Has anyone pondered this decision?
Would really appreciate some feedback, here or over PM.
Thanks

INSEAD would be the better option, unless you can't afford INSEAD and can only afford Hong Kong.

$ is not a dealbreaker/decision maker, you either have it and pay in full, or take out a loan, either way the difference is what, 20k?

Insead is better known, whether or not its a better option is exactly what I am trying to find out.

It seems like you kind of have an idea of what you are looking for. If that's the case it would be better for answering purposes if you gave us more information.

What's your purpose for getting an MBA, and what are you planning to gain from the experience? Do you have your own business network already, or are you looking to build one? Where do you plan to work, and where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Insead is Insead.. a big brand name- i would rate it to likes of harvard or any other top b school.. no doubt hong kong ust is good too.. but Insead all the way...go go go for it

all the best

It seems like you kind of have an idea of what you are looking for. If that's the case it would be better for answering purposes if you gave us more information.

What's your purpose for getting an MBA, and what are you planning to gain from the experience? Do you have your own business network already, or are you looking to build one? Where do you plan to work, and where do you see yourself in 5 years?

True, INSEAD is no Stanford/Harvard/Wharton. But it's probably the closest thing to Stanford/Harvard/Wharton outside of the USA. INSEAD's probably the most recognizable business school outside of the US. Since you have no other criteria than impressing your family, depending on what you personally want, you can choose either school without losing too much.

By family stamp of approval are you saying your parents will transfer to you a successful business? Or is it one of those "parents want child to have a lot of accreditations" thing? In teh first case, I would choose HKUST, not because it's a better program, but because it's cheaper. It's not like you need to be competitive for getting a foot into an MNC or anything, so the INSEAD network is useless to you, since all that will happen is you will fit right into your parent's company. In the second case, assuming you will be looking for jobs outside of what your family can provide you, the INSEAD network is much more valuable than the HKUST one. THe average income of an INSEAD grad is MUCH higher than that of an HKUST grad (in my opinion ROI is much more worthwhile).

In terms of curriculum, I can't imagine there have been any amazing innovations at either schools within the last 10 years. If there is an innovation, I would assume INSEAD would be one of the schools at the forefront of adopting them, but it won't take much effort for HKUST to follow suit. So in terms of quality, i think you'll receive similar quality throughout, the difference is the networking. So the question is, will the networking opportunity be worthwhile for you?

Lost4Now,

You appear familiar with these two schools - understood that the average income for INSEAD is higher than HKUST - this could be exlained partly due to that INSEAD European salaries in consulting are higher than in Hong Kong and Asia. In fact, I think Singapore consulting jobs are better paying than Hong Kong. For banking, salaries should all be the same if you are getting recruited by international recruiting programs. For second tiers, the pay in London (which many INSEAD Europe graduates go to) will be much higher than anything in Asia.

Thus comes the million dollar question - for non-asians that go to Singapore versus non-Asians that go to HKUST - who has the edge? Assuming they want to stay in Asia, and work in consulting or banking. Neither school wants to post this info since it probably is not a highlight. The reality is anyone in Asia who wants to get a 100K+ job in Asia - regardless of MBA - you are not going to be given it easily. The closest I have seen INSEAD grads come is a rotating MNC program with posts in their Asian offices (keep in mind 95% of all INSEAD grads in China are Chinese - but nothing permanent. For HKUST, they usually get some niche finance job.

For the poster - it appears that region is not an issue - in this case, maybe INSEAD's network would do you better. HKUST will not help you outside of Asia.

True, INSEAD is no Stanford/Harvard/Wharton. But it's probably the closest thing to Stanford/Harvard/Wharton outside of the USA. INSEAD's probably the most recognizable business school outside of the US. Since you have no other criteria than impressing your family, depending on what you personally want, you can choose either school without losing too much.

By family stamp of approval are you saying your parents will transfer to you a successful business? Or is it one of those "parents want child to have a lot of accreditations" thing? In teh first case, I would choose HKUST, not because it's a better program, but because it's cheaper. It's not like you need to be competitive for getting a foot into an MNC or anything, so the INSEAD network is useless to you, since all that will happen is you will fit right into your parent's company. In the second case, assuming you will be looking for jobs outside of what your family can provide you, the INSEAD network is much more valuable than the HKUST one. THe average income of an INSEAD grad is MUCH higher than that of an HKUST grad (in my opinion ROI is much more worthwhile).

In terms of curriculum, I can't imagine there have been any amazing innovations at either schools within the last 10 years. If there is an innovation, I would assume INSEAD would be one of the schools at the forefront of adopting them, but it won't take much effort for HKUST to follow suit. So in terms of quality, i think you'll receive similar quality throughout, the difference is the networking. So the question is, will the networking opportunity be worthwhile for you?

In terms of distinguished alumni, INSEAD's got a much more prominent list than HKUST. I don't really know what kind of corporate ladder you are climbing, or what kind of competition you are facing in climbing to the top, but if you're not clearly the favoured one, then any sort of advantage would be nice. You are right, the school won't decide who you are, your skills and background will, but any sort of even slight perceived advantage is always good in my opinion. I always kind of saw starting salaries and scores being a good rule of thumb on estimating the general abilities of those you will be around. Whether the school is doing a good job of placing you, or the people already have good connections, aren't the people who are being placed in good positions the type of people you want to be close with and sit next to in class? Although that argument means more to someone who cares more about networking, and you seem to kinda don't, so i guess moot point. I'm guessing your family business has all the connection they need, so it doesn't matter (just have to somehow get to know the old wheel and slowly take over i assume).

In terms of fun, I kind of always imagined it being very heavily based on the city. If you will be basing your decision on "fun" factor, then i guess it comes down to where you personally enjoy spending time. Hong Kong or (Singapore + Fontainebleau). I think Hong Kong is faster paced and youthful, but Fontainebleau more relaxing and refined. Up to your tastes on that one.

In terms of distinguished alumni, INSEAD's got a much more prominent list than HKUST. I don't really know what kind of corporate ladder you are climbing, or what kind of competition you are facing in climbing to the top, but if you're not clearly the favoured one, then any sort of advantage would be nice. You are right, the school won't decide who you are, your skills and background will, but any sort of even slight perceived advantage is always good in my opinion. I always kind of saw starting salaries and scores being a good rule of thumb on estimating the general abilities of those you will be around. Whether the school is doing a good job of placing you, or the people already have good connections, aren't the people who are being placed in good positions the type of people you want to be close with and sit next to in class? Although that argument means more to someone who cares more about networking, and you seem to kinda don't, so i guess moot point. I'm guessing your family business has all the connection they need, so it doesn't matter (just have to somehow get to know the old wheel and slowly take over i assume).

In terms of fun, I kind of always imagined it being very heavily based on the city. If you will be basing your decision on "fun" factor, then i guess it comes down to where you personally enjoy spending time. Hong Kong or (Singapore + Fontainebleau). I think Hong Kong is faster paced and youthful, but Fontainebleau more relaxing and refined. Up to your tastes on that one.

http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/content/jul2010/bs20100720_041662.htm?campaign_id=bschools_related

i found this interesting, Asia setting up its own Ivy League system now.

Hong Kong UST, Ceibs, ISB, NTU joint marketing initiative.
www.topasiabschools.com

Looked into HKU at all? I consider HKU and HKUST to be on similar terms. HKU has a much longer history though, generally speaking.

Looked into HKU at all? I consider HKU and HKUST to be on similar terms. HKU has a much longer history though, generally speaking.

HKU = University of Hong Kong (don't ask me why it's not UHK, i don't know why either). Locals consider HKU to be the most prestigious university in Hong Kong, generally speaking.

Here's their general website:
http://www.hku.hk/

Here's their MBA website:
http://mba.hku.hk/

If you are looking into getting an MBA in Singapore, I would probably also look up Nanyang and NUS (National University of Singapore) as well. NUS is considered by locals to be the top university in Singapore, so it's worth looking up. Nanyang's MBA is ranked relatively well from what I hear.

QS ranks them well overall (if you're not isolating just the business faculty).

http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/asian-university-rankings/overall

The rankings place heavy emphasis on non-academic criteria though, otherwise University of Tokyo would be at the top instead. But it's a good general reference point.

I just looked at the website from the joint marketing website from these four schools... Hong Kong UST, Ceibs, ISB, NTU .
www.topasiabschools.com

These marketers are very smart. By doing this joint marketing, potential students from western countries (some are still under recession) will flock in to Asia.
If I were from U.K., U.S.A. or one of the PIIGS countries, I would certainly go to Asia because of foreign exposure (looks nice in CV), cheaper tuition cost and spending 1 - 2 yr learning other cultures by travelling in Asia. It's a good deal all together.

However, I am quite disappointed that no schools from australia, like AGSM or Melbourne U, in the website. These schools should be mentioned as Asian top business schools.
Afterall, Australia is still in Asia whether those Australian like it or not.

HKU = University of Hong Kong (don't ask me why it's not UHK, i don't know why either). Locals consider HKU to be the most prestigious university in Hong Kong, generally speaking.

Just prestigious generally. Since you kept mentioning Oxbridge, I thought you wanted schools that are prestigious generally, rather than specifically in business (INSEAD, IMD etc...). Oxford and Cambridge's MBAs are very young and lack the prestige that other schools do in business education, but you kept on mentioning them, so I thought you were gunning for "general" prestige and was drawn to general prestige rather than business specific, because they do indeed have general prestige (been around for a very long time, although their MBA is new, as such if you look at CEOs that studied at Oxbridge, a lot of them didn't get their MBA there, but somethiing else, a law degree or something in history, but rarely an MBA). HKU is similar in that boat in that they are the most prestigious school in HK, and almost on every measure they are very similar to HKUST (salary, GMAT scores etc...) but for some reason they don't rank as well for the MBA. Maybe it's a curriculum thing. But dare I say, if you compare alumni across all faculties and fields of study, they probably have more distinguished alumni than HKUST (by this I mean if you include English or Philosophy majors who end up as CEOs etc...).

Oxbridge, for sure known and widely respected worldwide, but that cant be said for HKU at all.

Now i see what you mean though, HKU is respected in Hong Kong amongst locals there as people often associate old with "prestigious"

I am only looking at "Global" MBA brand names though.

HKU had a heated debate earlier on this forum - http://www.find-mba.com/board/6183

I guess if you do not care about career placement, though, HKU could be as good an option as HKUST. But for career placement, the track record or Westerners is not excellent (leaving bitter graduates as evidence from the dialogue above).