Ashridge combines the best of a business school with an innovative organisational consultancy. We work with thousands of executives from our many clients across the globe each year. The School is set in a country estate surrounded by National Trust woodland, only 30 minutes from London.
Our MBA is ranked 5th in the UK and 19th worldwide, achieving the number one spot for Salary Increase for the third year running (The Economist, September 2007). We are one of a small number of schools worldwide to achieve triple accreditation from AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB - the UK, European and American accreditation bodies for MBA programmes.
Ashridge offers two MBA programmes: a one-year Full Time MBA, which starts in January and a twoyear Executive MBA, which begins in September. Both take an integrated view of management, rather than teaching functional subjects in isolation, and provide thorough grounding in all the disciplines required to lead a business.
We go beyond theory by giving participants the opportunity to put their learning into practice via a ‘live’ consulting project. Participants work with a client organisation to deliver a major strategic consulting ssignment. We also offer an international study week which is designed to consolidate learning by giving participants direct experience of the complex issues faced by businesses in an emerging market.
Class sizes are small (maximum 30 people), which optimises individual attention and an interactive learning style. Ashridge MBA students have rich, global professional backgrounds, which makes it one of the most experienced and diverse cohorts in the world. Our faculty comprise business professionals, consultants and researchers who bring in-depth industry experience and latest management thinking to the learning process.
Before the start of the MBA, we work with participants to clarify their career aspirations. During the programme Ashridge Career Support provides a tailored service to participants wanting to develop within their existing organisation, or to transform their careers. An Ashridge recruitment consultant also actively markets MBA participants, to connect them to
the job market.
During their studies MBA participants have 24-hour access to the Learning Resource Centre and Virtual Learning Resource Centre, which provide physical and remote access to a vast range of learning materials and several leading online databases.
Outside the classroom, MBA participants can make full use of the Lifestyle Centre, which boasts a fully equipped gym, swimming pool, jacuzzi, steam room and squash courts. In the Ashridge grounds, there are tennis courts, cricket and football pitches, and a golf course. For meals and refreshments, Ashridge has a sociable bar and award-winning dining facilities.
Mark Siviter, Managing Director, DHL Global Mail, Ashridge Full-time MBA
In my last role, I was an executive director of a FTSE 350 company. I had climbed the ranks after having no formal education, but to achieve the next step, which for me would be a CEO position, this would require an MBA.
I wanted an MBA that focused on leadership development. It is easy for a programme to cover functional theory: it is the integration between subjects that really effects the reality of business. Ashridge was unlike any other institution I have been to - I just loved everyone I met there.
The class diversity has been one of the highlights. In one way it has been a highlight, but it has also been challenging. I looked at other MBA programmes, but there is nothing quite like Ashridge. Here we have 16 different nationalities amongst 27 participants, encompassing huge cross-functional expertise and a wide age range. This has made for some great debates - there are lots of people with strong opinions!
It was a challenge for me, at 42, to start an MBA after having had no formal undergraduate education. In fact, I don’t think I could have done an MBA anywhere else. Ashridge focuses on personal leadership development and your emotional intelligence, which has really helped to build my confidence and ability during a tough academic programme.