This Chinese B-School Is Trying To Lure Admitted Internationals From U.S. MBA Programs

In an effort to take advantage of the chaos created by the Trump Administration, China’s leading MBA program is offering immediate admission to admits to Top 30 U.S. business schools. Shanghai-based CEIBS is opening its doors to applicants holding admission offers from any of the Top 30 U.S. full-time MBA programs (as ranked by the Financial Times this year). They are eligible for direct admission into the CEIBS MBA Class of 2027 program that starts on August. 25 with no application or admissions interview.

The unprecedented offer attempts sway jittery international admits who fear that they may be unable to obtain a U.S. student visa in time to attend their MBA programs this fall or are concerned about gaining eventual employment in the U.S. once they graduate. The Trump Administration at one point paused interviews for student visas and has attempted to prevent Harvard from enrolling any international students. It also has discussed possible restrictions on the government’s Optional Practical Training program which allows graduates with STEM degrees to stay and work in the U.S. for up to three years after graduation. In recent years, most U.s. business schools have obtained STEM designation to make their MBAs attractive to international students.

CEIBS, the acronym for the China Europe International Business School, boasts the highest ranked MBA program of any Chinese school, ranking 12th on the Financial Times’ latest list, ahead of No. 13 Harvard Business School, Cornell, UC-Berkeley Haas, and Chicago Booth, among others.

‘WORRIED ABOUT VISA ISSUES OR GLOBAL UNCERTAINTY?’

“Are you worried about visa issues or global uncertainty?,” asks a CEIBS social post on the offer (see left). “CEIBS offers stability, openness and real opportunity. With strong government support for international education and CEIBS’ full commitment to global talent, you’ll get: A smooth visa process. Personalized career support. Access to China’s dynamic job market. A global alumni network of 32,000+ leaders.”

The post then goes on to list all the Top 30 MBA programs in the FT ranking, including Harvard, Wharton, Columbia, MIT Sloan, Northwestern Kellogg, and Chicago Booth, among others. Stanford Graduate School of Business is not named because the school’s MBA program did not make this year’s FT list after Stanford failed to meet the minimum response rate on the FT‘s surveys to alumni. With the lowest admit rate of any U.S. MBA program, however, CEIBS would certainly extend the offer to internationals accepted by Stanford.

Of course, getting an MBA in Shanghai is a significantly different experience than any in the U.S. Only 115 students are enrolled in its full-time MBA, with overseas students accounting for just over a fifth of the typical MBA class at 21.6%. Most of those students, moreover, are of Asian descent. For the Class of 2024, the school claims a 90.4% employment rate three months after commencement for MBA graduates.

WILL THE BEST EUROPEAN & CANADIANS SCHOOLS FOLLOW CEIBS LEAD?

International students who study at CEIBS say they are mainly drawn by the growth opportunities in the Chinese economy and the dynamic nature of Shanghai. French-born Jeanne de Gayffier says she was attracted by Shanghai’s unique energy. “I was looking for the opportunity to immerse myself in its fast-paced economy and innovative environment. CEIBS, located in the heart of it, seemed like the ideal choice. What really convinced me was hearing success stories from graduates, highlighting a positive and supportive community that I really wanted. The combination of being in a lively city and having a strong network convinced me that CEIBS was not just about education but also a great starting point for an exciting future!”

The biggest question may well be why other non-U.S. schools aren’t extending similar offers to U.S. admits. That strategy would yield great benefits to INSEAD, London Business School, IESE Business School, HEC Paris, Toronto Rotman, and Western University’s Ivey School of Business in Canada.

Potentially, these highly ranked and highly desirable international MBA programs  would be able to lure already admitted students who are clearly among the best in the world. An admissions strategy similar to CEIBS also would attract more global attention to these excellent higher education brands.

That’s pretty much a no-brainer.

DON’T MISS: THE SKINNY: WHAT IT’S REALLY LIKE TO STUDY AT CEIBS or  MEET THE MBA CLASS OF 2025 AT CEIBS