UK MBA Programme

Eligibility

Bachelor Degree:Eligibility

Bachelor Degree:

Most UK universities accept the three-year graduation system for entry into the MBA programme. So, if you have a three-year bachelor degree like Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) or Bachelor of Science (BSc), this is acceptable as it is considered equivalent to a British Bachelor (Ordinary) Degree.

However, some universities may require an Honours degree. This is usually equivalent to B.Com. (H), B.Sc. (H) or afour year degree course like B.E.

For most good Universities, a good first degree from a leading university in India or its equivalent is essential.

There are some universities that accept students for the MBA without a bachelor degree if they have considerable work experience and significant professional achievements.

Work Experience:

Most UK universities require a minimum of two to three years of work experience. This is essential.

AMBA Accredited MBA Programs:
All AMBA accredited MBA programmes require a minimum of three years of full-time work experience.

No Work Experience:
There are around five to six UK universities that accept students who have no experience for direct entry into the MBA programme.

There are many colleges in UK that offer University affiliated MBA programs. They are much cheaper than University MBA Programs. However, they have very small campuses and very limited resources and faculty. It may be a good idea to research these institutes well before you apply to ensure that you do not end up applying to schools that are not recognized.

GMAT:

GMAT is accepted and recommended by many universities. However, most UK universities are flexible about this criterion and this is not a mandatory requirement for most UK business schools. So, unless, you aiming for schools like London Business School or Manchester Business School, you need not worry about the GMAT.

TOEFL/IELTS:

You need to take either the TOEFL or IELTS for admission to an MBA program in U.K. This is required for almost all universities. This mandatory for most schools even if you have studied in English medium throughout.

Some schools waive this criteria after a personal interview.
 
MBA Application Procedure


Application Forms


Application Requirements & Documents Required:
Academic Record - Transcripts & Marksheets
Standardized Tests Score Reports
Work Experience Details - Resume
Letter of Recommendation
Application Essays / Statement of Purpose

If you have any doubts or require any further information, please use our Helpline service.

Application Forms

Send enquiries at least 12 months before the proposed date of admission. There are two ways to get application forms.

Requesting Application Forms : You can request application forms from the universities website. Most universities have a form on their website which can be completed online to request application material.

Agents/Representatives : You can contact agents and representatives of the business school you are interested in. Most of the universities have representatives in many countries. These agents will give you the application forms and will guide you in the application process as well.

Downloading from the university website : Many universities have a downloadable and ready to print version of their application form on the net. These can be used for applying just as regular forms


1. Academic Record - Transcripts & Marksheets

Full details of your education including your course subjects and grades are required in the applications. Transcripts or official records of your previous academic qualifications are crucial for your application.

Students applying for admission are required to submit an official transcript from each college or university that they have attended after secondary school with complete details of the subjects, credits involved and other details like correspondence courses, diplomas etc. Most universities ask for the transcript to be sealed in an envelope and signed and attested across the seal by the registrar. This procedure is to be done for each and every college that you have attended. Some universities may ask for more than one transcript but most require only one.

Academic documents required include:

- Class X / 'A' Levels / Secondary School Marksheets & Certificate
- Class XII / 'O' Levels / High School Marksheets & Certificate
- Bachelor Degree Transcripts & Degree Certificate
- Transcripts & Certificates of any other programs that you may have attended.

If the originals are not in English, copies and a good English translation must be enclosed. If your undergraduate qualification or university is unknown to the admissions tutor, the British Council would be able to advise.


2. Standardized Tests Score Reports

IELTS : For most courses and universities, International students are required to take IELTS (International English Language Test) which is regularly administered by the British Council. Some universities may accept TOEFL as an alternative. You need to send your IELTS or TOEFL score report with your application package.

Note : Some Universities may waive IELTS if you have been studying in English medium throughout and they are convinced that you are proficient in English.

GMAT : For most management courses, International students are required to take GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test). You need to send your GMAT score report with your application package.
Note:

Some Universities may waive IELTS / TOEFL if you have been studying in English medium throughout and they are convinced that you are proficient in English.


3. Work History - Resume

Most MBA programs require at least a few years of work experience for admission. Most UK Business Schools are pretty strict about this.

A detailed Résumé is an important part of your application. It should include all information of professional work experience along with the details like positions held, achievements and range of work. Find Résumés a Problem? Check out our Résumé Section for tips.


4. Letter of Recommendation

Letters of reference or recommendation letters play a very important part in your admission to a good MBA program. A recommendation letter is a signed statement from a person who knows you well professionally or has taught you in a subject that is related to the course you are applying to. It should list your positive and negative qualities, strengths and other such information.

The author or teacher must indicate his position, how long he/she has known the applicant and in what capacity. He/she should briefly discuss the need, importance and usefulness of the study the applicant proposes to undertake.

Authors are usually asked to rank applicants in their letters of recommendation, which helps admission officers to interpret the academic credentials of foreign students. Students should obtain letters of recommendation (often on the prescribed forms sent by the institutions) from teachers who know them as a person as well as a student. You may like to request your author to give concrete examples that may show your qualities and help your case.

Many universities have their own format and questions that have to be answered by the person who is giving the letter of recommendation on your behalf. Letters, which do not give enough information, can jeopardize a candidate’s chances of selection.

Note : Even if not mentioned, it is advisable to include at least two letters of recommendation in your applications as they increase your chances of getting admissions. For more details on letters of recommendation, formats and tips, check out Letter of Recommendation


5. Application Essays / Statement of Purpose

The personal application essays, and/or statement of purpose, also play a very important role in the process of evaluating your application for admission to the MBA program. It gives the admission committee assessing your application their most significant impression of you as an individual.

A personal statement should include reasons for choosing this particular course, your area of interest, the suitability of your education and experiential background for this course and your personal and present future goals.

Most business schools have a set of questions that they would like the students to answer. These include questions about your achievements, leadership activities and the reasons for seeking an MBA.

We recommend you to spend as much time as possible in this part of your application as this could make or break your application.
 
MBA Tuition Fee, Living Cost and Expenses


MBA in UK has lots of financial benefits:
Most universities in UK offer a One-year MBA
Access to National Health Centre; which is free for students registered on courses of six months or longer
Free school education for registered dependent children



Expenses (In Pound Sterling) (approx.)-Average Tuition Fee-Average Living Costs-Total costs per year

Medium-cost Universities 9,000 - 12,000 6,000 15,000 - 18,000
High-cost Universities 12,000 - 18,000 6,000 18,000 - 24,000
Low-cost Private Colleges 5,000 5,000 10,000



For all the cost data above,
Fees given are averages
All costs are given in Pound Sterling
Living costs include accommodation, Energy bills, food etc.

Costs are according to 1999 session Note: The approximate currency exchange rate is:

1 UK Pound = US Dollars 1.75
Indian Rupees 80
Pakistani Rupees 106
Bangladesh Taka 106
Nigerian Naira 235
Euro 1.45


For the latest conversion rates, Check out Currency Converter - Yahoo! Finance


There are many small and private colleges, especially around London that offer low cost MBA programmes to international students. Many of these colleges have university affiliated MBA degree programme. These colleges offer a low-cost alternative to international students.

Please note that these colleges do not have university like campuses and do not offer the same quality of infrastructure, facilities and faculty as the bigger universities.

These are the average living expenses. Many international students manage to live in as less as 4000 pounds a year. Most students prefer off-campus accommodation which they share with other international students, thus saving housing costs to a big extent.
 
Financial Aid & Scholarships

There is almost no financial aid for an MBA in the UK. Some universities may give students with good or exceptional backgrounds, a part tuition fee waiver.

In our opinion, there are not very many scholarship options available for an MBA in the UK. Almost all students who go for an MBA in UK fund the related expenses on their own.


Bank Loans and Financial assistance available in India :-

Sources In India

Bank Loans

State Bank of India, Bank of India, Andhara Bank, Syndicate Bank and Canara Bank and many other banks have educational loan schemes which extend from schooling to research. The amount differs according to the course. Banks give a loan for studying abroad which is as high as Rs. 10 lakhs.

These loans are subject to many terms and conditions. Apart from being only a partial loan - at least 25% of the total course expenditure is to be paid by the parents of the student. The candidate has to provide security for the loan he gets. It can be in the form of a house mortgage, NSE shares or insurance policy. Security for a loan of upto Rs. 25,000 is nil but for a loan of over Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 3 lakhs, it is 100%. For a loan of Rs. 3 lakhs to Rs. 5 Lakhs, the security to be provided is 150 % and it is 200% for a loan of over Rs. 5 lakhs.

However the banks do not give these loans to anyone who applies for them. The first condition is that admission should be confirmed. Secondly, loans are not given for correspondence courses. And thirdly, the past academic record of the loan seeker should also be satisfactory. Anyone who fulfills these conditions is eligible for an educational loan which covers course fees, hostel fees, cost of books, equipment, and one way fare to the place of study if the parents of the candidate do not live there.

Repayment has to start 6 months after the completion of the course or if the person gets a job immediately after completing the course, one-month after getting the job. The maximum time given for the repayment is 15 years counted from the date of the first disbursement.

Trust Loans

Loans from trusts have low rates of interest (2-4 percent), or are interest free. Some of the most well known trusts are listed below:
J.N. Tata Endowment:

Low-Interest loans of Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 2 lakhs, and grant of Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000, for several disciplines. Completed application forms must reach by 25th February of the year of award.

For more details and application form, write to:
The Director,
J.N. Tata Endowment,
Bombay House,
24 Homi ModyStreet,
Mumbai-400001

K.C. Mahindra Education Trust:

Upto Rs. 65,000, for postgraduate studies in various disciplines. Forms must be requested before 28th February of the year of award and completed forms must reach by 31st March of the year of award.

For more details and application form, write to:
The Managing Trustee,
K.C. Mahindra Education Trust,
Cecil Court,
Mahakavi Bhushan Marg,
Mumbai-400039

Mariwala Trust:

Upto Rs. 50,000 interest free, for postgraduate studies in several disciplines. Application forms must be requested before 1st March of the year of award and completed forms must reach by 30th April of the year of award.

For more details and application form, write to:
The Managing Trustee,
Mariwala CharityTrust,
409 Shah and Nahar Industrial Estate,
Dr. E. Moses Road, Worli Naka,
Mumbai-400018
Tel: (022) 4938307 Fax: (022) 4974704

R.D. Sethna Scholarship Fund:

An amount of Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 50,000 at 2 percent annual interest for undergraduate and postgraduate studies in science, technology, commerce and education. Completed application forms must reach by 31st May of the year of award.

For more details and application form, write to:
The Chief Executive
R.D. Sethna Scholarship Fund,
Esplanade House,
29 Hazarimal Somani Marg, Fort,
Mumbai-400001

Sahu Jain Trust:

The trust offers loan scholarships for higher studies in India as well as abroad.

For more details, write to:
The Secretary
Sahu Jain Trust,
4th Floor, Times House 7,
Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg,
New Delhi -110002


Fellowships

Fellowships are very popular, and securing one is a very difficult because of the serious competition. A few important ones are listed here:

Aga Khan Foundation:

This fellowship is available for development studies and courses not available in India. Forms are issued from January each year and completed forms must reach by 31st March of the year of award.

For more details and application form, write to:
Aga Khan Foundation,
Sarojini House, 2nd floor,
6 Bhagwan Dass Road,
New Delhi -110001


Inlaks Scholarships:

This fellowship is available for several disciplines.Applicants must be graduates, and 19-30 years old. Completed application forms must reach by 30th August for the following year.

For more details and application form, send a self addressed envelope to:
Inlaks Foundation,
PO Box 2108,
Delhi-110007


AT&T Leadership Awards (For U.S. only):

U.S. $ 5,000 awards for the students from the Asia-Pacific region going to the U.S. for study in any discipline. Six of the 36 awards went to Indians in 1998. Applications must reach the programme’s Malaysia office by 15th September. Decisions are announced by 31st December.

For more details and application form, write to USEFI or email [email protected] or fax at (886) 2-2715-7013 (attn: AT&T Leadership Award)


Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships:

The scholarship amount goes upto U.S. $ 23,000 for studies in any subject and any country.

For any information, contact any Rotary Club office or write to:
The Scholarships Programme,
Rotary Foundation,
Rotary International, One Rotary Centre,
1560 Sherman Avenue,
Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.



However, there are some scholarship options available for students with exceptional backgrounds and excellent academic record.

These include:

British Chevening Scholarships:
The British Scholarship is available for a range of postgraduate taught and research programmes including the MBA programme. To apply for an award, contact your local British Council office, British High Commission or British Embassy. Preference is given to candidates already established in a career.

Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowship Plan (CSFP):
Awards are made to citizens of Commonwealth countries and are primarily for postgraduate programmes, including the MBA programme. Contact your local British Council office for information on how to apply. For more details about the Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowship plan, click on the link below:

Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowship Plan
Department for International Development (DFID) Shared Scholarship Scheme:
This programme funds awards for taught postgraduate courses. Candidates should be of high academic calibre and should be intending to study a subject of develop mental relevance to their country. Eligibility is restricted to those resident in developing Commonwealth countries who are not employed by their government or by an international organisation. Contact your local British Council office or British High Commission for information on how to apply.
 
Part-Time Work While Studying


U.K. is one of the few countries that allows international students to work even outside the campus. Students can work upto 20 hours per week during the semester and full-time during vaccations.

Please note that MBA is a very intensive program and you would have lot of assignments and projects to do at any time. It is not easy to take out time to do any extra work during the semester.

Contrary to popular belief, students are able to obtain part-time employment quite easily in bigger cities like London and Birmingham. Students are entitled to work full time during the holidays. There is no permission required for most international students to take part-time and vacation work. Students can take up placements or internship placements, which are part of a ‘sandwich course’.

Usually, most jobs are minimum wage jobs like work in fast food joints and department stores. The higher paid jobs involve working in call centres. You should also explore opportunities available in your university.

Approximate part-time earnings: 4 - 5 Pound Sterling per hour.

You should not plan on earning substantial money from a part-time job to help pay for your studies.

It is important to find a good internship opportunity during your program. Not only do you get paid well if you work with a good organisation but also, it increases your employability on completion of the MBA program.

For further details about internships and part-time work opportunities, contact the foreign student adviser at the university, after you are enrolled.
 
Post-MBA Jobs & Employment


Any non-EEA national seeking entry or permission to remain in the United Kingdom for the purpose of employment will normally require a work permit. This means you need to find an employer who will sponsor your work permit.

According to the new rules, students who do their MBA in UK are allowed to work in UK for a period of two years.

It is not easy to get jobs in UK after an MBA program, if you are not from a top school. A job is even more difficult for students who do not have any work experience prior to their MBA.

If you are an international student, you should be in top 10% of your class in performance to improve your chances of getting a job.

A number of business schools have a career office that guides students and help them in finding potential employers.

A number of students consider UK MBA program as an entry to Europe. However, this is not practical. It is as tough to get a work permit in any European country after a MBA in UK, as it would have been with a MBA from any other country.
 
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