3 Reasons To Get An International MBA

Applications at European B-schools are increasing.

B-schools seeing an application upswing in MBA applications include University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School, where applications increased 35% in September 2020 compared to the year before, Imperial College Business School in London, which saw a 41% jump in full-time MBA apps, and Warwick Business School, which reported a 56% increase.

Caroline Diarte Edwards, of Fortuna Admissions, recently discussed three reasons why now is a good time to pursue an international MBA.

GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

One of the main benefits of an international MBA is the international exposure that students receive from diverse communities.

“Both INSEAD and LBS offer unparalleled international exposure by virtue of their truly diverse student communities: INSEAD lauds more than 80 nationalities in its MBA program, while LBS students are 91% international and hail from some 63 countries,” Edwards writes. “INSEAD and LBS put a premium on training business leaders who excel at working across cultures, with deeply engaged and far-flung alumni networks and relationships with top recruiters across the world.”

BETTER ROI

Since many European MBA programs are one-year, compared to two in the US, students end up saving a good amount.

For instance, at HEC Paris, tuition costs €78,000 (roughly $92,000) for its one-year MBA. At Harvard, one year of the MBA costs $73,440 in tuition or $146,880 for two years.

“With smaller foregone costs (and relinquishing only a year’s worth of salary), schools like HEC Paris – which boasts a salary increase of 133% – are attracting more candidates,” Edwards writes. “This compared to the salary increase at Harvard Business School of 110% or Wharton of 107% salary increase – still the venerated beacons of business schools.)”

LATER APPLICATION DEADLINES

The third benefit of European MBAs, according to Edwards, is the timing of applications as European B-schools accept applications later in the season than their American counterparts.

“If you are looking for a two-year MBA in Europe and still hoping to enroll by fall, LBS and IESE are the place to start, and their admissions deadlines arrive soonest – LBS round 4 deadline closes April 27, and IESE on May 4,” Edwards writes.

Sources: Fortuna Admissions, P&Q, HEC Paris