Hi all,
Have read few post on this topic but none really from the angle I am looking at things. Posted in UK bit by accident - I think better fits here. I have worked for 6 years in high end consulting and plan to do an MBA degree - it is likely I will transition to industry at some point in near future and while consulting has been great I am looking to refresh and expand my business (corporate) education and get a good name on my CV (I have MBB firm there, but only undergrad degree from non-target school - which can be an issue). As far as industries - I like pharma, automotive and anything tech-focused. Each of these industries are new to me - I have limited experience with tech/pharma, but business side only. Location wise - western Europe would be the target for now, but also thinking middle east, maybe states - I am open.
I dont want to stop for a year now, so plan to do 2 year distance learning program. This limits my options. It was all a bit last minute so I applied to Warwick Distance Learning MBA, Imperial's Global Online MBA and ESCP's EMBA. I know there is also IE, but didn't manage to do things on time. I was accepted to all so now the choice part. Location of studies given online nature doesn't play a role. My view so far is:
ESCP is a good school with good program. It will likely have me working with the most senior cohort and will be quite interesting. However, the name is an issue. Nobody from those around me knew the school (many high up people). This could be problem if I go beyond Europe. As such I narrowed it to Imperial/Warwick.
Of the two, Warwick seems to be overall better business school, very highly rated in the online space, been running program 30+ years, has interesting and more senior cohort, some connections to automotive that I could find, very good course layout. On the other hand it is not as selective of a school (have heard first hand from recruiters that Imperial students were more impressive), has less worldwide recognition (in UK is about on par with IC) and is not focused much on technology aspect.
Imperial is the school with better overall name (beyond UK/Europe), stronger alumni network, and with very good recent reviews on this particular Global Online MBA. Coursework is still good (just misses few things vs Warwick) and the school has a good tech focus which I like - they often talk about this business and technology intersection. So perhaps while not as good in some aspects its still very good. Post program support seem to e better too -> options to take electives, career support (not paid) etc.
I'm leaning to Imperial, could you tell me if this is a fair analysis, and if you have any other comments/points to take into account while deciding between the two distance-learning programs?
Thank you very much!
Kind regards,
Luke

The ESCP EMBA is a much better program. If the US matters, why not consider a US degree like Boston or UIUC? 

The ESCP EMBA is a much better program. If the US matters, why not consider a US degree like Boston or UIUC? 

You need to focus on your goals. Finding the best school for your goals is more important than watering in January. Many programs are flexible and, for example, you could start on the UIUC MBA any time through one of several paths. If Insead or LBS were the best choice, it would be better to wait.

As you can see from the salary data, the ESCP EMBA has a much higher quality than the distance learning MBAs, in terms of cohort, design and outcomes. 

Do you mean UAE when you say Middle East? ESCP runs programs in North Africa and Lebanon, and has a good network. If your target is the UAE, then the schools with a campus there are options.

You need to focus on your goals. Finding the best school for your goals is more important than watering in January. Many programs are flexible and, for example, you could start on the UIUC MBA any time through one of several paths. If Insead or LBS were the best choice, it would be better to wait.

As you can see from the salary data, the ESCP EMBA has a much higher quality than the distance learning MBAs, in terms of cohort, design and outcomes. 

Do you mean UAE when you say Middle East? ESCP runs programs in North Africa and Lebanon, and has a good network. If your target is the UAE, then the schools with a campus there are options.

Again, it depends on your goals. Business schools have stronger networks than universities, and Grandes Ecoles have more powerful networks than state university business schools. I see that as an alumnus of EDHEC in the UK: I get more value from that from the University of Manchester, where I did my undergrad. So, networking power is very different from brand awareness. 

There's so much comment on this board about imperial and Warwick and, of course, even more on the sister website, Find MBA Online. I don't need to repeat what is said there. 
I strongly suggest that none of these options is your best choice, and that you are making an effort in rushing. 

That is very true. And I agree - things are a bit rushed. Maybe additional bit of perspective - I originally planned only a masters degree. I was planning a transfer to a different office and my lack of post-grad degree prevented me from doing so. But during research I realized MBA is clearly better. That being said, I still don't want to do a gap year so I'm limited to distance learning programs (no INSEAD, LBS or so). Of those, Imperial / Warwick / IE seem to be constantly rated at the top - hence my question.

I've read the Warwick/Imperial discussions here, but thought maybe I could get some additional perspective. You wrote in one thread that:
"Warwick has a lot of advantages over Imperial. It's a larger, stronger business school that's better in almost every way. It's MBA is very flexible and has a wide elective course selection. It deserves its place near the top of the FT Online MBA ranking.

"

I wanted to understand this a bit more - I know Warwick has 50ths business school alumni, vs 20 at imperial so it is more established school with broader network. Imperial on the other hand has overall more alumni - question is how useful will those networks be. What are the other advantages  - quality of classes, professors, the way the program is setup? Is it the name? I discussed this with fellow top consulting recruiters (McKinesy/BCG) and they said from recruiting perspective these programs are on par but they had more positive connotations to Imperial. Also - looking at electives, I liked those from Imperial better - and there were actually more on offer there. Also flexibility is on par with Imperial - both very flexible.
I am just trying to understand what is it that in your view makes Warwick a better program. Much appreciate your time and help on this topic Duncan! Thank you!

[Edited by luke_morris on Dec 25, 2020]

You are perhaps misunderstanding the recruiters. They will hire from the full time programmes, not the distance learning ones. If you look at the numbers hired into consulting from those full time programmes, is the Imperial MBA, which places one MBA in four into consulting, in a par with Warwick, which places two in five? 

I work in one of the MBBs and asked lead partners in our London office about their view on IC vs Warwick specifically stating I'm looking at DL MBA. They said from their perspective these programs are similar. They also looped in recruiting to validate if we bracketed these differently and again, no we don't. The only thing I was able to get out of them in terms of differences is that one had a good experience with somebody who recently did Global Online MBA at Imperial and then they said Imperial will provide me with better name worldwide. Of course then there is factor of quality of candidates which comes to play.

I'm not looking to get placed in consulting as I am already there :). My angle is more big tech, automotive, perhaps pharma. From that perspective Imperial places more applicants there %-wise + many many more if one takes the IC as an institution.

I've read now also all threads on the sister online forum (thank you!). I understand Warwick will provide me with better MBA network, stronger cohort and there is a guarantee it is a good program. But I don't see other advantages. Imperial has likely very good program too, better career support (this is limited for DL@W) & support after program (learning & career), more interesting electives, business game instead of dissertation, better overall name and possibility of further growth. Is this fair?

The accounts from your colleagues are compelling. It does seem very unlikely to me that Imperial has better careers services or better lifelong learning provision. However, you seem to see added value in the Imperial programme. 

Hi all,
Have read few post on this topic but none really from the angle I am looking at things. Posted in UK bit by accident - I think better fits here. I have worked for 6 years in high end consulting and plan to do an MBA degree - it is likely I will transition to industry at some point in near future and while consulting has been great I am looking to refresh and expand my business (corporate) education and get a good name on my CV (I have MBB firm there, but only undergrad degree from non-target school - which can be an issue). As far as industries - I like pharma, automotive and anything tech-focused. Each of these industries are new to me - I have limited experience with tech/pharma, but business side only. Location wise - western Europe would be the target for now, but also thinking middle east, maybe states - I am open.
I dont want to stop for a year now, so plan to do 2 year distance learning program. This limits my options. It was all a bit last minute so I applied to Warwick Distance Learning MBA, Imperial's Global Online MBA and ESCP's EMBA. I know there is also IE, but didn't manage to do things on time. I was accepted to all so now the choice part. Location of studies given online nature doesn't play a role. My view so far is:
ESCP is a good school with good program. It will likely have me working with the most senior cohort and will be quite interesting. However, the name is an issue. Nobody from those around me knew the school (many high up people). This could be problem if I go beyond Europe. As such I narrowed it to Imperial/Warwick.
Of the two, Warwick seems to be overall better business school, very highly rated in the online space, been running program 30+ years, has interesting and more senior cohort, some connections to automotive that I could find, very good course layout. On the other hand it is not as selective of a school (have heard first hand from recruiters that Imperial students were more impressive), has less worldwide recognition (in UK is about on par with IC) and is not focused much on technology aspect.
Imperial is the school with better overall name (beyond UK/Europe), stronger alumni network, and with very good recent reviews on this particular Global Online MBA. Coursework is still good (just misses few things vs Warwick) and the school has a good tech focus which I like - they often talk about this business and technology intersection. So perhaps while not as good in some aspects its still very good. Post program support seem to e better too -> options to take electives, career support (not paid) etc.
I'm leaning to Imperial, could you tell me if this is a fair analysis, and if you have any other comments/points to take into account while deciding between the two distance-learning programs?
Thank you very much!
Kind regards,
Luke

I would pick Warwick (despite it being located in Coventry which sucks). The main reason is that Imperial is a very new business school with far less alumni. Imperial brand is mostly for STEM and Medicine, not for economics or business.
ESCP on the other hand, is not really known in international circles as it had not offered an MBA (until very recently). 
Warwick on the other hand, is known worldwide for its business faculty and education.
All the best!

[Edited by Andy776 on Nov 22, 2021]

Generalisations have limited vakue. ESCP is the world's oldest business school and has been running various MBAs for decades. Its fulltime Global MBA previously had a different name, but that is not highly relevant. What matters is the goals of the applicant and the relevant of the network to their goals. Imperial's brand can out perform Warwick in some settings. 

@duncan it's no generalisation, it is my opinion (and maybe you don't agree which is totally fine). But I agree that in the end, it is the goals of the application that is the most important as well as the relevancy of the alumni networks. :) 

[Edited by Andy776 on Nov 22, 2021]

"Warwick is known worldwide" seemed like a generalisation to be. It's known throughout the Commonwealth, maybe. 

I see that as an alumnus of EDHEC in the UK: I get more value from that from the University of Manchester, where I did my undergrad. So, networking power is very different from brand awareness. 

In the dictionary, an alumnus is any former student. Different schools take different approaches to formal status in their alumni association, but generally, a substantial program of assessed, for-credit, study is needed. At LBS, for example, exchange students become alumni but at Tuck they do not. ESADE offered alumni status to people who studied for more than 28 days, I think, and at IMD it's around 15 days.  

Personally, I am in my 50s and have been more or less continually investing in for-credit study (normally part-time). I just completed a research degree at one triple crown school, and now I am in a for-credit programme in leadership at another. 

At Edhec, my company sponsored me to start an executive EMBA taught jointly with UCLA which was composed of assessed, for-credit, MBA modules. However, after the first academic year the company hit hard times and I moved to another firm, which funded an EMBA at LBS. EDHEC was generous enough to make me an alumnus, especially since most of the fees have been paid to them. 

That said, the value of the alumni network is limited to what you put in. I was an exchange student at the Tuck School at Dartmouth and made some life-long friendships - probably more impactful than my time at LBS. Maybe I got more out of my network at Tuck. Despite not being in their alumni association formally I am in their alumni LinkedIn group and get emails from the class year leaderships. With EDHEC, I feel some strong positive emotion for the school (I wonder if that's the effect of studying on the Riviera?), have attended reunions in Nice and Paris and certainly made significant business connections through their alumni network (and many other schools' networks). With other schools, I might benefitting only though access to alumni events and lifelong learning programmes (HHL, for example, just had an excellent alumni learning event. I attended for a certificate programme there and the alumni membership requires an annual fee which represented great value for the event itself). 

Totally agree

[Edited by ZaWa999 on Feb 08, 2022]