What is more important, university rankings or accreditations?
When selecting an MBA, I'd say that MBA accreditations matter more than the Guardian ranking, which is focused on the value added to undergraduate outcomes.
Double-accredited Aberdeen Business School is not part of the University of Aberdeen: it's part of Robert Gordon University. RGU has double accreditation from AACSB and AMBA and is a useful MBA especially in the oil and gas sector. The University of Aberdeen holds none of the tripe crown accreditations; neither AACSB, AMBA nor Equis. Manchester Met has all three. Other things being equal, RGU does not have an advantage to MMU outside oil and gas.
Although the University of Aberdeen was ranked 20th overall by The Guardian in 2022, I looked at the current ranking:
https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2022/sep/24/best-uk-universities-for-business-management-league-table
Robert Gordon University - 57th for business.
- 93rd overall.
University of Aberdeen
- 11th for business.- 15th for business.
So, at the undergraduate level, Aberdeen is ranked higher by The Guardian. Personally, I think its 'value added' methodology is misleading. I prefer the CUG at the undergraduate level. RGU has the highest student satisfaction for business in Scotland:
https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings/business-and-management-studies/scotland?sortby=student-satisfaction