Five reasons why international students choose an online MBA
An MBA case study with Mohammed Hebeish
Average read time: 10 mins
15 May 2026
For many international built-environment professionals who wish to study for a British MBA, moving countries is simply impossible. The complex logistics of relocating to the UK, the prohibitively expensive fees for overseas learners, plus high living costs, make a British qualification a pipedream for most. Or so they thought.
Enter the MBA offered by the University of the Built Environment - fully online and fully packaged to accommodate students from anywhere in the world.
For Mohammed Hebeish, a civil engineer and risk professional travelling between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the University's e-learning model has been crucial for accelerating his career.
He said:
“For me, online learning has not reduced the value of the MBA experience. It has made that experience possible.”
Not only is the University's MBA bespoke to the built environment, but, crucially for international students, our degree programmes are designed as bespoke 'online first' models.
This contrasts with many traditional and Russell Group Universities. They offer e-learning versions of their courses, but most of these are adaptations of campus-first models, with their pedagogical core still rooted in campus-based delivery.
Furthermore, our specialism in property, construction, surveying, planning and other related fields has been cited by publications such as The Times as a reason why our University is one of the top-earning institutions outside the Russell Group, with our graduates earning more than their Oxford and Cambridge University peers.
Here Mohammed outlines his five top reasons why studying with the online University of the Built Environment as an international student is the obvious choice:
1. Flexibility to study across borders
Online learning allows you to study seamlessly while living or travelling between countries, with no disruption to your progress.
The ability to study from different locations is "extremely important" to Mohammed. "I travel between Saudi Arabia and Egypt, so the ability to study from different locations was a real priority for me,” he said.
“The online format means I can continue learning without interrupting my work or family responsibilities. Whether I am in Saudi Arabia or Egypt, I can still access the materials, catch up on sessions, and keep progressing with the MBA."
2. It’s easy to manage time zones and commitments
As an international student, you will benefit from our online-first learning model as it offers recorded sessions and adaptable schedules. This means you can balance study with work and family - no matter what your time zone you’re in.
While the time difference has not been a problem for Mohammed because Egypt and Saudi Arabia are usually only two hours ahead of the UK, "it still requires planning, especially when balancing work, family commitments, live sessions, and assignment deadlines."
He also recognises why a university that tailors its programmes to an online audience is a crucial choice for an international student.
"The University understands that online students are studying from different locations and time zones," he said. "The availability of recorded sessions, virtual learning environment (VLE) forums, online resources, and opportunities to arrange one-to-one meetings with module leaders makes the programme much easier to manage."
He added: "Some webinars, particularly those linked to assignments and student support, are offered at different times or made available afterwards, which is very helpful for international students."
3. Learn at your own pace
Recorded online lectures are especially valuable if you're studying in a second language or adapting to new academic or industry contexts.
As an international student studying a UK-focused MBA, Mohammed appreciates being able to learn at his own pace, particularly when engaging with specialist terminology, local examples and professional practices that may differ from the markets he is used to.
"Because some MBA topics are applied to UK construction, real estate, and business contexts, I sometimes need extra time to understand specific terminology, local examples, or professional practices that may be different from the markets I am used to," he said.
"Having access to recorded webinars, video, audio, transcripts, and online resources allows me to pause, revisit key points, and research unfamiliar terms properly. This helps me understand the material more deeply rather than just follow it quickly."
4. Avoid relocation costs and higher
international fees
Our online programmes remove the financial and logistical burden of moving countries, making that ‘gold standard’ UK degree qualification more accessible.
"If this were a traditional, campus-based course, I honestly do not think I would have been able to study a UK-based MBA at this stage of my life," Mohammed said.
"Relocating or travelling regularly would have been very difficult alongside my full-time work, family responsibilities, and commitments between Saudi Arabia and Egypt."
There is also the financial side, of course. Happily, the University of the Built Environment has a flat fee no matter where in the world the student is from.
In contrast, traditional UK universities charge fees for international students of up to £26,000 a year - that's three times more than for a British student.
Mohammed points out that it is not just the fees that can be prohibitively expensive.
"A campus-based programme would usually involve additional costs such as travel, accommodation, transport, and time away from work," he said.
"In the current global environment, with rising living costs and wider economic uncertainty, these factors can make many professionals think carefully before committing to further study."
He added: "For me, the online model made postgraduate study realistic. It allowed me to access a UK-based MBA while continuing to support my family, maintain my professional role, and manage my time more efficiently."
5. Grow an international network
Our online learning model offers strong opportunities to connect globally thanks to forums, webinars, and student roles.
The importance of how the University actively promotes online student communities rather than merely offering an isolated e-learning experience is another point Mohammed highlights.
“The flexibility of online learning has allowed me to stay engaged with the wider University community,” Mohammed said. “I have connected with students in the UK and overseas through representative activities, later became Student Officer for Mature Learners, and was also selected to participate in the University’s CIOB re-accreditation visit.
"This flexibility has allowed me not only to keep up with my studies, but also to engage more widely with the University community.”
Interested in finding out more?
Explore our MBA page
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