So You Want To Be An Entrepreneur: What Do You Study?

So you really want to become an entrepreneur? Starting your own business today is increasingly popular with stories of mega-successful startups and business owners living a life of freedom and abundance.

However, the journey to success is a long and tough road that doesn’t just require resilience and hard work - it will demand from you a certain set of skills that is crucial for business survival and growth.

You will need to build up specific business skill sets that range from sales to digital marketing as well as key soft skills to connect with your customers and employees. These include leadership skills, public speaking and negotiation skills.

In this article, we will take you through 7 degrees to pursue if you want to become an entrepreneur looking to make a difference and build a meaningful business.

7 Degrees To Help You Prepare & Develop Into An Entrepreneur

1. Degree In Entrepreneurship

While there is some truth that you don’t need a degree to be a successful entrepreneur, having one helps you avoid some of the pitfalls and helps you accelerate your learning.

A degree in entrepreneurship thrusts you into the world of how to start a business from scratch, teaching you valuable principles such as:

• Developing and assessing viable business ideas

• Business growth strategies

• Marketing your business

• Business reasoning skills

In addition, many curriculums will include business attachments to high growth startups, allowing you to experience and contribute first-hand to a business.

This allows you to see the hustle and bustle of how a business is built from the ground up.

2. Degree In Business Management

A degree in business management provides you with the skill sets and knowledge on how to manage a business.

While this is different from starting a business from scratch, understanding the markets, finance, communication, business strategy and IT is just as crucial for your business success.

The curriculum will be less on developing your soft skills but actually equipping you with the technical ability to really manage a business once it takes off.

Not all founders are good executors of a business, but if you want to grow and scale your business, you need to be one. And a degree in business management helps to provide the building blocks to becoming a good business manager.

3. Degree In Finance & Economics

From taxation to global trade, a degree in finance and economics might sound like an odd choice for an aspiring entrepreneur to take up. But is it?

Having the analytical ability to problem solve is a critical skill that many business owners require throughout the lifecycle of a business.

A degree in finance and economics forces you to think both broadly and pay attention to the minute details - a very critical quality when it comes to business planning.

4. Degree in Engineering

If you are starting a business that is centred around systems, technology and product development, having an engineering degree is a plus.

While you might not use the skills unique to each specific discipline, an engineering degree will grant you an important framework of thinking about the business world and how to effectively prototype and develop your product.

This is essential if you want to be an entrepreneur but you are more technical minded - which is just as important as having business skills.

You’ll just need a business co-founder to round off your skill sets!

5. Degree In Commerce

A degree in commerce provides you with a well-rounded education in some of the key skills every entrepreneur will need to lead and grow a business.

They include:

• Business analytics

• Financial analysis

• Digital innovation

• Business marketing

While these skills might seem generalistic, it is important to note that an entrepreneur is a founder who has to wear many hats, especially at the start of the venture.

A degree in commerce will give you a valuable head start!

6. Degree In Marketing

Whether it is marketing to corporations to handling social media marketing for a B2C business, an entrepreneur will need to have the ability to generate leads.

A degree in marketing will equip you with the ability to effectively brand and promote the services of your business.

This is essential whether you are in the start-up or growth phase of your business.

7. Degree In Computer Science

If you are looking to build something big like the next Facebook or Instagram, then you need powerful programming skills.

A degree in computer science doesn’t just teach you the basics of programming, it also teaches you how to apply your programming skills in the context of business.

You’ll learn how to solve problems using computing technologies and how to innovate and create novel solutions for real-world business cases.

It’s time to unleash your inner Mark Zuckerberg and create something world-changing!

Take The First Step Towards Entrepreneurship

While entrepreneurship isn’t an easy path, learning the right skill sets is critical in making the journey easier and more enjoyable.

However, which of these 7 degrees are right for you to help unleash your full potential?

Our experienced team of education counsellors are here to answer all your questions and assist you!

At IDP, we ensure that you get the best quality education possible by navigating different universities and guiding you through the course application process.

Kickstart your overseas study journey by booking a counselling session today.