One-Year MBAs

Question

Hi there -

I'm interested in a good one-year MBA program. I'm aware of INSEAD but the ideal circumstance would be a UK-based one. I'm in investment banking and am not looking to switch industries. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

PadawanOfTheGMAT · Answer

I think most if not all UK institutions offer 1 year fulltime MBA or 2 years part-time.

ob · Answer

Thanks but that's not really answering the question.

stanford2012 · Answer

The best MBA programs in the UK are probably offered by Oxford, Cambridge, and Cranfield (all of them 1yr). My guess is that the former two place fairly well into IB, not sure about Cranfield. Best is to look at the placement statistics, which should be available on the schools' websites.

ob · Answer

Thanks.

Jeanette · Answer

London Business School offers a 15 month MBA, if you don't mind the extra 3 months. It'd probably position you in IB a little better than the others, if I had to guess.

Additionally, if you work in IB and want to get an EMBA while working, the 20 month program would be a good fit.

DrSatisfaction · Answer

the oxbridge schools would be your best bet.

if you have any sort of industry background at all, recruiting shouldn't be a problem and LBS doesn't really give you that much of an edge simply because all the major recruiters come to oxbridge. whether you go to oxbridge or LBS, that'll only get your foot in the door in terms of interviews...what happens afterwards is purely up to you. so to me, all 3 would be fine if you're confident in nailing the interviews.

ob · Answer

Thanks for this. Is there any info on who recruits there in terms of PE funds? Any stats on placement? How does it compare to LBS (it does seem to have a more "prestige" ring to it)?

stanford2012 · Answer

If you have a look at the 2009 employment report of LBS you see that they placed 9% into PE / VC. I think the employment reports of Oxford and Cambridge only mention placement into finance (44% and 25%, respectively), without breaking it down into subsectors (at least I couldn't find this information). Placement into PE is generally difficult, and I think it is even more difficult from a European MBA program simply because most PE jobs are still based in the US. Unless you're currently working in a pre-MBA role at a PE fund or in IB at a top BB I would be more concerned with placement into IB than PE.

Out of the three programs my guess is that odds for PE placement are slightly higher at LBS. As mentioned by others, all three schools will give you a decent shot at IB. Besides placement I would think though that LBS has a significantly stronger alumni network in finance (due to larger class size, higher relative placement into finance), that's maybe worth considering as well.

PadawanOfTheGMAT · Answer

Concerning Oxbridge, does an MBA from one of these institutions make you a true Oxbridge alumni, or are you just considered as second-class alumni? Theoretically, you should be opened the doors of 900 years existence of these schools.

One-Year MBAs

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