The Lure of an MBA in Europe
As business becomes ever more global, applicants may ask themselves if they should consider heading abroad for an MBA in Europe. In many cases, the answer will be yes. Recruiters overwhelmingly agree that candidates with international experience outperform those without. The best business schools attract international students and faculty of the highest caliber. Plus, in terms of rankings, elite European programs perform as well as many top programs in the United States.
As you weigh whether an MBA in Europe will help you reach your career goals, there are several factors to consider. From cost to duration to brand reputation and more, keep the following in mind as you decide.
Are you curious about your chances of getting into a top European business school? Contact us to discuss your strategy during a free 15-minute advising session with an SBC Principal Consultant.
Why do an MBA in Europe?
Most of SBC’s clients targeting European MBA programs cite the following compelling reasons. First, the programs boast a high return on investment (ROI), as most last just one year. For example, in as little as ten months, you can complete an MBA program at INSEAD —ranked No.1 in 2024 by the Financial Times.
Lower tuition and opportunity costs look enticing compared to a two-year or US MBA program. However, tuition fees are lower even for the longer EU MBA programs, such as London Business School and IESE Business School in Spain. In a study that SBC conducted across its EU applicant pool, 48% of respondents endorsed shorter duration and lower tuition costs.
Secondly, EU MBA programs are more global than even the most “global” US programs. They attract students who want a truly international education and professionals who plan to work in Europe after their studies.
We consider an MBA in Europe an excellent complement to an undergraduate degree earned in the US. It positions students for global careers better than doing both college and an MBA in the same country or continent.
Listen to B-Schooled Podcast #64: European MBA Program FAQs
Pursuing an MBA abroad is arguably the best introduction to local business life if your professional goal is to live and work in Europe. Remember that INSEAD, LBS, and HEC Paris place less than 10% of graduates into US-based employment roles. Meanwhile, they make up 50-to-66% of graduates in Europe.
Specialized Industry Recruiting
MBA hopefuls may also favor specialized industry recruiting where the EU has the edge over the US. While the US is still the hub of the technology sector, Europe dominates the fintech industry.
Europe’s fintech advantage is due to its standardized regulations, such as the Revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2), which facilitate cross-border operations and innovation. In contrast, the U.S. must contend with state-by-state regulations that can complicate scaling digital banking services. While Europe benefits from its regulatory harmonization, the U.S. remains a powerhouse in fintech funding and consumer adoption, keeping the global competition close.
Competition
Another factor for some MBA applicants is the relative competitiveness of the schools. We recently had a client who was rejected from every US program she applied to but was accepted to London Business School.
Generally, EU schools are more open to having larger percentages of international students, particularly from Commonwealth countries (e.g., India). Meanwhile, US schools are more competitive for applicants from overrepresented backgrounds.
Current Demand for the MBA Degree
Many of the MBA applicants we’ve talked to tell us they need the sophisticated knowledge inherent to MBA programs to navigate the dynamic business changes ahead. MBA hopefuls need the degree to gain the tools to thrive in the radically changing business landscape.
Technology, supply chain, and other disciplines will become reimagined within the business school environment. That is a huge lure. It’s an exciting time for young, MBA-aspiring professionals.
Cathy, an INSEAD MBA graduate on our team, believes the global pandemic jolted young professionals toward more meaningful careers. The MBA experience can enable that purpose-driven path.
“Pre-INSEAD, my goal was to enter social impact investing after graduating,” she shares. “At that time, the economic downturn did reinforce the idea of pursuing a meaningful career. My INSEAD experience further encouraged me to do so, with its emphasis on its community being a ‘Force for Good’.”
Demand for the top MBA programs will continue to increase significantly. In addition, the caliber of the applicant pool regarding diversity, leadership, industry, and career visions will skyrocket in the 2025 application season. Both quality and quantity are about to be redefined.
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Which EU Programs Stand Out?
Brand and ranking almost consistently correlate to applicant demand, strength of recruiting, and ROI. INSEAD, London Business School, Oxford’s Saïd Business School, and Cambridge’s Judge Business School are in higher demand internationally.
It’s worth noting that the Financial Times 2024 Global MBA rankings ranked INSEAD as the #2 MBA program in the world. The FT rankings are considered one of the most transparent and respected. So, if someone plans to work in France, INSEAD offers a fantastic network to tap into.
Meanwhile, programs like HEC Paris, SDA Bocconi in Italy, and Spain’s IESE shine in both their home markets/countries and the FT rankings.
Imperial College Business School in London is another one to watch, especially for innovation and science/engineering. It’s part of the broader Imperial College London, a renowned institution with strengths in STEM fields. The business school is also active in the EdTech space and frequently organizes events like the annual EdTech forum, positioning itself as a leader in integrating technology and education.
The “pure business school approach” of LBS and INSEAD is enticing to many MBA applicants. However, Imperial, Oxford, and Cambridge leverage cross-university collaboration well to boost their appeal.
How Can Candidates Find the Right MBA in Europe?
Read, read, and read some more. Pore over the websites of all schools that interest you to learn about the curriculum, teaching methods, professional clubs, extracurricular offerings, and student life. Follow the schools on social media to keep up with all aspects of their programs.
Also, sign up to receive email announcements with admissions updates and information. As you consider earning an MBA in Europe, think diligently about fit with personal and professional goals. Ranking reports and brand reputation are the most influential factors in selecting an MBA program across the applicant pool.
The key factor is career potential. Business schools have developed comprehensive career services, but participants themselves should propel their success. Take time and effort to set clear career goals before applying for a business program.
Based on those goals, choose the most appropriate business schools considering all that they can offer: curriculum, network, learning environment, business exposure, and career services, among other aspects. Business schools care deeply about your success, but ultimately, your career and lifestyle are your responsibility.
Next, location and program length will influence your decision. Post-MBA career preferences should drive your location choices. Therefore, professionals who want to work in the EU should focus on doing their MBA in Europe.
Finally, be self-aware. The right program varies by the candidate. Much depends on the student’s professional profile, career aspirations, and what they do once in the program. Fitting in and performing in the program are essential. For example:
- A low-performing LBS student won’t get the ROI from the program
- A high-performing Imperial College student who hustles to attain the right-fit summer internship at an elite company will enjoy a great ROI for his or her MBA experience
- A liberal-arts-educated applicant who needs the MBA to learn complex skills will find ROI at almost every top EU MBA program
Which Sectors Are Growing?
For now, MBA grads continue to flock to lucrative and popular consulting. Likewise, tech continues to see much growth and interest among MBAs, especially in product manager and product marketing manager roles.
Healthcare also continues to expand with roles in administration and health technology. Fintech will also surge because of the need to overhaul contact-free payment processes.
Transformation and the MBA
Business schools are the epicenter of innovation and adaptability. “MBA experiences themselves are meant to be transformative,” says our SBC INSEAD MBA expert Cathy.
“What better place to be challenged, and to develop professionally and personally, than in an environment conducive to collaboratively resolving issues with sustainable solutions, and with creativity and intelligence?” she adds.
There are numerous advantages to seeking an MBA in Europe. You might be motivated by the lower tuition cost, strong ROI, international network, cultural diversity, or even language learning options.
Cultural immersion experiences are not without their challenges. However, most participants would agree that studying abroad is financially rewarding and personally fulfilling.
Additional factors to evaluate if the European MBA is for you can be found below.
Oxford vs Cambridge, Which MBA?
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Stacy Blackman Consulting offers multiple services to meet your MBA application needs. From our All-In Partnership to interview prep, essay editing, resume review, and much more, we’ve got you covered. Contact us today for a free 15-minute advising session to talk strategy with a Principal SBC consultant.
Here’s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on our SBC team.
Ashley
Ashley is a former MBA Admissions Board Member for Harvard Business School (HBS), where she interviewed and evaluated thousands of business school applicants for over a six year tenure. Ashley holds an MBA from HBS. During her HBS years, Ashley was the Sports Editor for the Harbus and a member of the B-School Blades Ice Hockey Team. After HBS, she worked in Marketing at the Gillette Company on Male and Female shaving ...
×Kerry
Kerry is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS). During her 5+ year tenure at HBS, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a wide range of backgrounds across the globe. She also led marketing and outreach efforts focused on increasing diversity and inclusion, ran the Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP), and launched the 2+2 Program during her time in Admissions. Kerry holds a B.A. from Bates College and ...
×Pauline
A former associate director of admissions at Harvard Business School, Pauline served on the HBS MBA Admissions Board full-time for four years. She evaluated and interviewed HBS applicants, both on-campus and globally. Pauline's career has included sales and marketing management roles with Coca-Cola, Gillette, Procter & Gamble, and IBM. For over 10 years, Pauline has expertly guided MBA applicants, and her clients h ...
×Geri
Geri is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS). In her 7 year tenure in HBS Admissions, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a diverse set of academic, geographic, and employment backgrounds. Geri also traveled globally representing the school at outreach events in order to raise awareness for women and international students. In additio ...
×Laura
Laura comes from the MBA Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS) and is an HBS MBA alumnus. In her HBS Admissions role, she evaluated and interviewed hundreds of business school candidates, including internationals, women, military and other applicant pools, for five years. Prior to her time as a student at HBS, Laura began her career in advertising and marketing in Chicago at Leo Burnett where she worked on th ...
×Andrea
Andrea served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at Harvard Business School (HBS) for over five years. In this role, she provided strategic direction for student yield-management activities and also served as a full member of the admissions committee. In 2007, Andrea launched the new 2+2 Program at Harvard Business School – a program targeted at college junior applicants to Harvard Business School. Andrea has also served as a Career Coach for Harvard Business School for both cu ...
×Jennifer
Jennifer served as Admissions Officer at the Stanford (GSB) for five years. She holds an MBA from Stanford (GSB) and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Jennifer has over 15 years experience in guiding applicants through the increasingly competitive admissions process into top MBA programs. Having read thousands and thousands of essays and applications while at Stanford (GSB) Admiss ...
×Erin K.
Erin served in key roles in MBA Admissions--as Director at Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and Assistant Director at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB). Erin served on the admissions committee at each school and has read thousands of applications in her career. At Haas, she served for seven years in roles that encompassed evaluation, outreach, and diversity and inclusion. During her tenure in Admissions at GSB, she was responsible for candidate evaluation, applicant outreach, ...
×Susie
Susie comes from the Admissions Office of the Stanford Graduate School of Business where she reviewed and evaluated hundreds of prospective students’ applications. She holds an MBA from Stanford’s GSB and a BA from Stanford in Economics. Prior to advising MBA applicants, Susie held a variety of roles over a 15-year period in capital markets, finance, and real estate, including as partner in one of the nation’s most innovative finance and real estate investment organizations. In that r ...
×Dione
Dione holds an MBA degree from Stanford Business School (GSB) and a BA degree from Stanford University, where she double majored in Economics and Communication with concentrations in journalism and sociology. Dione has served as an Admissions reader and member of the Minority Admissions Advisory Committee at Stanford. Dione is an accomplished and respected advocate and thought leader on education and diversity. She is ...
×Anthony
Anthony served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he dedicated over 10 years of expertise. During his time as a Wharton Admissions Officer, he read and reviewed thousands of applications and helped bring in a class of 800+ students a year. Anthony has traveled both domestically and internationally to recruit a ...
×Meghan
Meghan served as the Associate Director of Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute, a joint degree program combining the Wharton MBA with an MA in International Studies. In her role on the Wharton MBA admissions committee, Meghan advised domestic and international applicants; conducted interviews and information sessions domestically and overseas in Asia, Central and South America, and Europe; and evaluated applicants for admission to the program. Meghan also managed ...
×Amy
Amy comes from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where she was Associate Director. Amy devoted 12 years at the Wharton School, working closely with MBA students and supporting the admissions team. During her tenure at Wharton, Amy served as a trusted adviser to prospective applicants as well as admitted and matriculated students. She conducted admissions chats with applicants early in the admissions ...
×Ally
Ally brings six years of admissions experience to the SBC team, most recently as an Assistant Director of Admission for the full-time MBA program at Columbia Business School (CBS). During her time at Columbia, Ally was responsible for reviewing applications, planning recruitment events, and interviewing candidates for both the full-time MBA program and the Executive MBA program. She traveled both internationally and dome ...
×Erin B.
Erin has over seven years of experience working across major institutions, including University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School, and NYU's Stern School of Business. At Columbia Business School, Erin was an Assistant Director of Admissions where she evaluated applications for both the full time and executive MBA programs, sat on the admissions and merit scholarship committees and advised applicants on which program might be the best fit for them based on their work experience and pro ...
×Emma
Emma comes from the MBA Admissions Office at Columbia Business School (CBS), where she was Associate Director. Emma conducted dozens of interviews each cycle for the MBA and EMBA programs, as well as coordinating the alumni ambassador interview program. She read and evaluated hundreds of applications each cycle, delivered information sessions to audiences across the globe, and advised countless waitlisted applicants. ×