Hi,

I have recently joined a company that allows me to do the level 7 apprenteship. I am weighing up options.

My goals from completing this are too improve business knowledge, network, improve career, I foresee me developing into senior PM, project director, c-suite type roles.

I live and plan to work in the North west. I work in Energy (oil and gas, new energy).

The possible options:

Loughborogh - EMBA
Manchester alliance - MSC Management Practise
Cranfield - EMBA
Keele - EMBA
MMU - MSC

My thoughts currently are leaning towards Cranfield and Manchester Alliance. Cranfield offer the EMBA, but Manchester is more conveniently located and I plan to work in the Northwest region.
Cranfield is 11k top up and Manchester alliance is 4k top up.

I am concerned that in my industry an MBA isn't that big a deal and so I should just go for the lower cost more convenient option.

Has anyone got any insights they think I should consider?

Given your location, Manchester is the obvious choice unless you wanted to transition into a field where an MBA was more necessary, such as finance. Cranfield and Manchester are well-designed programmes; you can pick either of them confidently. Cranfield has alternative pathways, such as supply chain and marketing, in addition to the MBA. A relative is taking the Manchester programme at the moment: there are predictable inconveniences because of the pandemic, which I think every UK school will share. He's benefitting from the programme and, as it happens, lives by Cranfield but chose AMBS because of the programme differences. I would only recommend Cranfield if there were specific elements of the program designs that better met your needs. 



PS Lancaster, of course, also should be considered if you are in the North West and want an MBA option https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/business/executive-education/certificates-diplomas-and-masters/senior-leader-apprenticeship/ 

[Edited by Duncan on Dec 31, 2021]

Hi Duncan, 

Thanks for your insightful post.   They both seem very good, but it's just a sham AMBS is not an MBA.

However, as i am located around Manchester it may be an own goal to study at a southern uni.

I do wonder if there are recruitment opportunities that you gain with an MBA and not an MSC.  I know some big companies target MBAs for their programmes.

[Edited by Abm101 on Jan 15, 2022]

The large scale recruiters target specific schools and their full time degrees for their MBA hiring programmes. If you are looking for those roles, read my post on using LinkedIn.

The large scale recruiters target specific schools and their full time degrees for their MBA hiring programmes. If you are looking for those roles, read my post on using LinkedIn.

As experienced hires, yes, but not for the associate roles and rotation programmes designed for full time MBA students. 

Hi Duncan,

Wats your opinion on Lancaster EMBA.  Looking at the course it seems very strong and the rankings also look good.

I notice they offer full EMBA and it;s only 1.5hrs from my home.

This is a very general question. 

Sure.  Woul you consider it comparable to an Msc in Management practise at AMBS or an EMBA at Cranfield?

An EMBA from these schools will be more of a rounded, transferrable general management qualification than the MSc MP. However,  the fit (of the alumni base and curriculum) with your needs are probably more significant [factors when deciding which school is the better choice].

[Clarification added in brackets]. 

[Edited by Duncan on Feb 07, 2022]

Ok, it seems to me that the courses can be ranked in such a manner:
1. EMBA from a top institution (Lancaster, Cranfield)
2 Msc from a top institution (AMBS MMU)
3. MBA from a lower institution (Keele)

I understand alumni and curriculum are important factors, however the curriculums seem broadly simialar and the alumni is unknown until you start the course.

I am looking at linkedin, weirdly it doesn;t show alumni for Lancaster,

[Edited by Abm101 on Feb 07, 2022]

I see 42 Lancaster alumni with EMBA in their profiles. Maybe try "Executive MBA"