Top 10 Most Affordable MBA Programs In The UK

Looking for the best value MBA? We list our top 10 affordable MBA programs in the UK, which cost less than £40,000 but don’t skimp on quality

The United Kingdom is famed globally for its high level of business education. Ten of the top 100 MBA programs ranked by the Financial Times are based in the UK.

An MBA at Cambridge Judge Business School costs £64,000. At London Business School, ranked best in the UK by the FT, the fee is £109,700.

At the same time, the UK is home to some of the world’s cheapest MBA programs. An MBA at the University of Worcester costs UK-based students £7,440, and internationals £14,400.

Meanwhile at the University of Suffolk, an MBA costs £11,790 for UK students and £16,380 for internationals. Plymouth University prices its part-time, fast-track MBA at just £4,995.

However, applicants need to strike a balance between cost and quality. Lesser-known MBA programs without accreditation may be looked upon less favorably by prospective employers.

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Best UK MBA programs for value for money

With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of our top 10 most affordable MBA programs (full-time) which cost under £40,000, but don’t skimp on quality or accreditation.

The University of Liverpool School of Management, for example, offers a gold standard ‘triple-crown’ accreditation from AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. It is a one-year MBA program costing just £25,000 for UK students, and £31,000 for internationals. Aston Business School’s full-time MBA costs £23,950 for UK students and £29,950 for internationals.

The University of Bath's MBA—focused on practical business experience—costs £37,500 and offers special scholarships for students with experience in aerospace and defense, financial services, and enterprising or entrepreneurial students, among others.

Read: MBA vs Masters | Which Should I Choose

Nottingham Trent University charges £22,800 for its full-time MBA, while Birmingham Business School's full-time, one-year MBA program is priced at £32,580.

Just outside our top 10 are: Exeter Business School's full-time MBA at £39,000; Warwick Business School at £49,950; and Cranfield School of Management at £44,195.

More affordable MBA programs in London include those offered by City's Bayes Business School, at £48,000 and Imperial College Business School, at £61,500.

Top 10 most affordable MBA programs in the UK:

The UK MBA programs below are all triple accredited, by AMBA, EQUIS, and AACSB. Durham Business School is ranked 78th in the world in the FT MBA ranking, while the Birmingham MBA is ranked 97th globally.

This article was first published in September 2017 and updated in August 2023.

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