“I thought it would be easy.”
That’s what many students say when they look back on their decision to study any degree. But what about a degree in business?
Fuelled by LinkedIn success stories and the promise of degree that can do it all, business degrees are often seen as a “safe” and practical choice.
So much so that some universities are seeing such huge demand for their business degrees that they have to make admission tougher, to the point that it’s harder to get into a business degree than a medical degree.
But behind the idea of a possible successful future and thick textbooks lies the reality that many wish they had known before signing up.
There are billionaires without a degree in business, yet they’ve built empires and changed industries.
And this raises an uncomfortable question for many students, “Is studying business courses necessary? Or worse — are they useless? What should I know before taking it?”
Mark Zuckerberg (left) is now worth US$245.8 billion, and he wasn’t studying a degree in business prior to starting Facebook. Source: AFP
Are business courses useless?
Let’s get one thing straight — no degree is useless.
But if you’ve ever wondered whether getting a degree in business is worth it, you’re not alone.
Especially when the loudest voices online and offline keep telling you that “real” business success only comes from hustling, failing, and watching a thousand hours of Shark Tank,
Indeed, many famous entrepreneurs didn’t take the traditional degree route. Jeff Bezos studied engineering. Mark Zuckerberg studied computer science. Jack Ma studied English. Bill Gates dropped out altogether.
But does that mean you should ditch university and start building your empire from your bedroom?
Not exactly.
While grit and real-world experience are vast parts of business success, a degree in business can be your secret weapon. It gives you the language of the field, teaches you how to work with numbers and people, and helps you understand how the gears of an organisation turn.
So, no — getting a degree in business isn’t useless.
Fun fact: You can actually earn more by graduating with a computer science, medical, or engineering degree. Source: AFP
Are business courses easy?
Now that we’ve established that a degree in business isn’t useless, it’s time to figure out whether they’re easy.
The short answer? It depends.
While some may assume that business is a “soft” or “eas” subject compared to fields like engineering and medicine, if you’re serious about getting A in business, you’ll need a unique set of skills: critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and strategic decision-making.
Sure, you might not be crunching complex equations daily — unless you’re studying finance or economics — but you’ll be analysing case studies, developing marketing strategies, and navigating real-world business scenarios.
By the way, a degree in business doesn’t necessarily mean it’s solely for you to learn how to run a business — it’s more than that.
It’s about understanding how different industries operate, making hundreds of decisions daily, answering even more questions, forecasting the future, and managing people who come in all shapes and stripes.
So, while business degrees might not involve memorising endless scientific formulas, they require adaptability, creativity, and thinking on your feet.
Easy? Not necessarily. Valuable? Absolutely.
But before signing up for a business degree, read on for real advice from people who have been there, done that.
Anna Ong is the founder of What’s Your Story Slam. Source: Anna Ong
8 students tell us the #1 thing they’d wish they’d known before studying business
1. Anna Ong
Degree: MBA in General Management
University: INSEAD
Before studying business courses, I wish I had known that what you learn in school gets outdated pretty quickly, but it’s the network and connections you make that will last a lifetime.
My best friends today are those with whom I went to INSEAD, and I still see them regularly. We even try to celebrate each other’s moments together.
While my other close friends have moved to different parts of the world, we still keep in touch. I find that the connections I made while getting a degree in business are the ones that last.
Although I spent most of the bonding time during late-night study sessions and trying to understand corporate finance, I also wish I had spent more time interacting with others than studying.
Marc Breynart is a recruitment consultant specialising in cybersecurity and AI at Michael Page. Source: Marc Breynart
2. Marc Breynart
Degree: MBA in Korean and Asian Business
University: Hanyang University
Rather than “what I wish I knew,” I wish I could have told myself that an MBA is what you do with it.
When you start an MBA, many people think the degree will give you all the tools to become a successful businessman or marketer. But the thing is, it’s just another master’s degree that many people have.
Even with an MBA, you’ll still need to put yourself out there, such as by talking to people and being active in whatever you choose to do.
Completely relying on the courses does not make sense if you want to have a successful business.
Wincel Kaufmann is the founder of blueColab, an organisation that helps people and projects move capital toward climate solutions. Source: Wincel Kaufmann
3. Wincel Kaufmann
Degree: Executive MBA
University: INSEAD
When I first joined the executive MBA programme, I wanted to complete an academic programme that would prepare me professionally for the next part of my career. However, my time at INSEAD was different from what I had imagined.
I wish I had known about the socialisation part of getting a degree in business. I was overwhelmed when I first joined; it wasn’t because of the academics, but because of the relationships I had to build.
The MBA programme I was in focused intensely on leadership development, and you’ll be paired with an executive coach. I thought I didn’t need one because, you know, as I’m a mature and fully functioning adult, but over time, you’ll come to realise that having a coach is helpful.
You’ll learn about yourself as a person, which then reflects in your personal and professional life.
Lilijana Abrell is a second-year student at Tert College of Business. Source: Lilijana Abrell
4. Lilijana Abrell
Degree: Bachelor’s in Business Management and Technology
University: Tert College of Business
I wish I had known how much work it would be when getting a business degree.
I had no pre-existing knowledge of the field. I went into it completely blind and I was overwhelmed at the start of the programme. And I kept questioning myself, “What even is a business degree?”.
You’ll learn about finance, marketing, and so on — even things I’ve never heard of. Plus, it’s in English, which is not my first language, so I was pretty lost.
Tl;dr, I wish I had known how much work it would be and had prepared myself a little more, especially in fields I did not take during high school.
Oleg Smagin is a senior investment manager at WEMADE and the co-founder of the Digital Twins Podcast. Source: Oleg Smagin
5. Oleg Smagin
Degree: Master’s in Business Administration
University: Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST)
The one thing I wish I had known before pursuing business studies is about the job opportunities after graduation.
I spent much time searching for jobs, especially applying to global companies, but little did I know they weren’t looking to hire foreigners.
I had no idea I would be in a very tough spot when looking for jobs despite completing an MBA from one of the top schools in South Korea, if not the world.
Lemon Yuan recently graduated from INSEAD and is the co-founder of Macau Women-in-Tech. Source: Lemon Yuan
6. Lemon Yuan
Degree: Master’s in Management
University: INSEAD
It’s simple — I wish I had known to live in the moment.
During my 16 months of getting a degree in business, I felt pressured most of the time due to how smart everyone around me was. The job market increased the pressure, too, as there were so many interviews to sit for and different types of questions to be asked.
While focusing on your studies and future is essential, I also think living in the moment is important. It would play a significant role in your own state of mind.
I also wish I had known the importance of relationships during my master’s programme. The magic lies in the human aspect of the programme, where you build friendships over team dinners, mentorships, and even late-night case studies.
Genya Smagin is part of the AI Partnerships and Strategy team at SK Telecommunications and is he co-founder of the Digital Twins Podcast. Source: Genya Smagin
7. Genya Smagin
Degree: Master’s in Business Administration
University: Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST)
Many professors in business courses have little to no experience building or running a business. I wish I had known this before getting a degree in business in South Korea.
They’re PhD holders teaching you about how startups work, how to raise investment funds, and how conglomerates work, but they haven’t done any of those things themselves.
We won’t know how it works from the inside.
When I joined a company after graduating — mind you, one of the most successful companies in the country — I realised that it was very different from what they had taught me.
While that might be a deal-breaker for some, the quality of education in South Korea is great, especially in business schools. They use many materials made at Harvard and other significant business schools.
Yaqi Luo is a Simulation Operations Manager at Lightwheel AI, a company that bridges the sim2real gap for scaling development of autonomous and embodied AI. Source: Yaqi Luo
8. Yaqi Luo
Degree: Master’s in Management
University: INSEAD
Networking — that’s what I wish I had known before getting a degree in business.
Growing up in Chinese culture, I know that it’s not natural to talk to someone you don’t know. We’re famous for being introverted, so it’s always hard to start a conversation.
While at INSEAD, I was lucky to meet new people, but I also had to interact with people outside of the school, and it was hard for me to get used to it at first.
This also involves listening to other people’s experiences and learning to be open to their advice, which is something I wish I had known before pursuing a business degree.
