Education
Postgraduate Diploma Versus Masters: Which One Is Best For You?
January 13, 2022
January 19, 2021
Education can be really expensive. According to Forbes, the US Federal Reserve calculated student loans borrowers owed a collective $1.67 trillion in federal and private student loan debt as of June 2020. However, enrolling with a business school is often worth more than its cost, seeing as graduates of a top-ranked business school enjoy a wealth of advantages. For example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that entry-level salaries for MBA degree holders typically range between $77,020 and $128,750 while for those with a Masters in management, entry-level salaries are between $50,000 and $86,000, indicating an increase of over 67% just for having an MBA.
There is also a higher likelihood of landing a top-level management position, developing a strong professional network, or even becoming your own boss by starting a business. Business degree classes will help you develop the skills necessary to keep a company successful.
The twenty business schools outlined below range widely in the variety of programs offered. What they share, however, is the quality of excellence at a reasonable price. These are our top picks for the 20 most affordable top-ranked business schools in London
ESCP Business School is the oldest business school in the world and has six campuses spread across Europe. ESCP Europe has a network of 100 partner universities and in the UK there are currently 4,000 students and 5,000 executives from 90 different countries enrolled.
The ESCP London campus features 12 lecture rooms, three seminar rooms and a dedicated Executive Education suite. Programmes offered include:
A range of scholarships are available to ensure all students have the chance to reach their potential, regardless of circumstance, while a careers service provides one-to-one meetings, a skills workshop and company visits to make sure you are on the right path.
Saïd Business School (SBS) is part of the University of Oxford, blending the best of new and old at one of the world's top universities. It is named after its chief benefactor, Wafic Saïd, and is famous for its MBA, MSc Financial Economics, MSc Law and Finance, and DPhil Management Studies programmes.
Saïd creates programmes and ideas that have a global impact, educating people for successful careers, and as a community seek to tackle 21st-century problems. Saïd also delivers cutting-edge programmes and research that transform individuals, organisations, business practice and society.
The Saïd MBA programme tackles global issues faced by businesses in the 21st century and is designed around three themes that shape today's business environment: global rules of the game, entrepreneurship and responsible business. The School also offers a part-time 'Executive Master of Business Administration' degree for professionals with more than five years of management experience.
Warwick Business School (WBS) is part of the prestigious University of Warwick. Founded in 1967 as Warwick School of Industrial and Business Studies, it offers more than 10 undergraduate programs, 15 postgraduate programs, a full-time MBA as well as a PhD.
WBS opened a second campus in The Shard Tower in London, the largest tower in the European Union, in September 2014 to teach its MSc Finance, MSc Human Resource Management and Employment Relations programmes.
Cambridge Judge Business School is the business school of the University of Cambridge, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world.
Courses available include PhD's, masters and executive education, whilst the Judge MBA is ranked 19th in the world (Financial Times Global MBA Rankings) and 1st for one-year MBA programmes in the UK. The Cambridge MBA is also ranked sixth globally in value for money (and the best value for money in the top 30-ranked schools), and 90 per cent of alumni who responded to the survey indicated that they fulfilled their goals or reasons for doing an MBA.
Judge Business School also has a wide variety of masters programmes which are ranked in the global top 20, as well as 14 interdisciplinary research centres delivering cutting edge research and innovation.
Cambridge Judge aims to create a truly transformative experience for students, challenging and encouraging them to see their future through a wider lens so that they can pursue careers that they can proudly look back on in 30 years and feel they have made a positive difference to their communities and the wider world.
Imperial College Business School (ICBS) is located in London and is part of the prestigious Imperial College London, a top ten global university. The Imperial College Business School MBA is currently ranked 9th in Europe (QS World Rankings 2021), whilst the Financial Times places its Masters in Finance programme in the global top 10.
Imperial College Business School is one of the 76 business schools in the world with triple accreditation from AMBA, AACSB, and EQUIS and 20% of alumni are in President/MD/CEO roles and close to 40% are working as a Senior Manager/Executives three years after graduation. Imperial College Business School attracts a huge amount of international students each year.
There are no undergraduate courses at ICBS, but the school does offer a wide variety of masters programmes such as the Imperial MBA, Imperial Executive MBA, Global MBA, joint Master's programmes, and a Doctoral programme.
The MBA at the Open University is of part-time study which consists of 180 credits. The MBA course is designed as an integrated programme, and balances learning time between 75% of compulsory elements (including the final organization-based project) with 25% from optional modules. Students will learn to analyze, synthesize and evaluate a wide range of situations within the broad framework of organizations, their external context, and internal management.
Cranfield School of Management is one of the oldest business schools in the UK and is a part of Cranfield University. The school is just 90 minutes northwest of London and is truly international, with 87% of students coming from outside the UK.
Cranfield School of Management regularly ranks in the top 15 business schools in Europe and top 20 in the world and is a wholly postgraduate institution. In The Economist Which MBA? Masters in Management (MiM) 2019 ranking, the Cranfield School of Management’s Management MSc was ranked 3rd in the UK and 30th in the world. It was also ranked 1st in the UK and 9th in the world for percentage of job-seeking graduates with a job offer 3 months after graduation. The Flagship MBA is ranked 9th in the UK and 76th in the world.
It is one of the few business schools in the world with triple accreditation from AMBA, EQUIS, and AACSB and, aside from offering one of the best MBA programmes in the UK, Cranfield is also known for its MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management course which is the best in the world (excluding US).
Founded in 1945, Henley Business School was the first business school to be established in the UK and is one of the oldest and most respected schools in Europe. It is consistently ranked among the world’s top 50 business schools by the Financial Times and The Economist and is also among an elite group of business schools - the top 1% in the world – to be triple-accredited for the quality and capability of its faculty and output.
As part of the University of Reading, Henley operates within an academic institution that is placed within the top 1% of all global universities. The School has industry connections with companies such as the BBC, British Airways, Sky, O2 and Microsoft.
Across the fields of finance, management, accounting, real estate & planning and information management, Henley graduates are in demand and doing great things. As a Henley graduate, the School will equip you with the skills to handle major business challenges, lead as a confident manager and achieve your own career goals.
Hult International Business School has been striving to deliver the most practical and global business education with curricula designed by business leaders and taught by world-class faculty with hands-on business experience since 1964. Hult is the world's largest and most international business school, offering its students an unrivalled global perspective.
Students work alongside peers from over 140 nationalities who collectively speak 105 languages, and join a 9,000-strong alumni network upon graduation. The Financial Times and The Economist consistently rank Hult in the Top 100 Business Schools in the world.
Through its renowned and unique Global Rotation program, students have the opportunity to study and visit Hult's locations in Boston, San Francisco, London, Dubai, Shanghai, and New York. Hult is a non-profit corporation organized in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and accredited by the NEASC and Association of MBAs, meaning our students can study internationally and graduate with a U.S. degree.
Leeds University Business School is a leading, full-service top 10 business school, regularly world ranked by the Financial Times and The Economist, and one of a small number of schools worldwide to be triple accredited by AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. Part of the University of Leeds, over 3,000 students from around 100 countries are currently enrolled, studying the wide variety of undergraduate, masters, MBA, PhD and executive education programmes which are available.
Facilities at the 19th century Maurice Keyworth building include large state-of-the-art lecture theatres, seminar rooms, computer clusters, a contemporary cafe and roof terrace and large boardroom.
The Leeds Full-time MBA has been ranked in the world’s top 80 MBA programmes according to The Economist Which MBA? Rankings 2019.
Birmingham Business School is part of the University of Birmingham and has been teaching business since 1902 via the Faculty of Commerce, making it the oldest business school in the UK. It holds triple accreditation from the AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS, and is consistently ranked in the top 100 business schools in the world.
Birmingham Business School also offers masters in management, marketing, finance, as well as advanced engineering management and a wide range of specialisations to choose among them.
Birmingham Business School is globally renowned for the quality of its research and teaching, with programmes currently taught in Birmingham, Dubai and Singapore, attracting students from 106 countries. With an international faculty conducting research all over the world, and a global alumni community of around 44,000 graduates, the School have a global footprint that ensures worldwide impact.
Aston Business School is part of an elite group of business schools across the globe who hold the triple accreditation from AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS, and internationally recognised by top accrediting bodies and independent rankings for the quality of teaching and the employability of graduates.
Facilities include:
Graduates go on to work for world-renowned institutions and companies such as Barclays, BMW, Deutsche Bank, Google, Morgan Stanley, PWC, Rolls Royce, Unilever and many more.
Aston MBA
The Aston MBA is an intensive programme designed for professionals who have already made their mark in business and are ready to take their careers to the next level. A choice of pathways to enable you to combine your MBA
studies with your professional and personal commitments are available:
All modes of study are fully accredited and lead to the full Aston MBA award.
Established in 1966, City, University of London Business School (formerly Cass) holds triple accreditation from the AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. It is one of the top business schools in the world and offers courses in finance, investment, management, entrepreneurship, insurance, risk management, and more.
City is rated as a top-tier employability school by the QS Global 250 Business Schools list and their international reach is extensive and vital, from operating a dual campus in Dubai to service the Middle East, to delivering modules and study trips around the world and recruiting students and academics from diverse nationalities and backgrounds.
The Business School is also ranked 3rd in London, 6th in the UK and 19th in Europe in the Financial Times European Business School ranking 2019, whilst business and management research is 6th in the UK.
Metropolitan School of Business and Management is one of the top business schools in London. With multiple offices in 3 continents, they are driven to bring quality and affordable British education to the rest of the world. It is a world-class business school characterized by a tradition of innovation and practical knowledge research.
They offer several courses ranging from almost 200 short courses, over 40 postgraduate programs, MBA and various Advanced Certificate courses, MSBM is totally equipped to train the modern-day business executive. It is a Pathway College offering level 4, 5, 6 and 7 Diplomas leading to a University Degree from top UK Universities, with its head office in Canary Wharf London, United Kingdom. It provides International Students access to outstanding British Business and Management courses from prestigious UK Universities at almost half the fees from the Universities.
Utilising cutting edge technology, MSBM allows for seamless learning through its state-of-the-art e-learning platform and 24/7 online support, allowing for a more immersive blended learning experience.
Alliance Manchester Business School (MBS) is the business school of the University of Manchester. The 2020 Financial Times survey ranks Manchester's MBA 5th in the UK, 11th in Europe, 45th in the world, making it a leading MBA outside of London and Oxbridge.
MBS offers 14 undergraduate programs with industrial experience, 16 postgraduate programs, and full-time flexible MBA program of 18, 15, or 12 months. The MBA program has triple accreditation by AACSB International, AMBA and EQUIS and the finance programs are partnered with CFA Institute.
MBS also offers a unique opportunity to receive an MBA from two top universities. The Kelly-Manchester Global MBA combines the world's best online MBA teaching with immersive, face-to-face teaching twice a year at a choice of eight global locations.
Alliance Manchester Business School is one of the foremost centres for business and management studies in the world and is also ranked second in the UK for business research power (REF 2014), focussing on the application of this knowledge throughout our programmes.
Durham University Business School (DUBS) is part of Durham University, a top 10 UK university. The business school holds triple accreditation from AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS and is consistently ranked in the top 100 business schools in the world.
The MBA at Durham University Business School is designed to transform you into a business leader. The programme consists of core modules such as Accounting and Finance, Marketing, Strategic Management and more, after which there is an option to personalise the MBA with different pathways such as entrepreneurship, consultancy or technology.
Aside from the MBA, Durham also offer Masters programmes in accounting, economics, finance, Islamic finance, management and marketing.
Strathclyde Business School (SBS) is part of the University of Strathclyde and is a pioneering, internationally renowned school that shapes and develops the minds of tomorrow. Founded in 1948, SBS has international centres all over the world and is one of only 74 global business schools which has triple accreditation from international business bodies.
SBS is also one of only five business schools in the UK to be awarded the Small Business Charter Gold Award which recognises world-leading support for scaling Scottish firms through innovation, internationalisation and leadership. Following the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, Times Higher Education ranked SBS first in Scotland and in the top 10 business schools in the UK for its research as well 3rd in the UK for the impact of its business research.
There are seven departments at the school - Accounting and Finance, Economics, Human Resource Management, Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Organisation, Management Science and Marketing - each offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
The University of Edinburgh Business School enjoys a long tradition of teaching and research. The School offers undergraduate, postgraduate and executive education programmes in accounting and finance, entrepreneurship and innovation, management science & business economics, marketing, organisational studies and strategy & international business. All of this is housed in a state-of-the-art building featuring lecture theatres, multiple syndicate rooms, an executive education suite, a café and significant space for students and staff.
The School offers triple accreditations from AMBA, AACSB and EQUIS and the international student body represents almost 100 countries from around the world, encouraging ideas from all cultures and backgrounds.
Edinburgh MBA
The Edinburgh MBA prepares managers to deliver the strategic leadership needed in an increasingly competitive, volatile, uncertain and complex business world. Two 12-month programmes, one featuring a study abroad component, and a 27-month Executive MBA are offered.
The Edinburgh MBA is also ranked 95th in the world in the 2020 Financial Times' Top 100 MBA programmes.
Established in 1964, Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) is one of the few schools in the world which holds quadruple accreditation including the AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS.
The Lancaster teaching team include practitioners and academics, ensuring you gain practical outcomes that are relevant to you. In addition to full programmes, you can choose to study individual modules as short ten-week courses and programmes focus on enabling you to learn for work, learn from work, and to learn in a way that is flexible and responsive to your work context.
Lancaster University Management School is ranked in the top 50 business schools in Europe (Financial Times European Business Schools rankings), whilst its MBA is ranked in the top 30.
The University of Bath School of Management is one of the leading business schools in the UK. The European Foundation for Management Development's quality inspectorate have granted Bath five-year accreditation - only around 1% of business schools worldwide have successfully achieved this recognition.
Bath's faculty of over 100 teachings and research staff support around 2,500 students at the School with undergraduate, postgraduate, MBA research and executive development programmes all available.
Bath School of Management key rankings in the UK include 4th in the UK for Business Studies and Accounting and Finance and second in the UK for Masters in Management. The University of Bath holds a Gold award in the Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework meaning the University consistently deliver outstanding teaching and learning to students.
