Updated on 14th October 2024

The Best Business Schools in Yorkshire

Take your career to the next level at these top business schools.

Written on Business Updated on 14th October 2024

Wondering where to study business and management? We’ve got Yorkshire covered…

Whether you’re thinking about an undergraduate degree, a postgrad or an executive qualification, you won’t have to go far to find a top-notch university. Yorkshire is blessed with a mind-boggling array of unis, many of which have business and management schools, but which ones are the best and where should you go? We’ve rounded up the top five, basing our list on The Times Good University Guide 2025, to help you make your decision.

Leeds University Business School

a group of men sat around a table in suits

Credit: University of Leeds

Leeds is home to one of the best business schools in the country, let alone Yorkshire. The University of Leeds Business School comes in at 15th place in The Times Good University Guide 2025 for Business, Management and Marketing, 11th for Accounting and Finance. Not only is it triple accredited by AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS, but it’s also recognised for the quality of its research.

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) rated 90% of their projects as either ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ in 2021. It’ll come as no surprise that graduates are highly sought after. This is one of the top four universities targeted by the largest number of the UK’s leading graduate employers.

They offer a range of undergraduate, masters, MBA, PhD and executive courses, with everything from bachelors degrees in Economics to exceptional NED training and their industry leading MBA. In 2021 LUBS won the Small Business Charter Award, winning praise for SPARK, its start-up support initiative.

University of York School for Business and Society

Another Russell Group university takes the second spot on our list of top business schools. The University of York School for Business and Society is sitting pretty in 38th place in The Times Good University Guide 2025 for Business, Management and Marketing.

It’s not triple accredited, but it does have an 81.9% employability rate and a solid track record for research, with 84% of the business school’s projects rated as either ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021. According to the latest National Student Survey, the University of York’s satisfaction rate is 80%, four points above the average of 76%.

They work hand-in-hand with business, public and third sector organisations to harness the power of interdisciplinary research, tackle complex issues and deliver sustainable growth – which means your work can make a real difference. Interested in marketing? The 2024 National Student Survey ranked them 2nd in the UK for ‘Organisation and Management’ and 1st in the Russell Group for ‘Academic Support’ for universities included for marketing.

Sheffield University Management School

South Yorkshire has one of the best business schools in the region, in the form of Sheffield University Management School. It takes 31st place in The Times Good University Guide 2025 for Business, Management and Marketing. Triple accreditation by AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS puts it in the elite, but their research creds are even more impressive.

90% of their projects were rated as either ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021. With great research comes great responsibility, which is why the University of Sheffield uses its power for good. They work closely with business, government and third sector organisations to solve the world’s biggest challenges.

From research projects to work placements, their students can get real-world industry experience and work on innovative projects that will change the business world as we know it. Now that will look good on your CV.

Hull University Business School

Hull University Business School slides into 48th place in The Times Good University Guide 2025 for Business, Management and Marketing. It’s in the top 5% of world business schools with double accreditation by AMBA and AACSB, but doesn’t have the rubber stamp from EQUIS that would take it up to that coveted triple crown.

In terms of research, 79% of their projects were rated as either ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021. The campus is excellent, seamlessly blending grade II-listed buildings with state-of-the-art facilities. Their ‘Authentic Business Learning’ model means students get hands-on industry experience while they study.

Students will have the chance to work on live business projects, as well as undergoing placements and internships within partner businesses. They also work hard to create networking opportunities so you can find your next employer before you even graduate. In short, business studies at Hull isn’t just theory, it’s practice.

Bradford School of Management

two people looking through papers

Bradford School of Management is one of the oldest business schools in the UK, open for over 60 years. It comes in at 65th place in The Times Good University Guide 2025 for Business, Management and Marketing – it even won ‘Business School of the Year’ in The Times Higher Education Awards in 2021.

Bradford is triple accredited by AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS, with a strong reputation for research. 81% of their projects were rated as either ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021. One of the things that sets the University of Bradford apart is their ability to change and adapt. Their courses are designed in collaboration with business partners to respond to the rapidly evolving market.

What’s more, they take an international approach, connecting with partners in over 30 countries and running exchange programmes in 17 countries to prepare students to work in today’s globalised market. Their distance-learning MBA was ranked number one in the world in terms of value for money by the Financial Times in 2024.

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Ali Turner Senior Writer

Ali is one of the original founders of Leeds-List. An adopted Northerner, she's lived in Leeds for 18 years, and written about it for the last 12. In that time, she's explored every nook and cranny of the city, and covered a good swathe of Yorkshire too.

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