Are you a US resident thinking about studying a one-year Masters in England? Rachel Tufft, Head of Marketing and Recruitment for Masters Courses at Alliance MBS, offers some great advice on eligibility, applications, funding and more.
What is the difference between an MBA and a Masters/MSc?
An MBA from a well-ranked business school in England is typically a post-experience course requiring several years of work experience. Whereas a one-year business master's or MSc degree course is a pre-experience course open to fresh graduates.
How does studying for a master’s differ from a US undergraduate degree?
Jacob Roberts, currently studying MSc International Business and Management, says that the independent study style of a UK master’s is the most noticeable difference:
“The professors really expect the students to be responsible for themselves. The student has full control over how much they study or don’t study throughout the semester. There are few compulsory assignments throughout, and students really have the freedom to study in a way that is best for them.” Read more about Jacob's study experiences in his blog post >>
Who can study a one-year business Masters/MSc?
The majority of business masters courses are conversion courses open to anyone from any background, so it doesn’t matter what you have studied previously. You don’t even need to have studied business or management. The only exceptions are courses in the banking or finance area which typically do require prior knowledge of finance or economics. So whether you’ve studied liberal arts, sciences or engineering, you can apply for any business course including specialist courses like Marketing, Operations, and Innovation etc.
When should I apply?
Applications open almost one year in advance of the course start date, for example, 1 October 2019 for September 2020 entry. You can apply during your final year of study and you will receive a conditional offer dependant on your final GPA. You should apply as early as possible as places fill up fast.
Do I need GMAT/GRE?
For the one-year pre-experience business master's courses, the most important element of your application is your current GPA. GMAT and/or GRE are not required for entry. Unlike the USA there is no history of testing for these courses in England – academic skills evidenced by your GPA are what we will look at. These tests, however, are recommended for our accounting and finance courses.
How will I pay for my business master's course?
Most top-ranked universities in England, including The University of Manchester, are recognised by the US government for FAFSA federal student aid. So you can apply for funding in the same way you would for a course in the USA. At Manchester, our North American loans team offers a dedicated service for US students who wish to use their federal and private loans to pay for their education. They can help you work out, step-by-step, how much funding you’re entitled to and how to complete your loan application.
Alliance Manchester Business School at The University of Manchester offers scholarships of £10,000 to US residents.
Other scholarships, including Marshall and Fulbright, are also available. You can also apply for scholarships through QS.
Where will I live?
The University of Manchester guarantees campus accommodation to all international students so you won’t have to worry about finding somewhere to live. The University offers single study bedrooms (no roommates here!) and you can also opt to have your own private bathroom.
Manchester is a very easy city to navigate with most graduate accommodation located within walking distance of campus or the city centre. You’ll find in general that living costs in Manchester are approximately 35% lower than London.
What else can campus life offer me?
The University of Manchester has one of the largest student unions of any university in England and offers more than 300 clubs and societies for you to join. In addition to England’s largest Athletic Union where beginners are welcome, you can join a range of cultural societies from baking to Thai, hiking to Quidditch – Manchester offers it all!
Find out more about studying a business master's at Alliance Manchester Business School >>
