Aberdeen Business School, The Robert Gordon University

Age: 46

History: Founded in 1965, the school is part of The Robert Gordon University, first set up by a successful local businessman in 1750. It has offered its own MBA since 1994, on a full-time, part-time and now online basis.

Address: Next to the sports centre on the Robert Gordon University Garthdee campus.

Ambience: The ultra-modern £20m building designed by Lord Foster overlooks parkland next to the River Dee. It houses state-of-the-art teaching facilities, lecture theatres, IT labs, staff accommodation, a cafeteria and shop – all under one roof. The £11m sports centre houses a 25m swimming pool and a climbing wall.

Vital statistics: Britain's most northerly business school. The MBA takes 20 part-time students a year; the full-time programme has around 30 or 40 people in each class. All MBA courses are accredited by AMBA.

Added value: A strong professional influence and a reputation for graduate employment. Strategic management makes up one-sixth of the programme. The MBA is taught largely from case studies, with a choice of 10 elective modules. The MBA on oil and gas has four electives.

Easy to get into? A first degree, at Honours level, preferably in the top first class banding or professional qualification with a minimum of three years' work experience is required.

Glittering alumni: Fiona Stalker, head of news at Northsound Radio in Aberdeen; Captain Simon Bath, general manager of Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle; Robert Cook, chief executive of Malmaison and Hotel du Vin.

International connections: The school runs the AMBA-accredited MBA for Sonatrach in Algeria, and numerous corporate programmes. Previous clients have included British Airways, Abbey National, Nats and Imerys.

Gurus: Professor Dennis Tourish, leadership, management and organisational communication; Justin Greenwood, research co-ordintor for the department of Public Policy; Alistair R Anderson, entrepreneurship and small business; Professor David Gray, research in transport policy.

Student profile: Average age for the online MBA is 39. The male to female ratio is 70:30. The full-time and part-time MBAs attract students from up to 24 countries. Class size 10-12 students.

Cost: Online and part-time MBAs cost £11,438. The full-time option is £14,800.

Return on investment: Exposure to international teaching and experience – enhanced career prospects and improved earning power.

Who's the boss? Professor Rita Marcella, an expert in communication and citizenship information, has been in charge since 2003.

Prospectus: +44 (0)1224 262 000; www.rgu.ac.uk/abs