Pursing an MBA is a giant leap of faith. A faith that will keep you focused on getting better and will change your life in the future. The Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and LBS are three of the most elite B-Schools in the world. And when you have the options to choose from these three institutes, you truly have the world to yourself. The MBA courses provided by these B-Schools are among the world’s most coveted. All three institutes have a prominent figure in the majority of business school rankings, but how do their MBA courses differ?
1. Locations:
A) Oxford, United Kingdom
The city of dreaming spires is home to Oxford University- the oldest institute in the English-speaking world. It is also the birthplace of the real Alice in Wonderland and the home of published writers anywhere else in the world.
B) Cambridge, United Kingdom
Cambridge harbors healthy competition with Oxford and is also home to the world’s third-oldest surviving university.
C) LBS, United Kingdom
LBS is located in the Grade II-listed Marylebone Town Hall building and is minutes away from Baker Street and Marylebone tube stations. They also offer a great base for accessing every corner of the UK’s vibrant capital.
2. Rankings:
According to the recent Global MBA Rankings 2022, which analyzes the world’s top business schools. Oxford ranks at 31, LBS ranks at the 8th position, and Cambridge ranks at the 22nd position.
3. Admissions:
A) Oxford
The average GMAT score is 690 where students need to have an average of 5 years of work experience.
Total Applicants- 1353
Acceptance Rate- 47%
Class Size- 329
B) Cambridge
The average GMAT score is 696 where students need to have an average of 6 years of work experience.
Total Applicants- 1,100
Acceptance Rate- 33%
Class Size- 200
C) LBS
The average GMAT score is 708 where students need to have an average of 65 months of work experience.
Total Applicants- 2740
Acceptance Rate- 25%
Class Size- 485
4. Program Duration:
The length of the program at Oxford and Cambridge is 12 months, whereas LBS is a 21-month program.
5. Fees:
Oxford– £65,520, Cambridge– £75,800 LBS– £92,735
6. Culture:
A) Oxford:
The Oxford Business School is an innovative and young institution. It is a part of a centuries-old world-famous university. In a way, the university is a blend of new and old. The education level is cutting edge by ground-breaking research, remarkable facilities, and some of the world’s brightest minds.
B) Cambridge:
Cambridge is similarly a young B-School that is a part of an old, established, elite institute. The students at the school have an opportunity to network and also associate with experts from different backgrounds. The B-School brings together the latest thinking from the academic and professional worlds and uses this to stay abreast of developments taking place in the business world. Furthermore, the institute is part of a rich business community. Cambridge is also surrounded by facilities and science parks in Europe.
C) LBS:
The London Business School (LBS) is among the world’s top Business Schools. Founded in 1964, it has a profound impact on the way the world does business. The LBS welcomes over 2,200 students from about 109 countries around the world every year. The institute has a diverse amount of students in its classrooms. The reason is both, its location and reputation that attracts a diverse pool of admits. This makes a richer classroom discussion since people bring in their perspectives from different corners of the world.
7. Faculty:
A) Oxford:
The teaching style at Oxford is highly interactive and requires significant preparation before class, The course is split between case studies and lectures. Study groups are a major focus in Oxford as they facilitate and encourage collaborative learning and working. This is also a beneficial skill in the working world. In many of the courses, presentations are required to help students develop skills.
B) Cambridge:
The most distinctive feature of the Cambridge MBA is its focus on experiential learning. This gives regular opportunities for students to apply their developing knowledge in groups, and individually, in a live setting. This solidifies the theory they are taught and helps to give them real experiences in the business world. The teaching method varies depending on the course and lecturer, but interactive in-class contributes to a major focal point for all students. Study groups are made to help facilitate peer-to-peer learning, while the faculty is accessible to help whenever needed. Debates are also encouraged and the diversity of the course means getting a global perspective.
C) LBS:
The LBS faculty members are global leaders of business teaching and research. The faculty members come from 30 different nations. The B-School runs 6 research centers for corporate management, asset management, leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship, private equity, and business and development.
8. Curriculum:
A) Oxford:
The one-year MBA program at Oxford includes seminars, group work, lectures, and team project work. The aim of the program is to develop the students’ abilities to think independently and logically.
A 2-week residential program begins with the course, designed to introduce students to the course and life on campus. During the launch period, students will be introduced to soft skills training and the beginning of fundamental skills they will require throughout the course. The first term consists of ‘core courses’, that build the foundation of the qualification. The 1st integrative module takes place during this period, which helps students to begin work on their talent development plans. The 2nd term further consists of core courses and the elective courses selected by the students. The 2nd integrative module also takes place during this time when students will start their GOTO (Global Opportunities and Threats) project. The 3rd term continues with the elective courses along with the final module. During this time the Entrepreneurship Project will also take place.
Summer terms have three options: a 6-week strategic consulting project, an Internship for 6 weeks, or summer electives. The course finally ends with sessions of lectures and workshops.
B) Cambridge:
The Cambridge MBA program has 4 distinctive sections across the terms. The institute follows a ‘micro to macro’ path to help students develop into competent business people.
The program starts with two-week pre-term courses and orientation. Every term results in achieving and learning milestones. The program consists of four 4 practical projects and 2 team projects. Term 1 focuses on foundation studies, using analytical tools. The 2nd term focuses on decision-making in Business Models. Term 3 on the global application while the 4th term switches to career aspects of the MBA students.
Students can personalize their routes by combining electives as the program progresses. Students also get the opportunity to participate in the Global Consulting Project, undertake one of 10 concentrations, participate in summer term activities, and more.
C) LBS:
The MBA program at LBS aims at instilling an international mindset in the participants. They also help students develop a global network, teach them global business skills and sharpen their decision-making capabilities. It a two years program. The first year is divided into three academic terms. The second-year is entirely customizable for the students, right up to the exit date. This means the program can last anywhere between 15-21 months.
The first year of the program is dedicated mainly to LBS’s core coursework. Students can take several classes in business fundamentals, including subjects such as strategy, marketing, and operations. Students make their selection out of 80 available courses as part of the elective curriculum. Classes in subjects ranging from Accounting to Organisational Behavior can be taken.