University selection for MSc Information Systems/ Supply Chain Management

jetsonthom...

2 4

Posted May 18, 2022 22:02

Hi everyone,
I am a 32 year old Indian working as an ERP Consultant (IT firm) specializing in Supply Chain and Distribution. I have 6 years of experience in this field prior to which I was into Operations.

My budget restricts me within £25,000 and so I have applied for MSc programs rather than MBA. I plan to stay in the UK for a few years, so employability as an IT consultant / Business Analyst roles OR in Supply Chain management roles which can leverage my experience is my top priority when selecting a university.

I have received the following offers:
i. Leeds University Business School-
MSc Digital Information Management and Systems Innovation &
MSc Global Supply Chain Management
ii. University of Strathclyde- MSc in Business Analysis & Consulting
iii. Aston University- MSc. Information Systems and Business Analysis
iv. Cranfield University- MSc Management and Information Systems
v. The University of Exeter- Msc Management

Awaiting:
The University of Manchester- MSc Management and Information Systems
Lancaster University - Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Brunel- Supply Chain Mgt MSc

My preference based on location, university rankings and course structure is:
Manchester (if offered) > Leeds/ Strathclyde > Lancaster/Cranfield > Aston > Exeter.

LinkedIn research suggests most alumni of these courses are employed in home counties.
I would be extremely grateful if I can have some inputs regarding University selection for these courses considering employment prospects in UK.

Thank You.

quote

Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted May 19, 2022 11:44

Other things being equal:<br>- An MSc in a business school will have better resources than a non-business school<br>- An MSc in something with concrete, hard skills, like supply chain logistics, will have faster placement than a more soft skills degree like business analysis or innovation<br><br>Specifically<br>- the Manchester MSc is taught in the school for international development. I don't expect strong UK placement there. <br>- otherwise, your tiering makes sense to me. The four middle schools are very close. Cranfield leads for logistics. 

quote

aslamo

720 219

Posted May 21, 2022 09:08

You definitely don't need a degree to become a business analyst (BA) especially if you want to stay in the supply chain area and have six years of ERP experience. That should have given you plenty of experience of understanding business processes.

Doing a separate BA training course and getting a certification will help you fill in the gaps in your wider analytical knowledge and be a lot cheaper. I regularly hire BAs for organisations in different sectors and having a masters degree would usually have little bearing on whether I thought a particular candidate was better than the other.

Take a look at the BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis to see if that might meet your needs.
I'd be slightly wary of 'consulting' degrees. I don't know how well they are valued by consulting firms. When I joined a large and fairly prestigious consultancy aged 30 (not MBB or Big 4), they invested in about 40 days of training in my first year or so, including learning their own consultancy model.

[Edited by aslamo on May 21, 2022]

You definitely don't need a degree to become a business analyst (BA) especially if you want to stay in the supply chain area and have six years of ERP experience. That should have given you plenty of experience of understanding business processes. <br><br>Doing a separate BA training course and getting a certification will help you fill in the gaps in your wider analytical knowledge and be a lot cheaper. I regularly hire BAs for organisations in different sectors and having a masters degree would usually have little bearing on whether I thought a particular candidate was better than the other.<br><br>Take a look at the BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis to see if that might meet your needs.  <div><br></div>I'd be slightly wary of 'consulting' degrees. I don't know how well they are valued by consulting firms. When I joined a large and fairly prestigious consultancy aged 30 (not MBB or Big 4), they invested in about 40 days of training in my first year or so, including learning their own consultancy model.<div><div></div></div>

quote

jetsonthom...

2 4

Posted May 30, 2022 16:47

Other things being equal:
- An MSc in a business school will have better resources than a non-business school
- An MSc in something with concrete, hard skills, like supply chain logistics, will have faster placement than a more soft skills degree like business analysis or innovation

Hi Duncan,
Thank You for your response.
I feel MSc Supply Chain Mgmt would be the ideal career choice and have received offers from Leeds University and Aston.
While Leeds definitely ranks higher in overall University Rankings, I also noticed Aston's Supply Chain program ranked above Leeds in QS Subject wise rankings & best-masters.com. I am inclined to Aston due to this and the fees difference of around £3000. Would it be wrong to assume both these Universities are at par for Supply Chain mgmt?

[quote]Other things being equal:<br>- An MSc in a business school will have better resources than a non-business school<br>- An MSc in something with concrete, hard skills, like supply chain logistics, will have faster placement than a more soft skills degree like business analysis or innovation<br><br>Hi Duncan,<br>Thank You for your response.<br>I feel MSc Supply Chain Mgmt would be the ideal career choice and have received offers from Leeds University and Aston.<br>While Leeds definitely ranks higher in overall University Rankings, I also noticed Aston's Supply Chain program ranked above Leeds in QS Subject wise rankings & best-masters.com. I am inclined to Aston due to this and the fees difference of around £3000. <div>Would it be wrong to assume both these Universities are at par for Supply Chain mgmt?<br></div>

quote

jetsonthom...

2 4

Posted May 30, 2022 16:53

You definitely don't need a degree to become a business analyst (BA) especially if you want to stay in the supply chain area and have six years of ERP experience. That should have given you plenty of experience of understanding business processes.

Thank You aslamo.
I agree that a Masters in Business Analysis would not be the best way forward.

[quote]You definitely don't need a degree to become a business analyst (BA) especially if you want to stay in the supply chain area and have six years of ERP experience. That should have given you plenty of experience of understanding business processes. <br>[/quote]<br>Thank You aslamo.<br>I agree that a Masters in Business Analysis would not be the best way forward. 

quote

Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted May 30, 2022 16:53

If Aston is higher ranked and costs more then those are strong quality signals. Also see:

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

If Aston is higher ranked and costs more then those are strong quality signals. Also see: 
<div>
</div><div>How to use LinkedIn to find the best school www.find-mba.com/board/33571
</div><div><br></div><div>
</div>

quote

jetsonthom...

2 4

Posted May 30, 2022 17:00

Hi Duncan,
I am sorry if I was not clear.

MSc Supply Chain mgmt in Aston University which is higher ranked actually costs less than Leeds University Business School.

The MSc program is delivered by the Aston University in partnership with the Aston Business School unlike in Leeds where it is the Business School.
Would this have an impact in resources or career prospects?

[Edited by jetsonthomas on May 30, 2022]

Hi Duncan,<br>I am sorry if I was not clear.<br><br>MSc Supply Chain mgmt in Aston University which is higher ranked actually costs less than Leeds University Business School. <br><br>The MSc program is delivered by the Aston University in partnership with the Aston Business School unlike in Leeds where it is the Business School.<br>Would this have an impact in resources or career prospects?

quote

Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted May 30, 2022 17:24

LinkedIn will help

quote