London calling

I was offered a place to commence studying in September 2007 at Tanaka Business School. I am trying to decide whether to move to Tanaka for my MBA or just take a couple courses to round out my current MBA program. I was wondering if anyone currently studying in this program can answer some questions to help me decide?

1. There are 9 modules including the project. It seems that you would need to take 2-3 modules per year to graduate in 4 years. How is the workload when you take 2-3 modules per year?
2. The study material seems to include CD-ROMs. Do you need to watch a lot of lectures as part of the study material?
2. How difficult are the module examinations?
3. Are the exams in a specific period in May or is there some flexibility about when you can take the exam?
4. How long do you have to complete the degree. I have seen 4 years in written in one instance and 5 years in another instance.
5. Are there any any details about what will happen when the program switches from Imperial as the lead college?

Thanks in advance

 

I'd have to agree with Steve. Doesn't seem to make much sense switching at this point. If not a Imperial PhD, then maybe a certificate program.

 

1. I finished the programme in 3 years. I took 3 modules a year. It is very hard. Imagine you have to finish 3 exams on the same week (maybe even two exams on the same day), all based on what you have learned throughout the whole year. I heard some classmates did 4 modules a year too. But I would say it is almost impossible to study 4 in a year unless you have no full time job.
2. The CD-ROMs are pretty good material though not as important as the study materials itself. In terms of materials, they also have real-time online tutorials too. It's very useful.
2a. It varies. As you see, I have some computer science background. Modules like Informations System, Finance (the math part) are easy modules for me. I find the Accounting module difficult... however, none of my CPA classmates agree with me for obvious reasons. However, some of the modules have pretty high failure rates. The school is never afraid of failing those who didn't do well.
3. They have specific days for the exam. This minimise the chance of classmates communicate about the exam paper. There was a case I know of a classmates in surgery during May. The school allowed him taking the exam another day. However, I don't think there is much flexibility unless you have very major reason like the surgery one I mentioned.
4. Me, 3 years. For classmates I know of, there is around half of them finish in 4 years.... while very few finish in 5 year
5. Imperial is currently the lead college. From what I have read, I don't think it will change in very recent future. But even if it did change, they will guarantee students admitted can get the award if they can finish the degree within the registration period (5 years).

BTW, what is the reason for the switching?

This is a very rare case for students switching MBA programs. As you may know, Imperial accepts no exemption for whatever you have studied (Ironically, we have an Econ PhD can't get exemption on the Economics module, and like I've mentioned above, I was doing the same Accounting paper with those CPAs). So you will have to finish it from beginning. Despite of such rare cases, there was a case where a classmate switched from Vanderbilt.

Can I answer your questions?

 

??

My understanding is that Imperial is in fact *becoming* the "lead college" by withdrawing from U. London.

On that matter, I received the CDROM prospectus a few weeks ago - the withdrawal from London wasn't even mentioned.

 

Imperial is current the "lead college" already.

It is not surprising for not seeing this included in the CDROM prospectus, nor even at the IC website. However, I don't think IC / UoL could risk their reputation to disappoint students. Students admitted could get the awards upon successful completion.

I suggest writing an email to Dr Marcel Cohen, [email protected], the programme director. He should have the most up-to-date information on this matter.

I am also wondering what will happen for the withdrawal from UoL. One interesting observation from the IC DL MBA website is that: the website used to mention that this is a UoL degree. But for now, those words are missing. Would it be an IC-awarded degree?

Maybe you can ask Marcel and let us know.

 

Brendan, from the University of London, informed the forum a few days ago about this specific issue. Find his comments here.

 

Opportunity is knocking and I am just checking out my options.

Currently, I have completed 4 out of the 6 501-series background business courses at Texas A&M. There are 16 courses required so I would need to take 12 more to graduate from Texas A&M (which will take at least a couple of years).

Maybe taking a couple of MBA courses at Imperial towards my MBA at Texas A&M might be my best option and then look at a PhD at Imperial afterwards.

 

Yes, thanks for answering my questions.

The only reason I am considering switching is that going to Imperial might provide better name recognition and career potential in Europe (which is where I currently reside). I can image that courses about managing people from a Imperial would focus more on a European management style whereas Texas A&M would focus more on a US management style. Imperial seems to have a more rigorous program and would require a lot of hard work over the next 4 years. It also requires proctored exams once a year in May, and a one week face-to-face seminar in my last year but might open more doors for me both in Europe and in the U.S.

There are no proctored exam or face-to-face seminars at Texas A&M and it should open some doors in the U.S. but probably not so much in Europe. The courses so far at Texas A&M have been challenging and the program will also require a lot of hard work over the next 2-3 years. I have no complaints whosoever about Texas A&M and the school does a great job. As I mentioned in another other post, I have taken 4 of the 6 501-series background business courses and have received good grades. These 8-week courses are meant to give a non-business majors the necessary background in order to study the more advanced business courses. I am not so worried about not getting credit for them at Imperial College since they are actually preparation MBA courses.

I am trying to evaluate the cost/benefits at this point and have calculated that the total cost going forward for an MBA at Texas A&M is around 16K euros and Imperial is around 30K euros. Texas A&M will take about 2-3 more years while Imperial would require about 4 more years.

Another option I am considering is to take 1-2 courses at Imperial (such as managing people and resources or managing processes and products) towards my MBA at Texas A&M.

 

Texas A&M indicated that they will not accept credit for courses from institutions outside the U.S.

Has anyone been in a DL MBA program in the U.S. where the school accepted credit for courses from institutions outside the U.S.?

 

UF accepted 30 credits from my EBS MBA into my PhD program. Based on that approval from the graduate school, I probably would have been allowed to transfer 9 credits for the UF MBA program. That is the maximum the department allows for courses taken outside of UF.

 

Excelsior excepts non-USA credits for their MBA

"Q: I completed my bachelor's degree at an institution outside of the US. Can I apply the Excelsior College MBA?
A: Students who completed an undergraduate degree program outside of the US will need to have our foreign credential evaluation service, Education Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE), review their undergraduate degree program to verify that it is the equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in the US. Students should contact ECE and request a General Report be conducted and forwarded to Excelsior College. More information about ECE is available on their website:

Education Credential Evaluators, Inc.
If you completed graduate level credits outside of the US, and you want this credit considered for transfer toward the MBA degree, you must ask ECE to complete a Subject Analysis Report of this study."