The Top 10 Budget MBA Programs in the UK

The plunge in the value of the pound since the 2016 Brexit vote has made UK business school course fees look very attractive indeed to international students. This means that applications have fared much better than expected, given the uncertainty Brexit caused.

The UK remains an immensely popular place to do an MBA, thanks to its location close to other western European capitals, and the US. London, the capital city, is one of the most important economic centers in the world, while plenty of other cities in England, Scotland, and Wales offer great education and career prospects, but without the sky-high London living costs. 

MBA degrees from the top UK business schools, such as London Business School, are still exceedingly expensive, however. But there are plenty of other schools still running accredited and ranked MBA programs that do not cost an arm and a leg. For those on a budget, we’ve ranked the top-10 budget MBA programs in the UK: 

Middlesex, United Kingdom 18 Followers 131 Discussions
Brunel

Like its competitor schools in London, Brunel takes advantage of all the city has to offer, including links to employers, cultural attractions, and collaborations with other schools. However, because it’s based on the fringes of the city center, living costs can be far, far cheaper. Plus, the tuition fees for Brunel’s MBA are also very affordable.  

View School Profile
London, United Kingdom 20 Followers 58 Discussions
Westminster

Westminster Business School will give you access to all the prestige employers in London, but without the eye-popping fees charged by other schools in the city. Westminster’s AMBA-accredited MBA program runs for two years, giving you extra time for an internship and plenty of extra-curricular activities, which can look great on a CV. 

View School Profile
Nottingham, United Kingdom 27 Followers 180 Discussions
Nottingham

Nottingham is known by many for its global experience: MBA students can take trips around the world to locations including tech hub Silicon Valley, where they mix with startups and investors. 

View School Profile
Cardiff, United Kingdom 15 Followers 91 Discussions
Cardiff

Cardiff is the only business school in Wales accredited by AACSB International. Its one-year MBA is affordable, especially for those who live in the UK or the EU more broadly. The business school itself has other accolades: its ranked first in the UK for its research environment and sixth for research excellence, which informs MBA teaching. 

View School Profile
Glasgow, United Kingdom 53 Followers 475 Discussions
Strathclyde

Strathclyde has been delivering its MBA for some 50 years. That longevity is testament to the program’s quality: it’s accredited by all three major MBA accreditation bodies, and is ranked in the top-20 of the UK by The Economist. It scored particularly highly for the breadth of its alumni network: the University of Strathclyde has some 170,000 graduates across the world. As any MBA will tell you, in business it’s often about who you know, not what you know. 

View School Profile
Exeter, United Kingdom 12 Followers 102 Discussions
Exeter

This Devonshire school is not as well-known as the top business school brands, but its education quality is on a par with many of them. Exeter’s MBA program focuses on tackling global challenges and developing an ethical perspective, as well as the nuts and bolts of business management.

View School Profile
Birmingham, United Kingdom 35 Followers 283 Discussions
Birmingham

Birmingham Business School’s one-year MBA is tripled-accredited and offers specializations in international business or global banking and finance. The school is relatively close to London and all the top employers and famous cultural attractions in the UK’s capital city. But without the enormous living costs.

View School Profile
Edinburgh, United Kingdom 35 Followers 267 Discussions
Edinburgh UEBS

An MBA is a major financial commitment, but it can transform your career. That’s certainly the case for graduates of the University of Edinburgh Business School in Scotland: 88 percent of the most recent graduating class were employed within three months. Although Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital is a renowned business hub, graduates worked in 16 countries, so international mobility looks excellent. 

View School Profile
Lancaster, United Kingdom 26 Followers 335 Discussions
Lancaster - LUMS

At LUMS in the northwest of England, the MBA course is just a bit more than the Durham MBA, and is ranked by the FT as the tenth best globally on value for money, as its students earn some $104,000 three years from graduation. The program is distinctive for its focus on sustainability, responsibility and mindfulness. 

View School Profile
Durham, United Kingdom 74 Followers 400 Discussions
Durham

Based in the north of England, this top MBA is a relative bargain, compared to some other MBA programs in the UK. Durham is ranked by a bevy of leading publications, including the Financial Times and The Economist. It’s also one of a small minority of business schools to be accredited by the three top awarding bodies: AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB. 

View School Profile

Related MBA News

May 26, 2020

FIND MBA Updates Top 10 Lists by Specialization for 2020

May 26, 2020

More MBA News

Related Articles

Are Astronomical MBA Tuition Fees Coming Back Down to Earth?

Aug 18, 2020

After years of inflation-busting tuition fee increases, elite business schools are finding ways to curb the substantial cost of a full-time MBA

Crowdfunding and Beyond: Novel Ways to Pay for an MBA

Jun 11, 2020

From income share agreements to the ‘bank of mom and dad’, funding pressure has forced students and startups to find creative solutions to finance MBA degrees

UK Business Schools Bullish On Future After Brexit

Jan 28, 2020

With a more liberal visa regime coming into force, UK schools have many reasons to be cheerful heading into 2020

MBA School Choice: Imperial Vs. Warwick

Jun 03, 2019

Both schools have stand-out global reputations and places in rankings, but what should MBA aspirants consider when weighing up their choices?

More Articles

More Top 10 Lists

More Top 10 Lists

Related Discussions

NUS MIM to work in UK
Feb 19, 2024  220  Thant Htet...
Affordable MBA
Oct 17, 2023  216  StuartHE
MBA in UK
Apr 22, 2022  2,002  StuartHE
York vs Dundee vs Newcastle vs Aston vs Essex
Nov 05, 2020  1,162  Ananya Yad...
MBA University Selection
Sep 22, 2020  420  Larry
Top affordable MBA in UK
Jul 29, 2020  2,244  Razors Edg...
MBA from Aberdeen, Queen's Belfast, Essex, Robert Gordon
Jun 22, 2020  763  StuartHE
MBA - UK
Jun 15, 2020  454  Inactive User
Offer Evaluation
May 29, 2020  294  maury
Nottingham vs Birmingham vs Newcastle vs Sheffield vs Kingst...
May 05, 2020  2,176  Arjun Varr...
MBA in UK for International students
Apr 24, 2020  603  mrl9vinay
Business school selection - Aston, Kent, Southampton
Apr 08, 2020  600  Inactive User
Strathclyde, Durham or Loughborough MBA
Mar 09, 2020  1,190  Duncan
Lancaster vs Loughborough
Mar 09, 2020  955  Duncan
Apply & Selection of MBA colleges in UK 2020
Feb 20, 2020  509  Jeethendra...
A BETTER MBA? Trinity Dublin, Strathclyde, Bath or Lancaster...
Jan 31, 2020  1,095  Duncan
Glasgow, Strathclyde or Loughborough
Dec 12, 2019  1,909  Larry
MBA Bath vs MBA Aston
Jun 03, 2019  512  Inactive User
Cranfield cuts EMBA tuition again
May 29, 2019  415  Duncan
MBA decision Sept 2019
May 17, 2019  687  Vj
Bradford, Leicester, or Birmingham!
Mar 04, 2019  474  Duncan
Cheapest MBA you know!?
Feb 16, 2018  3,762  Inactive User

Go to FIND MBA Discussion Board

Advanced MBA Program Search
KEYWORDS (optional)
COUNTRY / REGION
SPECIALIZATION
LANGUAGE
PROGRAM TYPE
INTAKE
SHOW ONLY
AVERAGE GMAT
AVERAGE WORK EXPERIENCE
TUITION
DURATION