An MBA from a top European business school can help you take the next step in your career and achieve the goals you have set for yourself. The choice does not come easy, though, because getting an MBA can be very expensive, with high tuition fees at the best schools.
That is why you should do research before you choose which MBA programmes you should apply for. One important thing to look for are academic accreditations by organisations like AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. Rankings are another helpful resource to make your decision easier. The two most respected rankings are provided annually by the Financial Times and by Bloomberg Businesswek. European business schools often score very high in those league tables, with many well-known names particularly from the UK, France and Spain.
Learn more about the top MBA programs at business schools in Europe, according to the FT Global MBA Ranking 2024 and the Bloomberg Business School ranking 2024/25.
Study in Europe: Find MBA programmes
Every year, the Financial Times () compiles its ranking of different kinds of MBA programmes. They survey students 3 years after graduation and put a special focus on both the absolute salary as well as the percent increase in salary after having graduated.
The table below shows their most recent ranking of general full-time MBA programmes at European business schools. You can be sure that with a Master of Business Administration from any of these institutions, you are opening the door to an exciting career path:
Rank (Europe) |
Rank (world) |
Business school | Country | Salary increase |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | INSEAD | France | +110% |
2 | 3 | SDA Bocconi School of Management | Italy | +135% |
3 | 5 | Iese Business School | Spain | +139% |
4 | 8 | London Business School | United Kingdom | +108% |
5 | 12 | HEC Paris | France | +130% |
6 | 17 | Esade Business School | Spain | +151% |
7 | 20 | IE Business School | Spain | +108% |
8 | 25 | ESCP Business School | France | +106% |
9 | 26 | University of Oxford: Saïd | United Kingdom | +103% |
10 | 29 | University of Cambridge: Judge | United Kingdom | +99% |
Find an MBA programme in Europe
Like FT, ranks business schools every year. They look at salary increases and also rate the learning and networking opportunities. A unique dimension in their ranking is entrepreneurship.
Although there are differences in the methodology, and handful of top schools are found near the top in both MBA rankings:
Rank (Europe) |
Business school | Country |
---|---|---|
1 | IMD - International Institute for Management Development | Switzerland |
2 | IESE Business School | Spain |
3 | SDA Bocconi | Italy |
4 | London Business School | United Kingdom |
5 | INSEAD | France |
6 | St. Gallen | Switzerland |
7 | University of Oxford: Saïd | United Kingdom |
8 | University of Cambridge: Judge | United Kingdom |
9 | IE Business School | Spain |
10 | University of Mannheim – Mannheim Business School | Germany |
Find an MBA programme in Europe
138 Master of Business Administration (MBA) Programmes in Europe