Hi All,

I am a Taiwanese student who is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in US. I like Europe very much do I decided to pursue my master degree in UK. I got offers from Warwick (MSc Information Systems Management) and Manchester (MSc Information Systems: ebusiness Technology). I also got an interview invitation from Imperial, and the program I applied to is MSc Strategic Marketing. As I am interested in pursuing a career in Consulting, I am wondering which school will better suit me? People around me are not familiar with schools in Europe, so please help me out. Thank you!

These all look like very strong courses, in top-tier UK business schools inside prestigious universities.

Manchester > Warwick > Imperial, depending on the sort of consulting you want to do. There are more, and better paid, jobs for systems consultants than for marketing consultants. Manchester's programme is more selective (ten applicants per MSc seat, versus four at Warwick).

These all look like very strong courses, in top-tier UK business schools inside prestigious universities.

Manchester > Warwick > Imperial, depending on the sort of consulting you want to do. There are more, and better paid, jobs for systems consultants than for marketing consultants. Manchester's programme is more selective (ten applicants per MSc seat, versus four at Warwick).

They are both very well respected schools. The differences in the rankings are actually quite small. Manchester is a larger, older university and business school, with a stronger network. Warwick is also excellent.

I think it would be fine for you to decide by looking at the very different settings (Manchester, a huge city centre campus; Warwick, a suburban campus some distance outside Coventry) and the content of the courses (Manchester, for example, seems the most flexible).

Lancaster is also a very well respected school, in a rural location. Their MSc looks excellent, especially the SAP module and the stream in Advanced Computing. Of the three, I prefer that one.

Ask these schools for graduate salary information. Probably they will be fairly similar.

PS I am an alum of the MSc in business systems at City University. That's also a good programme: http://www.city.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/business-systems-analysis-and-design but is in a school of informatics rather than a business school. I think careers support will be better in a business school.

Apply now for or on the first day for MBA entry in 2013: the earlier the better because you are in a highly competitve group of candidates. Get into the best programme you can.

That said, don't be too worried about UK work permits.

Hi Duncan,

Even though I have read articles and discussions of this site since quite a long time, this is actually my first post. I just wanted to thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience in the field.

About this discussion, I got offers from both MANCHESTER and IMPERIAL for their Full-Time programs, and it is being hard for me to decide which one to pursue.

On the one hand, MANCHESTER in an older school with an program structure that seems really attractive. The fact of being an 18-month program is a pro, since my background is not in business and I would like to have time do an internship, take more electives, etc. However, Manchester has pretty poor facilities, a quite low GMAT (630) average and, as far as I have read, weaker brand name than Imperial.

On the other hand, IMPERIAL has a strong brand name, a higher GMAT average (660), and strong connections with the engineering world. But the B-School is relatively young and the MBA program has fallen in the FT MBA ranks to place 46!

Any advice?

Thanks in advance for your time.

Sorry, which programme have you applied for? For the MBA?

Without knowing your background and specific career goals I cannot give you a specific recommendation. If you think Manchester has poor facilities, then Imperial will be a shock. Imperial's business school is much smaller and has very modest facilities.

Hi Duncan, and thanks for your prompt reply.

I indeed refer to the MBA programme. My background is in engineering and I intend to get into the energy and infrastructure management/finance sector.

About the facilities of these two schools; well, IMPERIAL's looked to me quite impressive with that Foster's building in Exhibition Road. They seem to have nice project and lecture theatre rooms, a nice library, etc..

There is one think about the rankings that I do not understand. How come that the FT ranks the MBS MBA program 11th in Europe but the B-School 38th, whereas IC MBA ranks 16th and the B-School 14th! I thought that MBS was more prestigious as B-School that what ICBS was....

Best,

That's because the overall "business school" rankings are the combination of each school's strengths in their MBA program, EMBA program, and associated master's programs. So even though Manchester's MBA is highly placed, the fact that the school doesn't have an EMBA program combined with the poor placement of its MiM program pull it down in the overall rankings.

Similarly, Imperial's higher rankings of its EMBA and MiM programs pull it up.

There is one think about the rankings that I do not understand. How come that the FT ranks the MBS MBA program 11th in Europe but the B-School 38th, whereas IC MBA ranks 16th and the B-School 14th! I thought that MBS was more prestigious as B-School that what ICBS was....

Thanks Ezea, that is indeed a good explanation, and bad news for the MBS; I guess that MBS Global MBA programme does not fall in the category of EMBA but in the Online MBA...

Thanks again

Hi Duncan,

Anything to add to my post on 09/04?

Thanks a lot.

No, I think Erza's answer was very useful. Do you have a specific question?

I have a make a similar choice between Warwick and Manchester for the same courses mentioned above.
Please could anyone let me know what type of work does an e-business manager do? and which course has better career prospects.

Thank you.

I think the FT ranking gives a good idea of post-masters career outcomes.

An ebusiness manager would manage online business. Why not do some research online into that? This isn't the best forum for basic research.

No, I think Erza's answer was very useful. Do you have a specific question?

Manchester would obviously be better. It has an internship, more project experience and more courses. Luckily it's also higher ranked.

Hi Duncan,

I need your comments about the Manchester Business School part time Global MBA. How do you consider this MBA as compared to MBS full time MBA. Apprecciate your feedback and valueable comments on the MBS Global MBA programe structure, value and marketability of this program.

regards,

Malik

I've write a lot about that on the board already. Try the search: http://www.find-mba.com/boardsearch/q/Duncan+Global+Manchester+Warwick

Hi Duncan,

Thank you very much for the link, based on your experience, knowledge and being from prestigious business schools can you please tell me how UK/European MBA programs are perceived by north Americans especially in Canadian market? I am FCCA, US CPA (age 36), having over 12 years of experience in audit/accountancy, want to join some good MBA program to enhance my business/leadership insights for career progression. I got offer letter from MBS (Global mba) and Imperial business school(DLMBA) but now I think I should pursue full time program. I am also considering HEC Montreal and Telfer MBA (FT).
Appreciate your guidance and valuable advice.
Kind regards,
Malik

If you want to work in Canada, study in Canada. It's not just the brand but also the network. HEC is better known, and Telfer is also very strong. Get into the best school you can.

MBS has a really strong Global MBA; I don't hear anytbhign good about the Imperial DL MBA.