If I want to join a consulting firm in the Middle East, should I choose Birmingham Dubai or ESSEC's MSc/MBA program?

You can realistically enter management consulting in the Middle East from any of these routes. Ultimately, what matters most is not the specific school, but how well prepared you are for case interviews, fit interviews, and whether you network effectively to get your CV in front of the right people.

So the first step is a baseline assessment of your current situation: what does your network look like today? Do you already have relevant skills and experience that consulting firms value? With 5 years in digital transformation, you’re already in a strong position.

The next step is to compare these programs based on network, not just brand. Look at consultants in the Middle East offices of the firms you’re targeting (MBB, T2, etc.) and see where they studied. That will tell you which schools actually place well into those offices. Choose the program that gives you the strongest alumni presence in your target firms and region.

Then consider program type. An MBA (like ESCP’s) is the most directly aligned with management consulting and typically allows you to enter at a higher level (post-MBA Consultant/Associate). An MSc is interesting and valuable, but usually leads to entry at a more junior level.

So the decision framework is:

1. Which program has the strongest consulting network in the Middle East?
2. Which content will you actually enjoy and benefit from?
3. Do you want to enter at a higher level (MBA) or are you okay with a more junior entry (MSc)?

Finally, it’s worth asking whether you need a program at all. If your main goal is purely to break into consulting, you might already be able to start networking and interviewing now, just at a lower level. The degree mainly helps with branding, structured recruiting, and senior entry — not with the core requirement, which is passing interviews and building the right network.

This is a fantastic pivot and a very common question for experienced professionals looking at the Gulf region. Your 5 years in digital transformation is valuable, but the choice between these programs boils down entirely to whether you are aiming for MBB/Tier 2 or Big 4/Local boutique.

Here is the strategic reality: for McKinsey, Bain, and BCG in Dubai or Riyadh, the target school designation almost always outweighs the local campus presence. While Birmingham Dubai offers local connection, it does not carry the global weight or dedicated recruiting pipelines that an ESSEC or ESCP full-time MBA does. Given your five years of experience, the MBA track is the appropriate vehicle for entry as an Associate or Consultant; an MSc is typically suited for pre-experience hires.

If your primary goal is MBB, you should choose the stronger, globally recognized target school brand (ESSEC/ESCP MBA). You leverage this in one of two ways: first, the firms recruit heavily at these European schools specifically for their Middle East offices, often running dedicated streams during the fall recruitment season. Second, you can aim to secure an internship or full-time offer at a European or Asian office and then use the internal transfer mechanism to move to the Gulf within the first 12-18 months. This is a highly reliable path for experienced hires coming from top global programs.

Focus on getting into the best possible program that has established recruiting relationships with the Dubai and Riyadh offices. That strong brand credential travels better than a purely local degree.

All the best!

Hi there,

The right choice depends mainly on what type of consulting role you want and how quickly you want to be in the Middle East.

If your priority is entering the Middle East market quickly, especially in digital, analytics, or transformation consulting, Birmingham Dubai is the more pragmatic option. Being physically based in Dubai makes a real difference for local recruiting, networking, internships, and referrals. Firms in the region hire heavily from candidates already on the ground, and your background in digital transformation fits well with analytics, technology, and transformation practices at Big 4 and regional consultancies.

If your goal is strategy consulting (MBB / Tier 1) with stronger long-term brand value, ESSEC or ESCP is the stronger academic signal. An MBA at ESCP is particularly powerful given your 5 years of experience and would position you well for Consultant-level roles. An MSc at ESSEC is also viable but typically feeds more into Analyst/Senior Analyst tracks rather than post-MBA roles.

If you choose ESSEC/ESCP and want the Middle East after graduation, the path usually looks like this:

• Target Middle East offices explicitly during recruiting and networking
• Build relationships with Dubai/Abu Dhabi alumni early
• Apply through global portals but follow up with regional recruiters
• Secure Middle East–based internships or projects during the program if possible
• Clearly articulate why the Middle East market fits your background (China experience + digital transformation is a strong story)

In short:

• For faster entry into Middle East consulting and digital roles → Birmingham Dubai
• For stronger long-term strategy positioning and brand → ESSEC/ESCP (preferably MBA).

Best,
Evelina

Hi there,

Frankly, you have a shot at entering into consulting with any of these programs. The defining factor would then be how you prepare for cases, regardless of which program you choose in the end. So you should choose a program based on other factors that you may care about.

hey

If Middle East consulting is the goal then ESSEC or ESCP is clearly stronger than Birmingham Dubai because of brand and on campus consulting recruiting, especially for MBB and Tier 2 in the region, Birmingham Dubai helps with location but not with consulting access, from ESSEC or ESCP you recruit directly into Middle East offices through school pipelines and networking, happy to help more if you want.

best,
Alessa :)

Avoid satellite campuses. They won't give you access to MBBs in the region and, unofficially, were created to cater to:

1. The market of Dubai kids/parents that can afford an expensive university education but are either too conservative to send their kids abroad (especially females), OR 

2. Are helicopter parents and have their kids close to them, and don't trust their kids to be able to take care of themselves abroad OR

3. (In the minority of cases), need their kids close to them due to health / care reasons

I can think of one ex-colleague who came from a satellite campus, and they were genuinely exceptional in many ways and had to break many barriers to break the stereotype with interviewers. (I'm generalizing of course, but this tends to track with my experience in the UAE). On the flip side, the only exceptions that MBBs would consider that I can think of in the UAE are NYUAD and American University of Sharjah, and maybe Zayed / Khalifa Universities for local candidates.

If your goal is consulting in the Middle East, here's how I'd think about it.

Birmingham Dubai:

Being physically in Dubai helps. You can network locally, attend firm events, and interview in person. Recruiters know you're already there and don't need visa sponsorship or relocation.

But Birmingham isn't a top target school for MBB or Tier 2 firms. It's possible to get in, but you'll need to work harder on networking and case prep. Your five years of digital transformation experience will matter more than the school name.

ESSEC or ESCP:

These are stronger brands, especially ESSEC which has decent consulting placement in Europe. But most of their recruiting pipelines feed into European offices, not Middle East.

If you do ESSEC or ESCP and want Middle East consulting, you'd need to either:

• Network heavily with Middle East offices during your program
• Apply directly to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Riyadh offices and explain why you want to be there
• Try to transfer internally after joining a European office first

This path is longer and less direct.

My suggestion:

If Middle East consulting is your clear goal, being in Dubai gives you an advantage. You're in the market, you can build local relationships, and firms see you as a regional candidate.

Birmingham Dubai isn't a target school, but your experience in digital transformation is valuable. That's a hot area right now. Position yourself around that strength, network aggressively, and prepare well for cases.

If you want the stronger school brand and are okay with a less direct path, ESSEC is better than ESCP for consulting. But expect to work harder to land a Middle East role from Europe.

Whichever you choose, start networking with Middle East consultants now. Reach out on LinkedIn. Ask for coffee chats. Build relationships before you even start the program. That matters more than which school you pick.