Hello,

I want to start a part-time MBA in September 2014 besides my job. It seems like my employer will pay for my MBA and all according expenses. After long research, I came down to three possible universities for me: St. Gallen, Mannheim Business School and WHU. I am working for a Dax 30 company (industrial sector) and did a Bachelor in International Management. My question is: which of the three above mentioned universities should I chose? I am planning to work abroad (Asia, US, etc.) in the future. At the moment I am working in Munich. Since my employer is a German company, I am looking for the university which is most recognized especially throughout Germany, Switzerland, etc. but is known as well in Asia or the US. I am not planning to work in Finance, but I am planning to switch to consulting after my MBA. Which university would be the best?

All of these schools run executive MBAs jointly with better-known schools in other countries. I recommend you try to attend an executive MBA, rather than a German-language part-time MBA, if you want a qualification and training that is not only respected in the rest of the world, but also prepares you better with a more international cohort.

The WHU-Kellogg EMBA is perfect, since it involves universities in both the USA and the Far East.

Thank you for your quick reply. I don't want to do an executive MBA, since I'm only 27 years old. So under the prerequisite, that I want to start a part-time MBA at one of the three universities (Mannheim, St. Gallen, WHU) in September 2014 - what would be your ranking? What do you think are the pros and cons of each school?

These are three very similar programmes. I think the HSG programme stands out because of the ESADE-HSG diploma. They all look good, with a strong emphasis on soft skills.

Thanks again for your quick reply. And if it comes down to a decision between Mannheim and WHU - which would you prefer?

I think the WHU programme is better, as well as being better established. You have more, and shorter, blocks on campus and that makes learning much easier. It also has a better international element.

Perhaps you should also consider how easy you can get to the schools. If you are doing a part-time programme, I think that travel time and connection (train, airplane etc), is also a possible point of consideration.