Hello,

Looking for a bit of advice. I'm considering a career change from the Armed Forces and so am looking at an MBA. I will be 30 this year and am as yet undecided as to what sector to aim for. I've a BA in Modern Languages (French and Russian) and am due to finish an MSC in Political Economy this year. I don't yet have a GMAT score.

I've looked so far at the following programs in the UK:

LBS (V expensive but apparently worth it)
Cass (seemingly well regarded)
Imperial Tanaka (heard mixed things about this program)
Cambridge Judge
Said Oxford
Durham (I'm an alumnus and so get a significant discount on fees; not sure of quality)

Based on the advice of friends in the business world, it would appear that not all MBAs are created equal and that it is worth spending money on the 'right' MBA at the outset. This also presumes that I will be sufficiently strong in terms of GMAT and interview, but I might as well aim high at the outset!

I'd prefer in the first instance to stay in London as this would minimise my costs (ie: fees of circa 30k and a move will probably work out more expensive than fees at LBS) and disruption to my home life but would consider moving for the right course.

I've looked at a couple of programs abroad but the fess and costs associated with moving appear to be prohibitive.

I'd be grateful for any advice.


Arch

Are you thinking of a full- or part-time course? If the latter, you will still be able to earn while you study and will have to be on campus only part-time, which would reduce the accommodation cost disadvantage for non-London courses. Since the schools outside the capital tend to be rather less expensive, this might be a factor to consider.

Also, I'm biased but have you considered Cranfield? It has the highest satisfaction rating of any European school, according to Forbes Magazine. And it operates a defence MBA (a variant on the modular course), so you'd have some Forces company.

Thanks for the reply.

I'm looking at full time; my rationale being that at 30/31 upon entry that I need to get moving soonest if I am to make this worthwhile.

I've been to Cranfield for courses before and know a couple of people who have completed the MDA; they speak highly of it. However, the fees and the cost of a year's accomodation etc make is less appealing. That said, it would work out at less than either Oxford or Cambridge and so is worth bearing in mind.

Based on the advice of friends in the business world, it would appear that not all MBAs are created equal and that it is worth spending money on the 'right' MBA at the outset.

However, the fees and the cost of a year's accomodation etc make is less appealing.

Ralph,

Thanks for your informative response. I'm glad to hear that the advice I have received thusfar has been good.

I have one further question to ask if I may. I note that you rank Durham as a potential fourth choice. How different are the opportunties coming out of a Durham MBA to those of at LBS? This may appear to be a somewhat foolish question, but this has much to do with fees. I can cover the fees at Durham comfortably from savings (along with the alumni discount) whilst LBS would require pulling rabbits from hats! In terms of opportunity going forward, does the extra £30k+ justify itself?

As an aside, I like the Clay Davis avatar!

Maubia,

Whilst the accomodation at Cranfield may be cheap, I presently live in the London commuter belt and so would lean towards London in the first instance, unless the course fees were so much lower as to comfortably offset the cost of a move (ie- as at Durham). With Cranfield fees at circa £33k, I'd imagine that the cost of a move and accomodation would add another £10k, putting it into the same bracket at Oxford and Cambridge, and not too far from LBS (assuming I stay at home). I suppose that this links to the question I asked Ralph- would the extra expenditure at a given school justify itself in the longer term?

Thanks again for your help.

Arch

well... I didn't know you are from London :-)

Sorry! I neglected to mention that in my first post.

Thanks again

Arch

How different are the opportunties coming out of a Durham MBA to those of at LBS? This may appear to be a somewhat foolish question, but this has much to do with fees.

I'm also considering a career change from the Armed Forces but I am looking at a distance learning MBA. I am between: Imperial,
Warwick,
Manchester,
Bradford
Durham.
Any suggestions, please?

Warwick is one of the oldest programs, and I think your choice would really be between that one, Bradford, and Durham.

I'm not sure that Manchester has a distance learning option - I know the Global MBA can be taken from one of several centers around the world, but as far as I know it's not a true distance learning program.

Either way, for each program, check out the way the courses are delivered and what's involved on a weekly basis. Some you'll have to have a high-speed dedicated internet connection to use live videoconferencing. Others rely on previously-taped lectures and discussion forums.

I'd recommend choosing one with an on-campus segment - as meeting faculty and your fellow students face-to-face can really deepen the learning experience.

I'm also considering a career change from the Armed Forces but I am looking at a distance learning MBA. I am between: Imperial,
Warwick,
Manchester,
Bradford
Durham.
Any suggestions, please?

Dear Ezra, thank you for your answer.
Manchester offers a Global MBA with on campus sessions (1 week per semester) which is something I can do.

How would you rate-evaluate the programs mentioned above based on their students absorption in the market, their education quality and the opinion employers have about them?

If i decide a career change which one of them will help me more to find a well paid job in UK or Europe?

Ralph,

Thanks for your informative response. I'm glad to hear that the advice I have received thusfar has been good.

I have one further question to ask if I may. I note that you rank Durham as a potential fourth choice. How different are the opportunties coming out of a Durham MBA to those of at LBS? This may appear to be a somewhat foolish question, but this has much to do with fees. I can cover the fees at Durham comfortably from savings (along with the alumni discount) whilst LBS would require pulling rabbits from hats! In terms of opportunity going forward, does the extra £30k+ justify itself?

As an aside, I like the Clay Davis avatar!

Maubia,

Whilst the accomodation at Cranfield may be cheap, I presently live in the London commuter belt and so would lean towards London in the first instance, unless the course fees were so much lower as to comfortably offset the cost of a move (ie- as at Durham). With Cranfield fees at circa £33k, I'd imagine that the cost of a move and accomodation would add another £10k, putting it into the same bracket at Oxford and Cambridge, and not too far from LBS (assuming I stay at home). I suppose that this links to the question I asked Ralph- would the extra expenditure at a given school justify itself in the longer term?

Thanks again for your help.

Arch

Durham will be pricey on campus but off campus is dirt cheap because the county is so depressed. But educationally Durham is a very bookish and academic programme. Cranfield is a world apart, as shown by student satisfaction scores there.

Imperial
Warwick
Manchester
Bradford
Durham

How would you rate-evaluate the programs mentioned above based on their students absorption in the market, their education quality and the opinion employers have about them along with the Financial time 2012 ranking?