City University—Cass Business School
Cass is based in the centre of the City of London financial centre. Its links with business are excellent and the list of visiting speakers is impressive. The full-range school is big by European standards (though most undergraduate programmes are taught at a separate site) and makes a point of combining an intellectual, academic approach with business-oriented practicality. A good slice of MBA course work is taught by practising executives—the fact that most of them are on Cass’s doorstep helps.
The school is part of City University and used to be called City University Business School. It changed its name in August 2002 following a donation from the Sir John Cass Foundation, a leading London educational charity.
Address |
106 Bunhill Row |
|
London |
UK |
EC1Y 8TZ |
|
Tel: |
+44 20 7040 8607 |
|
|
E-mail: |
s.finch@city.ac.uk |
|
Website: |
www.cass.city.ac.uk/mba |
|
Programme director: |
Sionade Robinson |
Ranking | Rank (out of 100) Full-time |
Overall rank | 53 |
Regional rank | 19 |
Criteria | Rank (out of 100) Full-time |
Open new career opportunities | 67 |
Diversity of recruiters | 70 |
Number in jobs three months after graduation | 90 |
Jobs found through the careers service | 74 |
Student assessment of careers service | 34 |
Personal development and educational experience | 62 |
Faculty quality | 67 |
Student quality | 50 |
Student diversity | 46 |
Education experience | 71 |
Increase in salary | 31 |
Percentage increase in salary | 74 |
Post-MBA salary | 27 |
Potential to network | 40 |
Breadth of alumni network | 23 |
Internationalism of alumni | 13 |
Alumni effectiveness | 60 |
Cass is housed in an eight-floor building in London’s financial district, which, perhaps deliberately, resembles many of the surrounding office blocks. The excellent facilities include classrooms, lecture theatres and syndicate rooms. There is some on-campus accommodation in halls of residence but demand outstrips supply. Help is given to students seeking accommodation in London, but it is expensive and may be some way from the school.
| Full-time MBA |
Student assessment of facilities | 4.4 (53) |
Faculty
Number of faculty: 101 full-time, 4 part-time, 80 visiting | |
| Full-time MBA |
Number of faculty per student | 0.5 (60) |
Percentage of faculty with PhD | 79 (>100) |
Student rating of faculty | 4.5 (40) |
Cass’s one-year full-time MBA begins with a traditional core of 12 courses, which include projects, arranged in four modules followed by six electives and an individual project, often used as a precursor to landing a job. The core takes up the first two terms, electives the third and the project the final term. Soft skills and careers training are good.
The part-time evening Executive MBA is more or less identical to the full-time version and is taken over two years. Classes meet two evenings a week in term time and on the occasional weekend. The EMBA is also offered in a modular version: one “weekend” (Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday) once a month for 24 months.
A two-year, part-time EMBA is also offered in Dubai in collaboration with the Dubai international Financial Centre.
| Full-time MBA |
Student rating of programme | 4.4 (26) |
Overseas exchange places available (% of intake) | 0 (93) |
Number of languages on offer | 6 (1) |
| Full-time MBA |
Annual intake | 75 |
Applicants:places | 6:1 |
Percentage of women students | 25 (25) |
International diversity score | 57 (98) |
Average GMAT score | 648 (61) |
Average number of years' work experience | 6 (25) |
Age range of students | 25-33 |
Average age | 29 |
Student rating of culture and classmates | 4.0 (81) |
EU | 36% |
Non-EU Europe | 11% |
North America | 12% |
Other Americas | 9% |
Asia/Australasia | 28% |
Africa/Middle East | 4% |
| Full-time MBA |
Number of industry sectors that recruited graduates | 11 (1) |
Percentage of graduates in jobs 3 months after graduation | 88 (31) |
Percentage of graduates finding jobs through careers services | 72 (31) |
Student rating of careers service | 3.7 (51) |
Post-MBA salary ($) | 95,428 (48) |
Percentage increase in salary | 56 (59) |
Principal recruiters of graduates | Deutsche Bank, Lloyds TSB, Deloitte Consulting |
| Full-time MBA |
Application fees | £50 ($78) |
Programme fees | £31,000 ($48,521) |
Comments | – |
Accommodation costs (on campus, per year) | £6,760-£10,400 ($10,563-$16,250) |
Accommodation costs (off campus, per year) | – |
Financial aid available | £179,000 ($280,169) |
Type of aid available | Scholarships, studentships |
Criteria on which aid is granted | Merit |
| Full-time MBA |
Application deadline | May 31st |
Programme dates | Sep start, 12 months |
Admission requirements | First degree; 3 years’ work experience; GMAT; TOEFL or IELTS; 2 references; 1 essay; interview; laptop |
AACSB | AMBA | EQUIS |
1 | 1 | 1 |
Strengths and weaknesses
Strengths: strategy, entrepreneurship, finance
Weakness: cramped facilities
Student quotes
“Excellent faculty and location and a high mix of nationalities. Good value for money as well.”
“Can get a little crowded in terms of available rooms.”
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