Just to clarify - are you looking at the online programs? If so, just be advised that the rankings and salary data that you quote only reflect the full-time in-class programs offered by the schools.

Razors- yes, I agree

Hello All,

I just thought of updating all about further updates on the progress and therefore appreciate thoughts from experts, seniors and alumnus.

I have secured admission in Henley, I am waiting update from Warwick on admission. I have passed the first stage of admission at IE Business School and awaiting for results of the interview (which I had yesterday with IE School alumni). I am positive that I will secure admission at IE (as interview went very well and the type of topics and diversity discussed suggest interest from interviewer).

It looks like I will most probably will go either for IE or Warwick. The 2014 Qs rankings suggest IE number 1 and Warwick number 2 in part time studies. The FT rankings has a lot of difference between Warwick and IE School. I will be considering distance learning route at Warwick or blended (distance learning) at IE school.

My questions are:

- Apart from ranking criteria, in which case IE is of course number 1, any perspective from current students, experts and alumnus from both of these schools can share?
- The fees of IE School is almost double of Warwick School. Am I correct to understand that the real reason for fee differential is only the ranking, promotions, advertisement part, and there is not likely to be much difference in the way MBA studies will be delivered
- I am much more inclined towards IE mainly due to the duration it will take to complete MBA as compared to Warwick School. Warwick will take 36 months and on the other side IE MBA can be completed in just 15 months. So is this correct to say that there is a direct link in between high fees and the duration it takes to complete MBA?

Thank you and best regards

Dear all

Just to update that I have secured admission contract at IE Business School. I had 2 hours admission interview (which was initially planned for 1 hour). I can share more details if anyone is already at interview stage.

I am just weighing the funding options. I would definitely go for IE if I could secure scholarship/fellowship up to 30% of the fees. If not, I would be even more confuse if I should take loan to cover up 30% gap and study. I do not want to put in all of my savings as of today into MBA, that is the base line!

Would I double or triple my salary 5-7 years down the line post graduation?

Appreciate any thoughts.

Best regards

Doubling your salary sounds like something that's quite possible. See http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/ie-business-school/global-mba-ranking-2014#global-mba-ranking-2014 for a comparison wit the full-time MBA.

Dear Duncan

Thanks a lot for your prompt reply. I will be attending local careers event of IE in dubai next week. As you are much more aware of career services schools can offer, I'd appreciate your thoughts on what kind of questions could be relevant to understand career services and other factors that should help choosing school. In face to face interview last week in Dubai, the interviewer told me that he is going to see alumni afterwards to understand how IE can help in job search etc. Does it happen so often? All schools are like this?

Thank you for valuable input and your time.

Best regards

Well, I don't know who the interviewer was, but I think it's fair to say that all top schools have some careers services for alumni and that these generally will not involve admissions interviewers. Each school will be different.

Dear Duncan

Thank you. I will get more understanding around career services during upcoming meeting.

Thank you and best regards

Dear Duncan and readers

Just to update that I did attend a career event of IE School in Dxb. I found career services almost similar to Warwick school covering cv preparation/review, job postings etc. They agreed that the school is Spanish focused because it is based in Spain and that is the competitive advantage of the school. Though I'd have imagined something catering to the needs of global students community studying at school.

On admissions front, I have secured admission in Warwick yesterday. At the same time, I have secured Euro 7k scholarship at IE Business School, which has now reduced the programme cost from 43k to Euro 36k. I am working out cash flows and decide accordingly.

Best regards

Nice, congratulations!

The 2014 Qs rankings suggest IE number 1 and Warwick number 2 in part time studies. The FT rankings has a lot of difference between Warwick and IE School. I will be considering distance learning route at Warwick or blended (distance learning) at IE school.

I wouldn't put much stock in the rankings of distance learning programs - since they usually don't take into account post-career salary statistics (and most schools don't even provide this data for their online MBA programs.) You can use the FT rankings as a rough proxy for business school strength, but be careful, because the global rankings rank the schools' full-time MBA programs and not the distance-learning programs.

So unfortunately, there's not really any real quantitative way to compare the two programs you are looking at. Many students find that course delivery plays a part in their satisfaction with this kind of learning - maybe look at how the course is delivered (I know that the IE program has some real, live, class sessions, for instance) as well as the potential for face-to-face interaction, which can help you build your leadership capabilities and other soft skills. Also look closely at the curriculum, as one program might have more relevant courses that might appeal to you. Both of these programs are strong, and have been around for a while so I don't think you can go wrong.

Dear Duncan and readers

Just to update that I did attend a career event of IE School in Dxb. I found career services almost similar to Warwick school covering cv preparation/review, job postings etc. They agreed that the school is Spanish focused because it is based in Spain and that is the competitive advantage of the school. Though I'd have imagined something catering to the needs of global students community studying at school.

On admissions front, I have secured admission in Warwick yesterday. At the same time, I have secured Euro 7k scholarship at IE Business School, which has now reduced the programme cost from 43k to Euro 36k. I am working out cash flows and decide accordingly.

Hello, did you decide between these schools? I am considering the IE and Warwick programs, and would like to know which one you settled on. Thanks!

Just following up on my post from February: in fact, the FT has since launched its online MBA program ranking, which is a quantitative way of comparing at least a handful of online MBA programs. Fortunately, the IE and Warwick programs are ranked 1 and 2, respectively, with the IE program showing slightly higher salaries and larger salary bumps overall.

So these are both great programs, and really the top of the pack in terms of UK/European programs. IE potentially has a larger alumni base but either way you would be solid.