After my last post about deciding between online courses in MSc International Business and MBA at Bradford I applied to Bradford and received an unconditional offer to start in January 2017.

Birmingham have been great in their 'customer service' and have been in contact regularly to see how I was progressing, but I had chosen not to do their MSc.

Last night I received a call from them to ask about my decision and when I explained I chose Bradford and why (career and investment wise the MBA trumps MSc) they understood and encouraged an application for their MBA.
The issue is I am not guaranteed a place on Birmingham's MBA in February and I have to accept and pay Bradford offer by this coming Monday - 2 weeks before start date 23rd January and before I am likely to get a response from Birmingham.

I have looked into all the rankings and other variables and have to say it has left me in more of a quandary.

Looking for some advice on the merits of both courses and if t would be worth holding on and applying for Birmingham but with the possibility I don't get accepted and lose my place in Bradford's course.

My general aims are to improve my business knowledge foundation and credentials to apply in my current position but also for career progression and job opportunities when I more back to the UK.

Thanks in advance.

Unless there's some specific reason why Birmingham matters to you, I think the Bradford course and alumni network will be better for most people.

Unless there's some specific reason why Birmingham matters to you, I think the Bradford course and alumni network will be better for most people.

Traditional MBA employers will be aware of the business school's separate standing. Take a look at How to use LinkedIn to find the best school www.find-mba.com/board/33571 and perhaps compare the alumni networks. Bradford's fall is all about its long-term dependence on Indian students, whose placement has been reduced by UK visa rules. The MBA itself is not notably better or worse than it was.

Unless there's some specific reason why Birmingham matters to you, I think the Bradford course and alumni network will be better for most people.

My reasons for choosing Birmingham would be solely for the fact that it places much higher on the overall world rankings and it's prestigious image as a redbrick and Russel Group University.

I have been concerned about Bradford's rapid fall down the tables last year, too.

Thanks for your input again, Duncan.

Duncan, thank you for the information. It has been helpful. I have made the decision to accept Bradford's offer. I valued the courses and as you mentioned think it is generally better for my targets.
Do you think the issue of Bradford relying too much on Indian students will damage or be a concern for the school's foreseeable future?

Sorry but I have to say that the prestigious image or so called red brick and Russell Group categorisation only applies to undergraduate studies. For MBA or msc, it normally refers to the usual top schools such as LBS, Oxbridge, Manchester, Warwick, Imperial, Cass, Cranfield...

[Edited by roll-in-seoul on Jan 07, 2017]

MBA recruiters will be aware. Others won't value an MBA over any other degree. The quality of the other students and the opportunities to have on-campus options and to build soft skills and cross-cultural management experience will be major factors for many students considering these options.