Is Cranfield a Good Option for 1-year MBA?

MBA at Cranfield University near London attracts more than 85% of the class from outside the United Kingdom (UK). One of the oldest and most prestigious business schools in the UK, it is known for excellence in leadership development and for strong links with global businesses.

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With the focus on real-world learning and leadership development, students complete consulting projects for companies and also undertake an international business assignment that could includes trips to developing countries like Cambodia and Uganda.

All students get an executive coach to help them improve their personal leadership skills and secure a job after graduation. The curriculum requires classes like “Developing My Leadership” and “Leadership in Action.”

Cranfield that celebrates 50 years in 2017, boasts of a global alumni network of more than 28,000 members in over 130 countries.

The full-time one-year MBA program is designed for professionals with at least three years’ work experience. It is meant for those who recognise that business success is about people, about collaboration, intra personal and interpersonal intelligence.

Students are motivated to become better leaders, team players and individuals, committed to developing themselves and others.

The current batch (2016-17) has 57 students with 72% male and 28% female in the age range of 24-48 years. The average age is 32 years and number of nationalities 18.

Admission Eligibility

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Candidates from all backgrounds are eligible to apply. A minimum of three years’ post-qualification work experience is needed along with a good degree and / or professional qualification.

Applicants who do not have a degree would also be considered if they could demonstrate high levels of achievement, exceptional career progression or evidence of leadership potential.

Cranfield also offers the facility to assess the candidate’s profile and provide feedback on suitability for the programme before a formal application.

Candidates are expected to have Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores of more than 600. The average score for Full-time MBA students is 680 at present.

In case of GRE, candidates should have a minimum GRE score in the 80th percentile for both verbal and quantitative reasoning.

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Cranfield also offers its own admissions tests as an alternative to GMAT, for candidates who are able to come to Cranfield for interview. There are two paper-based tests, designed to assess candidate’s numeracy and problem solving skills.

Program Schedule

The 13-month program starts in September. For the class starting September 2017, orientation week will be from September 25–29.

Term One is from October 2 to December 15. Term Two starts on January 8 to run till March 23, 2018. Term Four will be from June 25– October 19.

Cranfield School of Management is one of an elite group of business schools worldwide to hold triple accreditations from European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and Association of Master of Business Administration (AMBA).

Core modules comprise Accounting, Strategic Marketing, Strategic Operations Management, Economics of Organisations and Strategy,

Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation, Venture Capital Investment Competition, Decision Making and Data Analytics, Global Macroeconomics and Business Environment, Project Management Introduction, Strategic Management, Financial Management, International Business Assignment, Developing Leadership, Managing People and Leading Change, Challenges for Leaders, Leadership in Action and Company-based projects.

Electives are International Strategy, Managing Project Uncertainty, Business Law, Investment and Risk Management, Managing International Mergers and Acquisitions, Managing Strategic Innovation, Strategic Human Resource Management in the 21st Century, Negotiating in Business and Organisations, Corporate Finance Transactions, Corporate Financial Strategy, Driving Value Through the Supply Chain, Identifying Hidden Needs, Entrepreneurial Finance, MBA Consultancy Project, Major Critical Projects and Programme Management – a Sectoral Approach.

Fees and Admission Schedule

The total fees is pegged at GBP 36,000. A discount scheme is available to alumni who have successfully completed a Cranfield postgraduate course and would like to join an MBA program. The scheme is open to all Cranfield graduates who have completed an MSc, PhD, MRes or MDes degree in the past 10 years. All those who qualify will receive a 25% discount on their tuition fees.

Alumni who have completed one of the short courses will instead receive a 20% loyalty discount on tuition fees.

Applications for 2017 entry opened on October 1. The first deadline was on October 30, the next ones are January 29, April 9 and June 25, 2017. Candidates who submit applications before January 29 will receive GBP 2,000 discount on fees.

According to the payment schedule, GBP 500 non-refundable deposit is to be made on acceptance of the seat, GBP 2500 non-refundable deposit by May 31, 2017 and the remainder of the tuition fees at the start of the course.

Accommodation and living expenses are substantially lower at Cranfield than in major cities such as London. Students are advised to budget an additional £12,000 for accommodation and living expenses, or more if they are bringing a partner and/or family.(Image Source: Pixbay.com)