1 Year MBA: Is a One-Year MBA Programme Right for You?
A one-year MBA compresses the core curriculum into roughly 10–16 months. You save a year of tuition and lost salary, but you lose the summer internship that many two-year students use to switch careers.
One-year vs two-year MBA
| One-year MBA | Two-year MBA | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | ~10–16 months | ~21–24 months |
| Income forgone | About one year | About two years |
| Summer internship | Usually none or short | Usually yes |
| Typical student | More experienced, clear goal | Career switcher, earlier career |
| Where common | UK, Europe, Asia, Middle East | US, some others |
Who should consider a one-year MBA
- You want to accelerate in your current industry or function.
- You have solid experience and know what you want next.
- The cost of a second year of lost salary matters to you.
Who should think twice
- You want a big change (for example into consulting or investment banking) and need an internship to prove it.
- You are early in your career and would gain more from a longer programme.
Example published fees
| Programme (as named by the provider) | Format | Published fee | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global MBA — S P Jain School of Global Management | 12 months full-time; 4 months Singapore + 8 months Dubai | Tuition US$42,120; total compulsory fees US$44,720 incl. visas & insurance (Oct 2026 intake) | Provider programme fee page (accessed 21 Oct 2026) |
| Global MBA — University of London (online) | Online, 1–5 years | Full programme fee 2026-27: £13,697 (Band A countries) / £20,770 (Band B countries) | Provider programme page (accessed 21 Oct 2026) |
| Other one-year, UK, Dubai, Singapore and online programmes | — | Pending verification | Added only once checked against the school's own fee page |
Fees change every intake and exclude living costs unless stated. Always confirm on the provider's own page before applying. Listing is alphabetical-neutral and implies no ranking, endorsement or affiliation.
Questions to ask every one-year programme
- Exactly how many months, and when does the course start and finish?
- Is there an internship, consulting project or study trip — and is it extra cost?
- What share of graduates found jobs within three months, by region? Ask for the audited report.
- Who awards the degree and is it accredited?
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Last reviewed 21 Oct 2026.