Hi everyone,

I am planning to start my online MBA this year..my circumstances do not permit the full time route so this is my best option, I am trying to choose between Manchester's global MBA and Astons online MBA.

Pleased an anyone help me out with their thoughts on this?

I am a little confused as I know Manchester has a very successful global reputation and ranking for their full time MBA but cannot find any positives information for their global option whereas Astons online MBA seems to rank very highly.

Appreciate any advice and Thankyou in advance! :-)

Is Aston's online MBA in a ranking?

I think the plus about the Manchester Global MBA for some students is that it's as close as possible to the full-time experience, with group work, on-campus sessions and access to the other global campuses. Of course that's also a minus for someone who want to individually study the core courses.

Thankyou for your reply Duncan, that was actually one of the main draws to Manchester for me..it is as close to a full time MBA as I can manage.

I found this for the Aston MBA http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/online-mba-listing-2013

I know Manchester business school has a good reputation but if Aston is ranked higher and also has a good reputation I'm struggling to make a decision, Aston is considerably less expensive whereas I love Manchester's programme structure and international focus.

Would you say there is a clear difference between the two or are they both considered to be good business schools?

Thankyou!

You are mistaken. That is not a ranking. That is an *alphabetical* listing of online MBAs. The Manchester Global MBA is not an online programme: it is a blended learning programme with a substantial on-campus element, available through Manchester's six regional campuses.

Manchester and Aston are both strong, top 50 schools in Europe (http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/european-business-school-rankings-2013). I don't think Aston is ranked higher for MBAs. Manchester, for example, is in the top 100 worldwide for full-time MBAs (currently #43); Aston is not (See http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/global-mba-ranking-2014).

I think the Manchester programme is very different. If the regional centres, group-work focus, soft-skills development and dedicated careers support for the Global MBA matter to you, then I think it's a great MBA at a substantial discount to the full-time price.

If you want the MBA core courses, but not the experiential element of broader elective portfolio, then perhaps Aston is good enough.

Silly mistake! Thanks for clarifying :-/

So In your opinion they are both strong schools?

I am clearer now on the differences between the MBAs, time frame and financially Aston is the Bettie option for me but looking to the future if employers would look more favourably on the Manchester MBA then I could make that work.

Can I ask in your opinion is either a better school for employability or are they both good triple accredited schools which won't be viewed too differently from each other by employers?

Thankyou in advance!

Manchester is obviously the higher-ranking school: the #11 MBA in Europe versus the #31 MBA. http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/european-business-school-rankings-2013

I think the Manchester MBA is seen more favourably and, other things being equal, a blended programme will always be superior to an online MBA.

Manchester has dedicated careers staff for the Global MBA; I don't know if Aston does.

The big difference between the two is the scale of operations. Aston has 53 students in its full-time MBA and 50 students in its part-time MBA in 2013 (numbers come from www.mba-exchange.com). I don't know the exact numbers for Manchester, but there are much more students in its full-time MBA (109 in 2009) and part-time MBA programme (several hundreds). Moreover, Manchester has centres in Dubai, Sao Paulo, Miami, Singapore, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Obviously the international exposure of Manchester will be a lot better than that of Aston.