Based on an international survey of MBA degrees from the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, almost all MBA programs require between 30 and 60 credit hours. In other words, an MBA ranges from one to two years of full-time study, or the part-time equivalent.
The length of MBA degrees has become more standardized and comparable with the rise of online MBA programs. Typically, an online MBA requires 24 months of continuous part-time study, amounting to 36 credits. Programs with larger credit requirements are often full-time, on-campus degrees that extend up to 2 years.
Key Findings
The survey by Lerna Courses examined 100 MBA programs across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. It highlights credit hour requirements and program lengths, giving a snapshot of the differences in course structures.
Credit range for MBA programs
MBA programs typically require between 30 and 60 credit hours. This translates to one to two years of full-time study. The same range applies to both online and on-campus programs.
Typical online MBA length
Online MBAs usually span 24 months of part-time study and require 36 credits, or 12 subjects. These programs often follow a continuous study model, with short study blocks and few long breaks.
On-campus program variation
On-campus MBA programs tend to range from 36 to 48 credits. In Australia, 36 credits over 3 semesters is common. Elsewhere, you’ll often find 12-month accelerated programs or 2-year immersive ones.
Extended programs
At the upper end, MBAs requiring 60 credits are usually full-time, on-campus programs. These often take up to 2 years to complete and may include internships or specializations.
MBA Credit Hours Observations
Credit requirements for a random selection of 21 out of 100 programs are shown here. Since we were mainly interested in the range, this sample includes a mix of course types. All programs we sampled fell within the 30-60 credit range.
1. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (US)
Credits required: 30
Type: Online MBA. Add 6 credit hours for a Concentration.
https://online.tamucc.edu/degrees/business/mba/
2. East Carolina University (US)
Credits required: 33
Type: Online MBA
https://business.ecu.edu/grad/mba-degrees/
3. Emporia State University (US)
Credits required: 33
Type: Online MBA
https://online.emporia.edu/degrees/business/mba/general/
4. Fayetteville State University (US)
Credits required: 36 (or more depending on concentration)
Type: Online, full-time MBA
Program details
5. JCU Online (Australia)
Credits required: 36
Type: Online MBA
JCU Online MBA (Global)
6. Franklin University (US)
Credits required: 36
Type: Online MBA
https://www.franklin.edu/degrees/masters/mba-programs/general
7. SCU Online MBA (Australia)
Credits required: 36
Type: Online MBA
SCU Online MBA
8. UTS Online (Australia)
Credits required: 36 credit hours (72 credit points)
Type: Online MBA
UTS Online MBA
9. Durham University (UK)
Credits required: 36
Type: Online MBA
https://www.dur.ac.uk/business/courses/business-administration-online-n1t717/
10. University of Edinburgh Business School (UK)
Credits required: 36
Type: Full-time, on-campus MBA
https://www.business-school.ed.ac.uk/mba/full-time
11. University of Warwick (UK)
Credits required: 36
Type: Online MBA
https://www.wbs.ac.uk/courses/mba/global-online/
12. University of Central Florida (US)
Credits required: 39
Type: Full-time or part-time MBA
https://business.ucf.edu/degree/professional-mba-part-time/
13. Xavier University (US)
Credits required: 39 to 48
Type: Online or full-time MBA, extra credit hours when foundation skills not waived
https://www.xavier.edu/master-of-business-administration/
14. INSEAD Global Executive MBA (France/Singapore/Abu Dhabi)
Credits required: 45 when converted from 90 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System)
Type: Executive MBA
https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/global-executive-mba
15. Athabasca University (Canada)
Credits required: 48 maximum
Type: Online MBA
https://www.athabascau.ca/programs/summary/master-of-business-administration.html
16. RMIT Online (Australia)
Credits required: 48 maximum
Type: Online MBA
RMIT Online MBA
17. University of Nebraska-Lincoln (US)
Credits required: 48
Type: Online MBA
https://business.unl.edu/mba/
18. Southern Methodist University (US)
Credits required: 48
Type: Full-time, on-campus MBA
https://www.smu.edu/cox/business-degrees/mba-programs/two-year-mba
19. University of Melbourne (Australia)
Credits required: 52.5
Type: Online MBA
MBS Online MBA
20. Columbia Business School (US)
Credits required: 60
Type: Full-time, on-campus MBA
https://academics.business.columbia.edu/admissions/mba
21. University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management (Canada)
Credits required: 60
Type: Full-time, on-campus MBA, with 4-month paid internship
https://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/programs/mba-programs/ftmba/
How Long is an MBA?
The length of an MBA ranges from just under 12 months up to 2 years of full-time study.
| Credit hours | Subjects | Years of full-time study* |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 10 | 1 |
| 36 | 12 | 1 – 1.5 |
| 48 | 16 | 1.5 – 2 |
| 60 | 20 | 2 |
* Higher study loads or more continuous study affect duration.
On the lower end, 30 credits correspond with 10 subjects, which can be completed over 3 semesters (a year of continuous study) or 20 months of part-time study.
At the upper end are full-time MBA programs that require 2 years of attendance. Students complete the equivalent of 20 subjects. However, these degrees typically combine coursework with other experiences, such as internships, consulting projects, or global study tours.
Methodology
Lerna Courses sampled 100 Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs primarily from four countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. We only considered degrees where the time requirements were clearly detailed.
A credit hour is a measure of academic load. Mainly used in the US, it is typically considered to be one hour of classroom instruction per week over a 15-week semester and includes time for study and assignments. A single subject completed over a semester or study period usually represents 3 credit hours.
Each credit hour corresponds to a minimum of 3 hours of student engagement per week for a traditional 14-week course or 6 hours per week for a 7-week course.
American International College
Because of variability in class structures and contact hours, a more practical definition for comparison is that a year of full-time continuous study amounts to 36 credit hours (12 subjects completed over 3 semesters).
Each MBA program was reviewed and assigned a credit amount. Figures quoted by the university, college, or business school were used when available. We selected one program and study option from each provider, including a mix of course types.
Variation in MBA Length
MBA programs vary in length depending on whether they are offered online or on-campus. The duration of study and the number of credit hours required can differ significantly between these formats.
Online courses
The standard length of an MBA online is 24 months of part-time study, during which the student completes 36 credits (equivalent to 12 subjects).
Online study is typically continuous, meaning there isn’t a long break of multiple months at any stage. Often, distance education consists of one subject per study block of 6-7 weeks, with 6 study blocks available per year.
The standard online course is relatively short at 36 credits. This may be extended for two main reasons. The first is to enable the participant to earn a concentration or major by completing extra units on a specialised topic. Additionally, students who lack a business background, such as a business bachelor degree, may be required to complete extra credits in foundation or preparatory courses.
Related: Is an Online MBA Worth It?
On-campus courses
On-campus MBA programs typically range from 36 to 48 credits. In Australia, 36 credits is common, usually spread over 3 semesters, lasting around 1.5 years. In other countries, 12-month accelerated and 2-year immersive programs are more prevalent.
Longer on-campus programs may include extra electives, more extensive coursework, and opportunities for specialization. These programs often incorporate additional study periods or projects that extend the time required for completion.
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