With your BSc in Computer Science achieved, you have a ton of technical knowledge in coding, systems architecture, and the general “whys” and “hows” of computing under your belt. Now, you face a dilemma, as you’re entering a field that over 150,000 people study for per year, meaning competition is rife.
That huge level of competition makes finding a new career difficult, as UK-based computer science graduates discovered in the mid-2010s when the saturation of the market led to an 11% unemployment rate. To counter that saturation, you may find the siren’s call of the business world tempts you toward continuing your studies to obtain an MBA.
So, the question is – can I do MBA after Computer Science?
This article offers the answers.
Understanding the MBA Degree
MBAs exist to equip students with the knowledge (both technical and practical) to succeed in the business world. For computer science graduates, that may mean giving them the networking and soft skills they need to turn their technical knowledge into career goldmines, or it could mean helping them to start their own companies in the computing field.
Most MBAs feature six core subjects:
- Finance – Focused on the numbers behind a business, this subject is all about learning how to balance profits, losses, and the general costs of running a business.
- Accounting – Building on the finance subject, accounting pulls students into the weeds when it comes to taxes, operating expenses, and running a healthy company.
- Leadership – Soft skills are just as important as hard skills to a business student, with leadership subjects focusing on how to inspire employees and foster teamwork.
- Economic Statistics – The subject that most closely relates to a computer science degree, economic statistics is all about processing, collecting, and interpreting technical data.
- Accountability/Ethics – With so many fields having strict compliance criteria (coupled with the ethical conundrums that arise in any business), this subject helps students navigate potential legal and ethical minefields.
- Marketing – Having a great product or service doesn’t always lead to business success. Marketing covers what you do to get what you have to offer into the public eye.
Beyond the six core subjects, many MBAs offer students an opportunity to specialize via additional courses in the areas that interest them most. For instance, you could take courses in entrepreneurship to bolster your leadership skills and ethical knowledge, or focus on accounting if you’re more interested in the behind-the-scenes workings of the business world.
As for career opportunities, you have a ton of paths you can follow (with your computer science degree offering more specialized career routes). Those with an MBA alone have options in the finance, executive management, and consulting fields, with more specialized roles in IT management available to those with computer science backgrounds.
Eligibility for MBA After BSc Computer Science
MBAs are attractive to prospective post-graduate students because they have fairly loose requirements, at least when compared to more specialized further studies. Most MBA courses require the following before they’ll accept a student:
- A Bachelor’s degree in any subject, as long as that degree comes from a recognized educational institution
- English language proficiency
- This is often tested using either the TOEFL or IELTS tests
- A pair of recommendation letters, which can come from employers or past teachers
- Your statement of purpose defining why you want to study for an MBA
- A resume
- A Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) score
- You’ll receive a score between 200 and 800, with the aim being to exceed the average of 574.51
Interestingly, some universities offer MBAs in Computer Science, which are the ideal transitional courses for those who are wary of making the jump from a more technical field into something business-focused. Course requirements are similar to those for a standard MBA, though some universities also like to see that you have a couple of years of work experience before you apply.
Benefits of Pursuing an MBA After BSc Computer Science
So, the answer to “Can I do MBA after BSc Computer Science,” is a resounding “yes,” but we still haven’t confronted why that’s a good choice. Here are five reasons:
- Diversify your skill set – While your skill set after completing a computer science degree is extremely technical, you may not have many of the soft skills needed to operate in a business environment. Beyond teaching leadership, management, and teamwork, a good MBA program also helps you get to grips with the numbers behind a business.
- Expand career opportunities – There is no shortage of potential roles for computer science graduates, though the previously mentioned study data shows there are many thousands of people studying the same subject. With an MBA to complement your knowledge of computers, you open the door to career opportunities in management fields that would otherwise not be open to you.
- Enhance leadership and management skills – Computer science can often feel like a solitary pursuit, as you spend more time behind a keyboard than you do interacting with others. MBAs are great for those who need a helping hand with their communication skills. Plus, they’re ideal for teaching the organizational aspects of running (or managing) a business.
- Potential for higher salary and career growth – According to Indeed, the average salary in the computer science field is $103,719. Figures from Seattle University suggest those with MBAs can far exceed that average, with the figures it quotes from the industry journal Poets and Quants suggesting an average MBA salary of $140,924.
Challenges and Considerations
As loose as the academic requirements for being accepted to an MBA may be (at least compared to other subjects), there are still challenges to confront as a computer science graduate or student.
- The time and financial investments – Forbes reports the average cost of an MBA in the United States to be $61,800. When added to the cost of your BSc in Computer Science, it’s possible you’ll face near-six-figure debt upon graduating. Couple that monetary investment with the time taken to get your MBA (it’s a full-time course) and you may have to put more into your studies than you think.
- Balancing your technical and managerial skills – Computer science focuses on the technical side, which is only one part of an MBA. While the skills you have will come to the fore when you study accounting or economic statistics, the people-focused aspects of an MBA may be a challenge.
- Adjusting to a new academic environment – You’re switching focus from the computer screen to a more classroom-led learning environment. Some may find this a challenge, particularly if they appreciate the less social aspects of computer science.
MBA Over Science – The Thomas Henson Story
After completing his Bachelor’s degree in computer information systems, Thomas Henson faced a choice – start a Master’s degree in science or study for his MBA. Having worked as a software engineer for six months following his graduation, he wanted to act fast to get his Masters’s done and dusted, opening up new career opportunities in the process.
Eventually, he chose an MBA and now works as a senior software engineer specializing in the Hortonworks Data Platform. On his personal blog, he shares why he chose an MBA over a Master’s degree in computer science, with his insights possibly helping others make their own choice:
- Listen to the people around you (especially teachers and mentors) and ask them why they’ve chosen their career and study paths.
- Compare programs (both comparing MBAs against one another and comparing MBAs to other post-graduate degrees) to see which courses serve your future ambitions best.
- Follow your passion (James loved accounting) as the most important thing is not necessarily the post-graduate course you take. The most important thing is that you finish.
Choosing the Right MBA Program
Finding the right MBA program means taking several factors into consideration, with the following four being the most important:
- Reputation and accreditation – The reputation of the institution you choose, as well as the accreditation it holds, plays a huge role in your decision. Think of your MBA as a recommendation. That recommendation doesn’t mean much if it comes from a random person in the street (i.e., an institution nobody knows), but it carries a lot of weight if it comes from somebody respected.
- Curriculum and specialization – As Thomas Henson points out, what drives you most is what will lead you to the right MBA. In his case, he loved accounting enough to make an MBA a possibility, and likely pursued specializations in that area. Ask yourself what you specifically aim to achieve with your MBA and look for courses that move you closer to that goal.
- Networking opportunities – As anybody in the business world will tell you, who you know is often as important as what you know. Look for a course that features respected lecturers and professors, as they have connections that you can exploit, and take advantage of any opportunities to go to networking events or join professional associations.
- Financial aid and scholarships – Your access to financial aid depends on your current financial position, meaning it isn’t always available. Scholarships may be more accessible, with major institutions like Harvard and Columbia Business School offering pathways into their courses for those who meet their scholarship requirements.
Speaking of Harvard and Columbia, it’s also a good idea to research some of the top business schools, especially given that the reputation of your school is as important as the degree you earn. Major players, at least in the United States, include:
- Harvard Business School
- Columbia Business School
- Wharton School of Business
- Yale School of Management
- Stanford Graduate School of Business
Become a Business-Minded Computer Buff
With the technical skills you earned from your BSc in Computer Science, you’ll be happy to find that the answer to “Can I do MBA after BSc Computer Science?” is “Yes.” Furthermore, it’s recommended as an MBA can equip you with soft skills, such as communication and leadership, that you may not receive from your computing studies. Ultimately, the combination of tech-centric and business skills opens the door to new career paths, with the average earnings of an MBA student outclassing those of computer science graduates.
Your choice comes down to your passion and the career you wish to pursue. If management doesn’t appeal to you, an MBA is likely a waste of time (and over $60,000), whereas those who want to apply their tech skills to the business world will get a lot more out of an MBA.
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Bring talented tech experts together, set them a challenge, and give them a deadline. Then, let them loose and watch the magic happen. That, in a nutshell, is what hackathons are all about. They’re proven to be among the most productive tech events when it comes to solving problems and accelerating innovation.
What Is a Hackathon?
Put simply, a hackathon is a short-term event – often lasting just a couple of days, or sometimes even only a matter of hours – where tech experts come together to solve a specific problem or come up with ideas based on a central theme or topic. As an example, teams might be tasked with discovering a new way to use AI in marketing or to create an app aimed at improving student life.
The term combines the words “hack” and “marathon,” due to how participants (hackers or programmers) are encouraged to work around-the-clock to create a prototype, proof-of-concept, or new solution. It’s similar to how marathon runners are encouraged to keep running, putting their skills and endurance to the test in a race to the finish line.
The Benefits of Hackathons
Hackathons provide value both for the companies that organize them and the people who take part. Companies can use them to quickly discover new ideas or overcome challenges, for example, while participants can enjoy testing their skills, innovating, networking, and working either alone or as part of a larger team.
Benefits for Companies and Sponsors
Many of the world’s biggest brands have come to rely on hackathons as ways to drive innovation and uncover new products, services, and opportunities. Meta, for example, the brand behind Facebook, has organized dozens of hackathons, some of which have led to the development of well-known Facebook features, like the “Like” button. Here’s how hackathons help companies:
- Accelerate Innovation: In fast-moving fields like technology, companies can’t always afford to spend months or years working on new products or features. They need to be able to solve problems quickly, and hackathons create the necessary conditions to deliver rapid success.
- Employee Development: Leading companies like Meta have started to use annual hackathons as a way to not only test their workforce’s skills but to give employees opportunities to push themselves and broaden their skill sets.
- Internal Networking: Hackathons also double up as networking events. They give employees from different teams, departments, or branches the chance to work with and learn from one another. This, in turn, can promote or reinforce team-oriented work cultures.
- Talent Spotting: Talents sometimes go unnoticed, but hackathons give your workforce’s hidden gems a chance to shine. They’re terrific opportunities to see who your best problem solvers and most creative thinkers at.
- Improving Reputation: Organizing regular hackathons helps set companies apart from their competitors, demonstrating their commitment to innovation and their willingness to embrace new ideas. If you want your brand to seem more forward-thinking and innovative, embracing hackathons is a great way to go about it.
Benefits for Participants
The hackers, developers, students, engineers, and other people who take part in hackathons arguably enjoy even bigger and better benefits than the businesses behind them. These events are often invaluable when it comes to upskilling, networking, and growing, both personally and professionally. Here are some of the main benefits for participants, explained:
- Learning and Improvement: Hackathons are golden opportunities for participants to gain knowledge and skills. They essentially force people to work together, sharing ideas, contributing to the collective, and pushing their own boundaries in pursuit of a common goal.
- Networking: While some hackathons are purely internal, others bring together different teams or groups of people from different schools, businesses, and places around the world. This can be wonderful for forming connections with like-minded individuals.
- Sense of Pride: Everyone feels a sense of pride after accomplishing a project or achieving a goal, but this often comes at the end of weeks or months of effort. With hackathons, participants can enjoy that same satisfying feeling after just a few hours or a couple of days of hard work.
- Testing Oneself: A hackathon is an amazing chance to put one’s skills to the test and see what one is truly capable of when given a set goal to aim for and a deadline to meet. Many participants are surprised to see how well they respond to these conditions.
- Boosting Skills: Hackathons provide the necessary conditions to hone and improve a range of core soft skills, such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, organization, and punctuality. By the end, participants often emerge with more confidence in their abilities.
Hackathons at OPIT
The Open Institute of Technology (OPIT) understands the unique value of hackathons and has played its part in sponsoring these kinds of events in the past. OPIT was one of the sponsors behind ESCPHackathon 6, for example, which involved 120 students given AI-related tasks, with mentorship and guidance from senior professionals and developers from established brands along the way.
Marco Fediuc, one of the participants, summed up the mood in his comments:
“The hackathon was a truly rewarding experience. I had the pleasure of meeting OPIT classmates and staff and getting to know them better, the chance to collaborate with brilliant minds, and the opportunity to take part in an exciting and fun event.
“Participating turned out to be very useful because I had the chance to work in a fast-paced, competitive environment, and it taught me what it means to stay calm and perform under pressure… To prospective Computer Science students, should a similar opportunity arise, I can clearly say: Don’t underestimate yourselves!”
The new year will also see the arrival of OPIT Hackathon 2026, giving more students the chance to test their skills, broaden their networks, and enjoy the one-of-a-kind experiences that these events never fail to deliver. This event is scheduled to be held February 13-15, 2026, and is open to all OPIT Bachelor’s and Master’s students, along with recent graduates. Interested parties have until February 1 to register.
The Open Institute of Technology (OPIT) recently held its first-ever career fair to showcase its wide array of career education options and services. Representatives from numerous high-profile international companies were in attendance, and students enjoyed unprecedented opportunities to connect with business leaders, expand their professional networks, and pave the way for success in their future careers.
Here’s a look back at the event and how it ties into OPIT’s diverse scope of career services.
Introducing OPIT
For those who aren’t yet familiar, OPIT is an EU-accredited Higher Education Institution, offering online degrees in technological fields such as computer science, data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital business. Aimed at making high-level tech education accessible to all, OPIT has assembled a stellar team of tutors and experts to train the tech leaders of tomorrow.
The First OPIT Career Fair
OPIT’s first career fair was held on November 19 and 20. And as with OPIT’s lectures, it was an exclusively online event, which ensured that every attendee had equal access to key lectures and information. Interested potential students from all over the world were able to enjoy the same great experience, demonstrating a core principle that OPIT has championed from the very start – the principles of accessibility and the power of virtual learning.
More than a dozen leading international companies took part in the event, with the full guest list including representatives from:
- Deloitte
- Dylog Hitech
- EDIST Engineering Srl
- Tinexta Cyber
- Datapizza
- RWS Group
- WE GRELE FRANCE
- Avatar Investments
- Planet Farms
- Coolshop
- Hoist Finance Italia
- Gruppo Buffetti S.p.A
- Nesperia Group
- Fusion AI Labs
- Intesi Group
- Reply
- Mindsight Ventures
This was a fascinating mix of established enterprises and emerging players. Deloitte, for example, is one of the largest professional services networks in the world in terms of both revenue and number of employees. Mindsight Ventures, meanwhile, is a newer but rapidly emerging name in the fields of AI and business intelligence.
The Response
The first OPIT career fair was a success, with many students in attendance expressing their joy at being able to connect with such a strong lineup of prospective employers.
OPIT Founder and Director Riccardo Ocleppo had this to say:
“I often say internally that our connection with companies – through masterclasses, thesis and capstone projects, and career opportunities – is the ‘cherry on the cake’ of the OPIT experience!
“It’s also a core part of our mission: making higher education more practical, more connected, and more aligned with what happens in the real world.
“Our first Career Fair says a lot about our commitment to building an end-to-end learning and professional growth experience for our community of students.
“Thank you to the Student and Career Services team, and to Stefania Tabi for making this possible.”
Representatives from some of the companies that attended also shared positive impressions of the event. A representative from Nesperia Group, for example, said:
“Nesperia Group would like to thank OPIT for the warm welcome we received during the OPIT Career Day. We were pleased to be part of the event because we met many talented young professionals. Their curiosity and their professional attitude really impressed us, and it’s clear that OPIT is doing an excellent job supporting their growth. We really believe that events like these are important because they can create a strong connection between companies and future professionals.”
The Future
Given the enormous success of the first OPIT career fair, it’s highly likely that students will be able to enjoy more events like this in the years to come. OPIT is clearly committed to making the most of its strong business connections and remarkable network to provide opportunities for growth, development, and employment, bringing students and businesses together.
Future events will continue to allow students to connect with some of the biggest businesses in the world, along with emerging names in the most exciting and innovative tech fields. This should allow OPIT graduates to enter the working world with strong networks and firm connections already established. That, in turn, should make it easier for them to access and enjoy a wealth of beneficial professional opportunities.
Given that OPIT also has partnerships in place with numerous other leading organizations, like Hype, AWS, and Accenture, the number and variety of the companies potentially making appearances at career fairs in the future should no doubt increase dramatically.
Other Career Services at OPIT
The career fair is just one of many ways in which OPIT leverages its company connections and offers professional opportunities and career support to its students. Other key career services include:
- Career Coaching: Students are able to schedule one-on-one sessions with their own mentors and career advisors. They can receive feedback on their resumes, practice and improve their interview skills, or work on clear action plans that align with their exact professional goals.
- Resource Hub: The OPIT Resource Hub is jam-packed with helpful guides and other resources to help students plan out and take smart steps in their professional endeavors. With detailed insights and practical tips, it can help tech graduates get off to the best possible start.
- Career Events: The career fair is only one of several planned career-related events organized by OPIT. Other events are planned to give students the chance to learn from and engage with industry experts and leading tech firms, with workshops, career skills days, and more.
- Internships: OPIT continues to support students after graduation, offering internship opportunities with leading tech firms around the world. These internships are invaluable for gaining experience and forging connections, setting graduates up for future success.
- Peer Mentoring: OPIT also offers a peer mentoring program in which existing students can team up with OPIT alumni to enjoy the benefits of their experience and unique insights.
These services – combined with the recent career day – clearly demonstrate OPIT’s commitment to not merely educating the tech leaders of the future, but also to supporting their personal and professional development beyond the field of education, making it easier for them to enter the working world with strong connections and unrivaled opportunities.
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