Best MBA Programs In Europe – The Ranking Of MBA Rankings

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Following on from the Fortuna Ranking of MBA Rankings for the top U.S. schools, here is the league table for European business schools, looking at their 2017 standing across the four major MBA rankings. The results provide a valuable snapshot of performance as measured by the different methodologies used by Forbes, the Financial Times, The Economist, and Bloomberg BusinessWeek.

But before we get to those results, and their potential impact on deciding where to apply for your MBA, there are three fundamental questions to ask yourself as you start your research to find the right business school for you. The answer to the first question is highly personal, but the answers to the second and third questions are slowly redefining the business education landscape.

1. Why do you want to go to business school?

This first question features in many MBA applications, and there is no one right answer. Whether to make a career switch, accelerate your earnings, build your international credentials, learn new skills, expand your network, or simply enjoy a wonderful study experience, the professional, financial and personal rewards of studying at one of the world’s top business schools are compelling.

My co-director at Fortuna Admissions, Caroline Diarte Edwards, reviewed many thousands of applications during her seven years as Director of Admissions at INSEAD. She observes that the one key action to dramatically improve your MBA application is to spend a considerable amount of time on self-reflection – no matter where you are in the process. “The admissions office doesn’t just want to hear about your academic excellence and professional experiences. They want to know who you truly are and what motivates you. And that includes insights on why you really want to do an MBA.”

2. Where do I want to do my MBA?

For many young professionals thinking about heading to business school, this question is of increasing importance. And Europe has been an increasingly popular choice. The 2017 Prospective Students Survey Report published by the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) shows a sharp increase in the number of international GMAT test takers who say they are likely to study outside the U.S. Between November 2016 and April 2017 the number has risen from 35% to 43%.

European Business Schools are major beneficiaries of this trend, and as I reported six weeks ago – European Business Schools Should Seize The Day – application volume at the top schools that feature in the Fortuna Ranking of MBA Rankings has increased significantly. Brandon Kirby, Director of Admissions at the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) confirms a 44% increase in application volume this year, with over 95% of the MBA students from outside the Netherlands. “A full-time MBA from one of the top-ranked European business schools gives you more than a new line on your resume. It gives you a professional passport to the career you want, anywhere in the world.”

Even the U.K. schools are seeing a spike in demand, despite concerns of the long-term impact of Brexit. Imperial College Business School in London has seen applications increase by double digits for the last three years, and for Adrienne Fung, previously a marketing manager at Bloomberg L.P in New York, the London location was a major selling point. “I chose Imperial because of its focus on technology, Innovation and entrepreneurship, but the central location in the heart of London was an added advantage for networking and attending industry events.”

Since joining the MBA program Fung has interned with HelloFresh, which was named the number one fastest growing company in Europe by the Financial Times. “I met HelloFresh at a career fair at the school and it was through that meeting I was able to follow up with them and secure a position. My advice to any MBA applicant would be to think about what you want to do and where you want to end up after your MBA, then choose the program that best matches those goals.”

3. How long do I want my MBA to be?

When calculating the ROI of business school, the one-year MBA offered by many European business schools makes a strong case for the best returns. In the latest Forbes MBA ranking the top seven one-year programs posted a stronger five-year gain than the leading U.S. school, Wharton. And while it takes Harvard Business School students four years on average to pay back their investment, thirteen of the European schools in the Fortuna one-year ranking had a pay back that ranged from 2.2 years to 3.2 years. ..