Masters’ Union School of Business will open its doors to students in August 2020. Modelling itself on a School of Medicine, Masters’ Union is taking many initiatives to make sure that students get a great industry-immersive experience. “It’s the novelty of it,” says Professor Karthik Rammana, Director, University of Oxford, who will be teaching Business and Public Policy at Masters’ Union, “that makes it so special-this is the first time this means of education has been employed outside the field of medicine.”
Masters’ Union is offering a unique 16-months MBA equivalent program -- Post Graduate Program in Technology and Business Management (PGP-TBM). Here, we discuss the key components of the programme that make it such a sought-after, industry-immersive MBA. Application Process is currently open till 7 May. Masters’ Union PGP-TBM Admission Open - Apply Now
1. Location, Location, Location
One of the most important, unique features of MBA experience at Masters’ Union School of Business is its campus, which is located in DLF Cyberpark, Gurugram, one of India’s most prolific business parks in India. The campus is shared with the likes of Bank of America and BCG and is also flanked by numerous Fortune 500 companies. The other neighbours of the Union include over 600 of the world’s leading companies.
2. Opportunity to run a 5 Crore Investment Fund!
This one-of-a-kind investment fund has a Rs 5 crore allotment for investments in start-ups. Being student-led, it provides students with first-hand experience in running their own investment fund, with a lot of the risk minimised, for they are guided by the Union’s Masters, who are business professionals and experts in their fields. The fund can also seek to invest in any start-up wherein they see potential, ranging from real estate to stocks to everything in between. The students are also required to analyse and understand the risks of investing.
Broadly, the fund is to be managed by students divided into five teams: (1) the debt fund; (2) the equities and stock fund; (3) the futures and options hedge fund; (4) the venture capital fund for startups; and (5) the real estate fund. Each team here specialises in a different way of investment, allowing the students to specialise similarly while also teaching them umbrella topics. The specialisation allows students to further develop exact skills. What separates this fund from other start-up incubators is the freedom given to the students, both to invest in ideas they believe and to invest in ideas they have come up with. Every decision taken by the fund is taken by its managers: the students.
The students are the sole proprietors of the fund, choosing to invest in ideas in which they see merit. Aside from the university given allotment, they have the freedom to raise funds on their own, working with investors, philanthropists, and other investors. This helps the students to learn how to raise investments on their own, preparing them for when a similar situation might arise in their future work life. The fund is assigned an investment advisor and the students will be mentored by the world’s top venture capitalists, giving them a safety net and also increasing their learning by allowing them close proximity with individuals who successfully invest for a living. Additionally, any profits made by the fund will be distributed between its managers (the students, of course).
“This is going to be the first-ever student-run investment fund at least in this country,” says Professor Vijaya Bhaskar Marisetty, who will be teaching Modern Financial Accounting. He has earlier worked at IIM Bangalore, RMIT University and Monash University.
3. Consulting Projects, Field Visits, Bootcamps in Curriculum
The curriculum (courses) and pedagogy (teaching approach) is the heart of an MBA program. So how is Masters’ Union developing this aspect for industry-immersion? Well, it is taking three distinct approaches in this direction: Masters’ Union PGP-TBM Admission Open - Apply Now
- Consulting Project-Based Courses
- Corporate Field Courses
- Technology Bootcamp Courses
Let us understand a bit more about each of these.
Consulting Project-Based Courses
In this course, students take up 8 consulting projects around corporate transformations for real businesses to supplement their curriculum. According to Masters’ Union, students will get a chance to work with leading companies which are a combination of private and public sector giants and unicorns like Reliance, Maruti, Facebook, Samsung, BBDO, Interbrand, Ola, Oyo, Flipkart, SBI, ONGC and LIC.
Corporate Field Visits
Each quarter, students shall travel to a notable business sites that provides exposure to prolific business opportunities. This allows students to learn about companies that have changed the course of India’s economy and how she does business at the places where these businesses got their start. Some of the fields we know they will be visiting are:
- Mundra Port, Gujarat
- Reliance Jamnagar Factory
- San Jose & Silicon Valley
- Maruti Udyog, Gurgaon
Technology Bootcamp Courses
Given that technology is central to business, it is central to Masters’ Union. Students will learn hands- on tech courses in hot areas like:
- Fintech
- Blockchain & Cryptocurrency
- eCommerce implementations
- Artificial Intelligence
- Internet infrastructure
- SaaS
Masters’ Union informs us that these technology bootcamps will be conducted by top technology professions in each area, the same approach they use for all their teaching.
4. One-on-One CXO Mentorship
Masters’ Union will give the students a unique opportunity to get an inside view of the work-life of top CXOs and observe from close quarters what being an industry leader entails on a daily basis. As part of this initiative, students shall assist corporate leaders in capacity of Executive Assistants. They will also be assigned a dedicated Master Mentor for entire duration of 16 months that they are at school and even beyond. Masters will help create personalised career development plan for each student.
Some of the masters who will mentor students are: Masters’ Union PGP-TBM Admission Open - Apply Now
- Tathagata Dasgupta, Chief Data Officer, Saatchi & Saatchi
- Satish Krishnan, Former MD, Financial Markets, Standard Chartered Bank
- Elkana Ezekiel, Former CMO, Samsung Electronics; Former MD, Zydus Wellness
- Narendra Jadhav, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha; Former Chief Economist, RBI
- Siddhartha Rastogi, MD, Ambit Capital, Asset Management
- Harsh Mishra, Former Group President, Adani Group
- Rajiv Gulati, Former MD, Eli Lilly and Co.; Former President, Ranbaxy
- Malavika R Harita, Former CEO, Saatchi & Saatchi Focus Network India
Masters’ Union tells us that students applying in Round 1 will be given priority in choosing mentor. Please check application details at the end of the article.
5. Masters’ Startup School Led by Entrepreneurs in Residence
The Incubator at the Masters’ Union is uniquely designed to facilitate new ventures from ideation all the way to fundraising. Initiatives & resources include:
- Agency Network
- Legal & Accounts Clinic
- Fundraising Clinic
- EIR Mentoring
So, if you have a big idea to set up your own venture, this program may offer you a perfect launching pad!
Faculty include Profs from Oxford and top US Universities
In addition to CXOs, Masters’ Union curriculum will also be taught by top global faculty members including:
- Prof Karthik Ramanna, Director, University of Oxford Former Prof, HBS
- Prof Bhaskar Chakravorti, Dean, Global Business, Tufts University USA
- Prof Mihir Mankad, Professor of Practice, Tufts University
- Prof Vijaya Bhaskar Marisetty, Former Professor, IIM Bangalore
Program Offered, Courses and Specialization
Masters’ Union Post Graduate Program in Technology and Business Management (PGP-TBM) is unique 16-month MBA equivalent program. This can be divided into two broad areas - Core and Industry Concentrations. While Core course will teach the students the basics of key management function, Concentrations will orient you towards Industry verticals of your choice.
Core Concentrations
- Management and Strategy
- Marketing, Branding and Design
- Finance and FinTech
- Computing, Business Analytics and Statistics
Industry Concentrations
- Banking, PE and VC
- Technology, Product and Project Management
- Hospitality, Education and Healthcare
- Digital and eCommerce
- Media, Entertainment and Sports
Masters’ Union Admission Process Masters’ Union PGP-TBM Admission Open - Apply Now
So, is this program meant for only working executives? Thankfully, bright candidates without any experience can also apply.
Eligibility to apply
- Graduates & Students enrolled in their final year of graduation
- Mid-career professionals (0-5 years of work experience)
- Entrepreneurs, family business owners
- Artists and members from creative industry like Media & Entertainment
How to Apply? A step by step guide
You can apply to Masters’ Union by following these steps:
- Submit the online application, available on this link, along with the supporting documents
- If shortlisted, appear for a case study assessment and a personal interview with a panel of Masters
- If offered an admission, join the Union!
Round 1 Applications Open
Applications for Masters’ Union program are now open. By applying early, you will get following benefits:
- Full Scholarship: Fully funded scholarships will be awarded to 60 students in Round 1
- Get a Master to Mentor you: Students applying in Round 1 will get a CXO to mentor them throughout the programme who will help them navigate their careers and provide continuous guidance.
- Lower Application Fee: The application fee for Round 1 is Rs. 2,500 whereas the fee for Round 2 is Rs. 4,000.
Application Process is currently open till May 7. Masters’ Union PGP-TBM Admission Open - Apply Now
