Hello all,

I am planning to apply to some of the better business schools in the UK, specifically Oxford, Cranfield and Manchester, for entry next year. I would be bringing my wife along if I got accepted by any of them. As we plan to start a family within these 1-2 years, I am concerned with the possibility to actually combining the immense workload of an MBA course together with the pregnancy of my wife or even the birth of a child. Has anyone experience it before and may I know whether doing both will pose negative impact to our life? Thanks.

[Edited by Johnykc on Jun 08, 2016]

This is a hard question to answer. Obviously, it's really a question for your family. A couple in my MBA intake timed a child to arrive right at the end of their program, and the reason and unreasonableness in that is perhaps self-evident. Cranfield's location and housing stock is very well suited for families, and generally a unitary, campus-based, rural location will tend to have childcare and housing well-located for the school. For that reason, I would also add Warwick to your list.

I'm sure it's possible. Just never underestimate the needs of a pregnant woman.

Is not the pregnancy I would worry about, it is the baby's arrival. I would agree with the previous post to perhaps plan it in such way that the baby arrives towards the very end of the program. Though pregnancy can be a bit unpredictable even for the relatively healthy.

Thanks for the comments. We will try to make it happen right after my MBA and before my wife turns 35. :)