From Clicks to Classrooms: How We Helped One of the Top UK Universities Hit Every EMBA Intake Target—Five Times Running

79.41% increase in lead flow. 5 Admission Cycles. 1 Relentless PPC Engine.

When one of the Top UK universities’ prestigious Executive MBA in Dubai needed a consistent stream of high-quality, high-intent applicants, they turned to us. The challenge? Fill their admissions intake in a fiercely competitive, high-ticket education market. What followed was a two-year campaign that became a masterclass in performance marketing for higher education.

Here’s how we made it happen—and why it’s a blueprint any premium B2B brand can use.

Case Study: How We Helped One of the Top UK Universities Fill Their Executive MBA Seats in Dubai—Again and Again

Service: PPC Campaign Management
Industry: Higher Education (Executive MBA Programs)
Agency: Wisoft Solutions

The Ask: Fill the Seats, Every Time

We onboarded the client in 2023, and they came to us with a high-stakes mission. As one of the most prestigious business schools in the world, they had a reputation. But what they needed was reach.

Their Dubai campus runs Executive MBA intakes twice a year—in April and September—and they needed high-calibre professionals to enrol each time. These aren’t just any leads; they had to be experienced, driven, and financially ready to invest in a world-class program.

Could we deliver?

We said yes. And then we delivered. Five times in a row.

The Challenges We Faced

Targeting for an Executive MBA is a different ballgame. You're not selling courses to fresh grads or mid-level managers. You're speaking to time-starved, ROI-driven professionals who want their next big leap.

• Low-Intent Noise: We had to cut through the clutter of general MBA searches and zero in on executives ready to level up.
• Platform Limitations: Some ad platforms don’t let you target by nationality or narrow professional profiles. We had to get creative.
• Premium Price Point: With high tuition fees, we needed to qualify interest early—wasting budget on mismatched leads wasn’t an option.

Our audience was asking:

• “Will this MBA really pay off?”
• “Can I manage it alongside my demanding job?”
• “Why choose this University and not another UK university?”

We knew the answers had to be compelling and crystal clear.

Our Strategy: Precision. Performance. Personality.

1. We Built a Profile of the Perfect Prospect

Using LinkedIn's granular filters and Google keyword intent mapping, we isolated our bullseye: C-level executives, senior managers, and upwardly mobile professionals in industries like finance, tech, and healthcare.

2. We Told Stories That Mattered

Our creative focused on transformation:

• Videos of alumni sharing career leaps.
• Messaging that showcased the brand’s international recognition.
• Flexible weekend classes and online options—ideal for working professionals.

We didn’t just sell education. We sold career evolution.

3. We Engineered the Funnel Like a Machine

Platforms Used:

• Google Ads: For those high-intent searches—"Executive MBA Dubai,” “UK-accredited MBA”
• LinkedIn: Sponsored content, precision InMails, and native lead forms.
• Meta: Smart remarketing to recapture curious minds.

Each quarter, we optimised based on real-time data:

• Shifted budget to top-performing geographies.
• Introduced mobile-first lead forms.
• A/B tested every message variant.
• Killed underperforming segments ruthlessly.

The Results: Numbers You Can Feel

From May 2023 to May 2025, we:

• Increased the lead flow by 79.41%
• Scaled 86.51% in clicks
• Achieved 25% to 35% Marketing Qualified Leads (MQLs)—that’s nearly 1 in 3 leads being real decision-makers.
• Drove a 2%-3% lead-to-enrolment rate, beating industry benchmarks and ensuring every intake was filled.

Imagine this: Every two months, our team huddled around performance dashboards, analysing CPL trends, reviewing form data, and launching new creatives. And like clockwork, the client hit their targets—again and again.

What Made It Work

• ROI-driven messaging: We talked career growth, not coursework.
• Video-led storytelling: Real faces, real voices, real success.
• Smart segmentation: Right title, right region, right mindset.
• Speed and agility: We didn't wait for QBRs—we iterated weekly.

And What We'll Do Even Better

• We’re pushing for faster creative refresh cycles to keep content ultra-relevant.
• Exploring new channels like programmatic and display networks to tap into fresh lead pools.

So, Why Does This Matter to You?

If you’re a university, training institute, or premium service provider looking to scale quality leads, this isn’t just our success story. It could be yours.

This is what happens when:

• You understand your audience deeply.
• You invest in platform-native strategies.
• You let data lead, but creative inspire.

We didn’t just fill seats. We helped our client reinforce their legacy in the Middle East.

And we can do the same for you.