#63 Peking University Guanghua MBA Admissions Interview with Dr. Longkai Zhao – “Best Bschool to Know China”
“Our faculty have the best knowledge of business ideas and research results about China’s economy. This provides us unique knowledge that we can teach to our students about the economy and future trends of China.”
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About Our Guest
Dr. Longkai Zhao is Assistant Dean, Associate Professor of Finance, and Executive Director of the MBA Program at Guanghua School of Management, Peking University Dr. Zhao got his Bachelors of Economics from Tsinghua, MSc in Management from National University of Singapore, and PhD in Finance from University of British Columbia Research. His research interests include international finance & behavioral finance, and he has been a Professor at Guanghua for nearly 10 years.
What is relatively unique about about the Guanghua MBA? What are its key advantages?
- Peking University is China’s oldest and most prestigious university. As Dr. Zhao says, “In critical moments in Chinese history you’ll find Peking University graduates playing important roles in China’s economic reform”
- Peking University is best-known for philosophy, history and social science departments; the MBA focuses on intersection between humanities & business management
- 70% of Guanghua faculty have overseas PhDs and are doing intensive research on China business
- Strong in finance, marketing, strategy and organizational behavior
- Relatively low tuition (~$30,500 USD) and living costs in Beijing
Potentially a good fit if:
- You want to build a future business career in China, help connect China to the world, and build a powerful network in the country
- You are looking for a 2-year MBA program in China to maximize your b-school experience in Beijing, the nation’s capital
- You want to study business in China but also get another international degree – Guanghua has 10 double degree options with universities in 7 other countries (Sloan, NUS, Essec, etc)
- You want to work for top MNCs and Chinese companies in China
- You want to get a top-ranked and prestigious MBA in China for a great cost
Listen on for the insider’s scoop…
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Touch MBA’s Peking University Guanghua MBA Fast Facts
Program Highlights (2:40)
- Peking University School of Business founded in 1985
- 1 intake / year in Fall
- Length: 2 years
- Campus in Beijing, China’s capital
- 40-70 participants/intake in International MBA (English); Full-time MBA (Chinese) 50-70 students; Part-time MBA (Chinese) 300 students; so 450 MBA students enrolled at Guanghua
- ~20 nationalities/intake, class is 60-70% international
- Students ranked Finance, Economics, Accounting and Marketing highest
- Partnership with ~100 exchange partners in ~30 countries
- Year 1: 11 core courses, consulting project. Year 2: venture strategy simulation, choose from 30 electives, exchange, thesis defense
- Rankings: #57 Financial Times 2014
- Accredited by AACSB, EQUIS
- 10 Double Degree Options with top schools in US, Canada, France, Germany, Singapore, Korea, Japan
Admissions (18:18)
- Rolling admissions from October to March
- 4 deadlines from Nov – Apr, apply by Round 2 (Feb) for scholarship funding
- Shortlisted applicants invited to interview in December, March or April
- 10 applicants for every seat (this is for all of Guanghua’s MBA programs)
- GMAT and GRE accepted, Avg GMAT: 640
- No minimum work experience requirement
- Min TOEFL/IELTS: NA
- Interviews done by faculty, alumni and industry experts; interviews focus on applicants background and asking some “challenging” questions
- Looking for candidates who “can demonstrate a strong record of success and possess a clear vision for the future. When referencing work experience, applicants should highlight skills developed, contributions they have made to organizations, and leadership responsibilities.”
- Looking for international applicants who want to develop a future career in China and connect China to the world
Financing (24:00)
- Full-time MBA Tuition: RMB 188,000, roughly $30,500 USD
- Recommended budget: RMB 57,000 per year, so roughly $18,000 USD for 2 years
- $800,000 USD scholarships available for international students
- Scholarship amounts range from a RMB 2000 to full-tuition
- 3 types of scholarships available: 1) national level scholarships 2) Guanghua scholarships 3) corporate scholarships
- Applicants can also apply for need-based scholarships
Career (26:47)
- Guanghua MBA – Full-time placement report for Class of 2013 (no)
- Average Salary for Class of 2010 in 2013: $83,132
- Graduates in 2010 experienced 150% increase in salary after 3 years
- Top 5 regions graduates worked in: China 52%, Other Asian Countries 24%, HK/Macao/Taiwan 10%, Rest of World 14%
- Top 5 industries: 32% Marketing, 11% Executive Administration, 11% Strategic Planning, 11% Consulting
- Top 5 functions: 26% Marketing, 16% Executive Administration, 11% Strategic Planning, 11% Project Management, 11% Finance
- 30,000 Guanghua alumni worldwide
- Hiring companies help students apply for working visa, having 2+ years of work experience helps
Get in Touch
- Connect with Guanghua MBA Student Ambassadors
Show Notes
- Profiles: Financial Times
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