Brunel Business School

Age: 14

History: Created in 1997 from Brunel University's departments of management and business studies, the school has offered an MBA ever since.

Address: The Uxbridge campus on the western outskirts of London is convenient for the city centre, Heathrow airport and the M4, M40 and M25 motorways.

Ambience: The university has recently invested over £250m in improving its buildings and infrastructure. MBA students now have access to an extended library, a new refectory complex, and indoor athletics centre. The Michael E Porter MBA Centre boasts conference facilities, break-out rooms, PC workstations and a kitchen for the exclusive use of MBA students.

Vital statistics: The Brunel MBA can be completed in one year full-time or two years part-time, the latter offering two intakes per year. An MBA in healthcare management was launched in September 2008, and an MBA in aviation management is now on offer.

Added value: The school prides itself on its people-focused approach. MBAs write business plans for real ventures and new students receive one year's free membership to the Association of MBAs. Graduates also benefit from guaranteed full professional membership of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

Easy to get into? Applicants need to have a good first degree and a minimum of three years' postgraduate work experience at managerial or professional level.

Glittering alumni: Donald Arnold, former managing director of Certes Security; Dr Charles Merrill, clinical director of A&E and divisional chair of surgery at the Hillingdon Hospital.

Gurus: Professors Zahir Irani, information systems evaluation; Amir Sharif, director of MBA Programmes, operations management; Adrian Woods, foundation chair in Management Studies and Assistant head of school; Keith Dickson, innovation, sustainability and ethics and entrepreneurship; and Dr Suma Athreye, international business.

International connections: The school attracts students from every continent and staff of numerous different nationalities.

Student profile: The average age on the MBA is 32, and most students have around 10 years' work experienc e.

Cost: £17,000 for the complete programme.

Return on investment: Students gain transferable skills, "employable knowledge" and "frameworks which enable more effective learning from experience for life", the school says. The aim is to develop "reflective practitioners" who can apply their skills in any workplace situation.

Who's the boss? Professor Zahir Irani, is head of the school.

Prospectus: +44 (0)1895 267124; brunelmba@brunel.ac.uk