Why a finance reporter says an MBA is a good investment

An MBA led Emily Stewart to publish a book on making better money choices. Now the ABC reporter is sharing her tips on how to finance your MBA.

Emily Stewart knows a thing or two when it comes to making smart, financial decisions.

She spent the last 15 years as a business and finance reporter for the ABC and authors a weekly e-newsletter Your Money Explained with Sensible Emily, providing financial tips to her readers.

For Emily, funding herself through a Part-time MBA was a sound investment.

“I believe in lifelong learning, and this was really key for me. I think some of the benefits are also non-financial, they’re my networks, friendships and confidence.”

Now, she has written a book titled Sensible Money, to help more people make informed decisions and obtain financial freedom.

“There is nothing better than learning how to do it yourself – whether it’s which Super fund to choose, or how to budget – because whenever something changes in your life, you then have confidence to make those sorts of decisions,” Emily said.

“I want to try and pass along some of this education I’ve been so fortunate to receive.”

We spoke with Emily about the value she gained from doing an MBA, how she financed it - and what tips she would give others looking to undertake it themselves.

A new challenge

For Emily, doing an MBA was an opportunity for both intellectual stimulation and career development.

“I really wanted a new challenge, and I thought the subjects sounded interesting and stimulating,” she said.

“I also thought it would help me in my current role as a business and finance journalist. It would allow me to better understand company reports and do my own analysis.”

Her search for an MBA led her to Melbourne Business School.

“Obviously Melbourne Business School is the top school in the country. I also knew about the great reputation for its fantastic teachers. That’s what made it the top choice for me.”

Is the commitment worth it?

The two hurdles Emily faced when deciding whether to begin her MBA, was the commitment of both time and money.

“To attend classes after work or go to tutorials on weekends and meet with your syndicate group, it was going to be a really big time commitment, especially if you’ve got a busy job,” she said.

“And of course, the money was a pain point. It’s a big consideration when you’re paying out of pocket for that."

But for Emily the commitment was ultimately worth it.

“It certainly made me more skilled in my current role. It’s given me new opportunities but also more options for the future if my career changes, or if I’d like to move roles,” she said.

“It’s also done other things, like given me more authority. I think the return on investment is so much more than just the financial.”

Emily’s tips for funding an MBA

We asked Emily what advice she would give those looking to undertake an MBA themselves. Here are her top tips.

Utilise FEE-HELP

To finance her own MBA, Emily utilised the Australian Government’s FEE-HELP scheme.

“It’s essentially a loan from the Government which you can then pay back over time. That’s what really allowed me to take the course,” Emily said.

“Paying it back over time from my salary, means it didn’t make such a big dent in my daily budget as it would if I’d have to have paid it upfront.”

Emily also made additional repayments where she could along the way.

“If you can make a few extra repayments, especially before the indexation happens each year, then you can save a little bit more.”

Ask your employer for help

Asking your employer to sponsor it where possible is a great option.

“And if they can’t help you from a financial perspective, they may be able to offer other help such as time in lieu, or time to travel to campus, or even with stationary or equipment,” Emily said.

“It’s always worth showing your employer how doing an MBA will benefit them, because you’ll be learning new skills and ultimately bringing those back to the organisation.”

Scholarships

Exploring whether there are any scholarships that you are eligible for is another avenue Emily suggests.

The School works with a range of organisations and philanthropists to provide scholarships that encourage diversity and offer opportunities for different demographics.

“I’ve seen there are now a range of scholarships to encourage more women to do the MBA and undertake further education,” Emily said.

Tax deductions

If you are paying for your own degree, Emily suggests checking whether you’re eligible to claim the payments as a self-education expense on your tax return.

“The key to this is that the degree has sufficient connection to your current employment,” Emily said.

“You would need to check this with your accountant, but it can significantly help reduce your taxable income at tax time.”

Take your time

Emily spread her MBA out so the financial and time commitment, wasn’t so great.

“Some of my cohort wanted to do the MBA in the least time possible, but I took a different tactic which was to slow down to manage it all,” she said.

If you’re paying for the MBA up front, it will also allow you to spread out your financial payments, with subjects only charged when they are taken.

“Doing one subject a term made it manageable with my work commitments, and I didn’t feel as time crushed,” she said.

“I could still learn a lot and still meet people and enjoy doing it that way.”

Please note this article contains general information and is not financial advice. If you need individual advice, please see a professional financial consultant.

Emily’s book Sensible Money is available for purchase from 2 July, 2025.

To find out more about studying part-time at Melbourne Business School, visit our Part-time MBA page for all the information you will need to help inform your decision.