Discover why Chinese undergraduates pursue GME and explore key motivators, career paths, and essential skills for success in today's dynamic market.

In today's intricate and dynamic business landscape, Chinese undergraduates aged 18 to 22 have elevated expectations for global graduate management education (GME). By utilizing the Interactive Report for the 2024 Prospective Students Survey, it can provide a better understanding of the decision-making factors and career aspirations of this demographic in their pursuit of GME. 

Three Key Motivators for Pursuing GME

The report highlights three predominant factors in driving undergraduates to pursue graduate studies in business: 

• Job market challenges: 55% of students want to apply for a job but lack the required skills and/or a degree.  

• Professor/Mentor suggestion: 34% of students are inspired and guided by their professors or mentors. 

• Lack of specific knowledge: 27% recognize a lack of specific knowledge and skills in their current role. 

While these choices mostly stem from individual motivations, they also reflect the interplay between business education and market demands. Understanding these drivers could help business schools fine-tune their marketing and position themselves as the dream school for prospective students. 

Diverse Career Paths With a Predominant Preference

Chinese undergraduates envision diverse career trajectories post-graduation, with a notable inclination towards finance and accounting: 

• Financial & Accounting: 67% of prospective Chinese undergraduate students aspire to enter these industries. Among the consideration of quantitative business master's applications, Master of Finance stands out with 47% of respondents favoring it, followed closely by Master of Accounting (33%) and Master of Data Analytics (24%). This trend not only reflects current market demands but also indicates their potential future career paths in the business field. In response to these trends, GMAC, the administrator of the GMAT™ exam, has introduced a new "Data Insights" section in the GMAT™ exam to better prepare applicants for their future studies in business and data analysis.  

• Products & Services: 53% express interest in the product and services industry, driven by the expansive consumer market, highlighting a strong enthusiasm for marketing, product development, and management-based roles. 

• Consulting: 50% of students are attracted to this industry, and the Nonprofit and government sectors draw interest from 28% of students. 

Key Considerations: Deliberate Choices Behind Rational Decisions

When selecting a business school program, students undertake detailed comparisons and research across several dimensions: 

• Program ranking: 37% consider the ranking of the program.  

• Cost of the program: 36% focus on the financial aspects for further evaluating the return of investment of the degree. 

• Career outcomes: 32% are concerned with career development outcomes, including job placements and salary. 

Soft Skills: Prioritizing Teamwork and Communication

Chinese undergraduates recognize the crucial role of interpersonal skills in their future careers, with a strong emphasis on teamwork and communication: 

• Collaboration and teamwork skills: 50% of students aim to enhance these skills through GME, transitioning from often solitary academic work to the collaborative dynamics of modern business environments. 

• Verbal communication: 47% seek to improve their verbal communication and presentation skills, enabling them to confidently articulate their ideas in diverse business settings. 

• Written communication: 39% focus on advancing their written communication skills, acknowledging its importance in professional success. 

Embracing Technology and Analytical Skills for Informed Business Decisions

As the influence of big data and generative AI grows, the ability to leverage technology for business decision-making becomes increasingly vital: 

• Data analysis and interpretation: 63% of respondents aspire to develop their data analysis and interpretation skills, aligning with the digital transformation of business practices. 

• Critical thinking: 57% aim to enhance their critical thinking and logical reasoning abilities, which they believe are essential for effective problem-solving and strategic decision-making in complex business scenarios. 

• Quantitative skills: 54% seek to strengthen their quantitative skills to excel in data analysis and processing tasks within their careers. 

GMAC aims to bridge the gap, allowing admission teams to closely monitor the genuine aspirations and expectations of young Chinese undergraduates planning their business education journey.  

The interactive data report tool is free to use and enables you to filter and generate data charts based on specific student characteristics. This tool will be your excellent partner for your recruitment and marketing decisions. To access the report, please visit: GMAC Prospective Students Survey.