20 Top Business Schools and Schools of Management in Europe

MBA programs have become widely desirable in recent times because of the edge it gives the career-minded individual. Schools in the United States. were the known first schools to seek  MBA candidates and offer MBA degrees, but their international counterparts are catching up. Here are the best one- and two-year programs outside the U.S. based on the return on investment for their graduates.

1. London Business School- UK:

Consistently ranked among the top ten business school’s in the world, London Business School is a leader in the field of business education and offers a range of world-class postgraduate degrees to suit your needs. Whether you are a recent graduate seeking a Masters in Management qualification or a senior manager considering our Sloan Masters, London Business School can ignite your performance and help you take your career to the next level. London Business School’s full-time MBA programme was ranked number one in world in the Financial Times’ Global MBA Rankings in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

2. INSEAD- France:

INSEAD moved up one spot to the top of Forbes ranking of the best international business schools. With campuses in France, Singapore and Abu Dhabi,INSEAD fancies itself as the “Business school for the world”.

As one of the world’s leading and largest graduate business schools, INSEAD brings together people, cultures and ideas from around the world to change lives and transform organizations. The unique global perspective and multicultural diversity of INSEAD are reflected in all aspects of its research and teaching with 148 renowned faculty members from 40 countries inspire more than 1005 MBA participants, 221 executive MBAs, over 9500 executives and 85 PhD candidates.

3. ESCP Europe Paris- France:

Established in 1819, ESCP Europe is the oldest business school in the world. Its mission is to develop the next generation of transnational business leaders, preparing them to embrace the opportunities offered by cultural diversity. With its six urban campuses in Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, Turin and Warsaw, ESCP Europe’s true European Identity enables the provision of a unique style of cross-cultural business education and a Global Perspective on international management issues.

4. SDA Bocconi School of Management- Italy: 

The only Italian school on our list, SDA Bocconi’s one year program is taught in English but students take a one month Italian language program when they arrive.

Bocconi is a research university of international standing in business, economics, and law. Its research projects are funded by national and supranational institutions. By virtue of being a major node in the European and global network of business and economics universities, Bocconi has close relations with major corporations and international agencies, as well as their managers and officials, and constantly interacts with the business and economic environment to assess new issues, implement new techniques, and start new research endeavors. Università Bocconi has an Undergraduate School, a Graduate School, a School of Law and a PhD School.

5. KU Leuven- Belgium: 

Situated in Belgium, in the heart of Western Europe, KU Leuven has been a centre of learning for nearly six centuries. Today, it is Belgium’s largest and highest-ranked university and, founded in 1425, one of the oldest and most renowned universities in Europe. As a leading European research university and co-founder of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), KU Leuven offers a wide variety of international bachelor and master’s programmes, all supported by high-quality, innovative, interdisciplinary research.

6. Copenhagen Business School (CBS)- Denmark: 

CBS Undergraduate offers seven bachelor programmes taught in English. You can study international business or combine business studies with culture and language, politics, service management, communication, or information management.

7. HEC Paris School of Management- France: 

Specialized in education and research in management, HEC Paris offers a complete and unique range of educational programs for the leaders of tomorrow: Masters Programs, MBA, PhD, HEC Executive MBA, TRIUM Global Executive MBA and Executive Education open-enrolment and custom programs. Founded in 1881 by the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry and founding member of ParisTech, HEC Paris has a permanent faculty of 115 professors, more than 4,000 students and over 8,500 managers and executives in training every year.

8. Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM)- The Netherlands: 

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University is consistently ranked among the top tier business schools in Europe by QS and currently holds the number 20th position in the QS Global 200 Business Schools Rankings.

Classes are taught to the students from more than 80 different nations in English so there is no need to learn Dutch. RSM also carries with it a strong reputation from employers, as over 400 companies recruit RSM graduates and students for careers and internships.

RSM’s competitive tuition fees are unmatched: for the academic year 2017-2018 the tuition fees are €17,000 per year for NON-EEA nationals.

9. The University of Manchester- UK: 

The University of Manchester offers a learning experience rooted in a rich educational heritage and boosted by cutting-edge research and innovation – all at the heart of one of the world’s most vibrant and exciting student cities. Its tradition of success in learning and research stretches back over 180 years.

The birth of the modern computer, the splitting of the atom, the founding principles of present-day economics – all these and many more world-changing innovations have their roots at The University of Manchester. Today, research remains at the heart of The University of Manchester. The institution researches in a wider range of academic areas than any other British university and is at the forefront of the search for solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems, boasting strong collaborative links with industry and the public services, and making a real difference through its international research centres, which explore a diverse range of topics.

10. Geneva Business School- Switzerland:

Geneva Business School’s Barcelona Campus offers the most up-to-date programs in business management at the Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels. The academically rigorous programs are all internationally accredited by IACBE, CHEA, ECBE, AASBI,EduQua. Also aware of the importance of out-of-classroom experience, the GBS Barcelona staff is passionate about connecting students with our esteemed corporate partners for internships and job-placement opportunities. Barcelona, Spain boasts not only the famous FC Barça, but is home to history, culture, and lively new business opportunities.

11. Imperial College Business School, London- UK:

Imperial College London is a world-leading university whose reputation for excellence in teaching and research attracts students and staff of the highest international quality.

Imperial builds on a distinguished past – having pioneered penicillin, holography and fibre optics – to shape the future. Researchers work across disciplines to improve global health, tackle climate change, develop sustainable energy technology and address security challenges. This blend of academic excellence and its real-world application feeds into Imperial’s exceptional learning environment, where students participate in research to push the limits of their degrees.

12. WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business)- Austria:

WU is one of the most reputable and well-known universities of economics and business in Europe. WU´s EQUIS accreditation, a seal of quality granted to 130 universities worldwide, is one of the most important WU quality indicators, in addition to numerous excellent international rankings, such as the FT ranking, placing WU and its degree programs among the very best universities in its field. WU has around 24,000 students benefiting from WU´s outstanding faculty and its wide selection of degree programs at the bachelor, master and PhD/doctoral levels.

13. University of Oxford (Saïd Business School)- UK:

Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world and lays claim to nine centuries of continuous existence. As an internationally renowned centre for teaching and research, Oxford attracts students and scholars from across the globe, with almost a quarter of our students from overseas.
Saïd Business School (Oxford Saïd) is an academic department and the business school of the University of Oxford in UK.

It is the University of Oxford’s centre of learning for undergraduate and graduate students in business, management and finance, serving students together with their membership in the traditional colleges of Oxford. With over 500 matriculated graduate students entering each year, it has the largest intake of all graduate business schools in the UK. Undergraduates are also taught as part of the Economics and Management course together with the Economics Department.

14. Cambridge University (Judge Business School)- UK:

Cambridge Judge Business School, consistently ranked as a top global one-year programme, is a complete immersion in business, delivering a unique learning journey to its graduates. The Cambridge MBA is a rigorous full-time 12-month management programme for professionals looking to make powerful career transitions. The course is taught through a combination of workshops, seminars, lectures, discussion groups, and team and individual projects.

Each year diverse professionals from 40+ nationalities join the experiential programme. The emphasis is on the practical applications of business theory through collaborative projects, workshops and seminars.

15. Stockholm School of Economics- Sweden:

Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) is a top European business school with close links to prominent business leaders and influencers in Nordic countries and Scandinavia. In addition to conducting world-leading research, SSE offers bachelors, masters, PhDs, MBAs and executive education to high achieving students.

Stockholm School of Economics performs well in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, celebrated among the world’s leaders in the fields of business and management studies, accounting and finance, and economics.

16. IMD- Switzerland:

IMD is one of the world leading business schools with over 50 years experience in developing the leadership capabilities of international business executives at every stage of their careers. The majority of the school’s program participants come from medium to large corporations and all have an international orientation to their businesses. Many companies, who begin by sending their managers to IMD programs, go on to develop their relationship with the institute to a closer level and become part of the IMD Learning Network, which provides still further learning advantages.

17. Swiss Business School- Switzerland:

The Swiss Business School located in Zurich, Switzerland has a strong focus on applied learning and career outcomes – equipping students with the skills and tools they need to be lifelong innovators.

Representing students from more than 30 nationalities worldwide, the SBS community is both international and supportive, with small class sizes guaranteeing individual guidance from faculty members. Each student designs a personal study program based on his or her strengths and interests, ensuring that all graduates are set to excel in their chosen professional pathway.

18. BI Norwegian Business School (BI)- Norway:

BI Norwegian Business School (BI) is an international business school with high-impact teaching and research, offering English-taught programs at all study levels.

With leading faculties in economics, management, strategy, marketing and finance, BI Norwegian has triple-crown accreditation – an achievement claimed by only around 1% of business schools worldwide. BI has an equally impressive track record on employment; 95% of the school’s MSc students secure employment within 12 months of graduation.

The school’s strong international focus is reflected in its student body. Of 20,000 students, 9% are international, and 110 nationalities are represented on campus.

19. Athens University of Economics and Business- Greece:

Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) is an institution which provides education both at the undergraduate and postgraduate level mainly in the fields of Economics, European and International Economics, Business Administration, Marketing, Accounting and Finance, Management, Technology, Informatics, Statistics, Decision Science. AUEB is a distinguished public learning institution which is known for the excellence of its faculty, students and academic programmes.

20. ESMT- Germany: 

ESMT Berlin was founded by 25 leading global companies and institutions. The international business school offers a full-time MBA, an executive MBA, a master’s in management, as well as open enrollment and customized executive education programs. ESMT focuses on three main topics: leadership and social responsibility, European competitiveness, and managing technology. ESMT faculty publishes in top academic journals. Additionally, the business school provides an interdisciplinary platform for discourse between politics, business, and academia. The business school is based in Berlin, Germany, with Schloss Gracht as an additional location near Cologne.

Source: After School Africa.