Manchester Business School, University of Manchester – Manchester, UK

Since its formation in 1965, the Manchester Business School (MBS) has become an internationally recognized centre of excellence for management studies. MBS is a postgraduate faculty of the University of Manchester and was the first UK institution to offer an MBA program. Today the school is regarded as one of the best six in Europe and attracts applications from over 70 different countries each year. The Manchester Business School has a long-standing reputation for a truly global perspective, reinforced by a consistent FT ranking of 1st in the UK for international experience (2001 and 2002). With an international student body intake of over 75% from outside the UK, the opportunity to learn and share experiences with people from many different cultures and career backgrounds is second to none and provides a tremendous advantage in an international business arena.
In October of 2004, MBS merged with the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) making the new conglomerated school the largest university in the United Kingdom. However, MBS is a self-contained graduate school and is dedicated almost exclusively to MBS students and faculty.

Location
Manchester Business School is conveniently located just 1 mile from Manchester's city centre and only 9 miles from Manchester Airport.

The city of Manchester is a place with a prestigious past but has recently undergone a tremendous amount of development to make it one of the most vibrant cities in the world. Manchester is a modern, cosmopolitan city. It is a centre for banking, insurance and new technologies and has some of the most impressive cultural, sporting and recreational facilities in the UK. It is also an energetic student city with a 24-hour social life. In fact, Manchester has one of the largest student population in Europe.

Approximate Term Dates
Fall: Mid September to mid December
Spring: Late January to early June

Orientation prior to the start of class is compulsory.

Academic Information
The courses are taught through a variety of methods: lectures, case studies, group projects, simulation exercises, guest speakers and group tutorials. The ‘Manchester Method’ focuses more on the application of theories to the real world, with emphasis on ‘live projects with real companies’. Subjects are assessed in a variety of ways, including: formal examinations, case study analyses, group reports and class participation. The merger of MBS with UMIST will afford MBA exchange students a vast amount of courses to choose from.

Credit Equivalency
60 MBS credits = 15 SSB credits
Each MBS course is 12 credits.

Size of Classes/Features
The average age of the students is 29 with an average of 7 years work experience. The accumulated wealth of experience and maturity of the students allows for actively sharing their experience and knowledge in the classroom and through team projects making the learning environment much more interesting, interactive, valuable and enriching.

Computer Facilities
The MBA computer room is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are approximately 35 Pentium PCs available and computer network access points are provided for portable computer users. Several printers, including colour, are available.

Type/Availability of Accommodation
The University Accommodation Office is able to allocate accommodation to students studying at MBS for a Full Year, Semester One or Semester Two only from Halls featured in the Student Accommodation booklet. Students attending for one semester only will not be able to choose a specific Hall or the type of accommodation but can indicate a preference between a Self-Catered or a Catered Hall. Students should bear in mind that the cost could vary from between 60 - 90 pounds per week. The semester contract terminates at the end of January and the full cost for the semester will need to be paid even if a student is permitted to finish at MBS in December. The second semester contract terminates in mid-June. Further information about the university accommodation is available at: http://www.accommodation.man.ac.uk

Students may organize their own private accommodation with Manchester Student Homes. Visit http://www.msh.man.ac.uk for more information.

Health Insurance
Free health treatment is available on the UK's National Health Service to all international students studying at MBS for longer than six months. Non EU students studying at MBS for less than six months are advised to take out medical insurance before departure.

Visa Information
For visa information contact the British Consulate General at:
777 Bay Street, Suite 2800, College Park
Toronto, ON M5G 2G2
Tel: 416-593-1290, Fax: 416-593-1229
Web site: www.britainincanada.org/Visa/

Further Information
For more information about this partnership school, see the exchange literature available in the Schulich Exchange Reference Library located in room W263 SSB or visit their Web site at: www.mbs.ac.uk