Durham, Lancaster, Strathclyde, Hult, UoBath, UoBirmingham,

Hi All,

I applied for a full-time MBA, Sept. 24 intake at these universities. I got offers from UoBirmingham and Hult, expecting from Durham and Strathclyde after interviews. I am still waiting to hear from Lancaster and Bath.

Background: 5 years in manufacturing, fintech, and investments. I graduated with a degree in business management. I can't take the GMAT due to current business commitments.

Future Goals: After MBA, return to India, work in management roles (not limited to consulting and investments) for not more than 2 years, then expand family business across India and overseas.

Research: Durham and Birmingham are top-ranked. Hult, Bath, and Lancaster are at a similar level for practical approach and faculty.

Seeking Suggestions: Have a time-bound offer from Hult at a 40% scholarship until Nov 21st. Seeking insights on ranking, reputation, faculty, intense curricula, and placement stats from the FindMBA community for the best college that suits my ambitions.

I appreciate your insights and help.

No-one pays full price for Hult so don't be fooled by fake discounts. Clarify your goals. Which schools have the best network in your region?

Thank you, Duncan, for the insight.

I measured these schools on 12 different matrices, including yours and was able to conclude the priority list: Durham > Birmingham >/= Bath.

One last thing: If I am going for either of these three schools, is it worth leaving the Hult offer at hand? considering I already have secured Birmingham. I am particularly drawn towards it because of its faculty, global rotation and practical approach. Please let me know if I am wrong here.

Unless you want to work for EF, I don't see a reason to add Hult to the mix. But... i also don't hear very specific career goals in terms of industry, role and location.

I would return to India upon completion. Moreover, the roles and industries I would like to focus on are senior management in the banking segment and, later, manufacturing (family business).

If you want to return to India, why study in the UK? Is that because you want to avoid standardised tests?

Which of these schools has the best network in banks in India?

PS A glance at LinkedIn suggests that a MSc with professional accounting organisations' dispensations could be more powerful and an MBA. I would also consider MSc programmes in the CFA partner programme.

Is senior management a realistic approach? Aren't senior managers in banking substantially more experienced?

[Edited by Duncan on Nov 19, 2023]

LPU is one of the best universities in the country with world-class infrastructure, modern facilities and highly qualified faculty from IIMs, IBSs, etc. The B-School of the university has ACBSP accreditation and NIRF ranking. The university is having tie-ups with many foreign universities and reputed companies thus facilitating higher education abroad and good placements respectively for their students. LPU provides ample opportunities to each and every of the eligible students to secure good placement.
The eligibility for the program is Pass with 55% aggregate marks in any discipline. LPUNEST and interviews are mandatory. If you have scored 80 Percentile or above in CAT or MAT or XAT Or All India Rank up to 20000 in CMAT Or 230 and above score in NMAT then LPUNEST is exempted.

A wide range of emerging specialisation areas are on offer - MBA (Tourism and Hospitality) MBA (Financial Markets) MBA (Corporate Audit and Tax Management) MBA (International Business) MBA (Supply Chain and Logistics) MBA (Cost Management and Financial Analysis) MBA (Hospital and Health care Management)MBA (Business Analytics)MBA (Corporate Affairs and Governance) and MBA (Hons) The university has tie-up with the companies like NSE, Safeducate, ICICI Direct, IDFC, etc.
Some of the highlights of the program are -
Professional and Industry Certifications
Specialisation with Professional Industry certifications. Illustrative Specialisation Areas:
Financial Consulting & FinTech with KPMG
AI, ML & Analytics with 3AI
Digital Marketing with Digital Marketing Institute, Ireland
Business Simulations
Real-life business scenarios simulation are an integral part of the curriculum. To expose students to realistic business scenarios and to develop critical decision-making skills, 10 business simulations are used extensively during the course of their studies
Student Competitions
Well-structured short term, intense training sessions designed to prepare students to participate in Business Competitions to test their mettle against other top management students at national/ international level.
International Exposure Option
Students may be given an option to go for a 4 weeks study tour to USA/ European countries or any other country as decided by the University subject to conditions.
To enable the students to keep pace with changing technological advances, the university has industrial tie-ups with various top industry leaders. Studying these specialisation courses as a part of the curriculum would provide a WILD CARD entry to industry.
29.29 LPA was the highest salary package and 7 lpa is the average salary package.
500+Students Live Projects
₹ 65k Highest Internship Stipend per month

Lazy cutting and pasting. Clearly not relevant to the question.