Frequently Asked Questions

School/ Curriculum/Faculty

Q1: Is Hult MBA program accredited?
Yes, the Hult MBA degree is accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA), and the school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. (NEASC). Hult MBA University is also a member of the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Q2: After whom is the school named?
Bertil Hult is the founder of EF Education First, a global education company with offices in 50 countries. In recognition of Mr. Hult’s generous support of the school, the MBA college was renamed Hult International Business School in 2003.

Q3: Why have I never heard of Hult International Business School before?
Hult International Business School was formerly known as the Arthur D. Little School of Management, established in 1964 as an extension of the ADL management consulting practice - the oldest management consulting firm in the world, started in the late 1890s. The MBA college was renamed in 2003 in honor of benefactor Bertil Hult.

Q4: How is the Master of Business Administration program structured?
Our Master of Business Administration curriculum is designed around four modules: Foundations, Integration, Global Application I and II, spanning 12 months. The first two modules (Modules A & B) feature required functional courses as well as strategy. The last two modules (Modules C & D) consist primarily of elective courses and an action learning program.

60 credits are required for completion of the program standard for most two-year MBA university programs.

Q5: What is the Action Learning portion of Hult’s Master of Business Administration?
Action Learning is our philosophy linking theory with practice. Theory is taught in the classroom through lectures and required readings and put to the test in real-life scenarios, through case studies of real business problems and business simulations. Action Learning means “learning by doing," not simply sitting in a classroom, but actually going out into the real world and applying the tools and concepts to real business situations.

Q6: Is the Master of Business Administration program ranked?
Hult offers a top-ranked one-year U.S. Master of Business Administration program. Hult was ranked by the Economist Intelligence Unit in 2008 as the 31st best MBA college in the world and 16th best MBA college in the U.S. (see www.eiu.com ).

Q7: Compared to other top-ranked U.S. MBA universities, what are the advantages of Hult?

1. Hult MBA university offers a unique opportunity to study in five of the world’s key economies: Boston,San Francisco, London, Dubai and Shanghai, enabling students to learn about the global business practice in a truly international environment and to have access to the exciting career opportunities available in these fast growing markets.
2. Most Hult MBA university students agree that a major advantage is that it is just a one-year program - one of the few 12-month U.S. MBA programs. Our students save a year of tuition and opportunity costs, minimize time away from their busy careers and get back to the workforce sooner.
3. Our MBA university students are internationally experienced professionals with an average age of 30 and a range of 25 to 45 years old. They bring with them an average of seven years of work experience and come from a wide range of professions and industries. The result is an MBA student body with a wealth of experience to contribute and share with their classmates and a diverse alumni network.

Q8: How can Hult accelerate a Master of Business Administration program that normally takes two years into just one year?
The contents of our accelerated one-year program are the same as in a standard two-year Master of Business Administration program, just delivered in a compressed timeframe. Hult’s MBA program consists of 60 credits, the same as in most two-year MBA University programs. We cover all the core MBA courses, such as Marketing, Finance, Accounting, Operations Management, Organizational Behavior and Strategy, required by most Master of Business Administration programs. Our students experience the equivalent required courses of other MBA University programs, a selection of electives and a series of Action Learning experiences.

A one-year Master of Business Administration program is extremely intensive. Students attend classes five days a week, about six hours a day, which is much more intensive than a standard two-year or 18-month MBA program. Vacation breaks are limited to two weeks over the course of the program. By comparison, a student in a standard two-year MBA University program will typically attend classes a few hours a day with five or six weeks of vacation in December/January and three months during summer.

It is important that all potential students be made aware of the commitment and discipline required to be successful in a one-year MBA program.

Q9: Is it possible to do an internship at Hult MBA?
Business Administration program is accelerated, there is little time for additional extracurricular activities such as internships. However, Hult pays special attention to equipping our students to re-enter the job market soon after graduation. You will be required to participate in an action learning program, which provides practical experience by delivering solutions to a real-world business problem.

Q10: Does Hult Master of Business Administration program offer specializations?
Hult's MBA specializes in international business and global management. Our Master of Business Administration curriculum develops the skills to deliver across multilingual, multicultural, multi-time zone boundaries. Our faculty bring their extensive international experience into the classroom, and our MBA college campus rotation expands the horizon by taking our students abroad to gain firsthand experience and develop local knowledge about the global marketplace.

During the two elective modules, MBA students select up to five electives according to their interests. This is an opportunity to delve deeper into areas of interest, strengthen weaknesses or further broaden their skill sets.

Q11: What is the class size and teacher-to-student ratio?
Hult aims to enroll approximately 60 students per cohort, with a total of eight cohorts in Boston, San Francisco, London, and Dubai MBA campuses for the September 2009 intake. In core courses, it is one professor to 60 students. In elective classes, it is one professor to 20 students. On field studies, it is one professor to seven students.

Q12: Who are the Hult faculty? Where can I get more information about them?
Our faculty members primarily come from the U.S. and Europe and teach the Master of Business Administration program at the Boston, San Francisco, London, Dubai and Shanghai campuses.

One of the great strengths of our MBA program is the Hult faculty. Our faculty has outstanding university credentials combined with real-life experience running and managing successful businesses. They are experts in teaching international managers. 80 percent have extensive international experience, and a substantial percentage of them are actively engaged as directors of corporations, consultants or managers of entrepreneurial enterprises.

Many have experience teaching at Master of Business Administration programs at the top MBA colleges. More information about Hult faculty is available at the school website (www.hult.edu).

Q13: Is Hult’s MBA faculty full time?
We do not have tenured MBA professors; rather we recruit academic specialists who may also be professors at different business schools. This gives our program a competitive advantage, enabling our curriculum to remain flexible and dynamic, since we hire MBA university professors based on their relevant research or backgrounds according to what the curriculum will emphasize. Many of our professors have taught at our MBA school for more than 10 years and some for more than 20 years

Hult Program Location / MBA College Campus Rotation

Q1: Is the degree awarded exactly the same, no matter where I do my Hult Master of Business Administration?
Yes, the degree awarded is the same U.S. Master of Business Administration degree whether you study at our campuses in Boston, San Francisco, London or Dubai. All three MBA college campuses have the same admissions requirements, follow an identical curriculum, use common faculty and offer the same career services and student services support.

Q2: What if the location I choose to do the MBA program is full? Will I be offered a place in the other MBA college campuses, or do I have to reapply for the program?
You will be offered a place on the other MBA college campuses or the option to stay on the waiting list through the other rounds of admission for your preferred campus. If the seats are full in your preferred MBA college campus and you are not interested in doing your Master of Business Administration from the offered campus, then you have to apply again for your preferred MBA college campus the following year.

Q3: Can I study at other Hult MBA college campuses during the year?
Yes. While the Toolbox and core MBA courses (Modules A and B) must be completed at your home MBA college campus, you can study abroad during your elective modules (Modules C and D). You may choose to study at Boston, San Francisco, London, Dubai or Shanghai in Module C, and either Boston, San Francisco, London or Dubai in Module D. For example, you may study the Toolbox, Module A and Module B in Dubai and then travel to Shanghai for Module C and complete your program in Boston.

Q4: Is there a capacity limit at each MBA college campus? What if the campus I choose for my electives is full?
Yes, there are seat limitations at each MBA college campus. However, we will try to accommodate as many students as we can for their preferred campus for electives. In the event your preferred MBA college campus is full, you will be offered the other campus for your electives. Students from home campus will be guaranteed a seat if they choose to do their Module C and Module D in their home MBA college campus.

Q5: Is the cost for studying electives in other MBA college campuses included, or is there any extra cost I have to budget for?
There are no additional tuition fees to be paid to the school. However, you will incur additional charges for travel, lodging and food. You can arrange your own air tickets and housing by deciding to stay with your friends or relatives, swap your accommodations with students in other Hult campuses, stay in a hotel or simply rent an apartment. To help our students, we offer air tickets and affordable accommodation facilities at an additional cost. In addition, we will assist with visa arrangements.

Q6: Can I bring my family with me if I travel overseas for an elective module
Yes, you may bring your family with you, providing they obtain the necessary visas. You will have to arrange for their accommodations, travel and food. Should you require any assistance, our student services team will be more than willing to help you.

Q7: Is the overseas study module compulsory? Can I choose to stay in my home MBA college campus for the entire program
No, it is not compulsory to study overseas. You may complete your MBA entirely at your home MBA college campus.

Q8: Will Hult assist me to acquire the necessary visa?
Yes, we will help you to arrange the necessary MBA university visas for your overseas study.

Hult Admissions/ Demographics

Q1: What is required for a complete application?
A complete Master of Business Administration application includes:

• Completed Hult MBA program application form (submit your application online at http://hult.edu/application)
• Statement of purpose
• Current resume
• Two letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts (as well as graduate school transcripts if applicable)
• Official GMAT score report
• Official TOEFL score report (applies to non-native English speakers; waived for those who have attended at least one year at an English-language university)
• USD $150 application fee

Q2: When is the application deadline?
Hult accepts Master of Business Administration applications on a rolling basis. International students and students who would like to apply for MBA scholarships are encouraged to submit their applications in an early round of deadline.

For MBA classes starting September 2010

Deadline 1: October 11, 2009 Deadline 2: December 13, 2009 Deadline 3: March 7, 2010 Deadline 4: April 25, 2010 Deadline 5: June 27, 2010

Q3: Once I have submitted my applications, when will I get a decision?
You will be notified of the decision generally within one month of submitting your MBA application.

Q4: Do you admit students to the MBA program with fewer than three years of experience?
Most Hult MBA students have at least three years of work experience, and the average number of years of work experience is seven. However, each MBA college application is considered upon its individual merit when judging if a candidate is an appropriate fit for our MBA program. Occasionally, promising candidates with strong university credentials who have demonstrated leadership abilities may be given consideration even if they have less than three years of work experience.

Q5: Do you require the GMAT for your Master of Business Administration? Do you have a minimum?
Hult requires an official GMAT score report, but we do not specify a minimum because we consider the entire applicant during the admissions process. The average GMAT score for our MBA is 580 due to the varied experiences and length of work experience of Hult students. Often a senior manager who has achieved professional advancement in his career does not score very highly on the GMAT due to the length of time he has been away from an academic test-taking environment. We consider these life experiences very seriously as we evaluate each application.

Q6: Do you require the TOEFL for your Master of Business Administration? If so, what score do I need?
The TOEFL is not required for applicants whose native language is English or who have studied at least one year at an English-language university or college. All other applicants must take the TOEFL and score at least 240 for our MBA. If you score below 240 you may be required to take an English course to improve your English. Hult can arrange these courses for you.

Q7: What is the average TOEFL score for you Master of Business Administration?
In past years, the average TOEFL score has been between 250 and 270.

Q8: Is an interview required?
Hult reviews applications using a holistic approach. We value work experience, management maturity and leadership potential as much as academic excellence. To admit the right candidates, an MBA interview is an integral part of our admissions assessment. Candidates may be required to attend more than one MBA interview in the admissions process.

Q9: Can a new student receive credit for previous MBA University coursework?
No.

Q10: What type of student attends Hult’s Master of Business Administration program?
Our MBA students are experienced international professionals from all over the world with a minimum of three years’ work experience. On average, they are 30 years old and have seven years’ industry experience. Hult’s MBA program is particularly attractive to students looking for global exposures, who value the need to work with multiple cultures, and who appreciate the accelerated learning pace of a one-year MBA, which is more challenging than a typical MBA University program but maximizes return on your investment.

Q11. What are the profile and the mix of Hult’s student body?
We accept students from all over the world, with more than 30 countries represented. Our MBA students are highly motivated, international participants with significant achievements to their credit, excellent interpersonal skills, a global mindset and lots of energy to make things happen. Our MBA students at the Boston, San Francisco and London campuses are mainly from Asia Pacific, North America, South America and Europe. Our MBA students in Dubai are from South East Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

Q12: If more than 90 percent of the student body in your Boston campus is from outside the U.S., how can I gain an in-depth knowledge of American culture? How will I learn about business in the U.S.?
Although our MBA students come from all over the world, we employ distinctly U.S. methods in our MBA program, including the case study method and the Action Learning philosophy. Action learning programs introduce many students to American business culture. Furthermore, Hult professors are predominantly American with doctorates and MBA degrees from some of the top U.S. universities and colleges. And by taking advantage of the post-grad OPT visa, many of our graduates go on to internships or permanent positions with American employers. Hult’s Boston MBA campus is located in one of America’s great cities with ample opportunity to experience the area’s numerous cultural, professional, educational and athletic offerings.

MBA program Finances

Q1: Does Hult have financial aid available?
Yes, we do. Hult International Business School makes admissions decisions independent of an applicant’s financial situation. We work with applicants to find the most beneficial funding options to cover MBA college education-related costs.

• Merit-based MBA scholarships are awarded toward tuition reduction.
• To be considered for financial aid, students must submit a financial aid application form with supporting documents.
• Decisions on MBA scholarships are made only after an offer of admissions is made.
• MBA scholarships are available to all students regardless of citizenship.

Q2: What about financial aid for international students?
International students can apply for MBA university scholarships and have several options if they wish to borrow to help meet their educational costs.

Financial institutions in many home countries offer MBA university education financing specifically for local citizens wishing to pursue an MBA. These loans are typically repayable after completion of the course, although other terms vary widely.

Hult has also established a partnership with Erika Finance, a Swiss financial institution, to offer student loans to international students at a very competitive interest rate. The loans are offered over five years with repayment starting from six months after graduation.

Q3: How much is the tuition for Hult’s Master of Business Administration?
Hult’s Master of Business Administration tuition fee is $56,100 USD ($52,500 USD for the MBA plus $3,600 USD for the required MBA Toolbox, Boston, San Francisco and Dubai campus) and £34,000 GBP (£31,800 GBP for the MBA plus £2,200 GBP for the required MBA Toolbox (London campus)).

Q4: What does this Master of Business Administration tuition include?
This includes tuition for the MBA program and a four-week pre-MBA Toolbox. There are additional fees for the case study packs, technology, student activities and medical insurance. MBA university students must also budget for housing, other living expenses, additional books, supplies and a laptop computer. MBA university students who are taking the program in Dubai are offered the option of staying at the accommodation provided by Hult with an additional fee.

Q5: How much does it cost to live in Boston?
Cost estimates vary depending on whether you will be coming to the city alone or with a family and what kind of lifestyle you are accustomed to living.

Q6: How much should I budget for 12 months in Boston, San Francisco or in Dubai with Hult?
All 2009 MBA university students must budget approximately $79,800 USD for one year in Boston and San Francisco, £42,800 GBP for one year in London, and $72,595 USD for one year in Dubai.

Q7: What is the MBA program tuition payment schedule?
If you are accepted, you must confirm your attendance within 14 days of notification of acceptance. At this time, you must pay a non-refundable deposit of $3,000 USD to reserve your place in the class. The next payment of 50 percent of your total Hult Master of Business Administration invoice is due 60 days before your class starts, and the remainder is due 30 days before class starts.

Should you wish to pay in installments, you may opt for the two-part payment schedule. There is an additional fee of $1,200 for such a payment plan. The first installment is due 30 days before the start of your program. The second installment is due six months later.

Q8: Do you accept credit card payments
We accept credit cards for the application fee, the deposit and fees payments. Alternatively, the deposit and fees payments can be paid by bank transfer.

Post MBA /Career Services

Q1: How do you help Hult students get a job?
Our MBA career service helps you develop individual career strategies, starting with an interview with one of our career counselors. We offer:

• Access to a variety of local and international recruiting events
• A personalized career strategy and action plan
• A series of practical work-shops designed to build your career management skills offered throughout the MBA college year

To support our MBA students for global placement, we have established Career Services personnel in Boston, San Francisco, Dubai, London and Shanghai. This team develops relationships with companies and sources job opportunities for MBA college students. All the job openings in various countries will be posted on the extranet and available for all Hult MBA students to access across all college campuses.

Q2: What companies or universities recruit Hult MBA graduates?
Our MBA alumni have been hired by leading multinational companies and global development organizations in a wide range of sectors, including financial services, consulting, manufacturing and marketing. Recent Boston graduates have been hired by market leaders in each industry, such as Consulting: McKinsey & Company, Bain & Company, Roland Berger, Deloitte & Touche, PWC; Banking: UBS, JP Morgan, State Street; FMCG: Proctor & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson; IT: Dell, Hewlett Packard, Panasonic, Qualcomm; Education: EF Education First. .

Q3: What is your average starting salary?
Our average MBA base salary is around $92,000 USD for recent Boston MBA program graduates. Keep in mind this is an aggregate number and as our students work all around the globe, salaries are in a wide range of currencies and tax situations before being converted to USD

Q4: What percent of MBA students graduate with a job?
For our Boston MBA program, historically 80 to 85 per cent of MBA students have found a job within three months of graduation. This placement track-record is good given that most of our MBA students only start looking for work after they graduate due to the demanding pace of the program, and since the majority of our students are from outside of the U.S.

Q5: In which countries are Hult students being placed?
Our recent Hult MBA graduates from Boston are employed all over the world. Approximately 60 per cent of Hult Boston MBA graduates obtain employment in the United States. The remainder secure work in Europe, South America and Asia.

Q6: Are there any MBA alumni from my country? My industry? My specialization? Can I speak with them?
We have MBA alumni in 120 countries who are at senior levels in virtually every industry and function. We would be happy to put you in touch with several MBA alumni from your area or industry.

Q7: What is an OPT Visa?
OPT, the "Optional Practical Training" visa, is a 12-month work visa for foreign MBA college students upon completion of their studies in the U.S. This visa allows foreign MBA college students to engage in practical training employment. The OPT visa is limited to 12 months. Beyond the 12 months visa limitation, students must find employer sponsorship to continue to work in the U.S.

Student Visas and Accommodations

Q1: How quickly can I get my student visa?
After you’ve been accepted to the MBA program and confirm your acceptance, we will ask for financial documentation related to the program expenses.

For Boston MBA college students, an I-20 form will be issued when we receive all the required and accurately completed documentation for you to arrange your visa appointment. Waiting time will vary from country to country. I-20 visas are valid 90 days before the MBA start date. Hult MBA staff will work with you to make sure that all the required documentation is in place and that you have the proper information for any visa interviews that may be required.

For Dubai MBA college students, application for the student visa can be submitted through the school. Normal processing lead time is seven working days.

Q2: Where do MBA students live? Do you have on-campus housing?
We provide a living facility for students studying in the Dubai MBA college campus. Shared accommodations will be provided to Hult Dubai MBA students with a fee of $10,000 USD. The option to upgrade to a single-room facility is also available with an additional fee per year.

However, we do not offer dormitory housing options in Boston; rather many of our MBA college students share accommodations with other Hult students or with students from other colleges and universities in the Boston area. Our Hult MBA staff can recommend realtors who have been helpful in placing students in past years. Many of our incoming students take over an apartment from one of our current MBA college students.

Q3: How can I find housing in Boston?
The best way is to come to Boston two weeks prior to the MBA university start date to finalize your housing arrangements. We can provide you with ample information about the local housing market, including details about the housing arrangements of current students. Please contact our MBA university admissions office directly for more information.