Hi guys



I am a 35 year old applicant from India. I have done my undergrad from DMU, UK back in 2006 in Business Studies (BA Hons) where I got 2:2. Since then I have accumulated 10+ years of experience in managerial roles; both in the business my family owns as well as working for others in India.



I now wish to study further. In my work ex I have largely handled marketing campaigns and communications. I have also teamed up on some documentaries and creative projects as a consultant. Over time I have realized my interest leans towards films & media, creative campaigns, pitching and so forth.



I wish to start my studies again as early as January 2021. I also don't come with a lavish study budget. So I have been able to narrow done my course choices to either applying for an MBA at Brunel or Kingston. Also I am highly inclined towards the MSc Management course at Brunel which includes a placement year too. I would love to keep myself as close to London as possible so that I am better able to network and find myself a job in media in middle management after my degree. I want to take advantage of the 2 year stay back option rolled out by the government recently.



Kindly share your thoughts on Brunel or Kingston and also whether at my age would an MSc be a good choice? The Brunel MSc offers a pathway into Digital Entrepreneurship and Creativity Management which is why it highly interests me. I do not see any such pathways with MBA programs. The Covid-19 pandemic makes me feel people with specialized knowledge stand a better chance going forward. However if you guys feel an MBA, even if general, is the better choice then kindly share your thoughts and reasons for it.



Also please let me know whether accreditation matters for an MSc when applying for jobs.



Other university suggestions are welcome too.



I apologise for the really long post.



Thanks in advance

[Edited by KrisT on Oct 15, 2020]

Do an MBA if you want a middle management role, and take a specialised MSc if you want a specialized role. At Brunel you will almost certainly need to find the internship yourself. 

Hi Stuart

Thanks for your reply

So which MBA/University would you recommend?
I always imagined even with an MBA, finding an internship would most likely be my responsibility; please correct me if I am wrong. 

Also would you have any idea about which specialized roles might I be able to apply for after an MSc and the kind of salary it might bring me? I do apologise for the trouble but there's hardly any information available relating to MSc in UK for these pointers. 

I feel with my age and previous experience, middle management is what I should aim for. Any lower than that would not make sense with the kind of financial and time investment I will make at this age. 

I don't think you can get very good advice here unless you have clearer goals. Right now, it's not very likely that you will get a job after either of these courses. Take a look at:
Best MBAs for international students' placement http://www.find-mba.com/board/41143

and also the post called Best MSc & MiM degrees for international students' placement
Salaries will differ according to the subject and school. Take a look at the FT MiM and MiF rankings, for example, to see degrees in management and finance. 

Hi Duncan

Thank you for your valuable response.

The kind of role I am aiming for would be Business Development Manager, Brand Strategist or Manager. I enjoy being involved in the creative processes that lead to successful outcomes for business. I do not find myself thriving in back office or statistical roles. Creating brand content, ad films, marketing campaigns, etc are my areas of interest. 

My immediate goal is to take full advantage of the post study 2 year stay back and in future apply for permanent residence permit in the UK which is being rolled out post Brexit (the 70 point programme). This makes it necessary for me to pick UK and I would imagine London being the centre for vibrant/campaign driven businesses.

The Brunel MSc gives me a 27 month course duration which teamed with 2 years after gives me ample time to establish myself there. Also it has a pathway into creative industries. I do not know if this degree will help me find a middle management role to achieve my goals. Please advise. Would you rather recommend the MBA (general) to help me achieve my goals? Kingston and Brunel both offer a placement year option with their MBA. Another MSc Management program starting from January 2021 is at QMUL. However none of these programs are in the FT top 100. Should I try QMUL just cause it's a Russel group even though they do not offer a placement year? These programs feature on other rankings but I guess the FT rankings have appropriate methodology. There is no data available for salaries or employment statistics for the above courses. 

I hope based on all the information I have shared, you would be in a position to recommend something.

Thank you. Much appreciated. 

Most business development managers and branding professionals don't have MBAs. Wouldn't a master's in sales and marketing be better for business development? Branding work requires deep acculturation and nuance, which few international students can easily gain. The top UK business schools don't offer degrees in advertising and brand design, and these roles surely go to people with copywriting, design and advertising skills. 

[Edited by StuartHE on Oct 17, 2020]