I am a passout of Manipal Institute of Technology and by now I have almost 3 years of work-ex in semiconductors industry (presently working with a market leader MNC).
I have got an admit at London School of Economics (LSE) in MSc Management and Strategy. This program is quite different from other MSc Management programs at UK universities in the sense that it focuses heavily on strategic management and organizational theory. (apart from the fact that it's at LSE 
). More info @ MSc Management and Strategy - Taught programmes - Graduate Prospectus - Graduate Admissions - LSE
1. The most fundamental issue. I am an engineer, and really, I like engineering & technology. I like being a geek. OK I may not like core engineering jobs, but I'd love to be in management related to technology, and also would like to take a shot at entrepreneurship.
Can a technology background combined with an LSE management degree, help me land in such a career?
2. Since this program is expensive ( 18000), I'll have to take considerable amount of loan and stuff to manage the fee. Naturally, to repay all that I need to have a job that pays in either , euros or $$ for the initial phase after graduation. Now, what is your opinion on job searching by international students in UK and other European countries, especially when there is so much crying over the recent economic crisis. Are the markets really in that bad a situation that even LSE graduates can't find jobs? And especially considering management jobs, is the saturation level so high that they are not willing to take in fresh talent at all?
Also, is it possible to find management jobs in non-english speaking countries like Germany, France, Switzerland etc
3. UK has introduced new Visa rules by which one can spend 2 years after graduation without needing a sponsorship from an employer. Do you think, I should take this as a positive sign and keep it in account when taking a decision about joining?
I think I have already typed a pretty long post and now I should stop. :)
I have a coupla more questions but I'd ask after you respond to this post. Maybe your reply would help me clear the mess that's continuously growing in my head.
Thanks again for reading this.
1. If a combined technology and management program is what you seek, I have to say a plain management & strategy program might not fulfil all your objectives. Like you said, the LSE sends many graduates into finance focused careers, which you clearly want to distance yourself from. Therefore you might want to look for strong programs combining Engineering and Technology Management. Think about:
- The Delft University of Technology, Holland. An EU Top 5 Engineering & Technology School and look at their Master's Program Portal (
TU Delft - Master programmes) - which should give you some pretty good choices. Also with many of their programs conducted in English, you should be able to fit in quite well. With your experience in Semi-Conductors, you should be in a good position to sell yourself to recruiters in the technology, medical devices, and precision engineering space in the functional areas of product strategy and development (Philips / GE / Shell etc, all with strong operations in Western Europe / UK all come to mind immediately).
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology,
Lausanne, Switzerland (
College of Management of Technology - EPFL CDM), which runs one of Europe's strongest technology management programs (lots of precision engineering entrepreneurs come out of this school, some have gone on to become well known angel investors and venture capitalists).
- I am not very familiar with Techno-Management programs in the UK, but please do a hard search on this.. Look at Cambridge, Imperial College, University College London.. Also look at the
www.timesonline.co.uk and check out the Good University Guide for the better schools in Engineering, and search for Technology Management Programs.
- Let's not forget the strength of the US Schools. Think about MIT's programs in the Engineering Systems Division (
MIT's Engineering Systems Division).
You come of a strong Engineering School + have experience in a true precision engineering (semi-conductor) industry. If so called "geeky" tech-management is what you like, aim for it and aim for the best school. 2. Job search is a very different context here than from what you see in India. Out here, you will need to be extremely proactive with your search, which includes taking the initiative talking to recruiters, head-hunters and alumni; network well with the people you come in contact with and learn to put your best foot forward with the companies you want to work with. The school's career services will at times bring companies into campus, but with programs like the one I've described above, you would probably have to do a lot of work on your own.
The current economic crisis is affecting all of EU and particularly the UK, but the jobs for well educated & well qualified, experienced and skilled people will be there because companies absolutely need to grow to survive, recession or not. Also, if you work your job search well and convince a fairly large company to recruit you, then they will find a way to recruit you! Companies also know how to wafe through work-permit requirements, their size and importance to a local economy can't be discounted. So a Philips in Holland, or a GE in Western Europe or a Shell or BP or any other major large-cap MNC
if they REALLY want you, they will find a way to accommodate you). But you have to convince them.
As I have mentioned in several posts here, doing a program seeking a customer facing job like marketing, sales or even strategy - is pointless without learning a major language of the market you want to work in. Business conversational skills in something like German (very important in the Engineering / Technology / Automotive / Life Sciences space), French (automotive, luxury, brand marketing etc...) or Spanish (retail...) definitely put you in front of the queue when talking to prospective recruiters.
3. Yes, it is a positive sign. Foreign students invest in an education, and the UK is allowing them the chance to recoup that.
I'd like you certainly think about the suggestions in point 1, even if you have to wait the extra year, use it to search for educational options that truly satisfy your goal. Use the extra 12-15 months to also learn a new language (I would suggest German / Spanish) and you'll be positioning yourself pretty well....
Sorry if the responses were not what you expected... But good luck all the same.
Cheerz
Baccardisprite
now i have some queries...after all this.