Hi to all,
I am new and I see you are really active, that is why I am writing here because I need your opinion to be able to asses all point of view. I am Omar, Italian engineer looking for a good MBA; I am self funding and I selected the 3 BS you read in the subject. I have just got the resident permit for New Zealand because I was interested in a working experience there. Now I am facing a doubts; I have the option in choosing to enter for in a course in UK and I opted or Manchester or Warwick, or fly to NZ at Auckland BS e find a job there. I have the following doubts:
1. Which is the best choice between these 3 in term of course quality, international recognition (chiefly for Auckland in case I will decide to come back), and job chances?
2. What is the best MBA in NZ?
3. Shall I will do my MBA in UK or NZ thinking about future international recognition, network and also thinking about UK MBA recognition in NZ?

Really thanks for your support, hope you can drive me in the decision

British universities are well known and well respected in New Zealand, but the University of Auckland Business School means little outside Australasia.

Hi Duncan,
Thanks for your support. That was my fear, in choosing Auckland BS. I prefer wait a bit to move in NZ with a well respected title , than come back to Europe if I do not like NZ with a poor title. I definitely opt for UK

Well, I am not so sure. I think you need an EMBA rather than a distance learning course and so I don't think you were wrong to have Auckland on your short list. If it helps you make your career leap to the CxO position then that will matter more than which triple crown school you went to. And triple crown is a notion that most traditional recruiters will know and accept.

All these 3 university I have shortlisted are triple crown accredited, and all the course I talk about are EMBA level but provided in different way:
1. WBS release a certificate of MBA, master degree and all its MBAs have the same content but the difference is how it is provided (full time, part time or distance learning with 3 or 4 weeks to attend on campus or for the electives maybe overseas, up to you; assessment on campus for some module and online with task assignment or project), 13 modules which 6 of them electives and can be online, on campus or overseas up to you what you choose
2. MBS is like before but with part time and full time formula with several states weeks mandatory on campus or overseas, 12 modules which 3 of them elective on campus or overseas
3. Auckland is every forthnight half Friday and full Saturday, 16 modules in 2 years and a business week in Japan i think. It is an executive title

With regards my VISA, I am EU citizen and I have got a resident permit, you have to travel by a certain date otherwise it expires. If you go there and you get a job, after 2 years you can ask a permanent resident visa. If the one I have expires, I have to ask a new one later, and means time and money, and I do not know how long it takes.

What is important in my opinion is the recognition to have a really good title from a good reputed school, because I am EU citizen and if I decide to come back to Europe, how Auckland title is weighted in EU? Vice verse a WBS or MBS title is weighted in NZ? Than all of them are Executive course for sure, but provided differently and with different vision in term of orientation.
It is really not easy. That is from my understanding from the university recruiter explanation. What do you think, am I wrong? The main difference is that UK and NZ provide it as a Master Degree recognized, instead school like Bocconi is not a degree recognized from the instruction Ministry, but just a master.

No, these are not all executive level: that is why they are not all called EMBA. The WBS DL MBA and the Alliance MBS Global MBA takes people with much less work experience. With an executive MBA you would study in a cohort with a more senior group.

I think an EMBA from a top school will give you what you need.

Below what Warwick MBA team replied ( My question and their reply):
2. Distance Learning is an Executive comparable courses?
The programmes are the same but the teaching is delivered via different methods.

From my point of view it is the same. What do you mean with top BS? Like Insead, London BS..I have checked but I am self funded and they cost around 100k€. By the way in the FT RANK MBS and WBS are ranked in the EMBA list, and WBS and MBS has only this kind of MBA. About Auckland I am sure it is EMBA, but also from Financial Time view are ranked under EMBA category, try to take a look if you have any chance.

I have double checked and you are right about MBS, it is not an EMBA but only MBA in fact FT does not rank it as Executive, but the one in Warwick is Executive MBA.. Now the choice is between WBS and Auckland EMBA, but I think that the reputation of Warwik is higher globally

The Warwick EMBA requires 13 weeks on campus. If that works for you then that is a strong choice.

The cranfield EMBA might also be worth looking at. The school's got a solid network in NZ.

Hi Razors,
thanks for your advice. I had a look to Cranfield but I discharge it for the 2 following reason:
1. Higher cost, due to the fact I am self funding
2. Worst position in each FT ranks respect to Warwick and Manchester.

For the moment still interested in Warwick, but really useful each point of you all
Thanks

Look at the final salary figures, not just the ranking. Also, the Aliance MBS part-time course is unranked (isn't it?) and has a lower-quality cohort than its full-time MBA. The Cranfield and Warwick EMBAs are higher-quality than the full-time MBA.

You are right Duncan, part time MBA at MBS is not ranked but however good course. By the way if I look at the salary, WBS and Cranfield has the same level (Cranfield has an higher percentage of salary increase, around 10% more), but still the higher salary is MBS (but really for a few $ more). Cranfield is quite more expensive than WBS in the end, and the difference in salary does not justify the cost difference. Obviously there will be other factors I guess..

I like the MBS course design (and am an alum) but the EMBA cohort will really be much better for you. I don't think you can go wrong with Warwick and the wide range of electives is impessive.

I completely agree, the 4 paths you have at MBS are really well done, with 3 electives and chance to study at Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai is really attractive, also for its cost; then the part-time is really well studied, but if the advice from an actual student is to study at WBS well..it is clear what miss at MBS

There are trade-offs. Perhaps you might benefit more from the greater team-work at MBS, or find the Singapore network especially valuable. I didn't take the part-time MBA there (I was an undergrad at Manchester and then did the EMBA at LBS) but my flatmate did take the part-time Global MBA there. I think it was a great course and came as close to the full-time MBA experience as a part-time programme could. However, the cohort was uneven and some people were quite junior. I think you would benefit from a cohort of people who are at least as successful and well-connected as you are.

PS Did you consider the Melbourne EMBA?

[Edited by Duncan on Feb 22, 2016]

As I told before, I think there is not a right solution between MBS and WBS, are really both high level in term of quality and network, and the trade off for me is really the fact that at WBS 6 electives mean customize at your need the course like only few people can have it like yours, on the other hand MBS have a broader international study chances (obviously at your own expenses, something to take into account).. What left me a bit upset at MBS, is that I am trying to contact by email recruiters to get support, curse overview and details on their MBA, but I worked hard to be contacted by them, like if they are not interested in hiring people. On the contrary, WBS reply you immediately and are more available in supporting your choice. This is for MBS is really a bad point, because if I need during the course it become complicate communicate to them something :O
Regarding Melbourne I know it is a good ranked school, but the initial problem was the trade off between get a well weighted certification in Europe and Australasia (I am EU citizen, it is true I want to go to live in NZ but I am not sure to stay there for the life, and in case I come back I do not know what it means to have an Australian or NZ certificate); for sure and UK MBA is well ranked all over the world, but on this point of view I think it is not the same for and Australian or NZ certificate. I think I gain more point with WBS or MBS MBA in NZ and Australia, then to come back in Europe with Melbourne or Auckland MBA. What do you think about that from your experience?

Yes, I think I agree with you except on the point about Alliance MBS and Warwick both being high level. The schools are similar, but the programmes you are considering are not. The Global MBA cohort seems to be below the standard of the full-time MBA, while the Warwick [Executive] MBA cohort is higher quality than its full-time MBA.

Actually, how about the new Alliance-Indiana double MBA? http://www.mbs.ac.uk/news/school-news/indiana-universitys-kelley-and-alliance-manchester-business-schools-announce-joint-mba-programme/

[Edited by Duncan on Feb 23, 2016]

I have had a look to this news, but from a reputation point of view I cannot see much more benefits, in fact Indiana University is ranked by FT below MBS, actually it is 54 and MBS is 39. For sure you will have the benefits in studying in USA, so your CV can be more appreciated. This is a recent news, so I expect probably they will start the joined program next year. By the way it is a good poin of improvement for MBS. What I can say from a not Brits, in Europe and also outside, UK universities are the best choice you can take. Also my teachers at the Politecnico, where I got masters, when you take degree in UK you can relax on the international value you take..so I think you can be proud of that

True, but joint EMBAs. like premium priced EMBAs, attract a better cohort. I think the Warwick course is a more straight-forward investment.