MBA sponsorship

Hi there, 

This question is dependent on the firm policy. But from my experience, yes, MBA sponsorship is available to Engagement Managers (AKA project leaders). One thing you may want to consider is also specific geographic conditions. From what I hear, North American offices are more generous in their MBA sponsorships. Good luck!

Hi! I personally know cases of BCG Project Leaders that received sponsorship - though they were very early in their PL tenure. 

I don't know any Principal, it might exist but expecting this to be super rare. 

While none of the above are common, in general I did find BCG a tad more flexible in their MBA sponsorship policy than McKinsey at the time I made my choice which firm to join. 

Also, this is totally a good question to ask in an informal coffee chat with someone senior at the company or even at the interview. 

Good luck, 

Ariadna 

It's super rare for people to go for MBAs at manager or principal level. Mostly, because there is little added value in doing an MBA at that point - they already have a great brand and value proposition and work experience. 

Still, if this is something you'd want to do, it's worth discussing with the office leadership.

The criteria for sponsorship differ from firm to firm and office to office (some are wildly more generous than others) and the rules are flexible. 

But before that, I would still question whether the MBA is necessary. 

I've build a material around this that you might find useful to read: 

• Expert Guide: Are MBAs worth it?

Best,
Cristian

Hi there,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

• First of all, consulting firms generally have structured policies regarding MBA sponsorships, typically targeting consultants below management level. However, these may vary slightly from region to region and country to country.
• Moreover, I would advise you not to stress yourself over such issues as the situation will clear up once you are at your target consulting firm and can have these discussions with your HR representative.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

You can find the consulting salaries report 2024 here!

I believe this is possible. But usually the managers themselves don't want it (managers already at a top consulting firm, so they get less value from an MBA, they lose 2 years of revenue at a higher paying job, no longer a firm requirement, probably learning faster at the firm…)

Hi there,

it might be possible in some cases in some geographies, however, I personally have not witnessed someone who is at manager level or above already deciding to take leave for an MBA.

At that level, there is not that much left to gain from an MBA in my opinion. People have high salaries and high bonus ranges, they have day-to-day client interaction (often at executive level) and are focused on building their own client network. Taking 1-2 years off in order to indulge in some classroom theoretical stuff just to return to the same spot afterwards seems like high opportunity cost.

If you are at the level of Principal, you typically just want to get through that phase as quickly as possible and become partner - or ultimately exit the firm for some corporate role. But an MBA seems counter-intuitive.

That's my perspective anyway.

Best

The article provides a realistic and detailed view of the MBA sponsorship policies of leading consulting companies, helping candidates evaluate their opportunities more accurately.

Hi there,

Depends on the office and location. There are significant differences across countries as well. 

In some it works, in others it won't. 

This is a great networking topic to discuss with consultants and recruiters of your target firm!

Cheers,

Florian