Hi Duncan/Stuart,



I have offers for Aston MBA, Queen's MBA, Surrey MBA (50% scholarship), EADA, Spain and MIB Trieste,Italy MBA (50% scholarship) and awaiting response from Edinburgh, Lancaster and Durham.



I've an IT background in databases (7 years of experience with a technical publication and raised two tech startups currently in nascent stage) and want to gain business knowledge to work anywhere in Europe for 2-3 years post MBA or can even continue with my startups. I also want to keep an option of DBA or PhD open.



1. Considering market uncertainity because of Covid and Brexit, what could be the best deal for me according to you?



2. Since I come from database background, should I prefer MSc in Management and Data Science or MIS from Exeter/Crafield/Utrecht/Leeds than to the above MBA options?

I understand none of the above universities are on top of FT/QS rankings(except EADA FT Global MBA #78), so will it be fine to rely on their accreditations? I also dont want to spend much due to the uncertainity.

Thank you very much in advance.


P.S. : I'm fine with learning any foreign language before joining the program, so language in not a concern.

I love to lead people, make decisions and multitask hence keen to get into a Managerial Role.

I don't think you have thought about this deeply enough. The red flag here is the naive way you frame the huge challenge of acculturation and language learning. 

I was at the same stage last year, where you are right now. Let me put some data. The number of intakes in the top 3 MBA program in the UK - LBS 497, Oxford 329, and Cambridge 202. Similarly, the number of intakes in top 3 MBA programs in mainland Europe - Insead 1008, HEC 290, IESE 350. These data are indication of the struggle, which you face to find a job after MBA.

Now coming to the language part, for a normal human being it takes atleast 6 months to complete 1 Level of CEFR. You need atleast B2 of any European Languages for working in a professional environment. It is advisable that you need atleast B1 in French before entering any 1 year MBA program in France, similarly B1 in Spanish before entering any 1 year MBA program in Spain.

I strongly believe that you are from India, and if so visa would be a big obstacle for you. Last year, I talk to Indian almuni from many universities and found that even from Oxford few students had to return back to India, because they couldn't find a job there. As Duncan has suggested, you need to think deeply enough. After talking to a lot of people, I came to know that one should use linkedin to talk to alumni, make a clear goal, shortlist a country for MBA, and not apply to more than 3 universities of that country.

Last but not the least, GMAT is the first thing which you should do if you have a plan for an MBA. It will open a door of opportunities and it is the real indicative that if you are prepared to enter an MBA program.

Thank you for replying Duncan and R100, so this rules out non-UK/Ireland countries.

Now considering just UK universities, I understand competition is there, and everyone has different expertise before joining MBA program which plays a role if they get hired easily or not.
1. Targeting software companies in UK, will it be fine for me to stick to MBA or will it be advisable to go for MIS ?
2. If you recommend MBA (as I have enough industrial experience) to focus on business studies, Surrey (with substantial scholarship and their business courses focused on technology and entrepreneurship), Aston (Triple Crown and BSEEN incubator) or top ranked Edinburgh (result awaited), Durham(result awaited), AMBS (result awaited) and Lancaster (result awaited)? 

Your career goals and career strategy are not evident from what you have written. If you want a role that requires the general management toolkit more than MIS, then. take an MBA. However, if you want an MIS role then take an MSc that does not duplicate what you already know. In any case, attend a school with excellent placement. 


The schools you mention are not the best for placement. Review this post: https://find-mba.com/board/general-forum/best-mbas-for-international-students-placement-35651/  In terms of % employed in the most recent FT MBA rankings, the order was Lancaster 84%, AMBS 76%, Durham 73%. In 2020, when it was most recently ranked, Edinburgh placed 71%.  These are generally much worse results than pre-COVID.

UCD fell out of the ranking this year, meaning that applications may be lower this year. It reported 86% placement. Ireland was the only UK economy to grow in 2020, while the UK economy is still in contraction. I would suggest you look at options in Ireland. 

In addition to the data provided by Duncan, I would like to add one more thing. I had admit from Durham and Cranfield last year, with scholorship. After talking to few almuni from India, I came to know that the most international mobility and placement figures might be deceiving, if you do not dig it. Most of the leftovers are from India. Do a simple linkedin search, you will find that how many stay in the UK and how many return to India. Many of those who stay in the UK were already in the UK, before joining the program.
I do not want to discourage you. There are a few who achieved what you are looking for. But their percentage is very low. I want you to do a good research before taking a decision.

Thank you very much Duncan and R100. :)

How are the rankings of specialization wise MBA decided on find-mba ? These seem quite genuine as compared to any other rankings like FT, QS, Guardian etc.  :)

I think the specialisation ranking reflect the % of the cohort who work in that field. 

I'll be more precise now.

What could be the best option for someone who is running an early stage tech startup and wants to pursue MBA to gain formal business education so that he can expand it globally and develop better business models and business strategies as soon as the product becomes market ready?

1. Business Schools with incubator support can be better.

2. Since looking for a job is not the prime objective for the MBA, so language is not a concern.

3. Is it good to go for a rigorous budget friendly MBA option than to go with schools offering placements?

4. International Business, Entrepreneurship and Information Systems (Tech modules) are the modules I'm looking for.

P.S. : Offers from MIB, EADA, Aston, Surrey, Loughborough and Lancaster. Waiting for Durham and Edinburgh.

It's rather unclear if your goal is to get placement (in which case, take a full time course at a school that places into the roles you want) or to better run a tech startup who are running (in which case, take a part time programmes focussed on tech entrepreneurship). 

Thank you very much Duncan.

If I may ask which of these schools are great for Project Management, Strategy and Innovation, Big Data and Business Analyst Roles ?

Read the post in my profile page about how to use LinkedIn. I think you can work this out. However, I think a MIS, computing or analytics MSc will be more likely to lead to those roles than an MBA. 

PS I feel like I am repeating myself. 

[Edited by Duncan on Apr 05, 2021]

What could be the best option for someone who is running an early stage tech startup and wants to pursue MBA to gain formal business education so that he can expand it globally and develop better business models and business strategies as soon as the product becomes market ready?