Hi, I have an MBA offer from schools below.

- No scholarship
Durham
Birmingham

- With scholarship
Nottingham
Exeter
Newcastle

Between these schools, I can see there is an average salary difference in western job market but I'm not sure if it's that significant in my country in Asia.
Since it is more likely I'm returning to my country after the course, and from hesitation in debt, I'm leaning towards Nottingham and Exeter. Although Durham would be an obvious choice if I had more savings.

Could you please advice or tell me the difference/characteristic of these schools?

I think this depends on your goals. If you want to work in some commercial field and become a senior manager, then the added value of Durham is that it will substantially upgrade your capabilities as a manager and leader. That will almost always create more value, much more value, than the difference in fees. However if you don't want a managerial role, perhaps you don't need to come to the UK for an MBA? 

Thank you Stuart. My goal is exactly as you said, to elevate my role to a senior manager/Director level.

I have another question. While Nottingham's fee is 28,000 which is a competitive price in the same tier schools, Exeter's fee is 35,000 and this is as expensive as higher ranked schools. Can I see this as a good sign that the school is trying to get better candidates, aiming rankings to rise? I want to know what I pay extra 7,000 pounds for but it's kind of an awkward question to ask the school...

Exeter's fees reflect many things, including the reputation of the parent university and the pleasant location. However, £35,000 is more than the cost of most of other the FT's hidden second-tier schools, and Exeter MBAs have the lowest salary among them. I would suggest you consider the other schools in that tier: https://find-mba.com/board/europe/the-fts-hidden-ranking-of-second-tier-mbas-60514 

Nottingham's MBA is not in the same class as Exeter, even if the university is well known and has a beautiful main campus (where the MBA is sadly not taught on). If you cannot get into a top business school in the FT 100, focused on the ones in the hidden second tier. 

Thank you Duncan, that really makes sense. I'll look for other schools in the list and also ask Durham for scholarship just to give it a shot.

[Edited by LEESi on Mar 16, 2022]