Top 20 Universities in UK which accepts IELTS Score for MBA

If you ask someone who wishes to pursue an MBA abroad what exams they’re preparing for, the most common answer would be GMAT. They don’t really mention IELTS. But your IELTS score is just as important as your GMAT score. Coming from a non-English speaking country, you need a credible way to prove your proficiency in English, and IELTS does just that. So acing your IELTS is just as crucial as acing your GMAT.

So with that out of the way, let’s have a look at the top 20 universities in the United Kingdom that accept your IELTS score.

1. University of Edinburgh Business School

Ranked 20th in the world in the QS 2020 university rankings, UEBS is an excellent place to pursue your management education, and also this is one of the top universities in the UK for MBA. They offer three MBA variants:

• A full-time programme (duration: 12 months)
• A full-time programme with international exchange (duration: 12 months)
• A part-time executive MBA for working professionals (duration: 27 months)

UEBS is triple-accredited with AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA. Furthermore, employability at this business school is sky-high, with 88% of MBA graduates finding a job within three months of graduation. This school also wins points for diversity, with students from over 60 nationalities studying on campus in the 2018/19 academic year.

An IELTS score of 7 is among their requirements.

2. University of Bath

The University of Bath is a public university located in Bath, Somerset, UK. It received its royal charter in 1966. It has been consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the UK and is featured among the top 150 MBAs in the QS Global MBA rankings 2020. They offer two MBA variants:

• A full-time MBA (duration: one year)
• An executive MBA (duration: two years)

There are a plethora of advantages to studying at the University of Bath. A couple of them are:

1. Small class sizes with diversity, meaning you get a richer learning experience and a global outlook.
2. One-third of the programme consists of optional courses, which means you can customise your MBA to your personal interests with greater freedom than at other universities.

They have an IELTS score of 7 among their requirements. If you don’t meet their requirements, however, you’re allowed to take a short English course before your MBA begins. The duration of that course depends on your IELTS score: either five weeks(score of 6.5), or ten weeks(score of 6).

3. Cass Business School, City University of London

Located 15 minutes away from London’s financial district, Cass is one of the most prestigious business schools in the United Kingdom. They are ranked 6th in the UK, and are among the top 50 business schools globally, according to the Financial Times Global MBA rankings 2020. They offer three MBA variants:

• Full-time MBA
• Evening executive MBA
• Executive MBA in Dubai

Students at Cass have access to the £10 million Cass entrepreneurship fund for startups with high potential. They are also the only global business school to have a dedicated Mergers & Acquisitions Research Centre.

They have an IELTS score of 7 among their requirements.

4. Durham University Business School

Durham University is a public university situated in Durham, North East England, and founded in 1832. Their business school is triple-accredited with the AACSB, the EQUIS, and the AMBA, and they are at 74th place in the QS Global MBA rankings. They offer three variants of the MBA programme:

• Full-time MBA (duration: 12/15 months)
• Online/Blended MBA (duration: 2 years)
• Executive MBA (duration: 18 months)

They have an IELTS score of 7 among their requirements.

5. Warwick Business School, University of Warwick

Warwick Business School is one of the few universities that is triple-accredited with the AACSB, the EQUIS, and the AMBA. They are at 34th place in the 2020 QS Global MBA rankings. Their MBA programme has three variants:

• A full-time MBA
• A distance learning MBA
• An executive MBA

They have an IELTS score of 7 among their requirements.

6. Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester

Situated in Manchester, Alliance Manchester Business School’s MBA programme is ranked 48 in the QS Global MBA rankings 2020. They were established in 1965 as one of the UK’s first two business schools, and like most of the business schools listed above, they too are a triple-accredited B-School. They also have centres in Dubai, Hong Kong, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore. They have three MBA variants:

• Full-time MBA (duration: 15/18 months)
• Global part-time MBA (duration: 18/24 months)
• Kelley-Manchester Global MBA (duration: 24 months)

They have an IELTS score of 6.5 among their requirements.

7. Imperial College Business School

Located in London, the Imperial College Business School is ranked 9 on the QS 2020 Global MBA rankings.  This is one of the top universities accepting IELTS Score for MBA. They too are triple-accredited with the AACSB, the EQUIS, and the AMBA. Their MBA programme has four variants:

• Full-time MBA (duration: 12 months)
• Global Online MBA (duration: 24 months)
• Executive MBA (duration: 23 months)
• Weekend MBA (duration: 21 months)

They have an IELTS score of 7 among their requirements.

8. London Business School

Founded in 1964, London Business School(LBS) is a very well established business school. The Financial Times have rated LBS as Europe’s best business school, three years in a row. They are currently placed at rank 6 in the QS 2020 Global MBA rankings. The duration of their MBA programme ranges from 15-21 months, depending on how many elective courses you take.

They accept an IELTS score but have no minimum requirements. Furthermore, showing English language proficiency is unnecessary if applicants have pursued their undergraduate or postgraduate degree entirely in English.

9. Judge Business School, University of Cambridge

Little needs to be said about Cambridge University. Their Judge Business School ranks 15th on the QS 2020 Global MBA rankings. Their MBA has two variants:

• Full-time MBA (duration: 12 months)
• Executive MBA (duration: 20 months)

They have an IELTS score of 7.5 among their requirements.

10. Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

Oxford University’s Saïd Business School is ranked number 16 in the QS 2020 Global MBA rankings. They offer a one-year full-time MBA course, and an executive MBA programme which lasts for 22 or 24 months, depending on when you join(either September or January).

They have an IELTS score of 7.5 among their requirements.

11. Cranfield School of Management

Cranfield School of Management is ranked 51st in the QS  2020 Global MBA rankings. Their MBA has four variants among which three of them accept IELTS:

• MBA full time – 13 months
• Executive MBA – Two years part time
• MBA defence – Two years part time

They have an IELTS score of 7 among their requirements.

12. Strathclyde Business School

Strathclyde Business School is ranked between 101 – 110 in the QS  2020 Global MBA rankings. Their MBA has three variants:

• MBA full time – 12 months full time
• MBA executive – 24 months part-time
• MBA executive International – 24 months part-time

They have an IELTS score of 6.5 among their requirements.

13. Lancaster University Management School

Lancaster University Management School is ranked between 121 – 130 in the QS  2020 Global MBA rankings. They offer:

• Business Administration MBA – 12 months full time

IELTS score for this course: At least 7 and a minimum of 6 in each module.

• Business Executive MBA – 24 months part-time

IELTS score for this course: At least 6.5 and a minimum of 6 in each module.

14. Kingston Business School

Kingston Business School is ranked between 131 – 140 in the QS  2020 Global MBA rankings. They offer:

MBA in the full-time mode for :

• 1 year
• 2 years[This includes placement

MBA in part-time mode for :

• 2 years

MBA in executive mode for :

•  2 years

They have an IELTS score of 6.5 among their requirements.

15. Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow

The University of Glasgow is ranked between 151 – 200 in the QS 2020 Global MBA rankings. They offer a 12-months full-time MBA course. They have a very good placement record with many of their alumni in Apple, Amazon, Rolls Royce, Goldman Sachs and The Scottish Government.

They have an IELTS score of 6.5 [ with two sub-tests no less than 6.5, no sub-test less than 6.0] among their requirements.

16. University of Liverpool – Management School

The University of Liverpool, is ranked between 131 – 140 in the QS  2020 Global MBA rankings. They offer:

• a 12-months full-time MBA course.
•  24-months part-time MBA course.

They have an IELTS score of 6.5 [ with a minimum of 6.0 in each component] among their requirements.

17. Brunel Business School, London

The Brunel Business School, is ranked between 141 – 150 in the QS  2020 Global MBA rankings. They offer:

• A one year full-time
• two year part-time course

They have three pathway options:

• The Brunel MBA,
• The Brunel MBA (Aviation Management), and
• The Brunel MBA (Healthcare Management).

They have an IELTS score of 6.5 [ with a minimum of 6.0 in each component] among their requirements.

18. Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University (RGU)

The Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University (RGU), is ranked between 151 – 200 in the QS  2020 Global MBA rankings. They offer:

• Full time courses for 12 months and 16 months
• Part-time courses for 24 months and 28 months

NOTE: Mode of learning is online.

They have an IELTS score of 6.5 [ with a minimum of 5.5 in each component] among their requirements.

19. Leeds University Business School

The Leeds University, is ranked between 151 – 200 in the QS  2020 Global MBA rankings. They offer:

• Full time MBA for 12 months

The course involves completing two challenges namely: New Venture Challenge and Consulting Challenge. They also have tie-ups with major companies such as IBM, Yorkshire Bank, Marks & Spencer, Lloyds Banking Group, KPMG  Asda-Walmart, and the NHS.

They have an IELTS score of 6.5 [ with a minimum of 6.0 in each component] among their requirements.

20. Nottingham University Business School

The Nottingham University Business School, is ranked between 151 – 200 in the QS  2020 Global MBA rankings. They offer:

• Full time MBA for 12 months
• Executive MBA for 24 to 48 months
• Executive MBA Healthcare for 24 to 48 months

They have an IELTS score of 7.0 [ with a minimum of 6.0 in each component] among their requirements.

While you prepare to study MBA in the UK, it is also essential to consider other important things, such as planning your accommodation. For this purpose, you can rely on amber–a one-click platform to book student accommodation. They house 150k+ rooms upgraded with COVID protocols all around the UK. So in case you plan to move into student housing in Edinburgh or London, you can contact them. Their executives will help you with 24/7 free assistance in locating the perfect home for you.

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