Hi All.

I hope everyone is well. As a bit of background, I am a Civil Engineer, living just outside sunny Glasgow. I graduated from Strathclyde uni 2010 and since then have worked for some big engineering firms before joining one of the big 4 accounting firms as a consultant ( I have only been with them or < 1 year).

I have the opportunity to take a partnership in a small firm I am setting up with some people through my network.. This could ( potentially) be lucrative but equally might not work out. We have some cash to keep the business going for a bit while we build up a pipeline. While difficult, this should improve my work-life balance a bit more than it is now.

I wish to undertake a PT/DL MBA for the following reasons.

1. Learn skills that will help me run the business ( finance, marketing strategy etc.).
2. learn skills that I can incorporate as part of the business solution package
3. build a network of clients that may otherwise be difficult to reach.
4. If the business fails - allow me to get a reasonably well-paying job at a more senior level than I am at currently (perhaps in a different area). I'm not too fussed about the London/International Tier 1 consultancy type experience. I am happy in Scotland. I know for an MBA

I have narrowed down my choices to this :

In-person PT

1. Strathclyde - I can access this easily. I can get a discount too. Can build up a good network of people in the west of Scotland and maybe good for jobs in the region should my business fail.
2. Edinburgh - as above but more inconvenient to attend. Would a different uni to my previous degree look better on my CV?
3. Glasgow - The convenience of attending is easy. Uni is less prestigious than both Strathclyde and Edin.

DL.
1. Bradford - Solid programme and uni. May not provide a good UK network
2. Durham - As above but more expensive.

Wildcard
1. Cambridge MST in entrepreneurship. This could really tick most of my boxes apart from box 4 as I don't think it would be appealing to a future employer. Cambridge badge on the CV may be good, though.

As I type this Strathclyde seems a no brainer. But I am looking for opinions if at all possible please? Perhaps a fresh pair of eyes could offer insight that I cant see at the moment

I think the additional standing of a different university is high. Glasgow is, of course, not a less prestigious university than Strathclyde: you were comparing the business schools, I am sure. 

In your position, I would pick Cambridge. It's tailored to your needs and the value of you doing better in your business as a manager is higher than the value of a better local network. 

Hi Stuart, thanks for your comment and your insight. You have given me some food for thought related, particularly regarding the impact of a different university and to give more consideration to Cambridge. The main thing putting me off Cambridge is in the event my business was to fail ( which is always a possibility) then perhaps an MBA would help me back into employment at a decent value. A failed entrepreneur with an entrepreneurship degree might not be as attractive.

Unfortunately, I was incorrect, and Glasgow doesn't have a part-time course so that's ruled out.

I will look into Edinburgh in more detail and really weigh up the Cambridge program also.

Thanks again Stuart I appreciate your help.