5 Reasons To Consider Studying A Specialized Master’s In Austin, Texas

Sponsored by the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, Texas: home of live music, paddle boarding, food trucks and quite possibly the best town slogan in the world – Keep Austin Weird.

It’s also a hotspot for tech and innovation thanks to the rising investment culture in the city making it a magnet for aspiring business professionals, entrepreneurs and startup investors.

Let’s take a closer look at what makes this sun-soaked city the place to be when it comes to getting ahead not just in business, but business education.    

Austin is a hotspot for tech and innovation

In recent years, billions of dollars have been invested in Austin’s tech industry. Although Austin is renowned as the birthplace of mega corporations Whole Foods and Dell, it should come as no surprise that other tech giants such as Apple and IBM are also setting up home here making the city the perfect launchpad for startups and careers in business and advanced technology.

But what does this have to do with deciding whether to study a specialized master’s in the city?

Well when it comes to academia, it’s widely considered that specialized master’s such as marketing, business analytics, finance, information technology & management, and accounting  are valuable to practically any industry. And with an innovative-focused economy, Austin is fit to burst with entrepreneurial spirit and growing tech talent.

At the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin, their wide range of one-year specialized master’s degree programs are designed to prepare graduates for the new challenges arising in our rapidly globalized world. One such example is the school’s Master of Science in Business Analytics which has been recognized as the fourth best in the world in the QS World University Rankings: Masters in Business Analytics Rankings 2020.

Austin is the best place to live in the US for the third year in a row

In 2019, the U.S. News & World Report ranked Austin as the best place to live in the US for the third year in a row based on affordability, job prospects and quality of life.

It’s also been ranked the second most millennial-friendly city in the US, according to a report by Huffpost.

Number one US city for job growth and graduate job opportunities

Of course we need to also talk about life after business school and the job prospects that come with having a specialized master’s degree to your name.

With an “ever-increasing number of jobs in the Austin metro”, this is especially exciting for anyone wanting to get their foot on the STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) career ladder.

“Austinites present companies with a field of young and motivated employees willing to tackle the challenges of today’s modern work environments,” reported the Huffpost.

Emerging from the shadows of other major US cities such as New York, Boston and San Francisco, Austin’s rapid transformation into an advanced technological hub has led to it being ranked second in the nation for startup activity in 2018, and the second best city for college graduates, while the state of Texas took the top spot for being the best state in the US for female entrepreneurs.

Live music capital of the world

You won’t be spending your whole time studying for your master’s degree so you may as well live somewhere with plenty to see and do in your spare time.

When in Austin, be sure to make the most of being an honorary ‘Austinite’. Take a stroll down Sixth Street (the home of live music) where you’ll be able to see some of the biggest names in the music industry perform.

Living up to the promise that ‘everything’s bigger in Texas’, Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festival is one of the largest music festivals hosted by the city of Austin. Produced by the same team who produce Lollapalooza, ACL has welcomed the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Travis Scott, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Florence and the Machine, as well as Kendrick Lamar. Hopefully ACL will be back in full swing in 2021.

Hiking, paddle boarding and swimming will become some of your favorite hobbies 

Knowing you’ll have the opportunity to take up paddle boarding, kayaking or hiking may not be the make or break reason for studying a specialized master’s in Austin, but it sure will be great fun in between studying, lectures and exams!

“I love the fact you can go downtown and five minutes later be in the middle of a park kayaking or getting a good bite to eat,” said Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) student, Daniel.

Although Austin may not have the fast-lane lifestyle other US cities have, there’s still a lot going on for all the times you fancy a mini adventure in your new home away from home. Be sure to check out some of these favorite hotspots (all are currently open and awaiting your presence):

• Barton Springs Pool
• Bat Bridge
• South Congress District
• Zilker Park
• Mayfield Park
• Bullock Museum
• Master Mount Bonnell

Lead image credit: Photo by Florence Jones on Unsplash