Tag Archives: Masters

What is the importance of a Masters in Agribusiness?

In today’s world, agribusinesses refer to the products and services that feature advanced internet of things, technologies that help farmers raise livestock, grow, produce and manage machinery and process and ship products more efficiently. The field of international agri-business combines efficient production at farm level with a well-ordered supply chain, managing the delivery of food products into international markets.

Countries with farming industries face consistent pressures from global competition and therefore relies on agribusiness to operate efficiently. Agribusiness has developed into a well-integrated system that focuses on the processing, warehousing, distribution, marketing and retailing of products used in farming. The main purpose of this line of business is to improve operations in order to keep prices reasonable. Read this blog to get a good insight into the benefits of studying masters in agribusiness.

Academic institutions providing postgraduate degrees, as well as trade associations, foster the development of various agribusiness fields. Furthermore, students may also choose to conduct research in agribusiness, in areas such as the academic fields of agricultural economics and management studies or agribusiness management. Completing an agri-business course at MSc level will:

  • Enable you to use and evaluate business management techniques;
  • Help you assess their relevance to commercial practice under different technical and cultural constraints;
  • Assist you in estimating the dynamic legal, economic and political environment within which businesses operate;
  • Give you the ability to collect, analyse and interpret qualitative and quantitative data, as well as technical and commercial information;
  • Help you become proficient in evaluating and identifying solutions to business management problems encountered by local, national and international firms.

A Masters in Agribusiness course enhances students’ knowledge of finance and human resource management in the field of agriculture. It also provides a detailed insight into agricultural management and the industries supporting agricultural production, processing, transportation and supply chain strategy. This course is the perfect way for students to obtain an advanced understanding of the principles, issues and practices of modern international agricultural business.

To acquire employment in the international agri-business environment, students need to be well-aware of the wide variety of functions, which encompasses the following topics related to the field of agriculture:

  • Finance;
  • Human resources;
  • Customer services;
  • Logistics;
  • Marketing;
  • Cross-cultural exporting, importing and purchasing.

Opting for an MSc International Agribusiness programme will help you become well-equipped with the essential skills that are required in a variety of management and decision issues relevant to agricultural businesses in an ever-changing international environment. If you are looking to enhance your career prospects in this dynamic sector of business, then apply for the course today!

What are the career options with a master’s degree in finance?

The financial sector is in high demand among students when it comes to seeking a prospective career. This is because a well-established finance department is a necessity for every organisation to run efficiently. The rapid growth and wide array of job opportunities provided by this field have led large number individuals to apply for courses in finance. A higher educational degree, like a master’s, in finance can allow students to achieve senior positions within a company as well as earn a good salary. Here is a list of careers in finance that you can choose from, after completing a master’s degree in finance.

  • Financial analyst: Financial analysts are responsible for performing financial forecasting, reporting and operational metrics tracking as well as analysing financial data and creating financial models for decision support. Conducting financial analysis allows them to identify trends and make recommendations for improvements. They specialise in guiding the cost analysis process by establishing and enforcing policies and procedures. Besides providing analysis of trends and forecasts and recommending actions for optimization, they are efficient in suggesting ways to interpret data and make comparative analyses. They work to maintain a strong financial analysis foundation by creating forecasting tools and developing automated reporting.
  • Investment banker: Investment bankers are primarily responsible for raising capital for firms by either issuing debt or selling equity. Besides this, their no-so-regular tasks include managing M&A, advisory and other corporate finance services. They develop various types of financial models to manage debt and equity for mergers, acquisitions and capital raising transactions. Investment bankers specialise in performing various valuation methods, such as comparable companies, precedents and discounted cash flow (DCF). They also carry out the formation and reviewing of materials that are to be used in the financing of clients, including investment memoranda, management presentations and pitch books.
  • Accountant: Accountants are professionals who specialise in tracking payments made to internal and external stakeholders, preparing budget forecasts and processing tax payments and returns. They are responsible for managing financial transactions of all kinds, such as fixed payments, variable expenses, bank deposits and budgets. Additionally, they conduct auditing of financial documents and procedures, reconciling bank statements and calculating tax payments and returns. Their experience with bookkeeping and proficiency in spotting numerical mistakes allows them to provide their company with accurate quantitative information on financial position and liquidity and cash flows of the business.
  • Insurance specialist: Insurance specialists are experts who verify medical insurance credentials, interpret insurance policies and determine coverage. They specialise in billing and coding and are typically hired by medical and government offices, hospitals, and laboratories. Insurance specialists possess in-depth knowledge of insurance laws and policies, which they utilise to decipher complicated issues. They are also responsible for ensuring that the insurance adheres to the government programs and interpreting billing codes and processing claims. They may be required to keep track of patient records and perform other duties that are integral to the running of a medical office.

Pursuing a master’s degree in finance will help you gain skills that are extremely important for sustaining in today’s global business scenario. If you are looking to get acquainted with the skills that are most relevant to today’s finance and investment sector, then enrol yourself for an MA in Finance and Investments course, now!

Master of Science in Finance or MBA in Finance: What’s the Difference?

Undoubtedly, earning any advanced degree can have benefits to your career. The question is, though, which degree is the best for you and your goals? In some industries, degree programs that sound similar may actually be quite different, and choosing one over the other can have a lasting effect on your career.

One such example is the decision between a Master of Science in Finance and MBA in Finance program. At first glance, it might appear that they are the same thing, as they have similar names. However, when you explore these programs in greater detail, it becomes clear that they are actually quite different from one another, and which one is best for you depends on a few key factors.

masters degree

Program Differences in a Nutshell

Many people automatically assume that an MBA is their best option if they seek a career in business and want to reach the executive suite. And for some, that is true. An MBA is ideal for someone who wants to work in a management role. Coursework in an MBA program, which usually takes between two and four years to complete depending on if the student is full or part-time, tends to focus on a wide array of business topics, including management, accounting, economics, marketing, and yet, finance. Most MBA students opt to specialize in a particular aspect of business — hence the MBA in Finance designation — but the finance-related courses are studied in conjunction with the core subjects. The overall goal of most MBA programs is to prepare students for executive positions in a variety of industries, as the skills are highly transferrable.

A Master of Science in Finance, on the other hand, is highly focused and specialized. Usually completed within two years, coursework focuses almost exclusively on finance. More specifically, student can expect to take classes in financial theory, reporting, and analysis, as well as investments, markets, quantitative finance, and math. Some programs also include a leadership or management component, with those skills being examined through the lens of finance, but in general, MSF students do not take the general business courses associated with an MBA.

Students who enroll in an MSF program are those who want to land leadership positions in the financial industry. Often, those who wish to earn the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, a prestigious credential earned via a rigorous educational program and exam, opt to earn a Master of Finance degree, since the coursework usually dovetails with the principles on the CFA exams. In fact, many professionals find that their graduate program prepared them for the first part of the exam without any additional education.

Admissions, Career Potential and More

MBA in Finance and MSF programs tend to attract different types of students. MBA candidates, in general, tend to be those who have a few years of work experience under their belts and who are looking to build upon that foundation and move up the career ladder. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of MBA candidates who go to graduate school directly upon completing their undergraduate degrees, but overall, most MBA students have some work experience.

MSF programs, on the other hand, tend to attract a younger student base, as many students go right into the programs from college in order to improve their prospects in the job market. That’s not to say that experienced professionals cannot benefit from an MSF program, especially given that most are part-time and more easily integrated with a career than MBA programs, but for those looking to make headway in the financial field quickly, an MSF is a viable option.

One area in which MSF and MBA in Finance programs do align, though, are in career prospects and earning potential. Those who hold an MSF tend to move into more executive than management roles, but in either case, an experienced professional can expect to earn a salary of between $75,000 and $125,000 per year, depending on the market and specific position.

Finance specific master’s degrees are relatively new on the academic scene, but as more students look for alternatives to increasingly competitive MBA programs, or question the value of an MBA to their career goals, they will become more popular. So as you explore your option for business graduate degrees, consider where you hope to go with your career, and whether an MBA or a more specialized degree would be the best path to get there.

How to Network for a Job in Public Health After Grad School

 

Networking is important for those looking for a job in public health

A Master of Public Health can give you the necessary training and skills for a career in public health, but a degree alone doesn’t guarantee you any job opportunities, especially in today’s economy. Who you know is far more important to your future career prospects than what is on your resume. Ninety percent of jobs are found through some form of networking, and only four to 10 percent come from submitting a cold resume to a company where you have no contact information.

You don’t want to wait until you graduate to start building a professional network that can help you find a job. By then, it will be too late. Start building your network of contacts as soon as possible after starting your degree program. Attend as many conferences and networking events as you can. Establish an online presence. When you make a new contact, ask the right questions, and never forget that you’re not going to get anything from someone unless you’re willing to give them something first.

Go to Conferences and Events

As a grad student, you’ll be pressed for time. So going to school online for your graduate degree can really help you fit courses into your schedule, and that’s a good thing, because aside from your familial, academic, and day job responsibilities, there’s one more thing you’re going to have to squeeze in — the networking events. Start going to networking events as often as possible, as soon as you know you’re going to be going to grad school. Conferences, seminars, exhibitor shows, and meetings of local professional organizations put you face-to-face with people who may be able to help you someday, or who may be able to introduce you to people who can help you some day.

Don’t confine yourself to attending events and conferences within your own field, either. You never know which contacts may be valuable someday. Even if you’re still a student, have business cards made so you can hand them out to people you meet at networking events.

Build an Online Presence

When you make an impression on a new contact, that person is bound to go home and type your name into a search engine to learn more about you. You want to make sure something comes up when that happens — if the search engine returns no information at all about you, your new contact may decide you’re not a valuable connection. Establish an online presence through Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Instagram, and other major social media sites. Set up a professional website for yourself. You might even start a blog about matters relevant to your field. Remember to keep it professional — that means no profanity, and no pictures of yourself doing shots with your friends on a Saturday night.

Ask the Right Questions

One way you can learn about opportunities in your field is by setting up informational interviews with people who work within your industry, preferably people who are rather high up. It’s usually best to email these people within a few days of your meeting instead of springing this request on them in the middle of a conference. You can also send a cold email to someone you haven’t yet met.

Explain in your email that you’re a graduate student at Such-and-Such University, and that you’re interested in entering the field, and you’d like to arrange a time for an informational interview to discuss opportunities. Most people will be happy to grant such a request — they know what it’s like to be starting out in the field. However, if your contact doesn’t answer the email, follow up, politely, one time, and then let the matter drop. If you do get the interview, use it as an opportunity to ask advice on how you can get into the field and how you can advance once you’re in. Don’t be afraid to ask the person to take a look at your resume and give you feedback that could help you better tailor it to the position you want.

Give Something Back

The secret to networking is often giving your contacts something that they want or need before you ask them for their assistance. People are more likely to be generous toward people who have already proven themselves to be valuable contacts. Figure out what you can offer your new contacts. Maybe you’re great at social media or have a marketable skill set from a previous career. At the very least, you can show genuine interest in your new contacts and spend time getting to know them as people before you hit them with requests for help.

A degree can give you the skills you need to succeed in a job, but you’ll need to network in order to get the job. Start networking long before you finish grad school. By the time you have your degree in hand, you’ll have companies lining up to offer you a job.

 

How To Save Money For A Master Of Urban Planning

urban planning

Paying for graduate study is hard, and even with a qualification as prized as a Master of Urban Planning, few will want to graduate and begin their working lives in (even deeper) piles of debt. A master of urban planning degree is crucial to one’s success because it will enable practitioners to develop the necessary skills for balance, community development, social justice, and so much more. Here, we offer some tips on saving cash to pay for your all-important study.

Clear Out Your Closet

It’s highly likely that you will have a lot of unused possessions laying around at home. With an estimated 85% of women owning clothes they never wear (and a high percentage of men too, no doubt), now’s the time to convert them into cash. Be ruthless- unless something has sentimental value, if you don’t use it, you can sell it. Do your research- sell valuable items and branded clothes on eBay, and cheaper things at having a yard sale- you’ll be amazed at how many people will be prepared to pay for old crockery, opened nail polishes, and used books. And whatever you don’t sell, donate!

Work At A Bar

Going out is expensive. Instead of spending your money on beer, get a part-time job in a bar instead. You will still have the opportunity to socialise and meet new people, and you can put your tips straight into your savings. Plus, bar staff often get free drinks after their shift- it’s a winner all round.

Become A Freelancer

Working for yourself is exceptionally satisfying- there’s no office you have to sit in, and no boss you have to answer to. Take a close look at your skills. Are you a whizz in graphic design? A Photoshop Queen (or King)? Can you write well? There is a selection of legitimate freelancing sites online where you can monetise these skills. You won’t get rich, but some decent money can be made, and best of all, you can fit it around your schedule, and continue completing your briefs when you begin your studies too.

By planning carefully, you can save money to pay for your Master of Urban Planning degree. Try to avoid unnecessary purchases, and if you really do need to buy something, check if it can be found cheaper elsewhere. With some discipline, you can stretch your money further.