Top 10 Most Affordable MBA Programs In The UK

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

An MBA at Cambridge Judge Business School costs £59,000. At London Business School, ranked best in the UK by the FT, £92,735.

At the same time, the UK is home to some of the world’s cheapest MBA programs. The MBA at the University of Wales Trinity St David costs UK-based students £7,500, and internationals £13,340. 

The University of Suffolk 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 with suspicion by prospective employers.

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 £35,000, but don’t skimp on quality or accreditation.

The University of Liverpool School of Management, for example, offers an AASCB-accredited, one-year MBA program costing just £19,500 for UK students, and £27,000 for internationals. Aston Business School’s full-time MBA costs £21,500 for UK students and £25,850 for internationals.

The University of Exeter’s MBA—centered on themes like sustainability and responsible management—costs £30,000 and offers special terms for ex-armed forces and independent professionals such as freelance consultants.

Read: UK Government To Offer 'MBA Style' Online Courses

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Nottingham Trent University charges £21,000 for its full-time MBA, while Birmingham Business School's full-time, one-year MBA program is priced at £30,450.

Just outside our top 10 are: Bath School of Management’s full-time MBA at £37,500; Warwick Business School at £43,950; and Cranfield School of Management at £39,000.

More affordable MBA programs in London include those offered by City's Cass Business School, at £46,000 and Imperial College Business School, at £54,500.

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 74th in the world in the FT MBA ranking, while the Lancaster MBA is ranked 96th globally.

This article was first published in September 2017 and updated in March 2021.

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