A global business education hub
At Alliance Manchester Business School, US students are finding a powerful combination of academic rigour, global perspective, career acceleration, and a welcoming city that feels both international and personal.
During a recent Northern Business Schools webinar hosted by Clear Admit, current MSc Business Psychology student Hanna Lawrence shared firsthand why choosing Manchester was not just a study abroad decision; it was a strategic step toward a global career.
Choosing Manchester: academic depth and purpose
For Hanna, the decision to study business in Manchester came after several years working in the corporate world in the United States. With an undergraduate background in marketing, she knew she wanted to specialise further, but only in a way that aligned with her values and long-term goals.
“I realised I cared deeply about how people are treated at work,” she explains. “That’s what pushed me toward business psychology.”
When researching postgraduate options, Hanna focused on universities with strong global reputations and a clear academic focus on business psychology. That search led her to AMBS, a programme that stood out not just for its ranking, but for its academic structure.
Although the MSc Business Psychology cohort is relatively small, Hanna was struck by the number of faculty involved. “There are around 15 professors teaching a cohort of about 60 students. That level of access really mattered to me. You’re learning from people who are deeply embedded in the field.”
A different kind of academic experience
Studying at postgraduate level in the UK brought noticeable differences compared to Hanna’s undergraduate experience in the US, particularly in how learning is assessed.
“The programme is rigorous, but there’s no busywork,” she says. “Everything you do contributes directly to your final grade and to what you’ll actually use in your career.”
Exams, she explains, are treated differently too. Rather than juggling coursework and exams simultaneously, students are given dedicated study periods to prepare. “We had over two weeks purely to revise before exams. That changes how deeply you can engage with the material.”
Time management is essential, especially in a one-year master’s programme, but Hanna describes the workload as manageable, even alongside part-time work and involvement in student life.
Life in Manchester: big city, human scale
Like many international students, Hanna moved to Manchester without having visited the city beforehand. What eased the transition, she says, was the extensive guidance provided before arrival, from visa support to practical advice on settling in.
“The hardest part was honestly just arriving exhausted and moving all my things,” she laughs. “But once I was here, everything felt well organised.”
Manchester quickly exceeded expectations. “It’s a big city, but it feels small in the best way. People are friendly, approachable, and genuinely welcoming.”
Coming from the American Midwest, Hanna was used to chatting with strangers and found Manchester surprisingly similar in that regard. “People remember you. They ask how your week’s been. That sense of community makes a huge difference when you’re far from home.”
She also highlights the city’s walkability and public transport, as well as the ease of travel across the UK and Europe thanks to Manchester’s international airport.
Career preparation from day one
Career development is a central part of Hanna’s experience at AMBS. From the moment students arrive, they’re encouraged to engage with careers support, not at the end of the programme, but from the start.
“I updated my CV to UK standards, attended workshops, and learned about graduate schemes almost immediately,” she says. “That early awareness is so important, because application deadlines come quickly.”
Graduate schemes — structured programmes offered by larger employers — were new to Hanna before moving to the UK. Learning about them early allowed her to plan strategically and tailor her applications well ahead of graduation.
Her goal is to remain in Manchester after completing her degree, working in a role aligned with business psychology. “I love the city, and there are real opportunities here if you’re proactive.”
Building community beyond the classroom
Outside academics, Hanna has found community through student societies, particularly groups aimed at mature and returning students.
“It’s been great connecting with people who didn’t come straight from undergrad,” she says. “You meet students with real professional experience, different perspectives, and similar motivations.”
These connections, she notes, have been just as valuable as what she’s learned in lectures.
Advice for US students considering the UK
For American students weighing up whether to pursue a business master’s abroad, Hanna offers reassurance and encouragement.
“It’s normal to feel nervous,” she says. “You’re moving countries and committing to something intense. But if you go all in, you get so much out of it.”
For Hanna, studying business in Manchester has been more than an academic decision. It’s been a personal and professional turning point - one that reflects why so many US graduates are now looking to the north of the UK.
