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#65 HKU MBA Admissions Interview with Sachin Tipnis – “Connect to the Asian Economy”

Sachin Tipnis HKU MBA

“Our students spend 1 month in Beijing and 9 months in Hong Kong… Our focus is how companies are operating in Asia. We also believe the global economy is interconnected. Our students will go to London Business School or Columbia Business School for 4 months. This will further enhance their understanding of international markets and then they can connect the dots between what they’ve learned in Beijing and Hong Kong and New York or London.”

About Our Guest

Sachin Tipnis is Executive Director, MBA Programmes at The University of Hong Kong. Sachin graduated from the HKU MBA in 2004. Sachin started his career in advertising and has many years of experience in marketing communications and business education management.

What is relatively unique about about the HKU MBA? What are its key advantages?

  • The HKU MBA has 3 tracks: the London track, the New York track, and the Hong Kong/China track. After finishing 9 months of core courses at HKU, students can study at Columbia University in New York or London Business School in London for one semester and get a certificate & transcript. Students can also study at Fudan University in Shanghai.
  • HKU has its own Asia Case Research Centre and it’s case studies are focused on business in China and Asia
  • HKU has 2 rounds of interviews. The first is similar to a job interview; those that pass the first round give a presentation in the second round.

Potentially a good fit if:

  • You want to work in financial management, strategy, consulting or consumer marketing in Hong Kong, China and Asia
  • You want to study business in Hong Kong and China, but also spend a semester at top-ranked schools Columbia or London Business School and have the opportunity to study in 2-3 financial capitals
  • You are passionate about a future life and career in Asia
  • You’re looking for a smaller, collaborative class environment (about 60 students)

Listen on for the insider’s scoop…

Touch MBA’S HKU MBA Fast Facts

Program Highlights (2:38)

  • Hong Kong University was established in 1911 and is the oldest university in Hong Kong. Part-time MBA program started in 1970s, Full-time MBA program in 2003
  • 1 intake / year in late June
  • Length: 14 months
  • Campus in Hong Kong, the world’s freest economy
  • ~60 participants/intake
  • ~15 nationalities/intake, class is 50% from Asia, 50% from outside Asia
  • Students ranked finance, law and international business highest
  • 4 essential themes in Entrepreneurship – Innovation – Operations Management, Financial Management, Marketing & Services Management, and Managing in China & Asia
  • Structure: 4 week China immersion course in July, 9 months in Hong Kong taking 11 core courses and 4-5 electives, then complete elective subjects at London Business School, Columbia University, Fudan University or at HKU
  • 4 MBA Clubs: Finance, Consulting, Entrepreneurship, Industry/Luxury Club
  • Rankings: #49 Financial Times 2014, #27 Economist 2013 (HKU has been ranked #1 in Asia by the Economist for 5 straight years)
  • Accredited by AACSB, EQUIS

Admissions (22:58)

  • Rolling admissions, with early round deadline on 13 Nov 2014; first and second round deadlines are 31 Dec 2014 and 28 Feb 2015
  • 14 applicants for every seat
  • Avg GMAT: 665
  • Avg age: 28.4 (25-39), Avg work experience: 5.4, 2 years of postgraduate full-time work experience required
  • Min TOEFL: 550 (paper), 80 (internet), IELTS: 6.5 with no score lower than 5.5
  • Interviews done by Admissions Committee consisting of Executive Director, Professors, and Career Services Team
  • There are 2 rounds of interviews. The first is similar to a job interview; those that pass the first round have to give a 15 minute presentation.
  • Looking for diverse candidates who have a passion for Asia and are collaborative
  • Admissions decisions based on educational background, work experience, GMAT score and interview

Financing (41:32)

  • Full-time MBA Tuition: 492,000 HKD, roughly $63,500 USD
  • Recommended budget: 9,000-12,500 HKD monthly spending, so roughly 100,000 HKD in HK, about 13,000 USD
  • 20-25% of class awarded scholarships
  • Scholarship amounts range from 20-30% of tuition
  • Scholarships awarded based on Merit and awarded along with offer
  • International students must apply for loans in their home countries

Career (43:56)

  • HKU MBA – Full-time placement report for Class of 2013 (no)
  • 95% of graduates received job offer within 3 months of graduation
  • Average Salary for class of 2010: $112,000
  • Graduates in 2010 experienced 110% increase in salary
  • Top 5 regions graduates worked in (Class of 2012 & 2013): 51% Hong Kong, 28% Mainland China & Taiwan, 11% Other Asian Countries, 5% India
  • Top 5 industries: 42% finance, 24% industry, 10% consulting, 6% information technology, 4% family business & entrepreneurship
  • Top 5 functions: 33% finance, 19% general management/strategy, 8% business development, 8% marketing, 7% consulting, 7% information technology
  • 41% changed industry 54% changed function, and 54% changed location
  • 4,000 alumni worldwide with 7 regional chapter heads (HK, China, Singapore, India, Europe, North America, UAE)
  • Graduates get a 1-year Hong Kong visa to look for jobs

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