I got an admission for MBA in university of leeds , southampton ,strathcylde and Kent

I got an admission offer for an MBA from the University of Leeds (fees: 27k) , Southampton (fees: 25k), Strathclyde (fees: 22k) and Kent (fees: 15k) after a scholarship
which one is better in terms of ROI?
I have 5+ years of experience in the Digital marketing field, so I am planning to get a job in the UK in the same field or I am planning to move to management consulting
any suggestion?

Reply 1

Rincewind_Bored

Strathclyde is an excellent option, and they have a wonderful campus. Plus, the recent racist riots that have recently occurred across England have not occurred in Scotland, so you are less likely to come across that sort of nonsense in Scotland. Strathclyde also has a very diverse student population, which might appeal if you are coming from abroad to study. I don't know about the others.

Strathclyde is also a very modern university with many industry links. It is quite an innovative university, not as conservative as, say, the University of Glasgow. (Albeit the UoG has a higher university rating and has excellent qualities of its own.) The cost of living in Glasgow should be fairly cheap in comparison to Southampton and Kent. I'm unsure about Leeds.

Given your background in digital marketing and your aspirations to either continue in that field or transition into management consulting, University of Strathclyde seems to offer the best balance between cost and potential ROI. The strong reputation, particularly in management consulting, combined with reasonable fees, makes it a compelling choice.
University of Leeds is also an excellent option, especially if you are looking to tap into a broader, possibly more prestigious, alumni network and industry connections. It might justify the higher cost if you aim for top consulting firms or high-level marketing positions.

While Southampton and Kent have their merits, they may not offer the same level of ROI, especially if you are aiming for highly competitive fields.

Ultimately, your decision should also consider personal factors like your preferred location, specific industry connections, and where you see yourself thriving academically and professionally.

Reply 2

Rincewind_Bored

I asked ChatGPT for a comparison of these three universities and here is what it said;

1. University of Leeds

•

Reputation and Ranking: Leeds University Business School is well-regarded in the UK and globally. It consistently ranks within the top 100 MBA programs worldwide and is part of the prestigious Russell Group.

•

Industry Connections and Alumni Network: Leeds has strong connections to various industries, including digital marketing and management consulting. Its alumni network is extensive and can be a valuable resource for job opportunities post-graduation.

•

ROI Consideration: While the fees are on the higher side (£27k), the strong reputation and the potential for higher earning opportunities post-graduation might justify the cost, particularly if you aim for top-tier management consulting firms or high-level positions in digital marketing.

2. University of Southampton

•

Reputation and Ranking: Southampton also has a good reputation, particularly in technology and engineering. However, its business school is less renowned compared to Leeds and Strathclyde.

•

Industry Connections and Alumni Network: Southampton’s business school has decent industry connections, but they might not be as strong as those at Leeds or Strathclyde, particularly in management consulting.

•

ROI Consideration: The fee of £25k is competitive, but given that the university’s business school is not as highly ranked, the ROI might not be as strong compared to Leeds. However, it could be a good choice if you have a specific interest in areas where Southampton excels, like tech-driven business roles.

3. University of Strathclyde

•

Reputation and Ranking: Strathclyde Business School is highly respected, especially for its MBA program, which consistently ranks well in Europe and the UK. It is also part of the prestigious "Triple Crown" accreditation (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS), which is a strong indicator of quality.

•

Industry Connections and Alumni Network: Strathclyde has strong ties to industry, particularly in Scotland and the broader UK. The business school is known for producing graduates who excel in management consulting and has a robust network in this field.

•

ROI Consideration: With fees at £22k, Strathclyde offers a very strong ROI, especially considering its reputation, industry connections, and the fact that it's a well-established program with strong employment outcomes for graduates. If your goal is to break into management consulting, Strathclyde could be an excellent choice.

4. University of Kent

•

Reputation and Ranking: Kent’s business school is less renowned compared to the other universities mentioned. It is more regionally focused and does not have the same level of global recognition.

•

Industry Connections and Alumni Network: The connections might be more limited, and the alumni network less extensive, particularly in management consulting. However, the lower fees (£15k after the scholarship) are attractive.

•

ROI Consideration: While the low fees might be appealing, the lower ranking and limited network could result in a less favorable ROI, particularly if you’re aiming for high-paying roles in competitive fields like management consulting. This might be a better option if you're focused on cost savings and plan to leverage personal networks or if you're more flexible with your post-MBA job expectations.

Reply 3

University of Kent

Official Rep

Original post by Sandipan007

Hi @Sandipan007 !

Huge congratulations on your offer to study with us here at Kent and even bigger kudos on receiving a scholarship!

There's lots to think about when it comes to return on investment - my question would be what are looking to get out of your university experience?

If it's a high quality course you're after, we have you covered - our facilities are known for being first class and we have a dedicated MBA suite. Our business school is "triple crown" accredited and our staff appear in the top 2% of researchers worldwide. Finally, the course is both CMI and AMBA accredited.

If it's business and networking opportunities - you'll have many networking opportunities throughout the course, the opportunity to go through our Business Start Up Journey, and great support for your future career via our Careers and Employability Service

If its a great university experience - the course has great flexibility with both full time and part time study options, and plenty of social opportunities with over 250+ societies to choose from.

Here is some more detailed information on the course for you to look at - https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/291/mba

I hope this helps you make an informed choice, please do let me know if you have further questions!

Best Wishes,
Gabby

Reply 4

Ccreds

For me, my MBA shows that I can survive under the toughest conditions. I got a Distinction (77) and it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done since over two years it can drag out big time. Doing well has its costs and if you aren’t planning on a distinction I can’t see the point in doing it when you can do further digital marketing work and still end up getting exploited by a consultancy regardless.

What I felt it did was something akin to the SAS course does to special forces, you made it to the end so proving you can survive - it’ll change you as a person and that is probably the most valuable thing about it. It’s for those in the 25-29 ish bracket so if you aren’t there then likely you won’t benefit from the broader experience in the way intended. This is a shaping course. Any older and your value to the market is decreased and any younger you probably won’t be able to allocate the effort required. This is why people go to the top places because it is about the whole ‘schooling’ process not just the fact you passed some modules.
you’ll mostly do modules about finance and business management so even if you fly through the marketing modules you might find you hit a wall with the others and it pulls down your overall grade. If you don’t think in the macro then life will be tough.

The variables are your age and situation (be ready to study all the time), cost of attendance, time out of your career, other courses more relevant that could have been better for your specialism, desire to be a different person at the end versus being over qualified for so many jobs you otherwise could have slipped into.

As a consultant you really are just a body to be burned so why do an MBA when you only needed to be obsessed with Excel.

MBA’s are money spinners and keep whole schools alive. If you do it do it because of you as a person but be aware that it is a route to enlightenment that not a lot of people understand. Don’t expend energy or money expecting returns that aren’t really there - at least in the UK - and get a distinction.

Reply 5

Rincewind_Bored

Original post by Ccreds

For me, my MBA shows that I can survive under the toughest conditions. I got a Distinction (77) and it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done since over two years it can drag out big time. Doing well has its costs and if you aren’t planning on a distinction I can’t see the point in doing it when you can do further digital marketing work and still end up getting exploited by a consultancy regardless.
What I felt it did was something akin to the SAS course does to special forces, you made it to the end so proving you can survive - it’ll change you as a person and that is probably the most valuable thing about it. It’s for those in the 25-29 ish bracket so if you aren’t there then likely you won’t benefit from the broader experience in the way intended. This is a shaping course. Any older and your value to the market is decreased and any younger you probably won’t be able to allocate the effort required. This is why people go to the top places because it is about the whole ‘schooling’ process not just the fact you passed some modules.
you’ll mostly do modules about finance and business management so even if you fly through the marketing modules you might find you hit a wall with the others and it pulls down your overall grade. If you don’t think in the macro then life will be tough.
The variables are your age and situation (be ready to study all the time), cost of attendance, time out of your career, other courses more relevant that could have been better for your specialism, desire to be a different person at the end versus being over qualified for so many jobs you otherwise could have slipped into.
As a consultant you really are just a body to be burned so why do an MBA when you only needed to be obsessed with Excel.
MBA’s are money spinners and keep whole schools alive. If you do it do it because of you as a person but be aware that it is a route to enlightenment that not a lot of people understand. Don’t expend energy or money expecting returns that aren’t really there - at least in the UK - and get a distinction.

I can definitely relate to the points made by Ccreds about the challenges and rewards of an MBA. Having completed my MBA, I found it to be an incredibly tough and, at times, frustrating experience, but also one that has its unique value, especially depending on where you are in your career.

One of the biggest challenges I faced was the clash of cultures within the cohort. My group was quite diverse, with around 40% of the students coming from China. While this diversity was enriching in many ways, it also posed significant challenges, particularly when it came to group work. In the Chinese culture, there tends to be a strong respect for hierarchy and authority, which often manifested as a reluctance to volunteer opinions or challenge ideas openly. This was a stark contrast to what is typically expected in an MBA program, where critical thinking, open debate, and assertiveness are key to success.

During group projects, I often found myself in a de facto leadership position simply because some members were waiting to be told what to do, rather than stepping up to contribute ideas proactively. This wasn’t ideal, as an MBA is supposed to be about learning from each other and collaborating as equals. But to ensure the work got done—and done well—I had to take the initiative in delegating tasks and setting the direction for the group. It felt uncomfortable at times because it wasn’t about being ‘in charge,’ but more about making sure we didn’t fall behind.

Another challenge was punctuality and attitudes towards deadlines, which varied significantly across cultures. For instance, students from Latin countries tended to be more relaxed about time, often arriving late to meetings—even those with business clients during placements. This is something that can create friction, especially when working with peers from the UK, Germany, or the Nordic countries, where punctuality is highly valued. We even discussed this cultural difference in class, acknowledging that it’s not about one approach being better than the other, but understanding and adapting to these differences in a professional setting.

To manage these challenges, I adopted a strategy that worked well for me: starting early on assignments. I would often draft the initial framework and write a first version of the document before our group meetings. This way, I had a safety net to ensure that our work would meet a certain standard, while still allowing others to contribute and improve upon the draft. This approach helped me manage the stress of group work and ensured that we produced quality outcomes, even if some members were less proactive.

As for the overall value of the MBA, I had already been in business for about 20 years before starting the program, so I didn’t learn much that was entirely new. However, the MBA did help me fill in some knowledge gaps and present what I already knew in a more structured, academic way. For someone like me, who came from an underclass background and worked my way up without going to university, the MBA was more about closing a gap in my CV and overcoming the imposter syndrome that I had carried with me for years.

I believe the MBA is most valuable for younger professionals in their 20s who are still building their foundational knowledge of business. For someone with more experience, like myself, the tangible benefits might not be as significant in terms of new knowledge or networking. Speaking of networking, while I only met one person who might be a valuable connection in the future, the broader network aspect of the MBA wasn’t particularly impactful for me.

One aspect that really surprised me after completing my MBA was the varying levels of recognition and understanding of the qualification, particularly in different sectors. I had always assumed that an MBA was universally acknowledged as a prestigious and valuable qualification, especially given the rigorous effort it requires. However, it was quite shocking to discover that many people in industry, particularly those outside of blue-chip companies or the finance sector, have little understanding of what an MBA actually entails or its value.

In interviews with smaller and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or public sector organisations, I was sometimes met with blank stares or even direct questions like, "What exactly is an MBA?" This was a stark contrast to my experiences with large corporations, particularly in the finance sector, where the MBA is highly regarded and often seen as a key credential for leadership roles. It’s a reminder that while the MBA is a powerful tool in the right contexts, its value can vary significantly depending on the industry and the specific company culture.

This lack of recognition can be frustrating, especially as you’ve invested a lot of time and money into the qualification with the expectation that it will open doors across the board. It’s essential to be aware of this reality and to be prepared to explain and advocate for the value of your MBA in situations where it might not be immediately recognised. Understanding the specific needs and values of the industry you’re targeting can help you better position your MBA as a relevant and beneficial qualification, even in sectors where it’s less common.