Best MBA courses in the UK

The Financial Times produces a global MBA ranking every year, giving prospective students a guide to which business schools will provide the greatest return on investment. Rankings are produced according to the career progression of alumni, diversity of cohort, the quality of faculty, and more.

In 2021, a boycott of the rankings by some well-known business schools has led to a jump in position for many institutions. One UK business school climbs to second place in the overall ranking – and three others join it in the top 30. Here are the UK’s top five universities for an MBA.

Key measures

• Salary increase: average % difference in alumni salary from before the MBA to now
• Employed at three months: % of most recent graduating class who found employment within three months of completion
• International students: % of cohort whose nationality differs from the country in which they're studying

5. University of Warwick: Warwick Business School 

FT Global MBA ranking 2021: 32
Salary increase: 76%
Employed at three months: 88%
International students: 91%

Warwick Business School continues to produce leading research in the business world. The school provides a range of courses that can be studied on the university's main campus or at the London base in the Shard. The challenging MBA programmes clearly pay off, as 90% of graduates are employed within three months and on average earn over £76,000 three years after graduating.

4. University of Manchester: Alliance Manchester Business School

FT Global MBA ranking 2021: 30
Salary increase: 101%
Employed at three months: 83%
International students: 89%

The 18-month, full-time MBA programme at the University of Manchester's Alliance Manchester Business School provides students with a thorough grounding in business theory, giving you the opportunity to practice via international projects, live consultancy work and internships. A dedicated MBA careers service ensures Manchester’s students, if prepared to put in the groundwork, get to where they want to be.

3. University of Oxford: Saïd Business School

FT Global MBA ranking 2021: 17
Salary increase: 85%
Employed at three months: 85%
International students: 93%

The University of Oxford’s progressive MBA curriculum seeks to create managers of extraordinary ability and integrity who are able to lead in a complex, connected and fragile world. An engaged faculty offer a challenging and thought-provoking programme, including a Global Opportunities & Threats Oxford (GOTO) Entrepreneurship course.

2. University of Cambridge: Cambridge Judge Business School

FT Global MBA ranking 2021: 16
Salary increase: 87%
Employed at three months: 90%
International students: 90%

At the University of Cambridge, Judge Business School’s full-time MBA programme is a one-year intensive course aimed at motivated and ambitious individuals with a global outlook. The programme is highly practical, offering you opportunities to take part in live consulting projects, participate in leadership sessions and tailor your programme according to the sector you wish to work in.

1. London Business School

FT Global MBA ranking 20210: 2
Salary increase: 103%
Employed at three months: 99%
International students: 92%

The UK's number one MBA programme is at the London Business School, a postgraduate-only institution. Its highly flexible curriculum lasts 15–21 months and is designed to provide you with the capabilities and connections needed to succeed in business today. A core curriculum gives a solid grounding in the key skills and frameworks of general management, after which you can tailor your MBA via a choice of elective modules. Theory is put into practice through an eight-week paid internship and there’s even the opportunity to take part in an international exchange with one of 30 business schools worldwide.