Hi Duncan,



I’m a Creative Director (having worked in digital ad agencies all my career) with about a decade-long experience, and wish to foray into a broader marketer’s role, particularly product marketing, for which I see MBA as a necessary launchpad. I particularly want to launch my career in the UK, perhaps in an Ed tech org again; I currently lead creative for a global Ed tech brand.

I quite like both Strathclyde and Bath’s MBA programme structure. Salary increase, career progression, industry connection, badge value even, seem very similar. may be splitting hairs here, but any insight would help tremendously. 

[Edited by abhyshek on May 08, 2022]

Hello, this has been asked several times and answered by Duncan in this forum. Strathclyde is 100% a better option than Bath in every aspect.
Refer to this link>>> https://find-mba.com/board/europe/the-fts-hidden-ranking-of-second-tier-mbas-60514

Thanks, Have seen it @Natha.


Check out the post-MBA salary comparison of the two, according to the Economist, under the 'recruiters' tab though:  https://www.economist.com/whichmba/university-bath-school-management/2012?tab=7

https://www.economist.com/whichmba/university-strathclyde-strathclyde-business-school/2017?tab=7

Unless I am looking at incorrect data/ am on the wrong landing page.

Also, although these are relatively easy schools to get into, if you want to use an MBA to do this transition you will be better placed at LBS, Cambridge, Warwick or Insead. After those schools, the CIM is the most common institution attended by UK product managers. I'd certainly consider an MSc in marketing at a much better school.  https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/people/?geoUrn=%5B%22101165590%22%5D&keywords=%22product%20marketing%22%20MBA&origin=FACETED_SEARCH&sid=U%400 

[Edited by Duncan on May 09, 2022]

I checked Bath and Strathclyde salaries @Natha. Dont know if I may have stumbled upon the wrong landing pages, but it looks like Bath has considerably higher salaries mentioned on Economist, vis-a-vis Strathclyde. 
University of Bath – School of Management | MBA Ranking | The Economist






 









@Duncan - that's a very compelling point. Besides, I am a Creative and my area of interest remains Marketing and innovations in that domain. However, a tad perturbed that at 34, I may be just too old for the MSc cohort. What do you think?Also, I hear you @applying to Top Bschools for MBA. However, missed out on taking the GMAT, so my options are narrowed. It's these two (and awaiting Edinburgh to revert) and as you suggest, MSc in a top-ranked school. 

[Edited by abhyshek on May 09, 2022]

You won't be too old, for example, for the Lancaster masters in advanced marketing or the UCD masters in marketing practice. A better school will be better.

Just a note on student quality: a MSc at a top school will be far more selective than the MBA and the students will have sharper minds, hungrier goals and can be super impressive. If you were looking for a husband, the MBA is better. Salaries might be higher too. But what can a general management MBA teach you about marketing? I would certainly look at CIM accredited MSc degrees and find degrees with the maximum exceptions from the CIM diploma. 

[Edited by StuartHE on May 09, 2022]

@StuartHE - Husband? I am positive it's not what you meant :)

I applied to Warwick just now. And am also applying to Manchester, Cranfield and Lancaster (as you mentioned). Let me know if you know of such "Senior" programmes.

Thanks, Have seen it @Natha.


Check out the post-MBA salary comparison of the two, according to the Economist, under the 'recruiters' tab though:  https://www.economist.com/whichmba/university-bath-school-management/2012?tab=7

https://www.economist.com/whichmba/university-strathclyde-strathclyde-business-school/2017?tab=7

Unless I am looking at incorrect data/ am on the wrong landing page.

Yes because an MBA will be mostly men but an MSc in marketing is mostly women, an MBA will be a better place to find a husband and an MSc would be a better place to find a wife. 

This got a bit out of syllabus. I’m married, thanks! 

@Natha - I couldn’t find Bath MBA salary today, just that of Strathclyde. In the FT rankings link you shared, I mean.

[Edited by abhyshek on May 10, 2022]

@StuartHE @Duncan I received £9k scholarship from Strathclyde today. Parallely, have applied to Warwick MSc Marketing Strategy, Cranfield & AMB MSc Marketing yesterday. I’m waiting for Edinburgh to revert though. 
However, given the salary figures shared on Ft Rankings, Strathclyde MBA seems like a sensible, better RoI option. What do you reckon @Duncan, @StuartHE?

[Edited by abhyshek on May 10, 2022]

For better RoI, don't work in marketing. 

@StuartHE how do you mean?

Also, @StuartHE - I received an admit from Aston. Strathclyde is head & shoulders above?

I think the point here is to focus on your goal. Other things being equal, a high salary means a school is good at placing into finance and management consulting since those are the high paying areas. Most marketers in the UK don't have MBAs, and many employers will think that an MBA would lack the skills so an MSc in marketing holder, or a Chartered Marketer, yet demand a higher salary. Strathclyde is a better school if you want the sort of jobs that Strathclyde MBAs have. If you want a marketing role, see what sort of qualifications they have, and their employers ask for, in your target firms. 

[Edited by StuartHE on May 11, 2022]