Top 10 MBA Universities in the UK: Rankings, Eligibility & Fee

Why study MBA in the UK?

You must learn how to do business from the finest! Among the several programmes available, "business" is a prominent subject in which UK higher education institutions have excelled for many years. And since the UK is a major hub for business and entrepreneurship, MBA programmes are constantly in high demand. The top business schools in the UK are well-known internationally and have an innovative and creative culture. Each university has a reputation for academic quality, unmatched global exposure, and developing students into influential business leaders.

Every year, the top MBA universities in the UK are ranked highly in the QS World University & Business Rankings. This says a lot about the calibre of the education, research, and training they offer. This article looks at the top 10 MBA universities in the UK, including rankings, eligibility and fees to study MBA in the UK.

Top 10 MBA Universities in the UK

1. London business school

London Business School, which is situated in the energetic metropolis of London, has regularly held rank one among the top 10 business schools in the UK. The university provides excellent MSc, MBA, and EMBA degrees in areas like organisational behaviour, management science, marketing, and finance. This one is one of the best universities in the UK to pursue an MBA. The LBS MBA, which bills itself as "the world's most flexible," is considered one of the most renowned programmes worldwide and unquestionably among the most well-respected in Europe.

The Financial Times has consistently placed London Business School in the top 2 business schools in Europe for three years running. You have the flexibility of studying for 15, 18, or 21 months. The Executive MBA and two more EMBAs—the EMBA Global Asia and the EMBA Global Americas and Europe—are also offered by LBS. In the first, you'll have the opportunity to study in Hong Kong, Shanghai, New York, and London, while in the latter, you'll be studying in both London and New York.

Ranking: QS Global MBA Rank 2022 - 6 
Eligibility: 
Undergraduate Degree
IELTS:  7.5
TOEFL (iBT): 110
GMAT: 600-780
Minimum 3 Years of Management Experience
Average Fees per year: 
Full-Time MBA: £97,500
Executive MBA: £108,100

2. University of Oxford (Saïd Business School)

The University of Oxford is regarded as a leading global university and MBA provider. The oldest English-speaking university in the world is situated in Oxford, England, and was founded in 1096. Over time, Oxford acquired a crucial body of knowledge due to its antiquity, curriculum, philosophical foundation, and privileges. The MBA program's highlight project, Global Opportunities and Threats: Oxford (GOTO), is described as "action-oriented problem-solving that addresses a key issue impacting the globe today."

Oxford University has some of the best business schools in the UK for international students. The MBA programme consists of demanding academic lectures, seminars, and group projects schedule. Said also offers an Executive MBA that allows students to participate in various challenging and strenuous programmes.‍

Ranking: QS Global MBA Rank 2023 - 4
Eligibility: 
Undergraduate Degree
IELTS:  7.5
TOEFL (iBT): 110
GMAT: 690
GRE: 160 (Verbal & Quantitative)
Minimum 3 Years of Management Experience
Average Fees per year: 
MBA: £63,442
Executive MBA: £98,590

3. University of Cambridge (Judge Business School)

An internationally renowned business school, Cambridge Judge Business School, originally known as Judge Institute of Management Studies, enrols students from over 100 different nations. In addition to being a member of the prestigious Cambridge University and being ranked #1 in One-Year Programs in the UK by the Financial Times in 2021, CJBS is also well-known for its excellent programmes. The university offers undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate, doctorate, and professional degrees and excels in business, finance, and entrepreneurial studies.

The MBA programme at Cambridge University is founded on contemporary pedagogical and practical practices. The emphasis is on providing the students with both academic and practical learning. The Global Consulting Project, in which groups of students work on real consulting assignments for businesses worldwide, is the centrepiece of Cambridge's MBA programme. The curriculum comprises four phases: team building, leading, influence and impact, and application and relaunch. It follows a "micro to macro" pattern.‍

Ranking: QS Global MBA Rank 2023 - 2
Eligibility: 
Undergraduate Degree
IELTS:  7.5
TOEFL (iBT): 110
GMAT: 630-740
Minimum 3 Years of Management Experience
Average Fees per year: 
MBA: £61,000
Cambridge Executive MBA: £75,800

4. University of Warwick (Warwick Business School)

The Warwick Business School's MBA programme, which is a part of the University of Warwick, is ranked first in the UK and seventeenth overall by The Economist. It aspires to produce capable, innovative, and enterprising international leaders. Warwick MBA is a catalyst for the advancement and change of your career, regardless of your level of experience as a professional or whether you are a recent graduate.

The MBA programme at Warwick Business School enables you to participate in courses on customer persuasion techniques, powerful presentations, diversity and global business, and persuasive applications and interviews. You will have the option to focus on entrepreneurship, which entails devoting 50% of your time to that subject and 50% to the essential MBA material. The following modules are offered: "Managing in a New World," "Organisational Behavior," and "Innovation and Creativity in Organizations." Other options at Warwick include an Executive MBA and a distance learning MBA (both of which can be completed at the university's London campus, The Shard).‍

Ranking: QS Global MBA Rank 2023 - 64
Eligibility: 
Undergraduate Degree
IELTS:  7.0
TOEFL (iBT): 100
PTE: 100
GMAT: 650
Minimum 3 Years of Management Experience
Average Fees per year: 
Full-Time MBA: £45,950
Executive MBA: £49,900
Distance Learning MBA: £35,650

5. Imperial College London

The esteemed Imperial College London includes the Imperial College Business School. According to the QS Global MBA Ranking 2022, the business school's full-time MBA programme is ranked #21 globally and #9 in Europe. In addition to the MBA, the school also provides admittance to 8 specialised master's programmes, 9 MSc programmes, and Executive Education courses. There are currently 2,000 postgraduate students enrolled at Imperial College Business School, including visitors from 103 different nations.

Global Experience Week is a highlight for many students in Imperial's MBA programme. It's a lengthy overseas travel to investigate businesses in a global setting. The advanced curriculum provides students with countless prospects in the areas of management, entrepreneurship, and business. A weekend MBA, a two-year Executive MBA, and a two-year global online MBA are other choices offered by Imperial.
An MSc programme costs roughly 31,800 GBP, but an MBA degree at a business school costs 57,200 GBP. The cost of enrolling in a course at the Imperial College Business School might be high. As a result, candidates can submit applications for scholarships to study in the UK, like Chevening Scholarships. The business school also provides scholarships, such as the Dean's Impact Scholarship, which is worth up to 25,000 British Pounds.‍

Ranking: QS Global MBA Rank 2023 - 6
Eligibility: 
Undergraduate Degree
IELTS:  7.0
TOEFL (iBT): 100
DET: 125
GMAT: 600
GRE: 156 (Verbal) 158 (Quantitative)
Minimum 3 Years of Management Experience
Average Fees per year: 
Full-Time MBA: £57,200
Executive MBA: £61,500
Weekend MBA: £50,900
Global Online MBA: £41,350

6. The University of Edinburgh

Three pillars—Strategic Leadership, Professional Development, and Personalized Approach—support the University of Edinburgh's MBA programme. The University of Edinburgh's business school, Edinburgh Business School, was founded in 1919 and is based in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the United Kingdom. Its triple accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), and the Association of MBAs highlight its expertise in research and teaching (AMBA). The school is a part of a university that has produced three UK prime ministers, an Abel Prize winner, three Turing Award winners, two Pulitzer Prize winners, and 19 Nobel laureates.

The university's MBA programme includes a customised coaching programme as well. The Edinburgh MBA offers a "boutique experience" combining an individualised learning environment and small cohorts. You will broaden your perspectives while developing the abilities managers and business leaders need. Edinburgh offers two full-time MBA programmes and a full-time MBA with foreign exchange.‍

Ranking: QS Global MBA Rank 2023 - 15
Eligibility: 
Undergraduate Degree
IELTS: 7.0
TOEFL (iBT): 100
PTE: 70
GMAT: 600
Minimum 3 Years of Management Experience
Average Fees per year: 
Full-Time MBA: £35,900
Part-Time Executive MBA: £34,700

7. University of Manchester

Alliance Manchester Business School, a division of the esteemed University of Manchester, was founded in 1965 as one of the first two business schools in the United Kingdom. The MBA programme at this institution helps students enhance their leadership skills and sets goals for their future. You will engage in three consulting projects with actual clients as part of The University of Manchester's curriculum, which bills itself as "one of the most practical MBAs in the world." The largest campus-based business and management school in the UK is Alliance MBS.

Alliance MBS provides more than 50 programmes at the UG and PG levels and is ranked among the Top 50 B-schools in the world by the Financial Times (2021), Forbes, and Bloomberg's Best Business School. Alliance MBS offers globally accessible programmes with a diverse international student body, flexible completion times, and a high level of professionalism. It also has overseas campuses in Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, So Paulo, and Shanghai in addition to its flagship campus in Manchester. Annual enrollment for programmes at the main campus and these centres at the Alliance Manchester Business School is around 7,000 students from 85 different countries.‍

Ranking: QS Global MBA Rank 2023 - 28
Eligibility: 
Undergraduate Degree
IELTS: 6.5
TOEFL (iBT): 90
PTE: 59-65
GMAT: Minimum 550-700
Minimum 3 Years of Management Experience
Average Fees per year: 
Full-Time MBA: £46,000
Global MBA: £30,000
Global Executive MBA: £39,500
Kelley Manchester Global MBA: £65,000

8. Cranefield University

The world-renowned Cranfield School of Management is a pioneer in management education, research, and consulting. The Cranfield School of Management is a post-graduate aeronautics institution situated in Bedfordshire, England. The institute was founded in its current form in 1967 due to the rising demand for management training. It is one of the greatest UK universities for international students and hosts more than 15,000 participants annually in its executive and professional development programmes. It is the only institution in the UK solely dedicated to post-graduate study.

The university is triple accredited by AACSB International, AMBA, and EQUIS. According to a Financial Times 2019 article, the institution is among the top 10 business schools in the UK, and the deadline for applications to their esteemed MBA programme is May 31. This organisation does not charge applicants an application fee since it supports equal rights and high-quality education for all. With a high employment rate of almost 92%, it is a popular choice among international students studying in the UK.‍

Ranking: QS Global MBA Rank 2022 - 75
Eligibility: 
Undergraduate Degree
IELTS: 7.0
TOEFL (iBT): 100
PTE: 68
GMAT: 680
Minimum 3 Years of Management Experience
Average Fees per year:
Full-Time MBA: £39,000
Executive MBA: £27,000

9. Lancaster University

Lancaster University Management School is the place to go if you want to pursue an MBA in the UK in a truly global, renowned, and aspirational environment. The prestigious parent company of Lancaster University is home to the business school known as Lancaster University Management School. The prestigious AACSB accreditation for American business schools and EQUIS certification for European business schools both accredit the institution.

One of the well-known universities in the UK, LUMS consistently ranks in the top 10 of three UK league tables. Applications can be submitted online at Lancaster University Management School using the UCAS system for undergraduate programmes and the university application portal for postgraduate programmes. Lancaster University does not charge an application fee, and admissions are available on a rolling basis.‍

Ranking: QS Global MBA Rank 2023 - 146
Eligibility: Undergraduate Degree
IELTS: 7.0
TOEFL (iBT): 94
PTE: 65
GMAT: 580
Minimum 3 Years of Work Experience
Average Fees per year: 
Full-Time MBA: £34,500
Executive MBA: £49,900

10. The University of Southampton

Southampton Business School, a Southampton-based University of Southampton unit, was founded in 1920. On Hampshire's South Coast is where you'll find Southampton. One of the top 100 universities in the world is the University of Southampton. Southampton is renowned for its top-notch business education and is one of the Russell Group of UK Universities' best business schools. In addition, the business school collaborates with more than 300 companies across the globe, including giants in their fields like Rolls-Royce, Microsoft, IBM, and Phillips.

More than 2,500 students worldwide can choose from the bachelor's, master's, MBA, DBA, and doctoral programmes Southampton Business School offers. AACSB and AMBA rank the institution's programmes. Students pursuing an MBA at the University of Southampton learn to think strategically and make judgments. Here, you can acquire all the managerial expertise you need to graduate and lead teams and individuals. You learn how to handle sustainability concerns in today's fast-paced corporate climate.‍

Ranking: QS Global MBA Rank 2023 - 78
Eligibility: 
Undergraduate Degree
IELTS: 6.0
TOEFL (iBT): 92
GMAT: 600+
Minimum 3 Years of Management Experience
Average Fees per year: Full-Time MBA - £28,000

Conclusion

Well, there you have it! Provided with all the necessary information, all you need to do now is start preparing to get into your dream university. These are among the top MBA Universities in the UK and worldwide, and they will surely be the place for you to be! And at amber, you can easily find student accommodation near all the universities, before you even set foot in the city! So, what are you waiting for? Let the preparations begin!