Choosing between Nottingham and Loughborough MBA


Akshay3

Hi,
I have been working in Sales and Marketing for 4 years at a SME in India that deals with data center solutions and networking. I intend to pursue an MBA in UK with the intention of finding a job and moving to UK for the long run mostly in the sales and marketing sector but am also open to exploring my opportunities in other sectors based on interests in the due course of the MBA.
I currently have 2 unconditional offers from university of Nottingham and Loughborough
1. Nottingham - 1 year full time general MBA / applying for scholarship
2. Loughborough - 2 years full time general MBA (1+1 year internship) with a 40% scholarship. The 2nd internship year is incase the candidate does not find a job in the first year.

I am confused as every website has a different ranking for the university and its Career service team. I understand from your forum that i should pay attention to the migration percentage of the university but cant seem to find it for either.
Nottingham is a part of russel group and has 2 accreditations whereas Lboro has 3 accreditations.
Which university might be best suited for me. I also have an upcoming interview with Aston University which i am cautiously optimistic about
Look forward to hearing from you.

Hi,
I have been working in Sales and Marketing for 4 years at a SME in India that deals with data center solutions and networking. I intend to pursue an MBA in UK with the intention of finding a job and moving to UK for the long run mostly in the sales and marketing sector but am also open to exploring my opportunities in other sectors based on interests in the due course of the MBA.
I currently have 2 unconditional offers from university of Nottingham and Loughborough
1. Nottingham - 1 year full time general MBA / applying for scholarship
2. Loughborough - 2 years full time general MBA (1+1 year internship) with a 40% scholarship. The 2nd internship year is incase the candidate does not find a job in the first year.

I am confused as every website has a different ranking for the university and its Career service team. I understand from your forum that i should pay attention to the migration percentage of the university but cant seem to find it for either.
Nottingham is a part of russel group and has 2 accreditations whereas Lboro has 3 accreditations.
Which university might be best suited for me. I also have an upcoming interview with Aston University which i am cautiously optimistic about
Look forward to hearing from you.
quote
Duncan

These are good business schools that offer a solid education, well-designed campus locations that are popular with students, and a good research culture. However, neither of these schools offer an MBA that is very likely to lead international students to a long-term role in the UK. Take a look at: Best MBAs for international students' placement http://www.find-mba.com/board/41143

These are good business schools that offer a solid education, well-designed campus locations that are popular with students, and a good research culture. However, neither of these schools offer an MBA that is very likely to lead international students to a long-term role in the UK. Take a look at: Best MBAs for international students' placement http://www.find-mba.com/board/41143
quote
Akshay3

These are good business schools that offer a solid education, well-designed campus locations that are popular with students, and a good research culture. However, neither of these schools offer an MBA that is very likely to lead international students to a long-term role in the UK. Take a look at: Best MBAs for international students' placement http://www.find-mba.com/board/41143


Hi, thanks for the prompt reply. I've read the post attached in your reply but currently these are the only two universities that have offered me a seat and due to personal reasons I have to pursue and MBA this 2021 sept intake. Hence I look to your for your guidance and expertise to understand if any one university might have an edge over the other or might better suit me. or if I do get an offer from Aston if it might be better than either of the two.

[quote]These are good business schools that offer a solid education, well-designed campus locations that are popular with students, and a good research culture. However, neither of these schools offer an MBA that is very likely to lead international students to a long-term role in the UK. Take a look at: Best MBAs for international students' placement&nbsp;http://www.find-mba.com/board/41143 [/quote]<br><br>Hi, thanks for the prompt reply. I've read the post attached in your reply but currently these are the only two universities that have offered me a seat and due to personal reasons I have to pursue and MBA this 2021 sept intake. Hence I look to your for your guidance and expertise to understand if any one university might have an edge over the other or might better suit me. or if I do get an offer from Aston if it might be better than either of the two.
quote
Duncan

No, I'm not sure there's a big difference. I don't think any of those schools claim to be able to place most international students into UK jobs. Follow up with them perhaps, and find current students using LinkedIn. The internship opportunity sounds nice but the school won't find the internship for you. If UK work is a must-have, attend a better school even if that means 'trading down' to a MiM or MiF at a much better school with more reliable placement. 

No, I'm not sure there's a big difference. I don't think any of those schools claim to be able to place most international students into UK jobs. Follow up with them perhaps, and find current students using LinkedIn. The internship opportunity sounds nice but the school won't find the internship for you. If UK work is a must-have, attend a better school even if that means 'trading down' to a MiM or MiF at a much better school with more reliable placement.&nbsp;
quote
Akshay3

Alright, I see. How about Aston University. I understand that I dont have an offer from them is it better than the 2?.
And with the current PSW in UK will the one year internship help me in getting a job later on? 

Alright, I see. How about Aston University. I understand that I dont have an offer from them is it better than the 2?.<br>And with the current PSW in UK will the one year internship help me in getting a job later on?&nbsp;
quote
Duncan

 I'm not sure there's a big difference. 

&nbsp;I'm not sure there's a big difference.&nbsp;
quote
BJohn

No, I'm not sure there's a big difference. I don't think any of those schools claim to be able to place most international students into UK jobs. Follow up with them perhaps, and find current students using LinkedIn. The internship opportunity sounds nice but the school won't find the internship for you. If UK work is a must-have, attend a better school even if that means 'trading down' to a MiM or MiF at a much better school with more reliable placement. 


Hello Duncan, I have been following your answers and they are very insightful  and I thank you for that. I am in a similar position holding offers from Loughborough and Nottingham. Of course I know your preferred path would be to take the GMAT and apply for better schools, but my ug academics don't satisfy entry requirements of those schools. I felt Nottingham to be decent for its Russell Group tag and its recent performance in the MBA rankings in Economist and QS. I know FT is the gold standard but it was 2007 when Nottingham last featured in FT. 


After following one of your post to check on employability within the UK, I was shocked to find more number of Loughborough Alumni to be working in the UK who had graduated between 2015 and 2020 when there was no Post study work visa. Also Loughborough is one of those few Schools with Triple Accreditation. Comparatively Nottingham has very very few placed within the UK despite positioned at a better location than Loughborough. 

I had preferred Nottingham but should I reconsider given these are my only choices ?

[quote]No, I'm not sure there's a big difference. I don't think any of those schools claim to be able to place most international students into UK jobs. Follow up with them perhaps, and find current students using LinkedIn. The internship opportunity sounds nice but the school won't find the internship for you. If UK work is a must-have, attend a better school even if that means 'trading down' to a MiM or MiF at a much better school with more reliable placement.&nbsp; [/quote]<br><br>Hello Duncan, I have been following your answers and they are very insightful&nbsp; and I thank you for that. I am in a similar position holding offers from Loughborough and Nottingham. Of course I know your preferred path would be to take the GMAT and apply for better schools, but my ug academics don't satisfy entry requirements of those schools. I felt Nottingham to be decent for its Russell Group tag and its recent performance in the MBA rankings in Economist and QS. I know FT is the gold standard but it was 2007 when Nottingham last featured in FT.&nbsp;<br><br><br>After following one of your post to check on employability within the UK, I was shocked to find more number of Loughborough Alumni to be working in the UK who had graduated between 2015 and 2020 when there was no Post study work visa. Also Loughborough is one of those few Schools with Triple Accreditation. Comparatively Nottingham has very very few placed within the UK despite positioned at a better location than Loughborough.&nbsp;<br><br>I had preferred Nottingham but should I reconsider given these are my only choices ?<br><br>
quote
Duncan

I still don't think there is a big difference.

I still don't think there is a big difference.
quote
Duncan

It's not really the case that these are the only schools that could ever be open to you. I realise that you feel that your undergraduate performance was not extremely strong however I now worry that you think there's nothing that you could do do to compensate for a weak undergraduate degree. I also got a very weak undergraduate degree however I was able to get admission into several excellent business schools which you can see listed on my profile page. So I believe that if you think about the difference in outcomes between these average schools and the excellent schools that I mentioned in the article about international students placement then you can see it would be a wise investment to consider taking additional class work in order to become a better qualified candidate and to reassure schools that you are able to participate in a demanding master's degree. Obviously the GMAT is a very useful tool in doing that because it is the strongest predictor available of success in an MBA program.

It's not really the case that these are the only schools that could ever be open to you. I realise that you feel that your undergraduate performance was not extremely strong however I now worry that you think there's nothing that you could do do to compensate for a weak undergraduate degree. I also got a very weak undergraduate degree however I was able to get admission into several excellent business schools which you can see listed on my profile page. So I believe that if you think about the difference in outcomes between these average schools and the excellent schools that I mentioned in the article about international students placement then you can see it would be a wise investment to consider taking additional class work in order to become a better qualified candidate and to reassure schools that you are able to participate in a demanding master's degree. Obviously the GMAT is a very useful tool in doing that because it is the strongest predictor available of success in an MBA program.
quote
ajith


Hi,
i've got offer for fulltime MBA at loughborough university , can you please share your views on that i've been working as an IT employee for the past 3.5 years and would be looking to work in UK post my MBA......thanks in advance..!!!


<div><br></div><div>Hi,
</div><div>i've got offer for fulltime MBA at loughborough university , can you please share your views on that i've been working as an IT employee for the past 3.5 years and would be looking to work in UK post my MBA......thanks in advance..!!!
</div><div><br></div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>
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quote
StuartHE

Do you have any alternatives? Obviously better schools are better. Take a look at the firms you want to work for in LinkedIn: where did their MBA employees study?  

Do you have any alternatives? Obviously better schools are better. Take a look at the firms you want to work for in LinkedIn: where did their MBA employees study?&nbsp;&nbsp;
quote

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