Heriott-Watt or UMass Lowell online MBA?

My question is simple: which of these two schools would you choose for an online MBA?

I assume Heriott-Watt has the better academic reputation, especially in Europe. But how is its rep in the States? I live in Europe (Sweden) and a local executive Management Institute in Stockholm offers the HW online MBA program with local lectures I could attend in Stockholm. What concerns me is that HW has such a huge online presence that I fear most employers will assume I got my MBA via distance learning and therefore discount its value.

UM Lowell probably doesn't have the weight of HW (does it?) but the nice thing is that perhaps most employers won't immediately think I got it online (not that there's anything wrong with that, mind you). I'm not sure how useful the UML degree would be in Europe...and I plan to be here a while...but would it hold more weight in the US than the Heriott-Watt degree? UML's MBA is AACSB accredited. HW's MBA has no accreditation that I know of.

In comparing the two programs, I think the UML program would be a bit easier for my style of studying. The thought of trying to pass a brutal three-hour test once every six months is nauseating. UML has short 8- and 10-week classes. But then again, perhaps HW's reputation in Europe would be better for me if I stay here for a while. I would like to open up doors in the US, though, in case I can move back sometime.

Anyone around here completed the UM Lowell MBA?

Thanx,

Scotty

 

Hi Scotty - How do you plan on convincing prospective employers that you earned a residential H-W MBA while living in Sweden?

 

Worst yet, how does Scotty convince prospective employers that he earned a residential UM Lowell MBA while living in Sweden?

 

Wow,

I didn't know Umass - Lowell offered an online MBA, must be fairly new. Price is right at $14,100 for an AACSB MBA!!

See - another awesome alternative to the for-profits.

 

Be Honest, whether it is UML or HWU.

If you don't have the confidence with your education, no employer can be convinced.

 

I'm not trying to convince anybody of anything, or hide the truth. I just want to give my CV the best chance of making the short stack and myself the best chance of landing an interview. I lived/worked in Mass and have an academic credential from UMass Lowell. Once I land an interview, the CV's work is done. My concern is that online degrees are viewed suspiciously, for the most part, at least for now. I wonder if HW is gaining a rep comparable to that of Univ of Phoenix. UMass Lowell doesn't have that rep, as the previous poster, who didn't know of UML's online MBA, revealed.

Its like this, BandM degrees are generally more highly regarded, right? UofP is getting a bad reputation for its program because it is such a marketing machine. But what if I attended UofP at their campus and earned a degree. I think their rep as an online machine would penalize me even though I attended actual classes. I want to avoid schools with obvious online reps.

The HW degree is offered as a satellite degree, sort of, here in Stockholm. There is a BandM management school here that will give on-site lectures to compliment the HW online curriculum. Also, my European citizenship might diminish the online aspect of the HW degree somewhat since so many Swedes go to uni outside of Sweden.

I guess the main thing I am wondering is how a HW distance MBA would be received by employers as compared to a UMass Lowell distance MBA.

 

I have the same issue. My solution (still a work-in-progress) is to get MBA from a U.S. school and to take additional courses from a European University to earn either a minor or a certificate. In your case, you could get your MBA from UM Lowell and combine this with a minor or certificate from Heriott-Watt (or vice-versa). You will then have both schools on your C.V. which might give you the edge you need to make the short stack.

 

It's a tough call but I think if you see yourself residing in the USA, the UM Lowell MBA would offer more utility in the job market.

Dave

 

If you worried that employers won't like your degree because it was online, how will you explain a degree from the US while living in Sweden?

With the Heriot-Watt degree, you have a choice of taking classes local to you at Management Institute in Stockholm. Another option would be is to do a combination of part-time classes on campus in Edinburgh. These are usually done over long weekends. When I was full-time on campus in Edinburgh, many students from other part of Europe did this using EasyJet or one of the other cheap airlines.

I don't know anything about the UML program, but here are some other things to consider:
Group Projects - very common in AACSB programs. Can be a royal pain in the *ss in an online program, especially when you are in another country. Heriot-Watt has none.
Flexibility - You can take EBS exams anywhere in the world. If you are not ready to take it, you don't have to. UML might have a cohort system where you have to take the exam at the same time with everyone else.
Course content - Heriot-Watt is more EU/UK centric when dealing with issues such as economic policy and accounting/finance standards. I'm guessing UML will be more USA centric.

Reputation wise, Heriot-Watt is much better, especially in Europe. In the states, not so much, but it gets me "oohhhs" and "ahhhhs" when dealing with people from the EU.

 

I agree that Heriot-Watt is known in the EU. I just think a North American MBA degree is going to have more utility in the US job market.

Dave

 

Thanks, Edowave, that is the kind of insight I had not considered...and a key point.

 

Oh, couple more questions here.

I don't mean to sound silly, but has anybody around here actually seen the Heriott-Watt/Edinburgh Business School campus? I have googled everything I can think of for pics and nothing gives me a good look at the campus. I would prefer to avoid getting my MBA from some school that is just a brick building stuck in the middle of a deserted industrial complex (which is pretty close to what UM Lowell is, I hear). Is the campus nice?

Also, what is the relationship between Heriott-Watt and the University of Edinburgh? Somewhere along the line, I got the impression they have a connection, but I suspect now that is not the case.

Thanks all!

 

The UML campus is actually pretty nice, it's just stuck in the middle of a rather....how shall I say this nicely.....economically depressed area. I only went there twice...once to register my DD-214 (they needed the original) and the other to pick-up my diploma. The first time, I got there when the veteran's office was closed for lunch, so I wandered off-campus to get a sandwich. Let's just say I was glad I was armed at the time.

I wouldn't sweat over what the campus looks like...I find it highly doubtful that any prospective employer is going to do a campus visit!!

 

Good point.

I might want to visit someday, though.

 

Scotty,

Have you looked at Henley? I am studying a DL MBA there and would thoroughly recommend it. Triple-accredited. Exams just once a year which count for 25%. Ranked number 14 in the world by the Economist.

They do have a Swedish presence, Here is the link - http://www.henleymc.ac.uk/henleymc03/assocweb03.nsf/pages/3BB06C179066783280256DF2004D0DF9

Let me know if you are interested, I'm sure I read somewhere they pay for referrals...

All the best,

Dave C.

 

This is actually not trivial for many of us. In committing to graduate studies we ask our families for a lot of forebearance - it's legitimate to consider where we will take them for commencement.

 

I guess I should have clarified that I was an on-campus Heriot-Watt student, so I'm very familiar with their campus. I did start out as a DL student though. I have an on-campus EBS guide on my website at www.drannbauer.com.

The campus is very nice, just a little remote from the city. The campus used to be located in the center of Edinburgh, but when the university grew too big, they had to move.

 

Forgot to answer this one. Heriot-Watt University's Edinburgh Business School and University of Edinburgh are separate institutions, but both being old universities in the same city, they have a lot of joint programs. Many faculty members at Heriot-Watt also teach at University of Edinburgh, and vice versa.

 

UML's commencements are held at the Tsongas Arena, which is a top-notch facility that's home to a minor-league hockey franchise.

 

Hmmm. Most commencements are held outdoors, during spring afterall...