Everything You Need to Know About Studying in Asia

Thinking about studying in Asia? Here’s our comprehensive guide on landing a spot at an international business school.

How to choose a study destination

Choosing a destination for your MBA or master’s degree can be difficult. Every continent – and country – has its perks and challenges, and there are a lot of factors you need to take into consideration when weighing up your options.

Some of the most important things to consider are:

• Language: If you already have some foreign language proficiencies, you may want to consider moving to a country where you can practice and master your written and verbal communication skills. On the other hand, if you’d prefer to study and do business in English, make sure to choose a destination fit for your needs
• Visa requirements: Depending on where you’re from, you might need to acquire a visa to go abroad for your master’s or MBA. Before making your choice, research local immigration requirements and take note of all the necessary steps
• Culture and business: While an international CV is always an asset, it’s important that you have a clear career plan in mind before making your decision. What continent or country would boost your chances of landing your dream job? What culture-specific business skills do you need to acquire to be a competitive candidate? Once you’re able to answer these questions, choosing a destination will be much easier

Different countries, different environments

No two countries are the same – especially in Asia, the world’s largest and most populated continent.

For business students, some of the region’s top countries for a master’s degree or an MBA are China, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Let’s take a look at the specifics.

China
China is one of the most popular non-Anglophone study destinations, particularly for business students. Given its status as the world’s second-largest economy, largest exporter, and second-largest importer of goods, it boasts a plethora of local and international companies for b-school candidates to network with. The country is also home to some of the top business schools in the region, including CEIBS, Antai College of Economics & Management and Zhejiang University School of Management.

Japan
In recent years, Japan has become a culturally-rich, sought-after destination for local and international students. The country is also the third-largest national economy in the world, home to renowned businesses such as Toshiba, Nippon Steel, Sony and Nintendo. Some of the top schools in Japan include NUCB Business School, Waseda Business School and Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University.

Hong Kong
Hong Kong has long been praised as an ideal study destination for business students thanks to its fusion of Eastern and Western traditions. The country is a leading world hub for finance, trade, logistics and commerce with easy access to mainland China. Hong Kong boasts some of the highest-ranked business schools in Asia, including HKUST Business School, the University of Hong Kong and CUHK Business School.

Singapore
The busy, densely populated city-state of Singapore is Asia’s center of research, innovation and logistics, as well as the world’s third-largest foreign exchange center and third-largest financial center, making it an ideal destination for b-school hopefuls. Two of the region’s top business school are located in the city: NUS Business School and Nanyang Business School.

Studying abroad during COVID-19

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many universities and business schools have adopted new methods of teaching, including Zoom lectures and interactive online projects.

Here’s how institutions in Asia are offering classes in 2020/2021:

Fudan University
Fudan University has reopened its campus in September with widespread safety measures to protect the student community.

HSBC Business School, Peking University
This fall, HSBC is welcoming Chinese students back on campus with pandemic and virus prevention measures in place, including temperature checks and hygiene starter packs. International students will take online classes remotely until travel is deemed safe again.

Tsinghua University, School of Economics and Management
Tsinghua University has begun its fall semester combining in-person and online learning, announcing it will resume in-person activities in a “step-by-step” manner.

Guanghua School of Management, Peking University
Guanghua School of Management has brought back students to campus for in-person classes, but it’s continuing to integrate online learning for certain courses to strengthen the student experience. The school has also launched a digital program – “Future Leaders” – for international students who are unable to enter China due to coronavirus regulations.

CEIBS   
Students at CEIBS have begun to return to school for the start of the fall semester with precautions in place to guarantee their safety.

HKU Business School
After a semester of online learning, HKU Business School is opening its doors to students again, although with regulations in place.

HKUST Business School
HKUST is holding all activities online for the foreseeable future.

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Ritsumeikan APU has adopted a blended learning model, with classes both on campus and online (on Zoom). International students based outside of Japan have access to all lecture recordings.

Nanyang Business School
Nanyang Business School has reopened its doors to students with various precautionary measures in place to ensure the safety of the community. Although classes are held online, students and teachers can meet in person for tutorials and lab sessions.

NUS Business School
NUS Business School has taken the executive decision to postpone the start of its MBA program from September 2020 to January 2021. Accepted candidates have the option to defer while the situation evolves.

Singapore Management University
Singapore Management University has resumed some activities on campus; however, the majority of courses are currently being conducted fully online, with only a small proportion adopting a blended approach.

ESSEC Business School
ESSEC has welcomed back students to its Asia campus with a dual teaching format that combines both in-person and online classes.