Master`s degree from a "New University" in the UK

Hi

I am considering taking a master`s degree at Leeds Metropolitan Uni that is a former polytechnic. What are the general view on "new universities" in the UK in 2011? Would this be an disadvantage in regards to getting a consulting job in the future with a second-tier/third-tier consulting firm?

Sebastian (non-UK resident)

Generally speaking I'd say don't bother - consulting firms are very particular about the universities they recruit from and the lower down the pecking order you are in terms of university you've attended, the fewer firms will even consider an applicant from that university. I can't say categorically but I would be surprised if any reputable consulting firms recruit from Leeds Metropolitan Uni.

As with many questions like this though, the correct answer is to get the data needed to make an informed decision. Have the careers service at LMU confirm to you i) which consulting firms attend campus each year to attract applicants and ii) how many students successfully secured a job in consulting in the last years and which firms were they able to join. There's no reason why you should be any more or any less successful than recent graduates, so take your decision based on the reality of what's been happening to students graduating from there.

Tony Restell

Top-Consultant.com

To be blunt, as an overseas applicant you have a very high chance of securing a place at a more prestigious university.

Try LSE, UCL, Imperial, Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol, even City University etc.

Even people who know quite a lot about university rankings only really know perhaps the top 20-30; beyond that everyone just sort of follows the rule of 'have I heard of it? does it sound like a 'proper' university?'

This means Leeds Metropolitan isn't going to really do you any favours, as they are unlikely to have heard much about it before, and the 'Metropolitan' part really jumps out, signalling its former polytechnic heritage, and the fact that it is the 'second' Leeds uni, undoubtedly some way below the 'real' one.

So for the impression on future employers, you might want to look at some different unis. There are a lot of 'decent sounding' unis in the UK.

None of this is to say that LMU is inherently bad or that the Masters course there is no good, but unfortunately this is just the way people's minds work when it comes to their impressions of universities.

Thanks for the replies. After sending an enquiry to LMU I have not recived an answer. After looking into other uni`s, it seems I may have a shoot at some with better rankings.