Is it better to pursue a UK master's or an MBA from a new-generation IIM for someone wanting to eventually work abroad?

Your choice here should come down to how urgently you want to move abroad and how much financial risk you can absorb, since these two paths lead to very different outcomes for the next few years.

Core Comparison

Weighing the Trade-offs

• A UK master's gives you direct geographic access and eliminates the hurdle of getting hired from overseas, especially if you have under two years of experience.
• You will not get campus placements in the UK, so you must network, cold-apply and pitch yourself independently the whole way.
• A new-gen IIM guarantees a domestic job through campus placements, which sharply lowers your financial risk if you are funding this through a loan.
• From an IIM, you can still go abroad later through internal mobility or cross-border projects at a multinational, just on a three to five year timeline.

My Advice

If you have the financial runway and are confident in independent job hunting, apply to target UK universities like LSE, Imperial or Warwick to maximise your odds. If you are risk-averse or need a guaranteed job, take the new-gen IIM route and build your global pivot through an MNC a few years down the line.