Hi there,
I got two offers for the MSc Management program one from Durham business school (2022/2023) and another one from Cranfield School of Management (2023/2024).
What option would be better to select? Is it a good choice to wait for a year and go to Cranfield next year?

*I found Cranfield's curriculum to be more practical and has internships than Durham's. Durham and Cranfield are ranked 54 and 28 in the qs world rankings respectively.

Moreover, which university will be better in terms of reputation and employment prospects?

Thank you.

Background info- Graduated in philosophy in 2020 and have 1 year of experience in marketing.

Did you look at the FT MiM ranking? You can see placement and salary data there. 

Hi Duncan

Yes, I have. In terms of salary&placement Durham is better than Cranfield. But rankings in qs show just the opposite.

qs rankings Durham 54, Cranfield 28

ft ranking, Durham 52 Cranfield 77

Which rankings are more reliable ft or qs?

thank you

The FT rankings are based on audited data, and allow you to see specific variables that matter to you. The QS ranking is  weighted basket, so you can't see the relevant variables. Durham has been rising for a decade, while Cranfield has been falling slowly. They are, at the best, close. Use LinkedIn to see which is better at placing MSc holders into your target role, industry and region. 

[Edited by Duncan on Jun 24, 2022]

Thanks you Duncan for your valuable suggestion.

Personally, on a brand level, I find Cranfield much more appealing. Durham is a touristic and student city, and the huge undergraduate colleges mean that there's a large alumni network and a more elite sort of feel there. Cranfield is rather utilitarian and technocratic, but its business school has been a superbrand in management education, and it's almost certainly the UK market leader in terms of executive masters graduating per year. 

I second that. The academic modules of Cranfield is much more practical than Durham's. The only confusion I have right now is whether I should wait and join Cranfield next year or join durham this year itself.


Is Cranfield worth the wait? What will be your opinion Duncan?

Thanks.

Pick Durham and then do an EMBA at Cranfid in your mid 30s.

great, thank you.

Do emba after mim what a waste of time and money

Your wife and children would complain why you spend more time in class room than on them

Management is easy do only one degree in your life time

More than one and i am afraid you have no more interesting things to do with your life

LOL. I don't think a Cranfield MiM exhausts the potential for career growth. If your wife doesn't support your career growth, then she would resent an EMBA whether or not you have a MiM. The experiential and leadership impact of a top EMBA is a powerful augmentation to the early career development you get from a MiM. I did my EMBA (at London Business School) several years after my MSc (at City/Bayes) and still had a great return on my investment.