I am convinced as well. That's why I will be attending this year Summer School at DBS - 8 days.
1. One intensive core module + workshop - 4 days
2. One intensive elective + workshop - 3 days
3. One leadership development workshop - 1 day

Interestingly DBS offers 2 times a year some 10days of various combinations of cores, electives, workshops. But Summer school seem to have a wide range of choices. All included in the course fee - inc some lunch/dinners - except travel and accomodation.

I am planning to attend the next International trip/project as well along with Exec, FT students. I did not take part in the last year's China trip.

Additional expense would be worth, I guess - but having it optional is the way I like.

The only comment I would suggest is that when some things are optional, its too easy not to do them. From tutor marked assignments,additional visits to campus, chapter questions, binder questions, self tests, etc. these are all there to support your learning, and while optional are invaluable to learning. If travelling and attending campus are optional then they can be rationalized as unnecessary, making it easier not to take advantage of them, when they are for your benefit!

We all can procrastinate but if it is required to get the degree then we have to force ourselves to benefit for our own good.

The chief reason why people go on distance learning route is because they can't take excessive amounts of time from work and/or family. If you are on a full time job, you still have to take some days to study for and take exams. If you then have to take extra days for compulsory attendance you are almost using up all your Leave days. If you can do it, then no problem. But I have a feeling that a good number of people on the DL MBAs don't have that luxury. I certainly don't.
Remember too, an MBA is not - to state the obvious - a first degree. It is usually a second or third degree, and taken by people who either want to enhance their chances of promotion within the organisation, or to move elsewhere into different or more challenging career paths. So the value of any incremental sacrifice has to be compared against the expected benefits. Having an MBA is great, but not having one isn't a disaster.
From what I now know about the Warwick and the Durham MBA for example, I would say probaby Durham suits me better. If the fees difference of £5000 is of little consequence, certainly the two COMPULSORY attendances in the 1st year alone at WBS would tip the balance in favour of DBS. As georgep says above, having the flexibility or option to choose is key. One hopes people on DL MBAs will try and get some face-to-face attendance to maximise the benefit, but if they can't (and usually for good reasons), they still deserve a good MBA.
As an aside, DBS requires one compulsory attendance (either elective or core module or Durham Summer School). This format is almost the same as WBS had a few years ago when I started inquiring, possibly what Canuck was on. You only had to attend at least one September seminar. I still don't understand why WBS changed this to the current system?

Everyone has to make the decision of which school to attend based on their own rating scale and in line with their own situation, no question.

Being both a psychological and sociological observer of human nature, and based on my background, I would suggest that optional components make it easier to rationalize avoidance. This is only a general statement, and definitely will not apply to everyone.

However, face to face contact reinforces or solidifies the ongoing on line connection with fellow students as they work and study at their various locations around the world.

However, face to face contact reinforces or solidifies the ongoing on line connection with fellow students as they work and study at their various locations around the world.

Canuck, I agree with this. There only question is how do you do it? By your own account, you did attend two seminars at WBS (presumably one each year). You also said you asked for an exemption on the last one. That's the reality of distance learning. I believe one face-to-face attendance a year is OK, and I am sure people will see the benefit. But 3 times is too much in my opinion (might be 4 or 5 times or else you are forced not to choose some electives simply to avoid attendance). I think the benefit of the extra compulsory attendances is miniscule. In this digital age of Facebook, LinkedIn, Skype and the SmartPhone, surely there must be ways of minimising unnecessary attendance. I did once attend a WBS DL virtual "Open Day", and it wasn't bad.

Yes, I went first year and second year for nine days each year, which has now been changed, then in third year I had only one course left for the third year seminar. I asked for an exemption as travelling to the UK for one day (one day per elective course back then) did not make financial sense for me.The exemption was not a guaranteed thing, the board could have required me to attend the seminar.

I believe currently you go twice in the first year and then once in the second year to WBS, but for much shorter periods of time than I was required to attend.

WBS is a good option, but everyone has to make their own choice.

Good luck with your final choice!

"Having an MBA is great, but not having one isn't a disaster." This is exactly my point.

If you are already 40+, no time off and/or family commitments, can't fit to ***any rigid time frames***. You are already senior/specialist, want something more than your peer, want knowledge, want different skills, want broader prospective, want differnet network (you already have a huge one in your field), and no rush - go for a flexible DL programme.

We never know, times and situations might change in the 2-6 year MBA period. You might want to go for a class room module, you might like to skip one f-2-f session due to all sorts of reasons, you might want an international trip, or you just want a term off (Actually I took off this term due to job change with increased responsibility, will accelerate next term) ..

.. having all sorts of options under the belt is handy.

In my search, Henly, Warwick and Starth did not appriciate this **flexibility** need. Manchester did not play this semi-flexible MBA game. They made it clear - you attend 3 days per module, if you can't stay away.

Your post pretty much sums up my feelings on distance part- time/distance MBAs. One needs that flexibility with the option to intensify or ease-off both with attendance and work at home. You mentioned Warwick and others did not appreciate this flexibility? On what did you base this conclusion? (see my other post asking a similar question about commitment and flexibility)

In experience, online details do not address real-world use-cases and questions of real flexibility.

BigD

In my search, Henly, Warwick and Starth did not appriciate this **flexibility** need. Manchester did not play this semi-flexible MBA game. They made it clear - you attend 3 days per module, if you can't stay away.

Just a quick note to everyone, esp Canuck, Ezra, and Duncan, I have decided to go with Warwick for my MBA, so will start in January. They have just offered me a place, and with it a scholarship worth 50% of the first year's fees. But it wasn't the scholarship that won it for me; I think those compulsory Warwick weeks that I was complaining about; everyone I talked to spoke highly of them. And the Warwick network is bigger here in Australia than most of the other MBAs. I also got offers from Imperial and Strathclyde, but have just declined them. Durham haven't responded yet, but I guess it won't matter anymore.
Thanks again everyone.

Hudson,

Enjoy the experience that is the distance learning Warwick MBA, and I am glad you are happy with your ultimate choice.

Dave

Congrats - and be sure to stop by from time to time to let us know how things are going there.

Just a quick note to everyone, esp Canuck, Ezra, and Duncan, I have decided to go with Warwick for my MBA, so will start in January. They have just offered me a place, and with it a scholarship worth 50% of the first year's fees. But it wasn't the scholarship that won it for me; I think those compulsory Warwick weeks that I was complaining about; everyone I talked to spoke highly of them. And the Warwick network is bigger here in Australia than most of the other MBAs. I also got offers from Imperial and Strathclyde, but have just declined them. Durham haven't responded yet, but I guess it won't matter anymore.
Thanks again everyone.

Hi,

Just wanted to reinforce your decision as Top MBA Connect has the following ranking for top world online MBA programs:

1.Instituto de Empresa
2.University of Warwick
3.Manchester University
4.Thunderbird School of Global Management
5.Indiana University
6.Imperial College
7.Durham University
8.Euro MBA
9.Penn State University
10.Temple University

See this at the following link:
http://www.topmbaconnect.com/mba-ranking/online-mba-programs-2012.html

More good news....

Just wanted to reinforce your decision as Top MBA Connect has the following ranking for top world online MBA programs

Although this list has all the common contenders in terms of programs I'd expect, I'm not sure if I trust it as a real ranking. The methodology is not exactly scientific: besides having international accreditation and at least one graduating class, the only real criteria is that a school "is recognized by at least one of the MBA employers included in the QS Global Employer Survey."

If you look at the established traditional MBA rankings (FT, Businessweek, etc.,) you'll see that their criteria for ranking programs is a lot more specific than that.

A bit surprise that UNC is out

Ezra,

I agree with you about FT etc. while this ranking was reported to me, and I just thought I would pass it along i.e. reason I gave the link so anyone could investigate it to their satisfaction...

Mauro, UNC isn't there because it hasn't had a graduating class.

Ezra, like The Economist's DL listing, it's the best they can do on the basis of the data they already have. So, it's a useful lazy ranking. From first principles, I'd imagine it would be weighted towards large programmes with a base in QS's employer base.

Hi George! I'd like to thank you for the valuable information. Your researched information helped me in making my decision on joining the Global MBA program at Durham.

I'd liek to ask what conditional acceptance did you receive from the university if you dont mind sharing?

Thank you,
Rakhee.

I'm not sure if George is active on the forum any more. Generally, conditional offered from Durham mean that they need either certified copies of the documents, or completion of a pre-sessional course (e.g. statistics, academic English)

Hi all,
Read all your comments and good to hear such feedback!
I would like to ask if anyone has any information regarding a MBA which is not very expensive, my budget for doing a distance learning along with other commitments is £10,000 MAX.
So, can any one list out the options I have from good renowned universtities with or without some resident weeks??
Also, ranking of top 20 Online MBA from UK link, if any one has got.. I am unable to find one except just the listing page.

Any help, much appreciated.
Thanks
Kanika

I am not sure you will find many Top 20 accredited MBA programs under £10K. The only one I can think of is probably Leicester, accredited by AMBA and was about £7500 a few years ago. It is certainly not a top 20 program, but at least it's accredited. You might want to look for how it's rated on other threads on this forum. Try http://www.mbaworld.com/guidetomba1/searchbusinessschool for a list of AMBA accredited distance learning programs. But do you realise that for just £3000 or so extra you will get some very good DL programs; Bradford, Strathclyde, etc? Good luck in your search.