Hello,

I have received offers from both Strathclyde and Smurfit MBA. But i am really confused now.

About me, I am an Electrical engineer having 14 years experience in construction. my goal is to be part of energy sector in top management position.

please shed some insightful advise.

Strathclyde is better for most students: https://www.dropbox.com/s/rprm6g85lcqel2l/Screenshot%202016-02-26%2018.39.10.png?dl=0 and surely it's better for energy because of Scotland's oil industry.

Thank you very much Mr Duncan,
In fact, my experience is not in oil and gas but in power sector( Electrical engineering).clearly, as mentioned in your various posts ,GMAT schools have the edge over the other schools ,which are not so particular about GMAT score.
i feel Strathclyde Business school is not a GMAT school. do you think that i am going to loss the real taste of MBA by joining Strathclyde rather UCD smurfit . is a wise decision to join with non-GMAT school after spending lot of time and effort to get GMAT score.

On average it's true that schools that demand the GMAT are better. These are good schools. UCD students are higher quality and get better outcomes. Worries about Brexit could produce concerns about capital investment in the UK. But career services are better at Strathclyde and you'll get into work faster. I think it depends on your tolerance for risk: you can either have higher salary or get into work faster. Another advantage of UCD is that there are a lot of local students so you get to integrate more than in a UK MBA programme, where not even one in five of the students will be local (at the schools that have a better UK reputation than international branding, like City, Cranfield and Bath) and more likely fewer than one in ten are local.

Personally, I would choose UCD because it's a slightly better school and, in particular, it's the best school in that [small] country. However, I am a dual Irish and UK citizen and thus don't have the same need for strong careers services.

PS So I think that's why most students would not pick UCD, because the placement services are not so good.

[Edited by Duncan on Mar 19, 2016]

Thanks Mr Duncan,

Now, i am totally in a dilemma; I think the quality of education that i can expect from UCD is far better than that of Strathclyde,but the job prospects especially in power sector in Ireland is really puzzling me. Now my worries are between Scotland and Ireland or quality of education and job .I like to know is it really hard to find MBA role job in Ireland , considering my 10+ years experience in power sector in middle east. Having said that, i am ready to relocate anywhere including middle east again if i could find suitable job after MBA. The insight that i got from the current students in UCD is that IT related jobs have got bright future but other sector not that much. can anyone advise me what to select.

Take a look at: How to use LinkedIn to find the best school www.find-mba.com/board/33571

I know nothing about the power industry but surely Ireland and Scotland are about the same size, and UCD has a very clear leadership in the MBA marker, while in Scotland there are three strong business who need to compete with schools in the rest of Britain.

Take a look at: How to use LinkedIn to find the best school www.find-mba.com/board/33571

I know nothing about the power industry but surely Ireland and Scotland are about the same size, and UCD has a very clear leadership in the MBA marker, while in Scotland there are three strong business who need to compete with schools in the rest of Britain.

Among Strathclyde and Smurfit, Which school is better in terms of placements in Middle east.

Strathclyde has a campus in Dubai, so I am sure it's better there. Take a look at: How to use LinkedIn to find the best school www.find-mba.com/board/33571

Thank you Mr Duncan,

But, i got offer from Strathclyde Glasgow (Full Time) not from Strathclyde Dubai. In fact , As i already paid the deposit ,i am planning to do MBA from Smurfit and move to Middle east for finding a suitable MBA related job in power sector. Since the outcome of smurfit is better than that of strathclyde( as per your previous post and the information i got from current smurfit student about the great program ) , my mind is inclined towards Smurfit. But still , i need your expert advise. Is Smurfit MBA know well in middle east /UK or say out of Ireland. As i am going to shoulder full expense without any scholarship, i would like to know whether my decision to go with smurfit is wise or not.

I think Smurfit is famous in Ireland but Strathclyde is better known in the Gulf. Try: How to use LinkedIn to find the best school www.find-mba.com/board/33571

Smurfit is a really good option and you could not go wrong with Strath.

There is not much of a difference between these two so decision will come down very much on personal tilt.

For me I would choose UCD because I feel they are a bigger school with a variety of concentrations in any areas of business such as biotech or big data or advanced IT trends.

They are also a much more respected name in Ireland as there is not many competitors whereas in the UK Strath name is diluted with so many viable options.

Irish people have very strong identity (same can said of the Scots) and I just feel wherever you go the name and link to Ireland will be a plus not a hindrance

Just choose the school you love most, spend your best year and never regret anything.