If you don't have any specific goals, just pick the five that are higher ranked by the FT MiM ranking. Strathclyde and Cranfield stand out for me from your list.

[quote]If you don't have any specific goals, just pick the five that are higher ranked by the FT MiM ranking. Strathclyde and Cranfield stand out for me from your list. [/quote]

2017 FT Ranking (Management)
47. Durham
49. Cranfield
52. Edinburgh
61. Leeds
64. Strathclyde
88. Manchester
91. Glasgow

Smurfit is 15th, but with the Master in International Management, a different program.
Surprised to see all these schools outside the top 50, and Manchester and Glasgow being so low

Ideally you want to study in the city you want to work afterwards. Or a city where the university has good network

All those universities are great, so the network of the university, and the location, are the next best things. University reputation in the area you plan to live afterwards, is also important of course

Personally I would not want to go to Leeds or Glasgow, because I don't like those cities to stay there afterwards... or to live there as student. So i would take off those 3 universities. I would choose manchester and edinburgh (as Edinburgh University alumni, I am a bit biased when I say it is great! and city is great also!)
(note this is my personal opinion, you can probably make a similar a list, and narrow your choices)

Thanks George, really appreciate your advices!
Edinburgh is my first choice, but since I know it won't be that easy to get admitted, I'm preparing some other options.
I fell in love with University of Glasgow but, after a more accurate research on rankings and reputation, I'm afraid it would be one to waive.
A great alternative, remaining in Glasgow, would be Strathclyde.
Dublin and Manchester are also very attractive to me, I just have to figure how a Global Elite School like Alliance has a MSc Management ranked so low (88th FT 2017).
Don't know much about the city of Cranfield, but their program and Business School have outstanding reputation and are ranked among the best. Same for Durham.

It's not hard to see why Manchester rates poorly:
-Weighted salary (US$)
-Value
-Aims achieved
-Employment

Remember, the MSc portfolio comes from the former UMIST side of the merger. The students are 96% international and 76% female. UCD, on the other hand, is only 42% female and 81% international.

PS Cranfield is a village, not a city. It's served by a bus that runs from Milton Keynes (where the Open University is headquartered) to Bedford (home of the University of Bedfordshire). Both have fast rail services into London.

[quote]Remember, the MSc portfolio comes from the former UMIST side of the merger. The students are 96% international and 76% female. UCD, on the other hand, is only 42% female and 81% international. [/quote]

I don't get this part, can you explain it to me, please?

Btw I noticed that the program considered by the FT, for Manchester, is the MSc in Business Analysis and Strategic Management, not the MSc Management.

Manchester is the merger of two universities. The prestigious MBA was in one, the MSc programmes were in the other, less valued, management school. There is still a difference.

The rankings reflect outcomes. Employers (generally, sadly) value local students and male students above international or female students. Outcomes and rankings are better at UCD partly for those reasons.

Thanks Duncan!

I feel like Edinburgh, Durham, Strathclyde, Cranfield and UCD-Smurfit could be the smartest choice, with Lancaster and Loughborough as some "luxury back-ups".

Good choices. Let us know what happens.

Hi everyone!

Talked with many Recruitment & Admission officers from the above mentioned schools (and watched for some new entries too), weighted program's cost, rankings (FT, Economist, QS), post-graduation salarie, % of employement and decided to apply for the following:

- Cranfield: MSc in Management
- Lancaster: MSc in Management
- Strathclyde: MSc in Business and Management
- Durham: MSc in Management
- Henley: MSc in Management

Waiting for the References to submit all materials, Lancaster and Henley may require an additional test as I have a Toefl iBT score of 97 while they aim for 100.
Do you think these may be considered a smart choice?

I'll keep you updated, finger crossed!

Good choices. Henley and Cranfield stand out as strong degrees in England, and Strath is a favorite among Scotland-bound students. Good luck!

[quote]Good choices. Henley and Cranfield stand out as strong degrees in England, and Strath is a favorite among Scotland-bound students. Good luck![/quote]

Thanks for the well wishes, I really appreciate it!

One question: GMAT is not required for this courses, and the advice is to apply as soon as possible to enhance the chances of admission, as many of these courses follow a "first come/first serve" basis.

I can apply now, or wait until January/February, meanwhile taking the GMAT aiming for a good and well-balance score (600+) to strenghten my application.

My main concerns are about age: I graduated with a First Class Honours (110/110 cum laude) at University of Milan (BSc Exercise and Sports Sciences, the programmes I'm applying for require a non-business background) and an average exams grade of 28.7/30.
However, I started University later in life and graduated in 2015 at 32 yo (I'm now 34).
I was thinking about the GMAT as a mean to demonstrate my potential, and maybe leave my "age-related problem" on the back burner.

What would your advice be?

Apply now and say that you take the GMAT if they want. No point waiting. Did you consider an MBA? There are some excellent, affordable options, like CEU or UC3M. Even the Lancaster part time MBA is just 20,000, and you could make full advantage of on-campus recruitment.

[quote]Apply now and say that you take the GMAT if they want. No point waiting. Did you consider an MBA? There are some excellent, affordable options, like CEU or UC3M. Even the Lancaster part time MBA is just 20,000, and you could make full advantage of on-campus recruitment. [/quote]

Thanks Duncan, these are really good options, particularly UC3M and Lancaster.
Honestly I don't think I'm ready for an MBA, I have substantial gaps in Business education and few to none work experience, from a managerial/supervisional point of view.

A MiM will have the same content as an MBA, just with an academic rather than experiential angle. Most MBA students have similar gaps in their business educations.

I got an offer from Strathclyde!

Still can't believe it!

Waiting for feedbacks from Cranfield, Henley, Lancaster and Durham.
Edinburgh and Smurfit were in my plans too, but at this point, would it make sense to apply?
Isn't Strathclyde better than both?

I think the MBM at Strathclyde is better.

PS personally, I would look carefully at Cranfield as an option as well. None of the others seem much better than Strathclyde

[quote]I think the MBM at Strathclyde is better.

PS personally, I would look carefully at Cranfield as an option as well. None of the others seem much better than Strathclyde [/quote]

Thank you Duncan.
Yes, I'd consider only Cranfield along with Strathclyde: Cranfield's programmes has also a 3-months internship (paid) which is really useful and important.
For others to be considered, it should come with substantial advantages (eg. a scholarship).

Got an offer from Henley too.
Still focused on Strathclyde or Cranfield, maybe Durham (if I get offers obviously).

I was looking at the FT MIM Ranking, analyzing some numbers: I was surprised by some low figures in Strathclyde stats, or maybe I got them wrong.

Careers service rank:
Durham 41
Cranfield 49
Strathclyde 85

Employed at 3 months (here Strath shows the best stats, similar employed but greater sample):
Durham 96(54)
Cranfield 90(53)
Strathclyde 94(81)

International mobility rank:
Durham 62
Cranfield 17
Strathclyde 81

Can't explain these numbers for Strath, hopefully someone is able to clear my doubts