Which British MBA is right for you?                                     

This article looks at different types of MBAs, the associated costs, eligibility requirements, class profiles, employment prospects for MBAs, MBA specialisations and value added features offered by various British business schools.

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Studying class profiles and the accompanying data on employment prospects for past MBA batches can provide much insight. However, due to the global financial crisis, studying the employment prospects for the MBA classes of 2007 and 2008 are definitely not going to give anyone a realistic idea of the prospects for the MBA classes of 2009 and 2010.

Although the global financial crisis and its implications on the employment prospects of the 2009 MBA class does not paint a rosy picture, all does not necessarily have to be gloom and doom either. After all, an MBA is a turning point in one's career. For the MBA class of 2009, this change will come about much slower than how it happened in the past. But the change will come about.

The global recession will end. Business results and financial markets will pick up and get back to a steady pace again. They may not reach the same level of "irrational exuberance" as they did in the past. Not for a very long time. But things will improve and the job markets will follow suit all over the world. And then, the MBA classes of 2009 and 2010 and others will gain from their newly acquired capabilities and qualifications.

"An MBA is a premium product and the investment required is significant, not only financially but also in terms of study," says Linda Anderson, Deputy Business Education Editor at the Financial Times." However the ultimate rewards are also significant."

Anderson was responding to a question on an Ask the Experts - Online MBA 2009 session held by FT.com in mid March. The question was whether MBA students will be able to get a positive ROI (Return on investment) given the current economic environment.

"With the recession tightening its grip, an MBA can only improve employment prospects," Anderson continued." It demonstrates to potential employers that you have invested in yourself and enhanced your skill set."

She concluded by saying: "It will provide you with a broader perspective and will also give you a wide range of management tools so that you are able to help your organisation weather the financial storm and identify new opportunities as and when they emerge."

Class profiles and employment prospects

For example, while the average age of the Birmingham Business School MBA student is around 30, student ages in a batch span a wide range. Gender balance in the Birmingham MBA usually approaches 50:50 according to the latest MBA brochure. The career sectors for a group graduating recently shows much diversity: Finance, Banking & Accounting (32%), Consulting (13%), High Technology, Information technology & Telecommunications (09%), Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals (09%), Media and Entertainment (04%), Government and Non-Profit sector (16%), Consumer Goods and Retail (06%) and Other industries (10%). The University of Birmingham is a member of the group of leading British, research-intensive universities known as the Russell Group—the UK’s equivalent to the North American Ivy League—with around 20 members.

The full-time MBA offered by the Southampton Business School, again affiliated to a Russell Group institution, has a class size of 45 with participants from around the world. Students’ ages typically range from 25 to 35. Their first degree subjects include science, engineering, and humanities as well as business and professional studies. They have work experience ranging between five and ten years. Male/Female ratio of the MBA batch is usually 60/40.

The Cardiff MBA has a class size of 300 with over 90% made up of international students. The school which claims to be "global both in its outlook and in its makeup" comprises a faculty hailing from 20 countries who teach a student body originating from around 60 countries. Cardiff MBA alumni are spread over 120 countries worldwide. According to the Cardiff Business School website, in recent years 96% of their graduates have found employment or have gone on to further study. Regular recruiters of Cardiff students include KPMG, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, HSBC, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley and Unilever. The Cardiff Business School is part of Cardiff University, a Russell Group institution.

The full-time MBA from the Bradford University School of Management has an annual intake of 100, taught in cohorts of around 60. According to the school website, the male/female ratio in the full-time course is 77/23. Graduates job destinations include, Consultancy (22%), Marketing (22%), Business planning (17%), Finance (17%), Operations (11%) and General management (11%).

Seeking the mature route to an MBA

If you are a more mature MBA aspirant and do not have a bachelor's degree or equivalent, you can still get your MBA. Many business schools have opened up a 'mature route' for people like you. Many of these will look at your industry work experience and how many years were spent in senior or middle management positions with executive responsibility.

Conclusion

Understanding the class profiles and employment prospects of different business schools is just a starting step in selecting an MBA that is right for you. But, it is an important step. Although your priorities would vary based on various criteria, yet money is the most crucial factor influencing student choice followed by the course structure, popularity and then the location of the university itself.