10% scholarship for all int'l students at one UK MBA institution
KARACHI, Aug 6: A UK business institute,
the University of Portsmouth (UoP), despite being accredited by AMBA
(Association of MBAs), charges not only lower tuition as compared to other
similar institutes in the UK, but also offers a 10 percent scholarship to all
international students intent on admission for September 2007, officials from
UoP stated.
For international students, UoP charges £10,200 for an MBA
and the course takes 15 months to complete, said Dr David L. Ndzi, a senior
lecturer who visited Karachi for an admissions seminar.
The 10 percent
scholarship translates into £1,020 and has been offered to every enrolling
student. This brings the total cost down to approximately £9,000. "This is the
lowest cost for an MBA course in the UK from an institution accredited with
AMBA," Ndzi explained. Other universities with AMBA status cost
about £15,000, he added.
Elaborating on why a student should select the
UoP for an MBA, he said that the Portsmouth Business School, which is a faculty
of UoP, is one of the most successful business schools in Southern England.
According to him, it has an impressive reputation for research, quality and
academic excellence.
The institution has more than 3,500 students. "The
latest UK Government Research Assessment Exercise of 2001 places us among the
top 20 percent of UK business schools for research. And gives us the highest
rating on the south coast of England."
"Whatever your discipline or
employment sector is, you will find our programme intellectually stimulating,
challenging, relevant and rewarding," he said.
He said that the school
delivers one of the longest-running MBAs in the UK and it is specifically
designed to enhance a career by developing strategic and decision-making
capabilities, giving its students the knowledge necessary for leadership roles.
The Portsmouth Business School is also recognized as a centre of
excellence by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and the
Chartered Quality Institute, he added.
Beside that, one of the most
important reasons for choosing Portsmouth Business School is its close
involvement with both public and private sector organizations - for education,
consultancy and knowledge transfer, he said. "As well as helping to ensure that
the development of our courses continue to meet the needs of employing
organizations, these links also encourage direct collaboration on specific
opportunities," Dr Ndzi said.
Muhammad Khurram, the admissions manager of
Allied Consultants and UoP's official agent in Pakistan, explained that the MBA
international programme was a full-time course that lasts over a period of one
year, plus another three months to complete a research project.
It also
includes a development centre activity, two residential elements and Masters
classes. "This 15-month course requires a bachelors degree (not necessarily in a
business-related subject), plus a minimum of three years of appropriate
management and professional experience. Applicants also require IELTS Band 6.5
or equivalent," Khurram said.
"A satisfactory personal development
statement, a discussion on your management aspirations, aptitudes and skills,
and the reasons why you wish to study for a Portsmouth MBA will also have to be
provided along with the application form," explained Khurram.
The
application form also has to contain two references - one from an enrolled
student or your most recent employer and the other from an academician from your
most recent university or, alternatively, another employer. References must
contain full contact details and are normally expected to be signed and stamped
with an official stamp.
"The university prefers applications from an
official admission agent for primary verification," claimed Khurram. Each
applicant is charged Rs 1,000 for all agent services and, if the full course fee
is paid then the agent provides a years' free service and an additional two
percent discount from the university, he added.
On living in the UoP
campus, Dr Ndzi said that Portsmouth is one of the most alive and cosmopolitan
cities on the south coast of England. In addition to world-renowned maritime and
naval heritage, it offers a huge range of social activities and multi-cultural
experiences. The prosperity of Portsmouth's economy is based mainly on services,
high technology and engineering. The city is home to the Royal Navy, and major
companies such as IBM, Lockheed Martin, Zurich, and British Aerospace.
However, the Portsmouth University Business School is a five-minute walk
from the city center and the landmark Spinnaker Tower. "We are also just five
minutes away from the nearest mainline railway station, from where London can be
reached in an hour and 15 minutes. London Heathrow, Gatwick and Southampton
Airports are also within easy reach, he added. Daily times
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