Hello guys,

Hope everyone is doing great!

I got admitted to Henley Business School ( http://henley.ac.uk/mba/course/full-time-mba/ ) and at CEU Hungary ( http://business.ceu.hu/ ) for the full time MBA. Where shall I go, I need suggestions from your side.

Both are one year program. Henley's fees is around £27,000 and for CEU it is around 13000 Euro. Henley is triple accredited but CEU is accredited with AMBA only.

Henley was ranked 5th in the UK and 12th in Europe overall and 42nd globally by The Economist in 2012, after that in 2013 as per Henley they didn't participate in ranking.

CEU is ranked #1 in Central Europe and #18 in Europe by QS in 2013.

Now, few other personal things :)

My fiancee is from Hungary and we are getting married in 3-4 months.

After MBA, I want to work in Europe for few years before I come back to India. I am from Energy background, I mean I have worked for around 7 years in this sector and would like to work in Energy sector again after MBA. And I have checked Scotland mainly Aberdeen area is full of Energy related companies.

Where shall I go for MBA? Please help me, if anyone is from UK or Hungary, you can tell me more about these colleges and bit more about jobs after MBA over there.

Isn't it obvious that Henley is better unless you want to work in central Europe?

Thanks for the reply Duncan! I can't find placement details for both programs, can you please tell me bit about reputation of both these colleges?

I want to work in UK but I have heard UK don't issue work visa easily, what you say?

What about fees difference? Is it worth spending that much on Henley?

I'm confused, please help.

Thank you!

This is sort of like comparing apples to oranges. With Henley, you'll at least have the language going for you, but you are right, getting a visa after graduation has become harder in recent years. If you went to Henley you'd have to do a lot of networking during your studies in order to have a job by graduation. Otherwise, you'll have to leave the country.

In Budapest, my understanding is that it's easier to get a visa after you graduate, but you're in a country where you (probably?) don't speak the language, and Hungarian is notoriously hard to learn. So you'd have to target English-only management jobs, which are rarer.

In terms of finding work outside of the respective regions, I think that Henley would have a wider network than CEU, given that its been around longer. But don't quote me on that, you'll have to research the network yourself. That said, its network won't have the same breadth as that of, say Cambridge or LBS.

Hi, Duncan.

I am from Nepal. 35 years old. I have an experience of 12 years including last 5 years in a managerial role.To be precise;

1) Pre - Masters- Worked in an Audit Company.

2) Post- Masters-
Worked as a "commodity analyst and trader" for 3 years.

Since 2009 working as a Department head (Finance) in a company that imports motor parts from China and India.

Not only I have an experience of account and finance department; I had an opportunity of developing other essential business skills because of my frequent visit to China and India for company's job,.

Academically I have completed Masters in Finance back in 2004 and was a university topper. I have an IELTS score of 8.0 overall. Unluckily GMAT score is below my target -600.

Post- MBA target>> Management Consulting jobs in (countries as priority)
1. UK
2. Singapore
3. HK

After nearly 10 years of work experience I have decided to cement the skills and experiences acquired on-the-job by undertaking a FT MBA. I felt that I needed to gain a recognized accreditation to enable my career to develop in a challenging job market like above mentioned country and definitely Nepalese degree will not take me there.

I have been offered MBA from following Universities-

1. Durham University (15 Months)
2. Henley Business School (Reading)
3. Sheffield University
4. Birmingham
5. New Castle
6. Loughborough (with 1 years Internship attached)

I have been offered partial tuition fee scholarship in all the above mentioned programs and keeping in mind that maximum fee I can afford is 20000 Pounds. which university will you suggest in term of-

1) International recognization- Respected by companies both in Europe and Asia.
2) Job - In a sense if I am not able to secure jobs in UK open a possibility in Asian market.


I even thought of applying in Nottingham ( Malaysia) but am not sure because of it Asian location - Any inputs???

Very much appreciate your inputs.

Congratulations. I think those are all pretty strong schools, especially Durham, Henley and Birmingham. Take a look at How to use LinkedIn to find the best school www.find-mba.com/board/33571

Thank you Duncan. I have gone through the link you have provided.

If you are to select the university keeping in mind about the reputation of the MBA program and the possibility of entering job market in either of these countries - UK or Singapore; which one will you rank higher???

I am too pretty much hanged between Henley, Durham and Birmingham.

Any inputs about the Nottingham (Malaysia) and Loughborough with Internship attached.

Once again thank you.

Well, top schools in the UK produce better outcomes than top schools in Singapore. But you seem to be looking at the non-GMAT schools, which don't have such strong placement. I have no idea what placement is like from the Nottingham campus.

Input from anyone who have completed MBA from these Universities -

1) Henley
2) Durham
3) Birmingham
4) Nottingham (Malaysia)

This is a website for MBA applicants. You are unlikely to meet many graduates here.

Well, top schools in the UK produce better outcomes than top schools in Singapore. But you seem to be looking at the non-GMAT schools, which don't have such strong placement. I have no idea what placement is like from the Nottingham campus.

Thank you Duncan. I have gone through the link you have provided.

If you are to select the university keeping in mind about the reputation of the MBA program and the possibility of entering job market in either of these countries - UK or Singapore; which one will you rank higher???

I am too pretty much hanged between Henley, Durham and Birmingham.

Any inputs about the Nottingham (Malaysia) and Loughborough with Internship attached.

Once again thank you.

I think these are two different programmes: similar in perhaps standing but quite different alumni bases since the Henley MBA is so well established while the Birmingham school has a full 'reboot' when it moved into University House. The full-time programme at Henley is on the Reading campus, so they benefit from strong finance and IT links, but are rather distant from the Henley campus, which is for executive education. Birmingham's full-time MBA is the flagship for the school, and is in the heart of the business school. I see that as a very strong school for industry more broadly; obviously it's a national leader for supply chain and marketing. I'd find it a very hard choice. I wonder if post-experience placement might be better supported at Birmingham, since Henley is traditionally a part-time school. Either way, these are strong and exciting schools with a lot of positive energy and in much stronger positions than they both were ten years ago.

Just one note about Durham: I spoke with one of the careers services team there and I get the feeling that they are doing well, and are expanding pretty confidently. The cohort will be higher quality, perhaps, than at the other schools but the location is a big disadvantage. North Americans, of course, love the Durham ambiance.

Compare Business Schools at
http://www.economist.com/whichmba/business-school-lineup?year=2012

Henley Full time MBA Ranking -

European ranking

http://www.economist.com/whichmba/2010/europe-ranking

Year 2010

http://www.economist.com/whichmba/2010/schools-ranking

Year 2011

http://www.economist.com/whichmba/henley-business-school/2011

Year 2012

http://www.economist.com/node/21563839

(Just for record!)

Duncan will low GMAT or sometimes Henley's ignoring the GMAT score gonna be problem while placement? I want to work in Energy sector after Henley MBA.

Please give some inputs.

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

I am not sure that Henley is a great choice for the energy sector.

I think it's worrying that Henley has dropped its GMAT requirement. When it reopened its full-time MBA (which had been aimed at mid-career managers) it has a GMAT requirement had an 640 average. Dropping that is a sign that the MBA is not yet seen as a top-tier programme in the way its EMBA is.

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

I am not sure that Henley is a great choice for the energy sector.

I think it's worrying that Henley has dropped its GMAT requirement. When it reopened its full-time MBA (which had been aimed at mid-career managers) it has a GMAT requirement had an 640 average. Dropping that is a sign that the MBA is not yet seen as a top-tier programme in the way its EMBA is.

Hi,GetLifeBack

Did you accept your place in Henley?

And in term of Henley placement ; 85% within 3 months is impressive but did you cross checked the data?

Even tough I was more inclined towards Birmingham and Durham; I have finally made my mind and accepted place in Henely- making payment next week.

Any last minute inputs!!

Hi,GetLifeBack

Did you accept your place in Henley?

And in term of Henley placement ; 85% within 3 months is impressive but did you cross checked the data?

Even tough I was more inclined towards Birmingham and Durham; I have finally made my mind and accepted place in Henely- making payment next week.

Any last minute inputs!!