Hi, I am a QA Analyst from India, with 7 years of experience in software testing. Currently I am holding unconditional offers from UCD, Lancaster, Edinburgh, Durham and Strathclyde and am yet to hear from Warwick. My main objective after completion of the MBA is to switch my domain and industry from IT to Consulting for any of the big 4 companies. Regarding the location of employment I have no preferences untill it's in UK or any other European country.



Moreover I am limited to these schools because of my low GMAT score and my overall budget and waiting another year to improve my scores is not a feasible option for me.



Which amongst the above mentioned Bschools would be good for my requirements and in which order?



PS: Warwick is obviously a better bschool but since I haven't heard from them yet so I am not counting my chances there.



Thank you in advance.

[Edited by Dominic141 on Mar 29, 2023]

I think it's very close between UCD and Durham, depending on the consulting you want to do. Take a look at How to use LinkedIn to find the best school www.find-mba.com/board/33571

Other things being equal, I would pick Durham for the lower cost of living, higher salary and their MBA's consultancy pathway. UCD would likely channel you back into tech. 

I think it's very close between UCD and Durham, depending on the consulting you want to do. Take a look at How to use LinkedIn to find the best school www.find-mba.com/board/33571

Other things being equal, I would pick Durham for the lower cost of living, higher salary and their MBA's consultancy pathway. UCD would likely channel you back into tech. 

I can't think of any material basis for saying that Lancaster has done better than UCD, given that Lancaster has fallen out of the top 100. 

I can't think of any material basis for saying that Lancaster has done better than UCD, given that Lancaster has fallen out of the top 100. 

[Edited by Dominic141 on Mar 29, 2023]

LinkedIn shows 6,000 Lancaster alumni with MBAs. 84 work for the big four. Why do you believe "most Lancaster  MBA graduates have found jobs in the Big 4 firms in Consulting roles"?

Hi Duncan,

Thank you once againg for your promt reply. Well my search gave me another result where I could see many Lancaster MBA graduates working in consultancy roles for the Big 4. Maybe I have made a mistake in my research. 
But overall comparing the UCD, Dunham and Lancaster MBA programmes how would you rate them and in which order and since Lancaster is not in the top 100 this year then will that hamper its quality and reputation? Another question, what are the domains that Lancaster MBA graduates find most employment in?

[Edited by Dominic141 on Mar 29, 2023]

84 is many. It's not most. 

Read again my post about using LinkedIn. You could book me for a personal consultation using the details on my profile page but I really think you can answer this yourself  

Hi Dominic141
I've pursued an MBA from Lancaster Uni. The job market in the UK doesn't allow the expats to make a major change in their field of work, unlike India. Most of them didn't care/ know I have the degree. The only pathway course we had was Amazon Operations and most people weren't interested in Operations. A local consulting firm also showed up and selected one person of the lot, who had similar experience earlier. Most (90%) of them have taken up a similar job or one which has transferable skills. The market in the UK is not doing well at the moment either. Would be much better if you stuck with the EU, in my opinion. Basically, LUMS or any school without a high GMAT score doesn't have a head turning reputation. I know a few batchmates who ended up on a salary on the same job that they've would've gotten even back in India. Good luck with the hustle. 

It's is broadly true but there are some exceptions. LBS and AMBS have long degree formats with internships and project opportunities, which are key to career transition. Durham has a few specific pathways, such as consulting, which can work well. Most people wanting to move into a specific business function will be better off taking a specialised MSc in that business function at a top school rather than a general management MBA that a school with no GMAT or a GMAT hurdle below 600. 

Hi Dominic141
I've pursued an MBA from Lancaster Uni. The job market in the UK doesn't allow the expats to make a major change in their field of work, unlike India. Most of them didn't care/ know I have the degree. The only pathway course we had was Amazon Operations and most people weren't interested in Operations. A local consulting firm also showed up and selected one person of the lot, who had similar experience earlier. Most (90%) of them have taken up a similar job or one which has transferable skills. The market in the UK is not doing well at the moment either. Would be much better if you stuck with the EU, in my opinion. Basically, LUMS or any school without a high GMAT score doesn't have a head turning reputation. I know a few batchmates who ended up on a salary on the same job that they've would've gotten even back in India. Good luck with the hustle. 

[Edited by overlord47 on Mar 30, 2023]

If you want to be guaranteed a job, study in India or take a master's in finance. I think what you say about Warwick is unfair. As shown below, the FT ranks these MBAs for employment, from high to low. I think these are pretty good considering the UK economy at the moment:

Over 90%
- Durham University Business School
- Alliance Manchester Business School
- London Business School
- Warwick Business School
- University of Cambridge: Judge
86% to 90%
- Birmingham Business School
- Imperial College Business School
- Cranfield School of Management
- University of Oxford: Saïd
- Bayes Business School (formerly Cass)

Hi Duncan,

Well I won't consider Birmingham Business School because it's MBA programme was unranked by FT for quite sometime, as for Cranfield even it's MBA programme fell out of the rankings from 2020 till 2022 (3 consecutive years). Regarding Warwick I talked to a few Indian graduates from Warwick MBA programme (2020-21 and 2021-22 batch) and they said they haven't found a job yet. The above comment that I made related to job opportunities was for Indian students. Regarding Imperial their employability rate in 3 months isn't good too (2021: 80%, 2022: 77% and 2023: 88%) so the average is 82% Even Durham's average 3 months employability rate in the past 3 years isn't good (2021: 73%, 2022: 53% and 2023: 93, Avg: 73%)

The point which I was making is finding a job is based on the skills and abilities of the candidate rather than the brand name of the business school (exceptional cases are LBS, Cambridge and Oxford).

[Edited by overlord47 on Mar 31, 2023]

If you want to be guaranteed a job, study in India or take a master's in finance

If you want to be guaranteed a job, study in India or take a master's in finance

[Edited by overlord47 on Mar 30, 2023]

The top schools have excellent placement. 90% and better within three months, in the context of what is happening in the UK post-Brexit, is very impressive. It's on par with the top schools in the US and Europe. 

The top schools have excellent placement. 90% and better within three months, in the context of what is happening in the UK post-Brexit, is very impressive. It's on par with the top schools in the US and Europe. 

[Edited by overlord47 on Mar 31, 2023]

@overlord47 I agree! Might also add Edinburgh there. The cohorts are usually a bit more senior so understandably placement timelines are longer than 3 months tracked by FT but their MBA grads to get into good companies eventually and the programme enjoys good international mobility as well. 

[Edited by Obinna on Mar 31, 2023]

@overlord47 I agree! Might also add Edinburgh there. The cohorts are usually a bit more senior so understandably placement timelines are longer than 3 months tracked by FT but their MBA grads to get into good companies eventually and the programme enjoys good international mobility as well. 

 in terms of placements the B schools that have done fairly well (85-90% in employment rates) are LBS, Cambridge, Oxford, Warwick. Whereas I have already stated the employment rates of Durham and Imperial..not so impressive tbh. Last year Durham's employment rate was 53% and it's average 3 year employment rate is 73% even Imperial's avg. employment rate isn't good.