5 accredited UK business schools with the most affordable MBAs

MBA programmes are known for equipping learners with an arsenal of skills that would put them in good stead across various industries. These include leadership and management skills, in addition to those that can help them climb the corporate ladder. 

MBA programmes have continued to evolve over the years, and the benefits of the degree are well documented. 

Among their key findings include that women with postgraduate degrees see pay gains of 55% to 65% of their pre-MBA salary within five years of graduation. 

Companies with female board directors, experience on average, a 53% higher return on equity while 85% of MBA graduates attribute the MBA as a key factor that has enabled them to advance in their careers.

Also, 95% of women found the MBA experience personally rewarding, while the average amount of time to recoup their ROI on the degree was four years. 

The QS World University Rankings: Global MBA Rankings 2019 notes that MBA graduates can expect an average salary increase of 77%. 

If you’re based in the UK, you might have noticed that some MBA programmes can come with eye-watering fees. An Oxford MBA costs £63,000; the London Business School fees are £92,735, while the cost is £45,000 at the University of Manchester.

If you’re looking for some affordable programmes at £30,000 and below, these are some accredited business schools worth considering: 

Nottingham Trent University

The Nottingham Business School’s one-year, full-time MBA costs £21,000.

NBS is accredited by EQUIS and AACSB, which are internationally recognised hallmarks of excellence and quality for business education.

The School is one of only six UK business schools recognised as a PRME Champion and held up as an exemplar by the United Nations Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME).

University of Glasgow

This Russell Group institution’s 12-month, full-time MBA programme costs UK citizens £18,300.

The course is AMBA accredited, which means your MBA is internationally recognised to the highest standard. Students will study in a small yet diverse cohort of students, while their classes are also interactive. 

Throughout the year, there is a series of social, networking and guest speaker events to enhance students’ learning experience.

Aston University

The annual tuition fees for UK students is £21,500 at Aston Business School. 

It’s website notes: “The Aston MBA will encourage you to think like an entrepreneurial leader from the start, challenging you at every stage, to personally and professionally develop, through a highly practical, experiential approach to learning.”

Aston Business School is one of the 1% of business schools in the world to hold AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA accreditation.

University of Liverpool

The University of Liverpool Management School’s full-time MBA programme costs £19,500. 

The course helps students build their strategic leadership capabilities and make and communicate connections across complex ideas.

The Management School is among an elite group of institutions worldwide to hold the gold standard “triple-crown” accreditation from AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS.

University of Exeter

The Exeter MBA costs £30,000 for both home and international students. 

The programme is built around the latest thinking and techniques from a wide range of management disciplines. 

Students can expect study trips, company visits, group challenges and simulations to complement lectures and seminars led by professionals and academics specialists in their field.  

They also have a range of extra-curricular activities, such as their guest speakers programme and MBA workshops delivered by their corporate partners run throughout the programme.

The University of Exeter Business School holds a “triple-crown” accreditation from AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS.