You may be attracted to study in the UK due to its historic reputation for education, strong business and finance sector, booming start-up scene, and exciting career opportunities.
Where should you study in the UK? Here are the best business schools in the UK for MBA and business master’s programs, according to Financial Times rankings.
The best UK business schools
There are top business schools and MBA and master’s programs in the UK capital, London, and many more affordable UK MBA programs outside London too.
But which are the best business schools in the UK? Here’s our selection of 15 top business schools in the UK based on their performance across the latest Financial Times MBA, Executive MBA and Master in Management (MiM) rankings.
15. University of Strathclyde Business School
Financial Times EMBA rank: 93
Located in Glasgow, Strathclyde Business School is triple accredited (AMBA, EQUIS, AACSB) and housed within a top international technological university.
Strathclyde’s EMBA is highly experiential and based on collaborative learning, and students here benefit from the innovative Global Practitioners initiative, which brings in figures from the world of business to provide in-depth business experience and expertise.
As well as full-time and part-time programs in Scotland, SBS offers its part-time EMBA in Greece (with a specialization in Shipping), Malaysia, Oman, and UAE.
14. Lancaster University Management School (LUMS)
Financial Times Master in Management (MiM) rank: 96
The FT ranked LUMS’s MiM course 10th in the UK and 96th globally. The MiM program here is developed through a co-design approach, which is reviewed annually by students, alumni, and business representatives to ensure continuous improvement and relevance: students award the program 9.08 out of 10, the highest ranking in the UK.
Companies that recently recruited LUMS MiM graduates in the UK and internationally include PwC, Deloitte, and Lloyds Banking Group. The FT reported a salary increase of 41.3% for MiM graduates.
13. University of Bath School of Management
Financial Times Master in Management (MiM) rank: 91
Located in the World Heritage City of Bath, studying here comes with easy access to historic sites such as Stonehenge and Glastonbury as well as the British capital.
According to the FT, 84% of Bath’s MiM students are employed within three months, and enjoying a salary increase of 38.9%.
Its MBA, meanwhile, features its innovative Multi-Project Suite, where students work in groups on four separate projects, engaging with real clients on real business issues to hone skills in consulting, entrepreneurship, and change management.
12. Henley Business School
Financial Times Master in Management (MiM) rank: 83
Financial Times EMBA rank: 52
Henley’s Global EMBA excels in career outcomes, with graduates experiencing notable salary increases—an average of 41.3% according to the school, and a weighted salary of $185,504, according to the FT—and high promotion rates within 12 months of graduation.
The 24-month Executive MBA—Global program also includes two international immersive study trips with consulting projects.
11. University of Glasgow: Adam Smith Business School
Financial Times MBA rank: 97
Glasgow is known for its friendly locals, thriving arts and music scene, and rich history—the University of Glasgow buildings are said to have inspired Hogwarts from the Harry Potter books. Adam Smith’s campus is located in the cosmopolitan and student-friendly West End.
Adam Smith’s MBA program gives students the chance to take part in a team consulting project with research, industry, or start-up pathways. There is also the option of achieving a coaching qualification from the Association of Coaching.
Recent alumni have gone on to join the likes of Amazon, Barclays, Deloitte and Diageo.
READ: What Are The Requirements For A UK Student Visa In 2025?
10. University of Edinburgh Business School
Financial Times MBA rank: 91
Financial Times Master in Management (MiM) rank: 88
Another Scottish entry, this time located in the capital, Edinburgh—one of the UK’s oldest cities, with beautiful architecture and a fascinating history to explore just a train ride away from the famous Scottish Highlands.
This school attracts talent from around the globe—95% of its 2025 cohort are international students—and 56% are female.
If this isn’t enough to convince you, the Edinburgh MBA program’s career stats might. The school is particularly strong at placing students into jobs in finance and IT, with 26% and 22% of the classes of 2022 and 2023 going into the sectors respectively.
9. Durham University Business School (DUBS)
Financial Times MBA rank: 86
Financial Times Master in Management (MiM) rank: 95
Founded in 1965, DUBS is one of the UK’s longest established business schools so it’s no surprise its programs feature prominently across world rankings.
The school offers a suite of Master in Management options, including focuses in entrepreneurship, finance, international business, and supply chain logistics.
If you’re looking for an MBA but want to retain this specialized focus, Durham may still be what you’re looking for: the MBA offers three specialist pathways, allowing students to focus their learning in entrepreneurship, consulting, or tech.
8. Cranfield School of Management
Financial Times MBA rank: 82
Financial Times Master in Management (MiM) rank: 58
Financial Times EMBA rank:72
Cranfield University is the only university in the UK with its own airport, thanks to its history as an RAF base, and the business school’s student population is just as globetrotting with 26 nationalities represented.
Cranfield’s MBA is rated first in Europe for career progression by the FT and second in Europe by Bloomberg. If you’re looking to do an EMBA, Cranfield is the only UK business school to be part of the EMBA Consortium for Global Business Innovation, a collaboration of leading international institutions dedicated to shaping future global business leaders.
7. Bayes Business School
Financial Times MBA rank: 67
Financial Times Master in Management (MiM) rank: 58
Financial Times EMBA rank:53
After completing an MBA at Bayes Business School (formerly Cass, and part of City, University of London) you can expect to go on to earn a weighted salary of $137,128. To calculate the weighted salary, the FT removes the highest and lowest salaries from each school to calculate a normalised average. Finally, salaries are weighted to reflect differences between different sectors.
A great location if you’re itching to get experience in tech or entrepreneurship: as a student, you would take classes close to Old Street Station, otherwise known as ‘Silicon Roundabout’ for the number of tech start-ups that are clustered around it.
The school is also a great place to explore opportunities in finance. Bayes has a campus in the Dubai International Financial Center, a leading global financial hub, and is the only global business school to have a research center dedicated to mergers and acquisitions.
6. Warwick Business School
Financial Times MBA rank: 62
Financial Times Master in Management (MiM) rank: 33
Financial Times EMBA rank: 30
Warwick is famous within the UK for its imposing castle and Tudor architecture—and known internationally for being home to one of the best business schools in the UK.
According to the Financial Times, 95% of Warwick MSc Management students secure roles within three months with a weighted salary of $72,409.
Warwick’s full-time MBA is ranked third in the world and its MSc Finance ranked fourth in the world by the Financial Times.
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5. Alliance Manchester Business School
Financial Times MBA rank: 46
Financial Times Master in Management (MiM) rank: 92
Manchester made its name as one of the UK’s key industrial hubs, and it is still a great place to learn about business both domestic and international.
The Manchester full-time MBA is built on real-world learning, with live consulting, social impact and mergers & acquisitions projects, and a teaching staff with solid business backgrounds: 80% have held senior management positions and 90% have led businesses globally.
Students are also able to expand their learning globally: in addition to their central Manchester campus, Alliance Manchester Business School also has centers in Dubai, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore.
4. Imperial Business School
Financial Times MBA rank: 38
Financial Times Master in Management (MiM) rank: 24
London’s global outlook is reflected in its business schools, and Imperial is no exception: 26 different nationalities are represented across the average Imperial MBA class of around 76 students.
As well as the networking opportunities that come with a global cohort, Imperial’s MBA includes the Personal Leadership Journey, a careers-led module that runs throughout the year-long program designed to give you key leadership skills through workshops, reflective exercises and one-to-one meetings.
3. University of Cambridge: Judge
Financial Times MBA rank: 35
Financial Times Master in Management (MiM) rank: 58
Financial Times EMBA rank: 25
Like its Oxbridge twin, Judge is found in the heart of the world-famous university town. Study your MBA here and your cohort will typically number around 240, with 49 nationalities represented and 47% female students.
The intensive one-year MBA program here is delivered over four terms with four projects, nine concentrations, some 50 electives and international study trip and internship options.
According to the FT, 82% of Judge graduates are employed at three months of graduation, commanding an average salary of $176,700.
2. Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
Financial Times MBA rank: 26
Financial Times Master in Management (MiM) rank: 58
Financial Times EMBA rank: 11
Located in the heart of one of the world’s most famous and beautiful university towns, Oxford Saïd Business School is one of Europe’s youngest and most entrepreneurial business schools. It is one of the most highly-educated faculties in the UK, with 100% of MBA professors holding doctoral degrees.
For international students, it’s a haven: 97% of the Oxford one-year MBA class come from outside the UK. While many UK programs favor small intimate cohorts, your network at Oxford Saïd will be slightly larger, as the MBA class size is typically around 340.
1. London Business School
Financial Times MBA rank: 7
Financial Times Master in Management (MiM) rank: 6
Financial Times EMBA rank: 16
No list of the best business schools in the UK would be complete without London Business School. Founded in 1965, 90% of LBS MiM graduates today receive a job offer within three months of graduation and earn more than those from any other school—the average salary comes in at $79,195, according to its MiM employment report.
Besides career progression and a world-class reputation, LBS programs also offer a strong degree of flexibility. The MiM can be completed in 12-16 months, and the MBA offers exit points at 15, 18, and 21 months.
Sources: MBA, 2025 FT; MiM, 2025 FT; EMBA, 2024 FT | Other rankings are available.
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