The Master of Business Administration is one of the most respected and therefore sought after university courses available. As an internationally recognized qualification, an MBA allows you to transfer your skills across borders and opens up a whole world of opportunity for those who hold it. The MBA also signals to prospective employers (if you're looking to work in the UK after completing your studies, you'll need a Tier 2 Visa) that you have the skills to successfully guide and motivate employees, and also that you have the commercial acumen to drive a business forward. 

While it is clearly a beneficial qualification, the MBA can be expensive to attain. So, in this article, we have tried to figure out the best and most cost-effective ways for would-be students to study for an MBA in the UK. We will also look at some compelling reasons as to why the UK should be your study destination of choice, and how you can gain a visa in order to travel to the UK to study. 

Why Study In The UK?

The UK is a fabulous place to study; it has a huge number of world-class higher education institutions, excellent housing options for students, and a progressive visa system that allows thousands of students from around the globe to study in the country each year. As well as being a great environment for students, it's also a fantastic place for second language English speakers to develop their skills in the country where the language began. These are just a few of the numerous reasons that over a million international students have studied in the UK over the years.

For students, there are few places that are better suited to studying. The reasons laid out above are also complemented by the fact that British universities are actually incredibly good value for money for many international students (the UK, remarkably, is actually one of the cheapest of the world's developed countries to study in). There is also the fact that a degree earned in the UK is likely to be globally recognised as being of high value - a concern that is often high on the list of those who are looking to leave their country of origin in order to study abroad. 

Getting A Visa To Study In The UK

If you wish to gain a visa to study in the UK (as you legally must do), you will need to make an online application. In order to be able to apply, you will need to meet the minimum eligibility criteria for the Tier 4 Student Visa. These eligibility criteria ensure that only eligible students on applicable courses come to the UK to study. Below, we have laid out the criteria for applying for a Tier 4 Student Visa:

• You must have an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed Tier 4 Sponsor

• You must have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course - the amount will vary depending on your circumstances and you will need to prove that this amount is available to you either in your own accounts or the accounts of whoever is paying for your education (documentary evidence will be required)

• Your course must be either at least level 6 on the Ofqual register for those who wish to study full-time or level 7 on the Ofqual register for those who wish to study part-time (there are also options available for overseas study, certain recognised foundation programmes and various other options - you will need to check the guidance or speak to your intended higher education institution to ensure your qualification is eligible)

• You will also need a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (known as CAS - is a reference number that you will add to your application to prove that you are registered on an appropriate course), which you will need to use within 6 months of its creation

As long as you meet the eligibility criteria, you should be able to gain a visa that allows you to travel to the UK and live for as long as specified on your visa. While you are allowed to move to the UK, you will have some restriction on what you can do. You can, however, take on certain jobs while here in order to support your studies. You can also apply to extend your stay in the UK if you wish to continue to study at the end of your original qualification.

Cheapest Universities In The UK For MBA

So, down to the numbers! In this section, we are going to look at some examples of fees for MBA students across a number of the UK's universities. These numbers merely serve as a guide, you will need to factor in other costs such as housing, sustenance and transport to ensure that you will be able to afford to live and study in the UK.

South of England

The University of Bedfordshire - tuition fees £6,750 (for EU students) £11,250 (international students)

The University of East London - tuition fees £15,000

North of England

The University of Bolton - tuition fees £8,500 (for EU students) £12,500 (international students)

Leeds Beckett University - tuition fees £11,300

Wales

Cardiff Metropolitan University - tuition fees £9,000 

The University of Wales, Trinity St David - tuition fees £3,930 (for EU students) £11,000 (international students)

Summing Up

These are just a few of the universities that offer the MBA in the UK to international students, and the prices merely serve as a guide. As you can see, there is quite a variance in price, and you will need to factor this into your overall budget. As well as the prices, you also need to factor in the kind of area in which you want to live - most universities, unsurprisingly, are based in the UK's major cities. While many students wish to travel to London to study, these universities may have similar fees to the others but you will need to factor in the significantly higher cost of living that exists in the South of England. As with any major decision, we suggest that you research as much about the towns and universities in order to whittle down the ones which will suit you best.

If you need any help with your journey, or advice on immigration related queries in general, then do not hesitate to get in touch with our expert team of immigration lawyers. Our team are highly experienced and will be more than happy to help you.