Top MBA programs in Europe

25 August, 2009 17:26

In recent years, there has been an explosion of European MBA programs. And with it, comes an inevitable explosion of MBA rankings as well. While different rankings rate schools on different criteria, here are some of the consistent top performers on most European MBA rankings.

London Business School, UK

A consistent top performer, LBS offers a 15-21 month MBA course at its campus in the heart of London. It boasts of students from 120 countries, networking opportunities with over 28,000 alumni from across the globe and 34 International Exchange schools that you can partner with during your study here. The next program starts in August 2009 and the course fee is £45,500.

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Insead, France

Another top pick amongst business schools, Insead boasts of two fully-integrated campuses in France and Singapore and students from over 70 different nationalities. Time pressed students will be happy to know that the MBA course is completed in a compact 10 months. It’s probably too late to apply for the next program that begins in September 2009 but there’s another one that starts in January 2010. Tuition fees are €51,000.

HEC Paris, France

HEC Paris currently tops the FT list of European Business Schools. It offers a highly valued 16 months MBA program that is structured around two, eight month periods. It also offers many intensive, optional language courses throughout the program. Tuition fees are €42,000 and as with most other reputed MBA programs, they also offer scholarships and loans.

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IMD, Switzerland

Based in Lausanne, Switzerland, IMD’s ‘Real world. Real learning’ approach has made it a hit amongst European business schools. The school boasts of an international alumni consisting of over 98 nationalities and a diverse faculty as well comprising of professors form over 19 countries. It has been ranked as the number 1 program by Forbes, FT and the Economist and is definitely one of the more prestigious programs across the continent. The MBA course is fitted into a 11 months curriculum and costs CHF 58,000 for tuition fees. The five application deadlines for the program are February 1, April 1, June 1, August 1 and September 1.

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IESE Business School, Spain

The IESE Business School is also a topper on many business school rankings. It was ranked number 2 in the world and number 2 in Europe by Economist in 2008 and FT ranked it number 2 in Europe and number 5 in the world for 2008. It boats of a multicultural faculty and student profile. The IESE MBA is a two year program that’s conducted in its campus in Barcelona and costs approximately €68,000.

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Rotterdam School of Management, Netherlands

RSM offers a 12 month, full time international MBA program that’s ranked among Europe’s top MBA programs. It boasts of a multicultural environment with students from over 80 countries. Tuition fees costs €36,000 and the application deadline for the next program is October 5^th, 2009.

Esade Business School

The Esade Business School offers a flexible MBA program that allows you to customize your MBA experience. While all candidates start at the same time, you can choose to complete the program in 12, 15 or 18 months according to your personal situation and preference. The program has been consistently ranked within the top 10 MBA programs form across Europe by a number of polls. The full time MBA costs €52,000 and application deadlines occur throughout the year.

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ESCP Europe

This highly ranked school offers a truly European experience with campuses spread across Paris, Berlin, London, Madrid and Turin. Candidates are offered the opportunity to rotate amongst these campuses. The MBA is an 18 month full time program and applications are accepted from February to December. The next program starts in January 2010. Tuition fees for the 18 month program are €42,000.

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For links to recognized European MBA ranking, please click here.

Please note that the costs mentioned above are for tuition fees only. Depending on the duration of your course and your lifestyle, you’ll have to also factor in living expenses, cost of books etc. Also bear in mind that most of the descriptions above are for full time MBA programs, but most if not all of the universities also offer part time programs.

Good luck with your MBA.

Sidd Lobo

Freelance writer based out of Munich

How to arrange your studies abroad? You will find the answer in our series of 5 articles:

Decide Where to Go

Determine When to Go

Language Problems and Programs

How to Pay for It

Practical Matters