Hi.
I'm 38. I have more than 16 years of experience in media, communications and PR. I live in Romania and, due to location, professional and family reasons, I can only attend an online or part-time (modular) MBA.

Goal:
- international career (central, western Europe)
- mid-level role in a corporation (regional management with or without people to report to me)

According to my budget I should choose between:

1. Online programs:
- Manchester Metropolitan University (3 accreditations)
- University of London (QMUL???) (I think these are specific UK accreditation and I am not sure whether these help me when trying to get a job - CMI and CIMA)

2. Part-time MBA programs held in Romania through partner institutions
- Le CNAM (Conservatoire des Arts et Meties) MBA
- Sheffield University MBA

Please advise me. Which one wold make a real difference in my CV when aiming for such roles.

Thank you.
Silvia

If you are looking for any kind of geographic mobility at all, you'll want to study in the country where you want to work. It will be an uphill battle to use one of these degrees to land a job elsewhere, and if that's your goal it would probably just be simpler (and less expensive) to take the time to network.

That said, my feeling is that of this group, the CNAM would probably be the strongest in terms of career development. 

No accreditation will help you in a job search. However, the quality of a degree that has at least one of the three main accreditations - AMBA, EQUIS, or AACSB - will undoubtedly be higher than an institution that lacks any of them. 

What's more important is a school's network and the degree to which its career services can help you find the kind of job you are looking for. Unfortunately, the level of careers support for part-time and online programs are much lower than that of full-time, in-class programs. 

To be honest, I don't think these qualifications will help you as much as investing the effort in higher levels of language fluency and an international professional qualification in PR or marketing (such as the CIPR or national equivalents). 

I've worked mostly in international marketing and PR. Few people have MBAs. I think you'll be better off trying to move to the headquarters of your own firm of its competitors, or focusing on firms with big operations in Romania. The main investing countries there are the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, and Italy. I suggest you do research to look at people in your role in the headquarters of firms with Romanian operations. I think you will find they have degrees in communication, media and marketing. You  might be better off looking for distance learning courses used by many people at that company. For example, a former MBA classmate of mine is at a big German power firm that hires a lot from top schools like the TUM and RWTH. However, many of the people have studied at the FOM. Perhaps a distance learning course there will suit you better, and prove your language skills? 

[Edited by Duncan on Aug 05, 2020]

Thank you both for taking time to answer me sincerely. You made me take some time and rethink my strategy and aims.

I've decided to give up online options and apply for full time masters and move in with family to Germany for 2 years. My husband already works for a German corporation so he has a big chance to continue remotely (with the same wage - but it is still something). I've also decided to give up price criteria and go for a better schools, by applying for Prodigy Finance. In a year I'll be able to improve my German from B2+ to C1 so ... best odds are that won't have many challenges in paying the loan. As far as I could document myself, choosing full-time programs allows me to pay my debt starting 6 months after I finish my studies.

However, the 4 universities from Germany where I could get a Prodigy Finance loan only offer MBAs and MIMs... A change of career, however, it would definitely help me. As a non-native speaker, a communication specialist would have pretty big challenges.

I am looking into the programs from HHL Leipzig, Mannheim, ESMT Berlin and WHU.

I'll do my reading and try to focus on best options, renew my English certificate and gather my forces for next applications session.

I would be interested in your opinion on this, as it's a big move and we are going out of our comfort area... close to a risk area. However, it also has to do with my need of personal achievements and due to the age... I guess it is kind of a last shot to begin something from scratch. 

Thank you again for your advises. 
 

By the way, I've got accepted by Manchester Metropolitan University :)
Probably they don't reject many people, however it was a nice encouragement for me.

These are great programmes. If you are looking to start ASAP I think HHL might be able to fit you into their September intake (I was speaking to them about a similar candidate to you, and your experience and German knowledge will be a plus). Other things being equal, I think WHU and Mannheim stand out because there is so much international marketing communications work along the Rhine than in eastern Germany and, whatever you say, that is here you will be taken most seriously.

Thank you, Duncan, for your fast answer. I'll keep in mind your feedback regarding WHU and Mannheim.

Starting this September in Leipzig would also be a wonderful dream, but I am afraid that I can not find a solution for this year.

I am trying to get a quote from Prodigy Financing and it is not that easy.

More over, when choosing  HHL, I get this option: "Class of 2022 (delayed due to COVID) Full Course". I am not sure. Do they refer at 2022 as the starting year or as final year? I will try to get in touch with PF on the phone, if possible.

If selecting Mannheim University, I get this "There are no supported classes for the course at this time."
 
So my options are narrowing and depending on the financing that I manage to get. I'll try contacting Brain Capital as well. They are financing ESMT.

I also need to prepare myself a bit for GMAT test. I took yesterday an online demo and my score was 52%... I'm not sure what does that exactly mean, but for sure is under 600 points.

I'll message you the details of my contact  at HHL. 

52% will mean you are in the 52th percentile: so more or less on the average. The average GMAT is around 570 in many countries: https://www.gmac.com/-/media/files/gmac/research/gmat-test-taker-data/gmat-geographic-trend-report-2018.pdf

Raluca here recommends a score over 550, so I think you'll be okay since your profile is more interesting than most: https://www.f1gmat.com/interview-HHL-Full-time-MBA 

[Edited by Duncan on Aug 06, 2020]