If you want to pursue a graduate business degree, you might consider going to Europe.
Western Europe is the second-most popular place globally for prospective business students, following the US. Students are drawn to Western Europe for its affordable degrees, culture, and influential global cities.
The United Kingdom is a European country that provides excellent chances for graduate business students. But, which cities should you consider for your MBA experience?
Legaruem used the Complete University Guide to identify the best cities for an MBA in the UK. These nine destinations will allow you to pursue a top-ranked MBA degree while also expanding your experience with culture and history.
1. Cambridge
The University of Cambridge Judge Business School is ranked second in the UK in the Financial Times MBA ranking, appealing to students seeking an intensive degree with strong customisation opportunities.
Students, for example, can concentrate on digital transformation, energy and the environment, or social innovation. In addition, you will work on three team projects and one individual summer project over the course of a year, providing many opportunities to put your talents to the test.
Cambridge is a student-friendly city with a diverse population. Approximately 40% of the population was born outside of England, with many coming from India, the US, and China.
2023/2024 MBA Fees: US$81,400
2. Oxford
Oxford, like Cambridge, is world-renowned for the prestige of its institution. According to the Financial Times, the University of Oxford Saïd Business School is ranked third in the UK for its MBA program, emphasizing critical thinking and preparing students for global leadership.
The Oxford MBA curriculum focuses on global concerns to help students develop these competencies. The interactive curriculum ‘Global Rules of the Game’ examines national laws, climate change agreements, and international trade, prompting students to question how governments develop business laws.
Oxford is a similarly multicultural city with strong ties to the arts and sciences. Students studying for an MBA can visit museums and galleries affiliated with Oxford colleges, such as Modern Art Oxford and the Ashmolean Museum.
2024 MBA Fees: US$90,100
3. Bath
Bath is a lovely city with a centuries-long history, including the world-renowned Roman Baths. However, the city is also an excellent choice for MBA students due to its prominent institution.
The University of Bath has been named University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023, and is ranked among the top 150 universities globally by QS World University Rankings 2024. Bath’s MBA program, taught in the School of Management, is designed for intimate, personalized instruction, with only 45 students in each class.
Instead of a dissertation, Bath MBA students complete the Multi-Project Suite, which consists of four immersive assignments. These include a consulting challenge, an entrepreneurship project, participation in a change initiative, and a complicated business problem. These projects allow students to practice their talents in natural settings, laying a good foundation for graduate work.
2024 MBA Fees: US$47,650
4. London
Imperial College London and University College London (UCL) are two London business schools that appear on the Complete University Guide rankings. Both institutions are located in the city’s heart, and MBA students will benefit from the plethora of cultural and professional opportunities accessible in Europe’s largest metropolis while studying.
The Imperial MBA program combines traditional MBA content with competencies for modern executives. The core modules include business analytics, innovation, entrepreneurship, and CSR. An overseas experience complements campus instruction by taking students throughout the world to learn about different economies and meet local organizations.
The UCL MBA program offers both in-person and online learning options. The program focuses on developing data-driven leaders, with core courses centered on data analytics, decision-making, and strategy, and the year concludes with an immersive capstone project.
Imperial College London
2024 MBA Fees: US$78,400
University College London
2024 MBA Fees: US$54,200
5. Loughborough
Loughborough University’s expertise in sports science informs the main leadership courses of its MBA program. The degree seeks to provide students with the necessary abilities to pursue their career goals, with an emphasis on being socially responsible leaders.
The MBA program is triple-accredited, and students can also pursue a two-year MBA that includes a year of internship work. Regardless of the program choice, students get the opportunity to engage on practical projects with real-world firms and participate in an international study experience.
Loughborough is a highly cheap city that is around 90 minutes from London. As a result, MBA students can take advantage of attractive internship possibilities in the UK capital and spend their free time touring historic locations.
2024 MBA Fees: US$40,800
6. Durham
Durham University’s MBA program is consistently ranked among the top ten universities in the United Kingdom. Despite its location in one of the UK’s smallest cities, Durham University Business School’s MBA is among the top 80 globally.
On the Durham MBA, students can pick one of three specialty paths: entrepreneurship, consulting, or technology. These pathways will alter your MBA experience and provide you with practical skills for a suitable profession.
The Boardroom Exercise is open to all students, regardless of their academic pathway. This immersive event allows students to argue the concepts they’ve learnt during the year with genuine members of a senior management team of an organization.
2024 MBA Fees: US$44,600
7. Lancaster
Lancaster University Management School offers an MBA program that blends taught modules with practical tasks to use newly acquired business abilities. Furthermore, small class sizes allow you to build close ties with your professors and peers.
In addition to classroom difficulties, Lancaster MBA students participate in regular work placements throughout the program, which are handled by the department. These include a group placement with a SME and a six-week consulting project during the summer.
Lancaster University is one of the top ten institutions in the United Kingdom, with a green campus located outside the ancient city of Lancaster. Students can, however, take advantage of Lancaster’s position to visit Morecambe Bay, the Lake District, and the dynamic city of Manchester.
2024 MBA Fees: US$33,800 for UK students, US$45,900 for international
8. Coventry
Warwick Business School is consistently ranked among the top business schools in the UK and globally. The school has gained a reputation for its immersive online MBA, but it is also known for its demanding full-time MBA program, which strives to transform students into ‘Change Makers’.
As part of this process, students participate in various immersive activities. These include two client assignments that include real business and an optional international vacation. Another essential component of the program is the LeadershipPlus module, which allows students to gain hands-on leadership experience while working on a real-world corporate project.
The Warwick Business School is located on the wide campus of the University of Warwick, just outside of Coventry. You’re well located between London and Birmingham, both important economic hubs with plenty of graduate prospects. You are also extremely close to Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon.
2024 MBA Fees: US$63,700
9. Edinburgh
Edinburgh, the only city on this list that is not in England, earned its berth. Edinburgh is a powerhouse of arts and culture, with a thriving scientific and technology industry. Students flock to Edinburgh to enjoy its history and vistas, as well as to pursue employment prospects.
Edinburgh Business School’s MBA program prioritizes strategic leadership, professional development, and personalized learning. MBA cohorts are kept as small as possible to ensure that students receive adequate assistance for their studies and career development, and strategic thinking is infused in all electives.
There is also the option of pursuing an MBA with Exchange program at Edinburgh Business School. Students enrolled in this curriculum will spend the second semester overseas, researching international business and studying at a demanding partner university.
2024 MBA Fees: US$49,000
Note: Fees will fluctuate according to the exchange rate.