What to Look for in a Business School

Business schools at universities in the UK provide plenty of choice for an aspiring business and finance student. So much choice, in fact, that it can be tricky to decipher exactly which business school is going to be spot on for you!

Here are a few things you can consider when you’re delving into those prospectuses…

Reputation

Top tier banks often look for graduates from top ranking business schools – something to think about if you’ve got designs on a top City career when you’re researching your business school options and putting your shortlist together.

Type of teaching

Most universities will offer a combination of lectures, seminars and individual study/one-on-one sessions with tutors.

Take a look at the structure of courses you’re interested in at your shortlisted business schools and see which types of teaching they offer and class size you feel best suits your business needs.

Course content

If you’re looking to study one particular subject and comparing courses across business schools, you’ll want to take a look at the elective modules on offer and see if there are any that particularly suit your interests. This could help you to decide where to apply to.

Societies

Take a look into what kind of offering each university’s Finance Society has. What kinds of networking activities do they put on throughout the year? Do they have any specific clubs or networks within the overall society that focus on specific interests, like an investment and asset management club, or diversity issues such as women in business, for instance.

Scholarships and bursaries

Any helping hand with university fees or study costs is always welcome, and luckily business schools in the UK often have a number of scholarships and bursaries to provide some financial support for their students. When you’re researching your options, it’s always worth taking a look at which scholarships you can apply for. Not only could you stand a chance of cutting down on some of your costs; some scholarships can be quite prestigious and look great on your CV!

The number of awards and amount of financial support offered varies according to university. There are generally meritocratic awards available (based on your academic performance so far), and some scholarships specifically for international students or students with financial difficulties.

Connections/events

Do you already know which industry you’d like to work in beyond graduation? Perhaps you’ve got certain company or bank in mind?

If yes, then you’ll want to get in front of recruiters for these guys as soon as you can once you hit university. Take a look at your shortlist’s Finance Society events and who is usually in attendance.

Do they run any schemes or have partnerships with local businesses or larger firms or banks that could provide you with networking or work experience opportunities?