Hello All,

I am a post graduate in Computer Applications (6yrs of education after completion of senior secondary school). I have experience of 3 yrs in IT in development and Support.
I am not comfortable with GMAT but intend to join the September 2014 batch in MBA or MSc course from UK or Ireland. I am highly interested to move into the roles of Project Manager, Product Manager, Delivery Manager etc in IT organisations.

I checked few good universities which accepts into their MBA programs without GMAT:

Edinburgh university, MBA: Fees = 27100 Pounds
university of reading Henley business school, MBA: Fees= 27750 Pounds
Aston University, MBA: Fees= 25250 Pounds
Glasgow University, MBA: Fees = Not decided by univ, yet.
There is a huge list of MSc courses at business school of glasgow university but unfortunately none is in there for me which is close to IT/BA/Project Management etc.
Univ Strathclyde, MBA = 25000 Pounds
univ Durham, MBA = 25000 Pounds
Univ Nottingham, MBA(Overseas study in sem 2)= 23000 or 22000 Pounds
univ Brimingham , MBA = 20790 Pounds


MBM/MSc Courses:

Warwick:
MSc Information Systems Management and Innovation : Fees:: 25000 Pounds
MSc Business Analytics:: Fees :: 25000 Pounds

Q:Is it worth paying 27000 for MSc courses from warvick when a fulltime MBA can be done in the same amount (if accepted)?

Manchester Business school:
Msc Business Analytics: Operational research and risk analysis: 15500 Pounds
MSc Information Systems : Business IT : 15500 Pounds
MSc Information Systems : e-business technology: 15500 Pounds
MSc Information Systems : Organisations and Management : 15500 Pounds

Univ of Edinburgh:
MSc BA : 18950 Pounds

University of Aston:
MSc IT Project Management: 16750 Pounds
MSc S/W Engg: 14750 Pounds
MSc Information Systems and Business Analysis: 13500 Pounds

Univ of Strathclyde:
MBM : Can be converted to MBA after submission of 3 projects, post MBM: Fees = 14500 Pounds


Univ of Nottingham:
MSc Information Systems and Operations Management: Fees = 17000 Pounds

UCD Dublin- Smurfit School(Ireland):
MSc Ibusiness:: Fees: 14500 Euros
MSc Project Management: 14500Euros
Heard bad description about placements after MSc iBusiness, dunno about the other course but heard UCD has good repo.

Q: Can someone please suggest me what would be good for me, keeping cost and placement opportunities in mind, would it be good to go for MSc/MBM or MBA ? If MSc then which course and univ? If MBA then which univ?

Thanks in advance!!!

An MBA from a top business school in the UK represents much better value than a MSc because the students have at least three years of work experience. Employers pay a premium for that. Project and product management is not an entry-level role, so an MBA is a more appropriate target for your goal - especially if you can find an MBA is elective and project opportunities that meet your goals.

The GMAT is not as hard as it sounds. Take a look at: Why you should take the GMAT http://www.find-mba.com/board/38939

Hello Duncan,
Thanks for the reply. Duncan, I am racing against the time as the deadlines for the 1st round of application in the B-Schools are very close and I want to move into one of the best options among these. So, could you please help me choosing best option from the list , moreover I would like to know that whether MSc in business fields will open options to move into manegerial roles in IT. Can you please help by your expert comments.

Thanks
MM

The MSc is aimed at students with little or no work experience so, of course, MBAs get higher salaries and more managerial roles because they are older and have work experience.

Of the options on your list, the MBAs at Strathclyde and Durham are the best. See: http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/global-mba-ranking-2014

Dear Duncan,

I think me and the person initiated the post are in same situation. However, you are recommended me to take up MSc in Project Management rather than MBA Programme in Project Management. I would happy to hear your explanation.

Please see : http://www.find-mba.com/board/39152

Hi NizamMohd,

Which course you are going for ? How much exp do you have?
R u from IT?
Well My exp is not exactly 3 yrs. I have heard that MBA is good only if you have 3+ of exp and that too if you have some manegerial or BA or Consultant type of exp then its better (for MBA) if u see best schools website they dont take ppl below 4 or 3 yrs of exp in MBA , in that too they want a bit of managerial exp.

So, what are you opting for?

Regards,
MM

Hi,

I have 10+ years of experience in Project Management though not as project manager.

Nizam

Hi Nizam, I think the guidance I gave you was if you wanted project management then an MSc is useful, if you wanted general management then aim at an MBA. You were loooking for a PM course so, of course, I recommended MBA courses to you.

This person is looking for broader options, with more people management and soft skills needed: some of them are mid-tier general management roles. That suits an MBA.

Right, Duncan. I just do not want to move out of Project Management. Thanks.

Whilst, I just wonder, why Warwick and Cranfield's Msc Project Management courses are not appeared in the ranking : http://www.best-masters.com/ranking-master-engineering-and-project-management-in-western-europe.html ?

Thanks Duncan and NizamMohd for the comments.

I agree with you guys, you are much experienced. Well, cost is also a constraint for me and I am eyeing 2014 sept batch which narrows down my options. So I am planning to first apply to MSc courses and then take GMAT, if I'll be fortunate enough to get good score then I'll apply for MBA but then again I dont have exact 3 or more years of exp to be precise.
NizamMohd, warvick was in my list but the fee for MSc course is in the same bracket as that of some decent MBA school.

So, I am planning to apply for MSC BM(with scope to convert it into MBA later on) from strathclyde and also MSc in PM or MA from some other universities as well.

Regards,
MM

Nizam I guess the Cranfield and Warwick programmes are not highly ranked there because of the methodology. There's a series of pages explaining it. The ranking favours the engineering context rather than the programme management context where Warwick and Cranfield focus.