The UK has now become a rather lucrative prospect for higher education!
There is a wide range of opportunities to gain practical experience while studying at Universities in the UK. Many courses have options for work placements and internships that count towards the degree you earn and many offer the chance to gain professional accreditation as well. To help our candidates resolve their queries about Studying in UK, we conducted a webinar with Head of event & product development at Quacquarelli Symonds, Simon Margolis.
Here’s a complete coverage of the questions that came up in the webinar QnA segment!
Let’s dig in.
Q. Are there any specific scholarships for women in Engineering who want to do an MBA? I have an MTech in engineering and would now like to pursue an MBA. I have 5.9 years of collective work experience in Teaching, Volunteering and the Corporate Sector. But my only constraint is funding i.e scholarship.
A: There are a vast number of Scholarships available to different groups; whether it’s women, or ethnic minorities, for most Universities. You just have to check with the Universities you wish to apply to.
What else you can do inside qs leap ?
In terms of Engineering MBA, obviously the MBA is not like a Master’s in Management, Arts or Science. The MBA is a Business course. It was set up originally in the 60’s in order to get engineers to that next step in terms of running a Businesses, being a CEO, being able to manage a dept and a whole office after doing their engineering for a number of years. So engineering candidates are still the gold standard in terms of MBA applicants. There will most certainly be various scholarships for women at UK universities, but in terms of specifics, you will have to do your research in terms of which specific universities have the best on that front. Most universities have a page of scholarships, where they tell you how much is on offer and fpr what group of people.
Q. What is the key difference between an MBA and MSc. in Management or International Business? I tried looking at information for each course, but they seem to have a similar course contents.
A: Much of the course content is similar yes, however an MSc is highly specialized to that particular area whereas an MBA is geared to cover all facets of business in a more general sense. (of course, you can do MBA specializations, but again it will be with an overview of business as a whole) Aside from content, other things to think about would be program length, cost etc.
Q. Which Business school MBA programs would you recommend for doctors or healthcare workers in general?
A: There aren’t that many in the UK. The US and Germany are better served in this area. Manchester Metropolitan and Liverpool University both have online Healthcare MBA courses. Warwick and Cambridge have a general MBA with specialization in Healthcare as an option. Much depends on your background. A Doctor probably won’t need a specific healthcare MBA, but should focus more on general specializations such as Finance or Accounting to develop his/her strength on the financial/business side of things.
Q. I’m aware that it has always been a difficult proposition to find a job in the UK after completing a post-graduate. Has the situation gotten any better or worse in the last few years, maybe after BREXIT?
A: That’s a good question. I would say the market is getting slightly better, but slowly; there’s no great leap. It took a massive hit after the recession of 2008 but has started to get back up on its feet. Not quite as quickly as places like France and Germany, however, 2013 onwards, the pick-up has sped up. Things indeed began to look good around the Olympics in 2012, when a lot of start-ups and a lot of businesses began recruiting more and more, and a lot more international students saw the UK as more outward-looking. It might have slowed down a little bit after BREXIT, but not at this point to any detrimental effect. The unemployment rate in UK is continuing to fall and BREXIT hasn’t been implemented yet, so there isn’t a clear white paper on how it will be post-implementation. So, it’s very much business as usual with a slight feeling of how the BREXIT might affect things in the next 2-3 years’ time, especially within the city.
Q. Is it easy to procure a working visa? and what factors work in one’s favor if one wishes to apply for a permanent residency?
A: In terms of getting a visa, getting a student visa is not too difficult as long as you can tick all the boxes that the UK border agency asks for, in terms of having a letter of intent from an institution and proving that you have the finances to live here while you are here. Obviously having a valid passport, and not being on any watchlist, and proving you are here to study will count as important factors/
In terms of permanent residency, you’ll have to go through the home office, and make sure that you pass the UK citizenship test, which is a multiple-choice test on UK history and culture. The idea is, you have to prove that you have the right and the ability to stay here, either through a letter of sponsorship from your employer or an intent to continue further studies/research here. You should also be able to demonstrate that you have a place to live and a basic command over the English language as check-boxed criteria. All these factors will count in terms of getting a permanent residency post your study.
Q. Is there any advantage of taking the GMAT exam instead of the GRE for an MBA?
A: I would say, for an MBA, the GMAT is a more sought-after, a more prestigious exam to take. In terms of Masters, there doesn’t seem too much of an explicit difference when it comes to your score. But for the MBA, the GMAT is definitely more favorable. Now, a lot also depends on the school you’re applying to. Some schools just look at the GMAT score from a reasonable lens, and appreciate good scores, but some others will only look at your application if you have scored beyond a 650 or a 720 on the GMAT. This of course depends on where the school is and how it is ranked. If they have 5000 applications every month, then they’re going to have to use some barometer to rate people. Other schools look more closely at somebody’s work experience as well, but I’d say if you’re looking at an MBA, definitely the GMAT is the more sought-after exam than the GRE.
Q. What are the job prospects post an MBA in the UK?
A: Job prospects after an MBA in the UK vary from sector to sector. At the moment, they’re fairly bouyant, after a dip in 2016. Highest MBA salaries on offer approx $92,400 per annum. You can find a more in depth analysis here.
Q. How can I find the list of all universities in UK?
A: Universities.ac is a website that offers a comprehensive list, and QS has a list of all the Universities in the UK as well. For those looking to do Master’s or Undergrad, UCAS is the governing body for Universities in the UK.
Q. For how long after the completion of an MBA are graduates allowed to stay in the UK?
A: If you wish to live in the UK beyond your studies, you will have to obtain sponsorship from an employer that offers Tier 2 sponsorship. Not all employers offer this sponsorship, so you will have to scout for one that does. If you have a job and the company you’re working for is able to sponsor you, then your length of stay in the UK will depend on the sponsorship of the work visa.
Whilst out of work, you can remain within the UK for four months.
Q. What is the cost of living while studying in UK? Is London more expensive?
A: Basic costs for UK living is roughly around £12,000 a year. It just depends on where you are living and what you are doing. Cities like London will naturally cost more. Also, lifestyle matters. If you’re going out every evening to restaurants, it’s going to cost you a lot more than if you’re staying home, whereas if you cook for yourself, have a job and are earning money, then you’ll end up spending much more reasonably. Additionally, if you’re going to the theatre, and spending on sports matches, it’s gonna be a lot more expensive, yes. The cost of living will also depend on where you live, in terms of your accommodation pricing and how you live, in terms of life generally outside the classroom.
As I said, London is more expensive than most other cities, yes, so do factor that in. The average cost of a flat-share in London can vary between 400 to 500 pounds per month. Taking up an entire flat to yourself will cost more of course; between 800 and 900 pounds.
And… that’s a wrap, folks!
Attend our upcoming webinars to have your own queries answered! They’re all free, and always will be.
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Ciao!
