Over the last few years, there is an increasing focus on getting into STEM MBA programs and graduating with a STEM-designated MBA. What does a STEM MBA mean and how does it matter to an MBA applicant? Let us answer all your questions in this blog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A discussion on STEM MBAs centers on business schools in the US. Why? Because this designation is offered only in the US., specifically by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of the US Government. As international students, think of the STEM MBA not so much as a type of MBA but rather as a type of visa facilitator. For the most part, the impact of designating a program as a STEM MBA can be seen after graduation \u2013 in your work and in your ability to get an H1B visa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
STEM stands for Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics. Any program of study in these four broad STEM fields gets designated as a STEM program by the US government. Let\u2019s say you are going for an undergraduate degree in mining sciences or a master\u2019s research in applied mathematics \u2013 your program of study in an accredited university in the United States is a STEM program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are an international student planning to study in the US, the student visa or the F1 visa allows you to stay in the country during the period of study and also allows you to complete something called Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduation. Typically, you can be in the OPT period for 12 months and during these 12 months, you can be gainfully employed, getting some practical experience in your field. To get your OPT approval, you have to show to the US government that your job is related to your field of study \u2013 so you cannot do a Masters in English Literature and work as an accountant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The US government is keen on fostering STEM education in the country. There is research showing that STEM education is vital for the US economy to stay globally competitive. Therefore, the government is taking several initiatives – some for domestic students such as promoting minorities and women in STEM fields, and some for international students, such as giving certain advantages in the visa process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If an MBA student can demonstrate an interest in a STEM career – by choosing STEM electives during the program of study and then choosing to work in a job that has at least some STEM components to it, then such a STEM MBA graduate can apply for a two-year extension on the OPT period. This gives the student a total of 3 years on OPT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After graduating from the MBA program, if you want to continue working in the US, then you have to get a work visa, also called the H1b visa. The H1b visa is only awarded once a year and on a lottery basis. There are about 85,000 visas awarded each year, with over 3x the number of applicants. As a master\u2019s student, your chances are better than 1 out of 3 because 20,000 of these visas are reserved for those who are getting their master’s or doctorate degree in the US. However, there are still more applicants than visas and you may have to face the chance that you did not get the H1b visa in the lottery during the first year of application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have only one year of OPT, then you get only one chance at the lottery, but with a 3-year OPT, you get 3 chances. This means that you are better guaranteed a work visa and you can be more confident about your ROI from the MBA program. Companies can also be more confident about recruiting you because they do not have to worry about relocating you to a non-US location or about recruiting a replacement for you within less than a year of recruiting you. This increases the willingness of firms to recruit international students and opens more doors and opportunities for international MBA students.<\/p>\n\n\n