Universities are using taxpayers’ money to subsidise MBAs

Use of taxpayers’ money to part-fund MBA courses for top executives earning six-figure salaries is widespread with more than half a dozen universities offering the option on their website, writes David Cohen for the Independent.

An investigation by the Independent found that the number of people under 25 starting apprenticeships has plummeted by more than 100,000 – from 285,280 in 2015-16 to 183,850 in 2021-22. Apprenticeship training providers that support young people at the start of their career reacted with dismay to the findings, calling it “utterly disheartening” that the apprenticeship levy should be “abused” at the expense of the young who need it most, and said the scheme is in need of a major overhaul.

The Independent reported how £100 million (US$119 million) of the levy has been used to subsidise high-flyers, many earning over £100,000 a year, get their Master of Business Administration, despite an attempt by the government to clamp down on this two years ago. The investigation focused on two prestigious top 10 UK ranked business schools, Henley Business School and Cranfield Business School.
Full report on the Independent site