Hi All,

This is my first post on this forum as I am looking for some advice on online MBA colleges. I am a working IT professional with 14 years of experience in the telecom and banking domains. I have primarily worked as a technical project/delivery manager and like to stay close to technology. I feel that to progress further I need a master degree which will help refine my abilities to deliver/drive decisions for the organisations and have career advancements. I would like to do this while I am working and not needing to take a break from it.

I am primarily focussing on online executive MBA's due to the fact that I may need to change location soon (I am currently in UK). The options of MBA with specialisation in data analytics interests me and am looking for such options. Recently I came across the Upgrad program which offers MBA from Liverpool university.

Can anyone shed some light on the program and does it really benefit getting an MBA via Upgrad v/s an Online MBA from an institution directly (e.g. University of Illinois, Nottingham Trent University)?

Liverpool has franchised its MBA in various ways. It lacks more rigourous accreditation of Trent. 

I think you should choose between either an degree in analytics or an MBA. 

Thanks Duncan for your reply. I wanted to get an MBA and was able to short list a few universities globally which fit my budget and have specialisation  options I am looking for -
Liverpool university
University of Illinois
Nottingham Trent

What would be your recommendation and ranking for these please? Or if you have any other recommendations for universities which provide fully online executive MBA courses. 

I think you missed my point. I would not recommend an MBA with a specialization to you. 

PS I checked the Upgrad website. I see the Liverpool MBA is not from the University of Liverpool but from the less well know, and less respected, Liverpool Business School. 

Thanks for checking Duncan and for your advice. 
I am an MBA aspirant with a goal to move into leadership roles. Can you advise in general how valuable are the completely online MBA’s and how do the Illinois and Nottingham Trent B schools fare in that aspect.

P.S- any other B school advise would also be appreciated. 

Take a look at https://find-mba.com/board/general-forum/specific-career-goals-help-you-to-pick-the-right-mba-64431

A general answer cannot be very accurate. Generally, Illinois stands out as being the most extensive and well designed of the top MBA programmes with below-average fees. I am a fellow at NTU [in the business school], and that is a good school with good enough outcomes for its MSc to be ranked by the FT. However, it will probably not have a great alumni network in your target market. 

[bit in brackets added]

[Edited by Duncan on Dec 31, 2020]

Thanks for the info. 

Additionally I do understand that a classroom MBA’s are more recognised worldwide. But in my current situation I can only do a fully online MBA which from Illinois is 22K USD. 
Would you have any views on how effective online MBA’s are and is it worth the investment?

That's a question with a very long answer. Did you know this website has a sister, Find MBA Online? That's discussed well there. 

An online MBA from a great school is better than a classroom MBA from a below-average school. Educationally, students in well-designed online MBAs are happier and seem to learn more than those in below-average classroom MBAs. The net added value of any great MBA is almost certainly going to be massive, in comparison to the opportunity cost. For most people, it's the best major investment they will make.

Thanks for the info. I have been doing some research on this and believe  I want to pursue an online technology MBA (specialisation in technology management , AI, RPA, Business Analytics, emerging digital technologies).
I found some good courses on Hull university and Cumbria university. Would you have any advise on these B school?

I would still not recommend an MBA with a specialization. If you want an master's in online technology, take an MSc. 

Hull is a solid, average university. Cumbria is one of the worst in the country. 

Thanks Duncan. I’ve been looking through various options and agree and specialisation in an MBA may not make too much sense. However I feel MBA can give me the upliftment I am looking for in my career in terms of strategic leadership and knowledge. 

I did inquire about Hull and they would be soon opening up a fully online MBA course in a few months at approx £12.5k. The price is quite less than the other top MBA colleges I was looking at (Bradford @£18.5k, Warwick @£25k). Hence wanted to understand if Hull is with pursuing and waiting for as it is within the price range I was looking at 12-15k.


Below are the online MBA options I was able to short list-

1-Bradford.
2. Aston
3. Hull.

Below also offer online MBA’s but are over 20K-
-Durham
-Warwick

If you can kindly let me know your order of preference for these as well and any other college which are good for online MBA.

I don't understand how this fits your goals. It's like you need some shoes, but there's nowhere on your block that sells shoes. But there is a place that sells coffee on the corner. And there's a new place opening tomorrow that will have coffee cheaper. So, let's buy coffee instead tomorrow. 

No academic degree will teach you skills about emerging technologies that will help you hit the ground running in the workplace. Your goals and assessment of the options need to be clarified. 

I don’t think you have understood my post. Based on assessment  I have re-aligned my goals to pursue a management degree for strategic leadership and feel MBA would be the right choice. 

Hence I have mentioned above that I am not looking for a technological specialisation in an MBA. Also with my current work I really don’t believe a masters would benefit - I would look at technology certifications for that in parallel if needed. 

Hence at this point of time  I am evaluating options for online MBA which fits my current state.

Your comparison of coffees and shoes is quite amusing but doesn’t help my case. 

 If you  still feel you want to read through and advise then please do so, else I would look forward for someone else to opine. 

Absolutely. As you say, I have not understood your career goals from your posts. Others will be more helpful, I'm sure. 

Hi Duncan ,
I was going through this post and read your suggestion about taking a MSc , so could you please share recommendations about colleges offering it and would be worth to give a try please ?

Thanks

If you are looking for an MSc in general management then this is a great list: https://find-mba.com/board/general-forum/best-msc-mim-degrees-for-international-students-placement-52915 Otherwise, search the board for "MSc" and whatever business function you want a specialised MSc in. 

Thanks Duncan. I could see that most of the MSc programs do not have an eligibility criteria of having certain years of work exp indicating its more suited for entry level professionals. 

 Does it make sense for a 12 yr IT professional to pursue an MSc? Also what’s your opinion of the MSc program in Technology Management? Is if better for a person looking for a technical management degree rather than an e-MBA specialised on technology.

Again, it depends on your goals. I took an MSc in business computing in my early 30s, and that worked out very well for me. Read my post about goals. I had you on my mind when I wrote it. 

Thanks Duncan and I did go through the article , must say an useful one and I tried to work on my goal.
I am 14+ experienced IT professional and my goal is to advance my career in IT strategic leadership roles and most of the roles have checked in LinkedIn might not need any further education like MBA/MSc ,it’s not a must but at the same time few people do posses MBA.
IT landscape has changed over the years and emerging technologies/digital transformation is the focus of the industry now .I have an option of just doing certification courses and with work ex gradually reach the position but that will take a lot of time as it is a competitive field and there are many many like me .So I wanted to pursue a relevant additional degree which will give me an edge over others and make myself more confident and knowledgeable and may be more noticeable to recruiters .

That is why I was exploring MBA initially and got feedbacks like it might not help me significantly in career advancement as I already have heavy management work ex so I thought of exploring online masters in technology management.

Do you think TM will help in my case and if so any course recommendations?

I can only afford online courses/ part time due to personal commitments.

thanks

[Edited by SGS on Feb 08, 2021]