MBA Admission Requirements

The MBA program at any school in the United Kingdom may be a good option for international students. The prestigious universities of Oxford and Cambridge lead the way, but there are many smaller schools with quality programs for those seeking to excel in the global business community.

One great advantage of most UK schools to many international students is that they accept a three-year bachelor’s degree. And an MBA can be earned in one year instead of the two years required at most schools in the United States.

Various degrees in countries such as India, the Bachelor of Arts(BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), are all three-year programs. In some countries, these degrees are not recognized as equivalent to the four-year bachelor’s degrees issued there. However, the UK will often accept these as equal to an Ordinary British Bachelor Degree.

In some cases one will need to have graduated with Honors for the three-year degree to be accepted. A four-year Bachelor of Engineering (BE) may also be acceptable.

Two or three years of work experience will also usually be required for acceptance in an MBA program in England. Although there are a few UK schools which will accept students with no work experience, MBA programs which are accredited by AMBA all require at least three years of full-time on-the-job experience. AMBA, the Association of MBAs, is the global authority on postgraduate management education. Affiliated MBA programs may be less expensive than University MBA Programs, but may also be of lower quality.

Another advantage of MBA schools in England is that most do not require the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). The definite exceptions are London Business School or Manchester Business School.

Almost all universities will require that a student be able to pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Both are considered leading tests of competence in English. Even though international students may have attended English-based schools, a test is still likely to be required. In some few instances the examination will be waived after a personal interview.

For the most accurate information please contact admissions for your prospective MBA program. We hope you learned a few new things about applying for an MBA. If you found this article helpful please check out our other insightful MBA articles and guides.