The Student Room Group

Adult career advancement - advice needed!

Hi,
I am seeking advice about postgraduate education in London. Ideally, a 2-year course that could help me update my knowledge and consequently, find decent work in the UK. I would prefer a part-time course that will allow me to work to provide for my family.
About myself: I am 41, from outside the UK and have extensive work experience in business development (sales). My Bachelor’s degree was in Economics and Management of Foreign Trade.
The sum to spend is in the range of 10 000 pounds and I would not like to waste in on a backstreet MBA.
As I am not sure what to go for: an MBA or a MS, I would be thankful for a piece of advice.
Reply 1
Original post by Elbrus-72
Hi,
I am seeking advice about postgraduate education in London. Ideally, a 2-year course that could help me update my knowledge and consequently, find decent work in the UK. I would prefer a part-time course that will allow me to work to provide for my family.
About myself: I am 41, from outside the UK and have extensive work experience in business development (sales). My Bachelor’s degree was in Economics and Management of Foreign Trade.
The sum to spend is in the range of 10 000 pounds and I would not like to waste in on a backstreet MBA.
As I am not sure what to go for: an MBA or a MS, I would be thankful for a piece of advice.


When you say you're from outside the UK, where exactly are you from? Non-EU citizens have a hard time getting a visa for part-time studying (I think it's even impossible so you need to get a different type of visa).

The £10k I assume is for tuition fees? And living costs you'd finance through part-time work? Again important to know whether you would qualify for home fees or international fees, check out this website for info:

http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/International-Students/Fees--finance/Home-or-Overseas-fees/England-Higher-Education/

But even if you qualify for home fees, £10k is becoming the norm for a decent business postgrad degree. There are a few universities to avoid, such as London School of Business and Finance (LSBF), you might want to explore the Russell Group universities first, even beyond London unless there's a real need to stay in London.
Reply 2
@c2uk
I am a Russian national. I suppose I need a tier-4 visa for my studies. My goal is to settle in the UK after the course.


"The £10k I assume is for tuition fees?"
Sure, £10k is only for tuition fees.


"And living costs you'd finance through part-time work?"
You cannot apply for a UK tier-4 visa without showing needed funds on account which are not less than £25 785 per 9 months of study in central London and £19 800 elsewhere. Of course, I have certain savings that, however, will not last for long without a part-time job (at the very least).


"Again important to know whether you would qualify for home fees or international fees, check out this website for info.."
This time I will not qualify for home fees, I am afraid.


"even beyond London unless there's a real need to stay in London"
London as a big city and a home for many companies, so it might have brighter job prospects. On the other hand, the cost of living in London is greater than anywhere else in the UK. From the latter point of view, London should be avoided as much as possible. Given the fact that my family consists of 4, I will have to spend over £1500 only on the rent and related, which is a lot. So, I feel myself kind of 'between the rock and the hard place'. On the one hand, London could bring better job opportunities, on the other, it is a costly place :frown: What do you think about my case? I got to understand that LSBF must be avoided, thanks:smile:
Reply 3
Original post by Elbrus-72
@c2uk
I am a Russian national. I suppose I need a tier-4 visa for my studies. My goal is to settle in the UK after the course.


"The £10k I assume is for tuition fees?"
Sure, £10k is only for tuition fees.


"And living costs you'd finance through part-time work?"
You cannot apply for a UK tier-4 visa without showing needed funds on account which are not less than £25 785 per 9 months of study in central London and £19 800 elsewhere. Of course, I have certain savings that, however, will not last for long without a part-time job (at the very least).


"Again important to know whether you would qualify for home fees or international fees, check out this website for info.."
This time I will not qualify for home fees, I am afraid.


"even beyond London unless there's a real need to stay in London"
London as a big city and a home for many companies, so it might have brighter job prospects. On the other hand, the cost of living in London is greater than anywhere else in the UK. From the latter point of view, London should be avoided as much as possible. Given the fact that my family consists of 4, I will have to spend over £1500 only on the rent and related, which is a lot. So, I feel myself kind of 'between the rock and the hard place'. On the one hand, London could bring better job opportunities, on the other, it is a costly place :frown: What do you think about my case? I got to understand that LSBF must be avoided, thanks:smile:


£10k at international fee rates, you definitely need to look for additional funding here, doubt you find a decent university offering that. And a tier-4 visa won't be possible for part-time studies, only full-time. the government has changed visa regulations, and while I'm no expert, it's not that easy to then find work afterwards that would support you with getting a work visa.

Sure, London is the centre of business life, but that doesn't mean you need to do your degree there in order to find work afterwards. The top business schools are targeted by the big employers anyway, plus the top business schools have a dedicated careers consultant helping you as well.
Reply 4
Original post by c2uk
£10k at international fee rates, you definitely need to look for additional funding here, doubt you find a decent university offering that. And a tier-4 visa won't be possible for part-time studies, only full-time. the government has changed visa regulations, and while I'm no expert, it's not that easy to then find work afterwards that would support you with getting a work visa.

Sure, London is the centre of business life, but that doesn't mean you need to do your degree there in order to find work afterwards. The top business schools are targeted by the big employers anyway, plus the top business schools have a dedicated careers consultant helping you as well.

Many thanks for y comments!
I've already applied for a European passport to be able to sort out the question with visas by the end of my presumable course. But it will take appr. 1 year or so to do. Currently, I'll have to go without it.

I'd be thankful if you gave me a hint where to look for a 2-year MBA in Business (except Finance): probably, Project Management - or International relations and Organizations (which is Social Sciences) at a reasonable cost. I'd prefer London, but will consider other locations, too..... Thanks!
Reply 5
Original post by Elbrus-72
Many thanks for y comments!
I've already applied for a European passport to be able to sort out the question with visas by the end of my presumable course. But it will take appr. 1 year or so to do. Currently, I'll have to go without it.

I'd be thankful if you gave me a hint where to look for a 2-year MBA in Business (except Finance): probably, Project Management - or International relations and Organizations (which is Social Sciences) at a reasonable cost. I'd prefer London, but will consider other locations, too..... Thanks!


A 2 year MBA you'd more likely to find in the USA, the majority of MBAs in the UK are 1 year long. I think Birmingham has something close that would include a one year pre-MBA programme.

An MBA specialising in Project Management or International Relations might be even more difficult to find as these are normally offered as MSc programmes (which are even more likely to be one year programmes in the UK).

"Organizations (which is Social Sciences)" - well strictly speaking "business" is kind of a social science anyway.

If you start off by looking at the Russell Group universities, you wouldn't be doing too bad. The Financial Times has a special MBA league table but those on there are normally quite expensive. Accreditation is important for an MBA, so make sure whichever you choose is accredited - there's talk about the importance of triple accreditation, but I wouldn't really bother with this too much.
Reply 6
Original post by c2uk
A 2 year MBA you'd more likely to find in the USA, the majority of MBAs in the UK are 1 year long.

I know it, but a longer course secures a longer visa, in addition you'll have 4 extra months after the end of the course. A longer time is needed to learn the language, make friends and explore the job market. Also, I want to make sure I will not be booted out of the UK in case the European passport which I applied for recently, fails to be ready by the end of the course.
Because there is no other way to stay for long in the UK than to obtain a work- or study-related visa, it's advisable to be attentive if your visa sponsor stops to support your visa for any reason.

Original post by c2uk
I think Birmingham has something close that would include a one year pre-MBA programme.


They have a 21-month MBA but the cost of 26000 is over my expectations :frown:

Original post by c2uk
An MBA specialising in Project Management or International Relations might be even more difficult to find as these are normally offered as MSc programmes (which are even more likely to be one year programmes in the UK).

I do not quite lean towards a normal academic degree as MSc as I find it boring to tackle mathematical bent subjects which I probably not be using in my work. It's quite OK when you are 17 but not at 42 :smile:

Original post by c2uk
"Organizations (which is Social Sciences)" - well strictly speaking "business" is kind of a social science anyway.

:smile:

Original post by c2uk
If you start off by looking at the Russell Group universities, you wouldn't be doing too bad. The Financial Times has a special MBA league table but those on there are normally quite expensive. Accreditation is important for an MBA, so make sure whichever you choose is accredited - there's talk about the importance of triple accreditation, but I wouldn't really bother with this too much.

Russel group looks great, very inspiring! I'll take a closer look at it!
One more question.
Are MBAs at LSBU and Heriot-Watt (taught by West London College) a total crap?
http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/courses/course-finder/master-business-administration-mba#course_tab_overview
http://www.westlondoncollege.com/heriot-watt-mba-business-administration/#
Thanks!
Reply 7
Original post by Elbrus-72
I know it, but a longer course secures a longer visa, in addition you'll have 4 extra months after the end of the course. A longer time is needed to learn the language, make friends and explore the job market. Also, I want to make sure I will not be booted out of the UK in case the European passport which I applied for recently, fails to be ready by the end of the course.
Because there is no other way to stay for long in the UK than to obtain a work- or study-related visa, it's advisable to be attentive if your visa sponsor stops to support your visa for any reason.


As I said, 2 year MBAs are just that less common.

I do not quite lean towards a normal academic degree as MSc as I find it boring to tackle mathematical bent subjects which I probably not be using in my work. It's quite OK when you are 17 but not at 42 :smile:


MSc does not mean it has to be mathematical. As I said, those topics you mentioned are very unlikely to find as an MBA - or in the case of International Relations, even part of an MBA.

Russel group looks great, very inspiring! I'll take a closer look at it!
One more question.
Are MBAs at LSBU and Heriot-Watt (taught by West London College) a total crap?
http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/courses/course-finder/master-business-administration-mba#course_tab_overview
http://www.westlondoncollege.com/heriot-watt-mba-business-administration/#
Thanks!


In my humble opinion, they aren't worth the money.

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