Do your Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) degree study in Europe? Yes, please. There are a plethora of reasons to pursue getting into the best MBA programs in Europe, from gorgeous scenery to vibrant culture, international exposure and repositioning yourself for a global career post-graduation.
(What is an MBA program? Brush up on your MBA basics if you need to before we get into further details; and then, consider going for the advanced course with these MBA admissions facts.)
The best business schools in Europe can compete with the best the United States has to offer.
If you’re dreaming of Paris or Madrid, looking to work in the financial services sector in the city of London, or are interested in a multilingual learning situation, European business school could be the best way to get your start.
Whether you have European roots or you’re expanding horizons by studying abroad, you can benefit from working with an expert MBA admissions consultant as you chase your MBA dream all the way to the top business schools in Europe. Cross-cultural connections and international complexities mean that you benefit from partnering with an experienced organization like The MBA Exchange.
The team of expert admissions consultants at The MBA Exchange can help you get into your dream school in Europe. That means it’s time to think about where you want to go, and how you’re going to get there.
Why do an MBA from a top European business school?
Every MBA candidacy is unique. You might have a good GMAT score, but a low GPA for most MBA programs. Your story could have unusual twists and turns. Maybe you’re interested in pursuing your MBA while continuing to develop your career by utilizing options like executive MBA (EMBA) programs or part-time programs. You could even complete your MBA online.
But, if your view and range are going to be global, the top business schools in Europe could very well be the right match for your experience and ambition. Taking it to the European continent gives you access to international perspectives, multilingual opportunities and a long history of business innovation and success with Europe’s top business schools.
Benefits of pursuing an MBA in a European business school
Choosing to do your MBA at one of Europe’s top business schools can benefit you in a variety of ways. Europe may be where your past experiences and future goals clearly point you. Or, you may be looking to expand your worldview and enrich your perspective of diversity and cultural variety.
In Europe, top business schools draw on a long history of academic and professional excellence. Many top business schools in Europe have highly diverse student bodies, and some offer multilingual instruction opportunities. You may be able to travel during your MBA studies, experiencing a range of different settings and cultures to fully round your understanding of the global business world.
No matter where you’re from, an MBA degree from the best MBA programs in Europe will broaden your horizons, increasing your skills and knowledge base to support your future career success, the same as top programs in the United States. Ranking business schools in Europe offer MBAs in specializations including entrepreneurship, finance and international business.
Top business schools in Europe
Wondering which are the best business schools in Europe? It can be hard to figure that out, especially if you’re not European yourself, or if you’re applying across language barriers. The MBA Exchange can help by ranking the business schools Europe has to offer.
In ranking business schools in Europe, the team at The MBA Exchange takes factors like acceptance rate and tuition into account, as well as graduate success and program prestige. Learn more of what you need to know about Europe’s top business schools below.
HEC Paris, France
At the head of the list of the best business schools in Europe, and one of the very top ranking business schools Europe boasts, there’s HEC Paris. Located in Jouy en Josas, France, HEC Paris offers a 16-month MBA program based on an eight-month foundation period and an eight-month customized phase.
HEC Paris connects you to a global network of partner schools like HKUST Business School, London Business School and The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.. HEC Paris graduates more CEOs of Fortune Global 500 companies than any other of the top of business schools in Europe. The HEC MBA program emphasizes entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation and career transformation.
HEC Paris a glance:
- Overall score: 91.8
- Acceptance rate: 18%
- Average GMAT score: 690
- Diversity: 93%
- Class size: 300
- Tuition and fees: $88,166 (converted)
- Intakes: September and January
London Business School, United Kingdom
With a location in the finance center of the city of London, London Business School (LBS) is one of the best business schools in Europe from which to launch your career in finance, entrepreneurship and more. LBS is second of the ranking business schools in Europe considered by the Financial Times 2021, and also sits at number two in the QS Global MBA Rankings 2022.
The two-year program touts its 92% employment success rate for students within three months of graduation and offers top-tier networking and career-building opportunities.
London Business School at a glance:
- Overall score: 90.9
- Acceptance rate: about 20%
- Median GMAT score: 710
- International students: 91%
- Class size: 486
- Tuition and fees: $131,829 (converted)
- Intakes: September and January
IE Business School, Spain
Another of Europe’s top business schools, IE Business School, located in Madrid’s financial district, Barrio de Salamanca, holds triple accreditation from the EFMD Quality Improvement System, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and the Association of MBAs.
The IE Business School MBA program emphasizes global insight and cutting-edge technology. IE Business School offers a range of full-time and part-time MBA programs taught in English and Spanish.
IE Business School at a glance:
- Overall score: 90.8
- Acceptance rate: 41%
- Median GMAT score: 686
- Diversity: more than 70 nationalities
- Class size: not applicable
- Tuition and fees: Reviewed on a yearly basis, the cost was $81,606 (converted) for the 2020-2021 academic year
- Intakes: September and January
INSEAD, France
With feet on the ground in France and Singapore, INSEAD offers a unique dual-campus experience that stands out from others of Europe’s top business schools. A diverse student body enjoys an enriched 10-month accelerated MBA environment, with parallel locations in Fontainebleau, France and Singapore.
INSEAD optimizes your education to your career interests, with more than 70 elective courses available.
INSEAD at a glance:
- Overall score: 90.8
- Acceptance rate: 31%
- Average GMAT score: 709
- Diversity: 110 nationalities
- Class size: 1,000
- Tuition and fees: $98,360 (converted)-$126,557 (converted)/year
- Intakes: August and January
IESE Business School, Spain
Located in picturesque Barcelona, IESE Business School, the graduate business school of the University of Navarra, is ranked number one in the world and is definitely among the best business schools in Europe.
IESE’s two-year MBA program prepares graduates for industries including consulting, finance and technology. IESE graduates often fan out to seek employment and career growth in other locales after graduation, giving IESE a widespread and diverse network of alumni.
IESE at a glance:
- Overall score: 89.5
- Acceptance rate: 26%
- Average GMAT score: 681
- International students: 85%
- Class size: not reported
- Tuition and fees: $105,681 (converted)
- Intakes: September
ESADE Business School, Spain
ESADE Business School offers a variety of MBA programs, from a traditional full-time MBA degree in Barcelona, Spain to a Global Executive MBA program that reaches from Barcelona and Madrid in Spain to Washington, DC and New York in the United States and then to Bangalore, India! That’s some intense preparation for any international career.
ESADE at a glance:
- Overall score: 87.6
- Acceptance rate: 37%
- Average GMAT score: 660
- International students: 96%
- Class size: 349
- Tuition and fees: $83,419 (converted) + application fees
- Intakes: September
Oxford (Said),United Kingdom
Oxford University is a UK landmark, a historic bastion of educational excellence. The Oxford Said 1-year MBA program has a long legacy graduating the business leaders of the future – most MBA graduates from Oxford Said go on to careers in financial services, consulting and technology. Oxford is only about an hour out of London by train, so you’ve still got plenty of sightseeing opportunities!
With an MBA from Oxford, you also benefit from the Oxford Business Alumni (OBA) network, an official community of more than 18,000 b-school grads around the world that maintains a presence in more than 140 countries with over 60 dedicated global ambassadors – a significant boost to your future career connections.
Oxford Said at a glance:
- Overall score: 87.6
- Acceptance rate: about one in four
- Average GMAT score: 690
- International students: 94%
- Class size: 355
- Tuition and fees: $80,425 (converted)
- Intakes: September and January
Cambridge (Judge), United Kingdom
The other UK giant of historic educational excellence, the University of Cambridge is similarly located about an hour’s train ride out of London. Cambridge Judge’s MBA program is one of the best business schools in Europe for students interested in E-commerce and internet technology, a sector that many Cambridge Judge graduates pursue after completing their studies.
Cambridge Judge at a glance:
- Overall score: 86.7
- Acceptance rate: not reported
- Average GMAT score: 690
- International students: not reported
- Class size: 221
- Tuition and fees: $77,058 (converted)
- Intakes: throughout the year
What are the best MBA programs in Europe for you?
Ranking the business schools of Europe and just looking at the range and diversity of the best MBA programs in Europe, your takeaway should be that there’s a truly staggering range of possibilities available to a motivated person. The opportunities you can find at the top business schools in Europe have outshoots around the globe, taking you almost anywhere you can imagine post-graduation.
The unique struggles and achievements of your past, your unique capabilities and potential, all deserve the right place to shine – and you’ve got to believe that place, your place, is out there. Maybe it’s at one of the best business schools in Europe!
You might have to reach for your b-school dream if you’re targeting the best MBA programs in Europe, and that’s ok. European business schools are a reach that are well worth the effort.
You’ve got strengths to offset the weaknesses in your applicant profile and still impress an admissions committee. But you’ve got to identify them, and when it comes to international MBA applications to the top business schools in Europe that can present a tough task. It’s challenging enough to optimize an MBA candidacy without throwing cross-cultural differences into the ring!
So get an expert on your side. At The MBA Exchange, we hand-match each client with an experienced member of our consulting team, taking care to find the right MBA consultant for your candidacy. Then, we can help you choose the right MBA program for your goals.
The MBA Exchange has extensive roots and tendrils throughout the European business school milieu, as well as the savvy you can count on to get you through tricky MBA admissions issues like timing your candidacy for international MBA application deadlines.
Why not let the consultants at The MBA Exchange act as your guide to the international possibilities of the best MBA programs in Europe? Let’s review the full range of your options together. Get started on your European business school journey by filling out your free profile evaluation today.