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Contact our general manager with any questions. Profile updated: July 20, 2023.

IESE Business School at the University of Navarra

MBA Program Stats

Annual Tuition: ā‚¬105,000

Annual Tuition Non-Resident: ā‚¬105,000

Full-Time Enrollment: 351

Median GMAT: 670

Median GRE: V: 160 | Q: 161

International: 86%

Female: 35%

Male: 65%

Average Age: 29

What You Need To Know

In any discussion of IESE, ā€œintegrityā€ and ā€œimpactā€ are often mentioned. This is a business school that takes the idea that business leaders can have a huge effect on the world very seriously. This MBA program, ranked No.2 MBA in the region by the Economist this year, was launched in 1964 as the first two-year MBA in Europe.

Based in Barcelona but with outposts in Madrid, Munich, New York, and SĆ£o Paulo, IESE also has a global outlook. Barcelona is a great place to get a degree for many reasons ā€“ because of its strategic location as a gateway to Europe, its unique blend of professional opportunities, and the diverse and dynamic business environment. Depending on career interests, another benefit to studying at this campus is that itā€™s near top companies like Banco Santander, Inditex, TelefĆ³nica, Amadeus, Accenture, and Puig which have a history of hiring MBAs.

Academics And Programs

The IESE MBA class size is around 350 students on average each year, and students are given the flexibility to complete their MBA in 15 or 19 months depending on their needs. The B-School takes their curriculum seriously, with the phrase ā€œThe first year is ours and the second year is yours,ā€ commonly heard among IESE faculty.Ā 

The first three terms teach Foundations for Effective Leadership, followed by summer corporate internship and entrepreneurial experiences. The B-School wants students to experience what it means to be a leader ā€“ operating in the spotlight, setting priorities, breaking down problems, and leveraging their peersā€™ strengths.

Along with traditional business courses, IESE includes a unique and unconventional core curriculum such as a business ethics course, with options to take others in the same ballpark such as Stress Management and Well-being. This is unique to IESE because very few MBA programs look to explicitly instill business ethics in their students.

The MBA is topped off in terms four and five with the Consolidate Transformation section, which helps students to broaden their horizons. Students can take Overseas Modules of up to four weeks in SĆ£o Paulo, New York, Shanghai or Nairobi, and up to a whole term in one of the schoolā€™s 30 exchange partners.

Thereā€™s no lack of electives, with around 100 options and even the option to choose concentrations in International Business, Finance, Data Analytics & Digital Business, and Entrepreneurship & Innovation, to earn a specialization along with their MBA.

ā€œThe first year of the MBA at IESE is very challenging with essentially 3 cases per day, 5 days a week. It adds up to about 4,000 pages of reading. Add on top of the academics the time spent on recruiting and extracurricular activities and you get very busy very fast. However, after having been through that first year and reflecting back, I can definitely say that all that effort pays off. Coming from a non-business background, my learning curve was steep and the academic rigor of IESE allowed me to become a full 360-degree manager now. When we started the MBA, we were told by faculty and students to ā€˜trust the processā€™ and Iā€™m glad I did,ā€ says MBA Marc-Olivier Granger.

Why Students Chose

ā€œAside from the location and the multicultural and international class, one of the main reasons I chose IESE for my MBA program was because of the values and principles of the school. I feel IESEā€™s mission of developing leaders who will have a positive long-lasting impact on their communities (people, firms, society) really resonates with my personal view of life; it is aligned with what I want to achieve as a business leader in my country in the future.ā€ Oscar Bravo (ā€˜24)

ā€œI picked IESE Business School for a couple of reasons, mainly because of its vision and its emphasis on entrepreneurship. What really stood out to me, and still does, is the schoolā€™s focus on making a difference. This can be seen in many ways, such as their ā€˜Doing Good Doing Wellā€™ conference, the incorporation of the 17 UN sustainable development goals in every class, and the emphasis on sustainability in the curriculum.ā€ Marco Goffi (ā€˜24)

ā€œOne of the biggest reasons why I chose IESE was the strong academics that the school offers. I love to learn, and really wanted a program that would challenge me to explore a variety of new topics in a short period. It has only been 4 months, but I feel like I have much more knowledge than I would have been able to receive anywhere else.ā€ Raghad Gomaa (ā€˜24)

ā€œEntrepreneurship has always been a dream of mine and is also one of the most important aspects that drew me to IESE. The large alumni base makes it an attractive institution in which to explore and experiment with what it takes to start a new company or business. Events like the Search Fund Conference also draw professionals in the field from all over the world to Barcelona, providing yet another opportunity for me to learn from the best.ā€ Cynthia Kreng
(ā€˜24)

ā€œThe reason why I chose the IESE MBA program is that IESE is a business school which is leading search fund study all over the world. My post-MBA career goal is starting my own search fund in Japan. However, search funds are still quite a new scheme in Japan and there are only a few searchers as of today and a small community to rely on. In contrast, search funds are very common in Spain and since 2011, IESE has been working on the study of them in conjunction with Stanford. Now IESE is known as one of the best search fund schools in the world. During this program, I want to acquire know-how and network with the search fund community.ā€ Yasushi Kobayashi (ā€˜24)

Career Stats

Compensation Statistics of IESE MBA Graduates

CompensationĀ Ā Ā Statistics 2022 2021 2019 2017
Average Base Salary ā‚¬ 92,500 ā‚¬ 87,613 ā‚¬ 85,046 ā‚¬ 81 221

IESE MBA Graduate Employment Offers

Timing of JobĀ Ā Ā Offer 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
% w/ offer within 3 months of graduation 95 94 87 94 94

Industry Choices of IESE MBAs

% of MBAs EmployedĀ Ā Ā by Industry Sector 2022 2021 2019 2018
Consulting 33% 34% 33% 31%
Consumer Goods/Retail 7%
Energy & Manufacturing 8%
Finance 21% 25% 20% 19%
Healthcare 11%
Other 2%
Technology 18% 17% 26% 20%
Industry 24%

Admissions For IESE

From IESE Business School

IESE Business School is a trailblazer in leadership development whose globally renownedĀ Full-Time MBAĀ is aimed at people with inquisitive minds and global outlooks who aspire to leave a positive mark on the world.

Ranked the #10 MBA in the world and #3 in Europe (Financial Times), the program is delivered in Barcelona and led by faculty from 30-plus countries with PhDs from the worldā€™s top schools. Its general management approach, global outlook (IESE is #2 in the world for international course experience according to the Financial Times), bilingual immersion, and ethical focus permeate every facet of the program, setting it apart from other MBAs and contributing to a thriving career.

IESEĀ“s MBA is highly customizable, with the option to complete it in 15 or 19 months, a broad array of electives, as well as the chance to take part in internships, overseas modules, and exchange programs. Students can further tailor the MBA to their needs by choosing a core area of concentration: international business, finance, data analytics, digital business, or entrepreneurship and innovation. Join us at one of our many events to learn more.

For recent graduates and young professionals in the early stages of their working lives, IESE Business School also offers the Master in Management (MiM). The 11-month program delivered in Madrid focuses on developing the essential analytical skills and knowledge needed to flourish professionally. With 63% of international participants, the MiM students get prepared to launch their career and make a positive impact on the world, using the Case Method to discuss real business situations with a global perspective. Not sure if this masterā€™s degree suits your profile, needs, and ambitions? You can meet the MiM Admissions team to guide you during this next professional step or attend one of our upcoming events.

Student Features For IESE

Meet IESE Business Schoolā€™s MBA Class Of 2024

A look at a promising first-year class

Meet IESE Business School’s MBA Class Of 2023

A look at the first-year's at one of the world's top MBA programs

Meet IESE Business School’s MBA Class Of 2022

A new MBA class that reflects why IESE ranks among the best in the world

2023 MBA To Watch: David Boix Nebot, IESE Business School

ā€œAerospace engineer by degree, scuba diving instructor by nature looking to develop aviation in Latin Americaā€

2023 MBA To Watch: Lais Giardullo Bernardes, IESE Business School

ā€œMother, wife and entrepreneur determined to leave a positive impact on societyā€

2023 Best & Brightest MBA: Stephanie Place, IESE Business School

ā€œArgentinean inspired to be resilient and creative by entrepreneurial parents who generated an impact despite macroeconomic turbulencesā€

2022 Best & Brightest MBA: Katharina Klohe, IESE Business School

ā€œEndlessly curious, I love to learn alongside a great team, with a focus on impactā€

2022 Best & Brightest MBA: Emma Sussex, IESE Business School

ā€œThoughtful, curious, driven, and always first on the dance floorā€

2021 Best & Brightest MBAs: Marc-Olivier Granger, IESE Business School

ā€œGentle giant, engineer converted consultant, that goes above and beyond to help those around himā€

2022 MBA To Watch: Kevin Peer, IESE Business School

ā€œPerpetual learner that pushes his limits and tries to always leave a positive markā€

2022 MBA To Watch: Cassian Stanjek, IESE Business School

ā€œCheerful, inspiring, and motivating olive oil enthusiast with a passion for sun, food, and travelā€

2021 MBAs To Watch: Marƭa Carnal FustƩ, IESE Business School

ā€œCommitted, energetic and passionate professional and a kind, helpful and empathic personā€

2021 MBAs To Watch: Tanya De Andres Duran, IESE Business School

ā€œEngineering mind, determined to be happy and, as Olaf would say, ā€œI love warm hugsā€

School Features

3 Questions To Ask When Torn Between IESEā€™s MiM Or MBA

Criteria to help you decide between IESEā€™s Master in Management (MiM) and its MBA

Application Tips For IESEā€™s MBA Class Of 2022

Application tips aimed to make you feel confident about making the first move

2022 Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors: Eduard TalamĆ s, IESE Business SchoolĀ 

Eduard TalamĆ s of IESE Business SchoolĀ is a world-class professor bringing clarity and impact to the field of economics

MBA Watch For IESE

MBA Watch is where thousands of MBA applicants not only get to tell their story but have John A. Byrne, MBA admissions coaches and our audience, assess their odds of admission and get help to improve their chances of getting in!

Mr. Army Guy

Army Officer who has worked all over the country and also for two years in a foreign diplomatic assistance mission for India.

Mr. FinTech Startup

Technology driven individual with exposure to retail banking across the African continent.

Mr. Fresh Perspective

LGBTQ, 1st gen English speaker & college graduate.

Mr. Productivity Focused

After an unsuccessful sustainability startup, managing the backstage of a well-known traveling circus show for a year and then completing an international master in three European countries, I landed a job with my current employer.

Ms. Global Food System Disruptor

I'm working to make the global food system more sustainable, ethical, and profitable.

Mr. Auction King

After graduating, I felt disillusioned and decided against accepting an offer from a major automaker.

Mr. Well-Traveled Nonprofit Star

Graduated from a top liberal arts school having coasted through with a 3.

Mr. Infrastructure Design

Part of the design team at a top 10 ranked global ENC firm - my focus is on critical infrastructure projects: airports, railway infrastructure and important housing projects.

Mr. Lobstery

I have always worked in startups in the area of ā€‹ā€‹strategy and growth.

Rankings Data For IESE

Year Poets&Quants
2023-2024 2
2022-2023 1
2021-2022 5

News Coverage For IESE

Consulting Picks Up The Slack As Tech Employment Collapses For IESE’s 2023 MBAs

European hiring craters, to the benefit of Asia, the Middle East & North America; average base salary rises 7.6%

IESE Dean: Resolving To Embrace Our Shared Humanity

Dean Franz Heukamp looks ahead to 2024, offering resolutions for the new year

A New Winner Tops Our 2022-2023 International MBA Ranking

IESE unseats INSEAD as the top international MBA program--by a technicality

2022 Most Disruptive MBA Startups: BIOSORRA, IESE Business School

A biofertilizer that removes carbon from the air

Which Schools Produce The Most Unicorn Founders? This Stanford Prof Has Crunched The Numbers

Here's where you can find the most meticulous & reliable data on the origins of unicorns

2021 Most Disruptive MBA Startups: Mystery City Games, IESE Business School

IESE alum markets fun games that bring city surroundings and history to life

Why You Should Consider IESE Business School

Five top tips for maximizing your chances of admissions success at IESE

IESE MBA Tops Economist Ranking For 2021

Educational experience, strong potential to network, and ample career opportunities see IESE top the Economists MBA Rankings in 2021.

At IESE, An MBA Commencement Address For The Ages

'Bill Gates will not save us ... The cavalry is not coming!'

Tech Surge Continues At Spain’s IESE, But Consulting Still Rules

Tech jobs jump 62% since 2017; 21% of Class of 2019 made 'triple jump'

Pascal Michels, director of MBA admissions at IESE Business School

Inside An Adcom Session: How A Top B-School Decides Who Gets In

In an exhausting eight-hour session, IESE's admissions committee makes its round four picks for this year's entering MBA class

IESE MBA Alumni on global careers

Preparing Myself For A Global Career: Reflections Of IESE Alums

Three IESE alums explore how the MBAs helped their careers

IESE: Where Small Global Classes & Case Studies Are A Beautiful Thing

An interview with IESE Business School Dean Franz Heukamp