pay for it, I would highly recommend it. What you learn during the MBA will change your life. It has certainly changed mine. I feel it everyday. People around me have noticed it. One of the best decisions of my life. THE END
