How to Choose a Business Graduate Program That’s Right for You

When considering a postgraduate degree, career opportunities and employability are a significant factor in decision making. That’s why programs with a proven track record of producing employable graduates should be top of your list.

The Master of Management Studies: Duke Kunshan University has seen 90 percent of the students from its last three graduating classes find a job within six months of graduating. Typical employers include McKinney, Bain, J.P. Morgan, Deloitte, SoftBank China Capital, Microsoft, IBM and Citi, among many others.

Why is the program so successful? Well, career development is an important part of the program, with staff in the career management center working closely with students to identify their strengths and weaknesses There are abundant resources available to you including resume workshops, mock interviews, one-on-one coaching, industry panels, and networking events. In addition, the business knowledge and professional skills you have learned during the program ensure you’re well prepared when entering the workplace.

Your experience of living and studying in two countries and the intercultural skills learned as a result will also set you apart in the job market. Plus, your membership in the Duke’s and Fuqua’s global alumni networks and Duke Kunshan’s growing network in China provide you a strong support in your career development.  

Lucia Garcia from Argentina graduated from the program in 2015. She says: “The MMS: Duke Kunshan program prepared me for a career in international business, allowing me to experience first-hand both the American and Chinese business cultures. With a global point of view and exceptional academic training, I felt qualified to take my place in the world of international business.”

It should also be noted that China has recently relaxed restrictions on international students’ ability to be eligible for work visas after graduation. So, a degree from Duke University in the US plus an in-depth immersion experience in China could put you a step closer towards working in one of the fastest-growing business centers in the world.

If those last two questions have helped you narrow down your postgraduate options, the next step is to start comparing what the actual student experience will be like.

Sarah Adams graduated from MMS: Duke Kunshan this year, and was effusive when asked what students should expect from studying a Master of Management Studies there like she did. She says: “You will take classes taught by professors who are leaders in their field of study and who will be instrumental in helping you achieve success not only in the classroom, but outside of it as well.”

Life with MMS: Duke Kunshan doesn’t begin and end in the classroom, though. In both countries, you embed yourself within the campus environments, local communities and networks. When in the US, you get to experience what “Team Fuqua” is like, and also experience the Duke culture by participating in the basketball camp-out (Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball team is one of the most successful teams in the US) and other renowned traditions.

While you are in China, you will soon find yourself exploring the culture and businesses there through traveling and networking with local people and alumni in the region. You will also participate in corporate visits and mini-consulting projects, putting what you’ve learned in the classroom into action.

Find out more about the Master of Management Studies: Duke Kunshan University by visiting the program’s website. Students on the program start their studies at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business in Durham, NC, US, and complete the rest of the program at Duke Kunshan University’s campus in Kunshan, China, which is located just outside of Shanghai. A degree in Master of Management Studies from Duke University is awarded upon graduation. Scholarships are available.