MBA in UK is one of the most sought-after management programmes worldwide that offer exceptional job prospects. An MBA in UK curriculum includes the elementary understanding of management with the aim to hone professionals in managing, organising, and encouraging innovation. Pursuing an MBA in UK opens a wide array of job opportunities in various fields, such as finance, human resources, healthcare and so on.
The UK has the world's greatest business schools, which are expanding the careers of international students with remarkable teaching methodologies. Some of the world's most prestigious research is conducted at top UK universities, which are frequently included in international rankings. Studying in the UK allows students to thrive in a multicultural environment, with the possibility of pursuing rewarding careers after graduation. Through class debates and creative activities, the education system in the UK is aimed to stimulate innovative ideas, individual research, and group interaction.
Around 130 business schools in the UK provide MBA programmes with a wide range of specialities in fields such as health administration, economics, international business, and so on. MBA requirements in the UK are less onerous than in other countries such as the United States and Canada.
Components |
Details |
Course Duration |
12-24 months |
Number of MBA Universities in UK |
130+ |
Standardised Tests for MBA in UK |
|
English Proficiency Tests |
|
Admission Intakes |
Fall, Spring, Summer |
Average Tuition Fees |
GBP 27,500-87,900 |
Eligibility |
GMAT score (if required) Bachelor's degree from a recognised university, equivalent to a UK degree Minimum 1-2 years of work experience English proficiency test scores |
Documents Required |
Letter of Recommendation (LOR) Proof of Funds |
Types of MBA Courses |
Full-Time MBA Part-Time, Executive MBA, |
Top MBA Specialisations |
International Business, Finance, Human Resources, Healthcare Management, General Management, Business (others), Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Supply Chain |
Top Business Schools |
Brunel University |
Top Recruiters |
Amazon, Bain and Company, JP Morgan, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, Apple, Boston Consulting Group, McKinsey, and Goldman Sachs, Rolls-Royce, etc. |
Average Salary |
GBP 55,000 |
The MBA programme has gone through various stages of development over time and across the globe. International students can choose from a wide variety of specialities since the UK's leading universities are cognizant of the needs of the business world. Understanding the different types of MBA in UK will help you to decide which one is the most suitable for you. Here are the various types of MBA programmes offered by UK universities:
Full Time MBA: This course is quite popular, particularly among Indian as well as international students. It is a one-year intense programme for individuals who want to specialise in certain fundamental management subject areas.
Executive MBA: This course is designed for professionals who are already employed and wish to develop their management skills in order to advance in their careers. Typically, these individuals are sponsored by the employer. Executive MBA programmes are often provided part-time over a two-year period.
Modular MBA Program: Modular MBAs provide the unique opportunity to study an MBA in a flexible and customizable manner. Students enrolled in modular MBA programmes can design their own curricula, schedule their studies, and earn an MBA without sacrificing work or personal obligations. This MBA programme is exclusively open to students from the UK and the EU only.
International students can witness top-notch education and rewarding career choices by graduating from one of the Leading Business Schools in the UK. Such universities offer a variety of MBA courses from which students can choose appropriate management programmes. Here are the different types of courses offered by MBA colleges:
University Name |
Types of MBA Courses Offered |
London Business School |
MBA, Executive MBA, MBA Global |
Full-time MBA, Part-time MBA, Modular MBA |
|
Ashridge Business School |
Full-time MBA, Executive MBA |
Warwick Business School |
Warwick MBA, Global Energy MBA |
Full-time MBA, Executive MBA, Modular EMBA |
|
Said Business School, University of Oxford |
MBA Full time, Executive MBA |
Cranfield School of Management |
Full-time MBA-one year, Executive MBA (Part-time and Modular)-two years |
Full-time MBA, Global MBA |
|
Full-time MBA, Executive MBA, Distance Learning MBA |
|
Lancaster University |
Full-time MBA, Part-time MBA |
University of Bradford Management Centre |
Full-time MBA, Accelerated Full-time MBA, Executive Part-time MBA |
Judge Business School, University of Cambridge |
MBA, Executive MBA |
Knowing the most significant innovations to every business function is undoubtedly pivotal if an international student wants accessibility to the current market segments. International students who intend to pursue an MBA degree in the UK will have to choose an MBA specialisation. The list of MBA specialisations available to international students in the UK is as follows:
MBA Specialisations in UK |
|
MBA in Marketing |
MBA in Finance |
MBA in Human Resource |
MBA in Business (Others) |
MBA in International Business |
MBA in Supply Chain |
MBA in Healthcare Management |
MBA in General Management |
If you are planning to pursue an MBA in UK, take a look at the QS and Times Higher Education rankings of the top 10 MBA colleges in UK:
Rankings |
QS MBA Rankings UK 2022 |
THE UK Business Rank 2022 |
1 |
London Business School |
University of Cambridge |
2 |
Oxford (Said) |
University of Oxford |
3 |
Cambridge (Judge) |
LSE (London School of Economics and Political Science) |
4 |
Imperial College Business School |
UCL (University College London) |
5 |
Warwick Business School |
University of Warwick |
6 |
Manchester (Alliance) |
University of Manchester |
7 |
University of Edinburgh |
University of Edinburgh |
8 |
Cranfield School of Management |
University of Surrey |
9 |
City's Business School |
University of Leeds |
10 |
Durham University |
Kings College London |
Candidates must meet the following prerequisites in order to pursue an MBA in UK:
The applicant needs to hold a bachelor's degree.
Submit GMAT or GRE scores as per university requirements.
Students must demonstrate their English proficiency and submit any one of these exam scores: IELTS, TOFEL, or PTE.
Applicants may be required to have a minimum of two years of relevant work experience.
Applying for an MBA in UK is a straightforward process. The admission process slightly varies from one university to another as each university invites applications via its separate application portal. Check out the following steps for the common admission process followed to be accepted into a UK business school:
Step 1: Research the top MBA colleges in UK and figure out your field of interest and set your preferences accordingly.
Step 2: Start exploring the universitys admission process, requirements, eligibility, and deadlines for international students.
Step 3: Apply for your chosen university via the respective universitys application portal.
Step 4: Fill out the application form, and upload the necessary documents and financial proofs, as asked by the university.
Step 5: Pay the required application fees (if you are not applying to a no-fee UK university).
Note: Before submitting an application, it is critical for candidates to review the specific admission standards of each university since they may vary as per university and courses.
You must submit a number of documents to get admitted to an MBA programme in the UK. The following list includes some typical application documents that are required at the time of admission:
Academic transcripts for previous education
Resume or a CV
Letters of Recommendation (LORs)
Statement of Purpose (SOP)
GMAT/GRE score reports
Certificate of work experience
Proof of funds
Personal Statement
An MBA essay or supplementary essays, as per university requirements
Cost of pursuing an MBA in UK at some top UK universities may prove to be expensive. On the other hand, there are various popular UK business schools that are well within budget for international students. It is essential to understand the various costs connected with pursuing an MBA in UK apart from tuition fees, like the cost of living, travelling, etc. The average first-year expense of pursuing an MBA in UK is INR 21.01 lakhs while the average annual cost of living in the UK is roughly INR 6.03 lakhs.
An international student needs to plan ahead of time for their budget when pursuing an MBA in the UK. Tuition expenses for an MBA in the United Kingdom range from approximately GBP 31,000 to 88,000. For an Indian student, this equates to between INR 29 to 83 Lakhs. Refer to the tuition fee for top business schools in UK below:
University Name |
First-Year Tuition Fee (in GBP) |
Cambridge University |
61,000 |
Imperial College London |
57,200 |
Oxford University |
65,520 |
University of Edinburgh |
35,900 |
University of Birmingham |
31,500 |
University of Glasgow |
29,950 |
University of Manchester |
45,000 |
University of Warwick |
45,950 |
Pre-arrival costs, often known as pre-departure costs, includes costs such as application fees, visa fees, and so on. These are one-time fees that an international student incurs before arriving in the UK:
Categories |
Cost (in GBP) |
UK Student Visa Fees |
363 |
UK Universities Application Fees |
50-150 |
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) |
470 |
This section describes the comprehensive structure of an individual's monthly living, dining, and personal expenses while they will be residing in the UK. The cost of living in the UK will vary depending on the lodgings chosen, lifestyle, city of residence, and so forth. Given below is a break up of living costs that international students should consider before applying to study in the UK:
Category |
Average Monthly Expenses (in GBP) |
Food and Drinks |
200-400 |
Mobile Phone and Internet |
30-40 |
Rent |
450 |
Transportation |
45 |
Miscellaneous |
25 |
Studying MBA in the UK can be an expensive investment. Many students choose to study MBA in UK because it offers great career opportunities. Numerous aspirants look for MBA programmes that involve practical experience as a part of the curriculum so that the stipend or salary can be used for budgeting. Another way to lessen this financial burden is to apply for scholarships.
While a majority of the B-schools offer merit-based scholarships to international students, there may be a few universities that do not offer any scholarships to postgraduate applicants. This is where international organisations and independent institutions offering scholarships to international students play a crucial role.
The list below includes a few of the MBA scholarships in UK that are open for international applicants:
GREAT Scholarships
Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships
Oxford India Centre Scholarship
The University of East Anglia Scholarships
Felix Scholarships
The Gates Cambridge Scholarships
International Academic Scholarship at the University of Worcester
Hornby Scholarships 2018
Chevening Scholarship
Education Grants by Tata Trusts
Academy Asia Senior Fellowship
The Rhodes Scholarships India
Research Council UK Scholarships
Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship
There are many reputable corporations, including many multinational organisations, with various open positions looking to be filled by eligible MBA graduates in the UK. Take a look at the table below, which lists the top MBA universities in UK for recruitment and selection:
University Name |
Top Recruiters |
Birmingham City University |
Atkin Global, Hewlett Packard, Rainbow, Capita, Mercedes Benz, Cisco Systems, Rolls Royce, JCB, Deloitte, IBM, Triumph Motorcycles, Fujitsu, Intel, Siemens, Robert Bosch |
Brunel University London |
Accenture, Triumph Motorcycles, Tata Motors, Lenovo, Local Oye, HSBC, Novartis, Atkin Global, Barclays Bank, caterpillar, Ubisoft, British Airways, BBC, Rolls Royce, World Bank, EasyJet |
University of Birmingham |
Goldman Sachs, Rolls-Royce, Microsoft, Bank of America, Accenture, P&G, Cisco Systems, Merrill Lynch, Google, Jaguar, Nissan, AC Neilson, BMW, British Petroleum |
University of Nottingham |
Bloomberg, Barclays Bank, Ernst & Young, IBM, Deloitte, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, PWC, Thomson Reuters |
University of Salford |
MTV, Microsoft, Motorola, Barclays Bank, Apple, IBM, American Express, Osmosys, BBC, ICI India, Hewlett Packard, CITI Bank, Siemens, Cisco Systems, Toyota |
One of the main reasons for students to pursue an MBA in UK is an increase in their earning capacity and return on investment (ROI). Check out the average salaries and tuition fees for the listed universities to deduce the ROI of pursuing an MBA in UK. Check out the weighted salaries offered to MBA graduates from the top UK business schools, along with their tuition fees:
University Name |
Average Salaries (in GBP) |
First-Year Tuition Fee (in GBP) |
University of Leeds |
93,356 |
473,684 |
University of Birmingham |
88,443 |
550,498 |
University of Oxford |
107,278 |
947,369 |
University of Manchester |
86,805 |
588,905 |
University of Cambridge |
107,278 |
883,358 |
The UK post-study work visa permits international students to stay in the UK for two years after finishing their education and search for employment within that time period. The rule applies to bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree holders. If the PSW visa has expired, students who wish to remain in the UK for an extended period of time must apply for a skilled work visa or a general work visa (Tier 2 visa). To obtain a Tier 2 or a general work visa, an applicant must earn at least GBP 30,000 per year. However, depending on the profession, this could be more or less.
A. The most affordable universities for Indian students to pursue MBA in UK are York St John University (London), Cardiff Metropolitan University, Glasgow Caledonian University (London), University College Birmingham, Canterbury Christ Church University, Leeds Beckett University, University of Wolverhampton, University of Bedfordshire, Ulster University (Birmingham Campus), and Glyndwr University.
A. Yes, an MBA in UK lasts one year for full-time MBA courses. However, a part-time MBA lasts two years in the UK. The one-year length of the MBA programmes in the UK attracts students from around the world. Most of the MBA programmes in the UK are for one year. This is the perfect choice for students who want to complete their education quickly and look for employment as soon as possible.
A. Yes, a GMAT score is required to apply for an MBA programme in the UK. For most MBA programmes in the UK, you must submit your GMAT scorecard together with your application. However, many UK universities offer GMAT waivers for international students and place more emphasis on other criteria instead, such as relevant work experience, essays, interviews, and letters of recommendation.
A. Yes, you can study MBA in UK without work experience. For this, applicants must have at least a second-class honours degree and a minimum IELTS score of 5.5 bands. Universities like Coventry University, Glyndwr University, Liverpool John Moores University, Staffordshire University, Swansea University, University of Central Lancashire, University of West London, Teesside University, etc offer MBA programmes to international students having no prior work experience.
A. Yes, you can study MBA in UK without IELTS and GMAT as some universities do not consider these exams a mandatory requirement. Universities like the University of Reading, Birmingham City University, Lancaster University, University of Lancashire, and Middlesex University admit international students without IELTS and GMAT.
A. The most in-demand MBA specialisation in UK is the MBA in Marketing. It is one of the most popular MBA specialisations and has a competitive salary range. Students gain knowledge of customer behaviour and how to design appealing advertisements and products. Market research, branding, consumer psychology, and digital marketing are all topics included in MBA programmes at UK universities.
A. A minimum of two to three years of work experience is required to pursue an MBA in UK if you are planning to study at top MBA colleges in UK. A student will find it simpler to comprehend management concepts if they have prior work experience. Therefore, having job experience gives students a competitive advantage at the MBA College and helps them study and engage more actively in the MBA curriculum task as well as tasks assigned during the classes.
A. After pursuing an MBA in UK, you can get jobs like Information Technology Manager, Human Resources Manager, Medical Director, Business Operations Manager, Chief Executive Officer, Finance Manager, Marketing Manager, Business Analyst, Business Development Manager, Project Manager, and Chief Financial Officer.
A. Definitely, it is worth studying MBA in UK because it is a long-term investment in a career that gives higher ROI. UK universities have a well-designed curriculum that combines their MBA programmes with practical work experience. Additionally, obtaining an MBA from the UK will improve your resume and extend your horizons about the actual industrial exposure.
A. Yes, in terms of the length of the MBA programmes, it can be said that MBA in UK is better than MBA in USA. A UK MBA typically takes less time if a student is contemplating it and is aiming for more quick job advancement. MBA in USA can last up to two years, which typically lasts for one year in Europe.
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