One difference between an MBA and a business school is that the former is an international degree while the latter is a graduate school that teaches business administration. Therefore, if a student attends a program with curriculum offered by a business school and fulfills certain requirements, he or she will be awarded an MBA upon graduation.

These “certain requirements” vary according to each business school, but in many cases, there are two major requirements. One is to earn 30 to 40 credits of basic prerequisites at a Japanese business school. Incidentally, the definition of a “credit” in Japan is closely tied to the number of hours of study as per the precise stipulations of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Therefore, naturally, the definition of a credit changes from country to country.

Another requirement is the completion of a capstone. For a Master’s course, this takes the form of a Master’s thesis or the study of a specific subject. In an MBA program, most students do not select a thesis; rather, most take on the challenge of a project or specialized study.