Before you start your search for the right master programme, it is worth getting updated on a few key definitions. This will help you in your search.
Here you will find information on:
Degree descriptions – What type of programme is right for you?
School accreditations – Which quality assurances do you need to know about?
The Bologna process – Same academic system all over Europe – how does it affect you?
Students usually enter the M.Sc./M.A. programmes directly after their bachelor’s degrees. Normally the programmes are specialised, but some are taught in general management, which can be very useful for students that do not hold degrees in business and/or economics. Students often finish their programmes with a dissertation, and the orientation of an M.Sc./M.A. programme is generally considered more academic than an MBA programme.
The more specialised programmes usually require an undergraduate degree in business and/or economics. Even though work experience is not a formal requirement for M.Sc./M.A. programmes, many schools consider a few years of professional experience an advantage.
Master (M.Sc./M.A. in Business) | MBA |
Often specialised | General Curriculum |
Academic orientation | More practical orientation |
No work experience required | Work experience required (>2-3 years) |
Business degree often required | All degrees accepted |
Relatively low tuition fees | Relatively high tuition fees |
The M.Phil./M.Litt./M.Res programmes listed on MasterGuide.org have similar structures as the MSc/MA programmes. The main difference is that M.Phil./M.Litt./M.Res. programmes are more focused on research training, and often provide entry routes to PhD programmes.
An advanced master's is normally taught atMBA-level but is usually more specialised. An example is the Master’sin Finance at the London Business School.
The Master of Business Administration is a general management programme open for experienced young professionals. Normal entry requirements are a university degree in any subject, a minimum of three years of relevant work experience and a satisfactory GMAT score. The MBA programmes vary in length from approximately nine to 24 months. An MBA programme is normally composed of core courses and electives. The longer programmes usually offer specialisations.
MBA |
Master (M.Sc./M.A. in Business) |
General Curriculum | Often specialised |
More practical orientation | Academic orientation |
Work experience required (>2-3 years) | No work experience required |
All degrees accepted | Business degree often required |
Relatively high tuition fees | Relatively low tuition fees |
The most well-reputed MBA programmes in Europe are taught at the following institutions:
GMAT |
Length |
Tuition Fees | |
665 | 12 m | £ 24 000 | |
660 | 12 m | £ 26 500 | |
640 | 18 m or 12 m | € 35 500 (12m) | |
650 | 16 m | € 38 000 | |
675 | 13 m | € 38 000 | |
687 | 19 m | € 58 900 | |
670 | 10 m | Swfr 75 000 | |
703 | 10 m | € 43 500 | |
635 | 13 m | £ 16 500 | |
680 | 15-21 m | £ 41 970 | |
675 | 12 m | £ 26 000 | |
630 | 15 m | € 34 000 | |
670 | 14 m | € 32 000 | |
N/A | 10 m | € 27 800 | |
610 | 12 m | £ 24 400 | |
634 | 12 m | € 15 000 |
The most well-reputed MBA programmes in the U.S. are taught at the following institutions:
|
GMAT |
Length |
Tuition Fees |
699 | 21 m | US$ 38 800 /year | |
709 | 20 m or 16 m | US$ 36 296 /year | |
674 | 21 m** | US$ 36 350 /year | |
704 | 21 m | US$ 38 400 /year | |
705 | 22 m | US$ 34 450 /year | |
707 | 2 ac. years | US$ 39 600 /year | |
697 | 2 ac. years | US$ 37 050 /year | |
690 | 16 m | US$ 38 688 /year | |
700 | 2 ac. years** | US$ 38 844 /year | |
700 | 2 ac. years | US$ 34 000 /year | |
714 | 2 ac. years | US$ 42 180 /year | |
714 | 22 m | US$ 41 340 /year | |
702 | 2 ac. years | US$ 25 661 /year | |
705 | 18 m | US$ 23 516 /year | |
680 | 21 m | US$ 37 400 /year | |
701 | 2 ac. years | US$ 36 800 /year |
*Ivy League university
**Twelve-month option exists
The leading Canadian MBA programmes are taught at:
|
GMAT |
Length |
Tuition Fees |
644 | 16 m | C$ 20 000 /year | |
663 | 12 m | C$ 55 000 | |
642 | 20 m | C$ 77 906 | |
n/a | 11 m | C$ 66 000 | |
660 | 8-16 m | C$ 50 000 |
The best American one-year MBA programmes:*
Cornell (Johnson)
Emory (Goizueta)
Northwestern (Kellogg)
Notre Dame (Mendoza)
Pittsburgh(Katz)
Thunderbird
*According to Business Week and Financial Times rankings
An EMBA is a part-time MBA programme aimed at working professionals. EMBA programmes typically run over two years' time and require more work experience from applicants than regular MBA programmes do. Sceptics argue that most EMBA programmes are merely executive education courses labelled "MBA" for commercial reasons. However, while a large number of EMBA programmes can be referred to as "MBA light", others, such as the Wharton MBA for Executives, do correspond to full-time programmes.
PLEASE NOTE: The MBA degree is not a protected title, which means that any institution, regardless of quality, is free to create aprogramme in business studies and label it "MBA".
www.mba2u.org - A cooperation between McKinsey and Belgacom.
www.mba.org.uk - The Association of MBAs (AMBA), the site includes a list of accredited MBA programmes and accreditation criteria.
www.businessweek.com/bschools
The excellent MBA guide "Which MBA?" can be purchased at http://mba.eiu.com
MBA Ranking Financial Times 2006 -international
MBA Ranking Business Week 2004 - US and non-USschools
MBA Ranking U.S. News & World Report 2007 -US
Today, the term "Ivy League" is often used when generally referring to leading American universities. Actually, only eight American universities belong to the "Ivy League"; a group that over the years have had common interests in scholarship as well as in athletics. The IvyLeague universities are: