Durham vs Lancaster MBA

DinDin2022

3 6

Posted Jun 02, 2022 09:39

Hello all, I have offers from both Durham and Lancaster for their 2022/2023 MBA programmes. I have gone through the FT rankings and I can see that this year, Lancaster moved 20 places up in the rankings while Durham fell 20 places down. Although, Durham's 3 year average is still higher. I also know that Durham has an overall higher prestige than Lancaster in the UK.

Although, Lancaster has generously offered me a 25% off scholarship and I have received nothing from Durham University (yet), i'm trying not to let scholarship offer determine my decision. I have also reached out to present MBA candidates and alumni of both schools on LinkedIn and they all seem to have a bias towards their own schools.

I'm a 28 year old lady and I have 6 years work experience in market risk management. I have also been involved in several projects in my organisation.
After the MBA, my goal is to switch to a business strategy role (in-house) at a reputable company in the Uk.
If anyone can give me some insight and clarity, that would be really helpful.

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Jun 02, 2022 13:41

I'm not *very* sure that many major Uk companies have sizable business strategy teams. That sound very 1980s, Grand-Metropolian era. Take a look at:

How to use LinkedIn to find the best school www.find-mba.com/board/33571

I'm not *very* sure that many major Uk companies have sizable business strategy teams. That sound very 1980s, Grand-Metropolian era. Take a look at:<br>
<div>
</div><div>How to use LinkedIn to find the best school www.find-mba.com/board/33571
</div><div><br></div><div>
</div>

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DinDin2022

3 6

Posted Jun 02, 2022 14:12

Thanks Duncan. Here in my office, I work closely with the strategy managers on several projects and I developed a lot of interest in their field. I wrote down the top 4 roles that I am most interested in after my MBA. These are:

Strategy management
Business Development
Business Analysis
Project Management.

I have tried doing the LinkedIn search (I hope I did it correctly) and it seems like Durham has more alumni in these sectors.

Thanks Duncan. Here in my office, I work closely with the strategy managers on several projects and I developed a lot of interest in their field. I wrote down the top 4 roles that I am most interested in after my MBA. These are:
<div>
</div><div>Strategy management
</div><div>Business Development
</div><div>Business Analysis 
</div><div>Project Management.
</div><div>
</div><div>I have tried doing the LinkedIn search (I hope I did it correctly) and it seems like Durham has more alumni in these sectors. </div>

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donho199

422 503

Posted Jun 02, 2022 18:29

Lancaster business school has traditionally a bigger has more depth and place well.

Durham undergraduate school is strong

Go to Lancaster

Or aim at the level.of Manchester Bayes or top schools such as Warwick Oxford London

Lancaster business school has traditionally a bigger has more depth and place well.<br><br>Durham undergraduate school is strong<br><br>Go to Lancaster<br><br>Or aim at the level.of Manchester Bayes or top schools such as Warwick Oxford London

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Jun 02, 2022 18:50

Of course the question isn't whether Durham has more alumni but whether it has more MBA alumni in those roles.

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DinDin2022

3 6

Posted Jun 02, 2022 20:47

Lancaster business school has traditionally a bigger has more depth and place well.

Durham undergraduate school is strong

Go to Lancaster

Or aim at the level.of Manchester Bayes or top schools such as Warwick Oxford London

Thank you, It's too late to apply to the other schools now. I have informed my employer that I'll be resigning so there's no going back now. I have only Durham and Lancaster as options at the moment. One issue I have with Lancaster is the fact that their cohort is about 78% Indians. Doesn't that take away from the diversity?
What would you say makes Lancaster better? (location isn't an issue for me). I mainly care about the quality of the program and the future prospects. I know that Durham is generally perceived to be prestigious. Can this translate into the job market when I meet employers? Although, I have been told that what is more important to employers is your ability to prove that you are smart and that you know how to get sh#t done.

[quote]Lancaster business school has traditionally a bigger has more depth and place well.<br><br>Durham undergraduate school is strong<br><br>Go to Lancaster<br><br>Or aim at the level.of Manchester Bayes or top schools such as Warwick Oxford London [/quote]<br><br>Thank you, It's too late to apply to the other schools now. I have informed my employer that I'll be resigning so there's no going back now. I have only Durham and Lancaster as options at the moment. One issue I have with Lancaster is the fact that their cohort is about 78% Indians. Doesn't that take away from the diversity?<br>What would you say makes Lancaster better? (location isn't an issue for me). I mainly care about the quality of the program and the future prospects. I know that Durham is generally perceived to be prestigious. Can this translate into the job market when I meet employers? Although, I have been told that what is more important to employers is your ability to prove that you are smart and that you know how to get sh#t done.

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DinDin2022

3 6

Posted Jun 02, 2022 20:59

Of course the question isn't whether Durham has more alumni but whether it has more MBA alumni in those roles.

I tried the method again. To be honest, Lancaster & Durham don't have a very large MBA alumni from what I can see. 713 for Lancaster and 995 MBAs for Durham.
Although, something I noticed is that this search still gives me people who did their MBA in other schools. For example; Someone who did their undergrad at Durham but did their MBA at LBS. Those people still appear in the searches.

[quote]Of course the question isn't whether Durham has more alumni but whether it has more MBA alumni in those roles.  [/quote]<br><br>I tried the method again. To be honest, Lancaster & Durham don't have a very large MBA alumni from what I can see. 713 for Lancaster and 995 MBAs for Durham.<br>Although, something I noticed is that this search still gives me people who did their MBA in other schools. For example; Someone who did their undergrad at Durham but did their MBA at LBS. Those people still appear in the searches.

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Jun 03, 2022 11:39

I think this is a good opportunity to rethink goals. Either you restrict yourself to these schools, in which case you need to choose between the career options they open, or you take extra time to find other schools that lead more probably to your original goals.

I think this is a good opportunity to rethink goals.  Either you restrict yourself to these schools, in which case you need to choose between the career options they open,  or you take extra time to find other schools that lead more probably to your original goals. 

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DinDin2022

3 6

Posted Jun 03, 2022 14:46

Please would you say are the career options that these schools open? On linkedIn a lot of the graduates seem to be scattered in several sectors. Also, I can see many of them in firms like EY, PWC, Deloitte and other much smaller consulting firms or IT companies. They also cover an array of job roles.

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Jun 03, 2022 15:22

It sounds like you are literally looking at the data you need to answer this question. You can hire me to give my opinion (see my profile page) but I think you have everything you need.

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Marina Iva...

2 3

Posted Jul 23, 2022 20:03

Good evening Duncan, I read here that you mentioned the MBA in Durham is too academic. I wonder if it is will be good and useful when the real cases will take place at work? Maybe it is better to take an MBA in Birmingham, despite the rates of it are lower? If they have much more practical cases, it can be better.

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Jul 23, 2022 22:54

Start from your career goals, not these affordances.

I doubt I said it was 'too' academic. I think the cutting edge of scholarship is a powerful catalyst for business transformation.

Start from your career goals, not these affordances. <br><br>I doubt I said it was 'too' academic. I think the cutting edge of scholarship is a powerful catalyst for business transformation. 

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