Huma
Career Advice Needed – BBA Marketing → International Relations Business/ Law / Long-Term Career Abroad?
I’m currently completing a BBA in Marketing and come from a small country where career advice is very poor for students, but my long-term ambition is to build a stable, meaningful international career abroad. My interests lie in international relations, public policy, diplomacy, and law, particularly in areas like business law, international organizations, and women-focused careers and education, finance or social impact initiatives and also create influence.
I’m feeling unsure about the best academic path forward and would really value guidance. I’m considering:
MBA (for stability, business leadership, and employability abroad). I hear MBA is just networking also i dont know if i want jobs in or what career to pusue since I have less experince.
Master’s in International Relations / Public Policy
Law route (international or business law), but I’m confused about licensing, jurisdiction, and whether this is realistic without a law bachelor’s. or what's the best route?
I’ve heard mixed opinions that International Relations can be unstable with limited jobs, which worries me in terms of long-term security, especially as an international student. At the same time, law and policy strongly align with my passion for advocacy, global work, and creating impact, particularly for women and organizations.
I would really appreciate advice from people who:
Transitioned from a business or unrelated bachelor’s into IR, policy, or law
Chose between MBA vs IR vs Law for long-term stability abroad
Understand which countries/universities are more open to students with non-law or non-IR backgrounds
Can share whether combining business + law/policy is a smarter route
Have insight into career outcomes, visas, and realistic opportunities
I’m highly motivated but want to make a strategic, informed decision, not an emotional one. Any real experiences, advice, or suggested pathways would mean a lot. Is there any anyone who experienced same and how they pivoted in this role?
Thank you in advance.
2 answers
Chinyere Okafor
Chinyere’s Answer
You are already ahead of the curve because your questioning shows self-awareness and strategic thinking. You're confused because you're trying to make a long-term, high-stakes decision with little structural guidance, which makes perfect sense, not because you lack direction. The good news is that, when used properly, a BBA in marketing is a solid, transferable foundation for opportunities abroad.
First, it's important to change the way you think about degrees. Careers are created by positioning, not by degrees. For instance, an MBA is not basically "just networking," but it requires a clear professional goal and usually helps applicants with prior work experience. An MBA may seem premature and costly without experience, particularly if you're not sure if you want to work in corporate leadership, consulting, development finance, or NGO strategy. However, when business education is later combined with international development, law, or policy, it can be very effective.
Although your concerns regarding stability are valid, a master's degree in public policy or international relations might be a great fit for your interests. IR degrees are most effective when they are skills-driven and applied, not just academic. Graduates who succeed generally focus on policy analysis, international development, program administration, trade policy, gender policy, or public-sector consulting, often backed by internships, research roles, or NGO work during the degree. Students with business backgrounds are often more welcome to enroll in IR or policy programs in nations like the UK, some parts of Europe, and Canada, particularly if your statement makes a clear connection between marketing, economics, or strategy and global systems.
The law path takes the most caution. Being a certified lawyer overseas can be difficult, expensive, and time-consuming due to the largely jurisdiction-specific nature of law. You can pursue a law degree in many nations without having a prior law bachelor's degree, but you need to be clear about whether you want to work in the legal field or in a related field. Without being certified attorneys, many globally mobile professionals operate in the fields of policy, compliance, governance, advocacy, international organizations, and business regulation. Regulatory policy, company law, or international trade law, used in consultative or organizational roles, might be more practical for someone with your background than courtroom practice.
When thinking about combination paths, your intuition is very sharp. Compared to any one track alone, business + policy or business + law is often more employable. For instance, BBA → Master's in Public Policy → positions in global foundations, international NGOs, development agencies, or policy consultancy. Alternatively, BBA → policy or IR → go on to specialize in international education projects, development finance, gender policy, or regulatory affairs. These paths are more visa-resilient than diplomacy alone and fit in nicely with impact activity that focuses on women.
Lastly, consider both geography and strategy. Better transition chances are available in nations with post-study work visas, such as the UK, Canada, some areas of Europe, and Australia. However, success depends on matching your degree to in-demand skills, obtaining experience while studying, and being realistic about entry-level positions. Impact and influence don't happen right away after graduation; rather, they develop gradually via competence, credibility, and steady positioning.
In short, don't jump into a degree program to "fix" doubt. Choose a curriculum that develops policy, analytical, or regulatory abilities; use your BBA as leverage; and plan your career with employability and immigration realities in mind. You're right to choose an informed choice over an emotional one, and based on your current thought process, you're already making one.
Best wishes!
Shahana Masood, MBA
Shahana’s Answer
To move forward, try narrowing your attention to one or two career paths you genuinely want to test out. You don't have to commit forever — you just need to explore enough to understand what fits you.
Why MBA Might Be a Good Option
If you choose to pursue an MBA, it can help you build strong business acumen and a deeper understanding of how organizations work. But remember:
A degree has real value when you pair it with practical experience.
How to Gain That Experience
Think of learning in two parts:
• Theory → what you study
• Practice → what you actually do
To bridge both, you should consider taking on internships or entry level roles in areas that interest you. For example:
• An internship in marketing will show you what day to day work looks like in branding, digital strategy, or market research.
• An internship in law or public relations will give you insight into whether those fields feel exciting or overwhelming.
You can absolutely explore more than one, especially early in your career. Doing an internship in both marketing and law, for example, would give you a clear idea of which direction feels right.
The Goal
By experimenting through real-world experience, you’ll naturally discover:
• What energizes you
• What feels meaningful
• What type of work environment you thrive in
From there, choosing the right path becomes much easier — and much more aligned with who you are.