As the gold standard of business degrees, an MBA is much coveted by students globally. Earning an MBA is both academically rigorous and rewarding. Professionally it can make a significant difference to your career prospects. Where you study and attain your MBA degree is also a factor to consider. It’s undeniable that the prestige of an institution affects how a degree is viewed. It can also be a motivating factor for prospective students. We’re here to take you through the top institutions in the world for an MBA degree.
To compile the list of top institutions for an MBA degree we have made use of the QS World University Rankings for full-time MBA studies 2021 and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by subject 2021.
Time to find out who can lay claim to the title of top MBA
Stanford University
In a unanimous decision, both the QS World University Rankings 2021 and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021 concur that Stanford University offers the world’s best MBA qualification. The Stanford Graduate School of Business received a score of 94.5 from QS for its MBA degree. Overall the university is placed second globally by THE, with a teaching score of 92.2 and a research rating of 96.7.
Stanford University is based in the sunny state of California in the USA. 23 per cent of the university’s student community are international, while the student to staff ratio is 7.4 to 1. You’re probably familiar with some of the institution's famous alumni including Nike co-founder Philip Knight, Instagram cofounder Mike Krieger and Vinton Serf who invented the internet protocol we all use today.
Discover more institutions around the world where you could study for an MBA.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
We know this one may surprise you a bit. MIT is often thought of as a leader in science and engineering, however, the MIT Sloan School of Management more than holds its own on the world stage. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021 has the university at number two for business and management. QS places MIT in the top five for MBA study globally, occupying the number three position.
It’s not an understatement to say that MIT enjoys an enviable reputation worldwide, and has not dropped out of the top-ranking universities (THE) for more than a decade. This Cambridge, Massachusetts based institution can lay claim to 85 Nobel Laureates and inventions such as radar. It has seen its fair share of famous faces as well, including former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan, renowned physicist Richard Feynman and the second man on the moon Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin.
Find out more about universities in the USA where you could study your MBA.
Harvard Business School
No list of top universities for an MBA degree would be complete without a nod to another world-famous university, Harvard. The Harvard Business School slots into the 4th spot on the QS World University Rankings for its MBA programme and is 5th in the world as per the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021. The university also enjoyed a favourable assessment by the U.S. News & World Report which rated its business school in the top five in the USA.
Sharing a geographical location with MIT, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard traces its history back to the 17th century and is considered to be the oldest institution in the USA. An Ivy League founding member, the university plays host to 23,000 students of which 25 per cent are international. Some of the notable alumni from the business school include the 43rd president of the USA, George W. Bush and COO of Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg.
Don’t miss out on exploring universities where you can study for an MBA in Australia.
University of Cambridge
Flying the flag for the UK is Cambridge University. Widely considered to be one of the premier institutions of higher learning in the world, Cambridge dates back to 1209. The university is known for its college system that covers over 150 faculties. Every year almost 18,000 students pass through the doors of the institution, with over a quarter of those coming from around the world.
Studying an MBA at Cambridge would mean receiving a degree from a top-five world university as per the QS World University Rankings. Further, the MBA on offer is considered to be in the world’s top 20 by QS and at number three in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Adding further lustre to a qualification from the university is its placement at number two in the UK by the Complete University Guide League Tables 2022.
Find out where you can study for an MBA in the UK.
University of Oxford
Rounding out our list of the best universities for an MBA is the University of Oxford. It is not an understatement to note that Oxford occupies the rarefied air of an elite institution. The university seldom slips out of the top 10 on any university rankings. The Said Business School has an international reputation, having been founded 25 years ago. The MBA classes are truly multinational with 92 per cent of enrolments being international students from 67 countries.
The reputation of the university and its business school is underlined by a top-five ranking on the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by subject for business. Further, the QS World University Rankings place Oxford at number two in the world overall, while the Complete University Guide League Tables 2022 have the university at number one in the UK. QS also rates the university’s MBA as one of the 20 best on the planet.
We’re sure you probably have a favourite. However, if you want to further your research you can read up on the top business schools in the UK and the best universities to study business in Canada. If you’re ready to start moving towards an application then it’s time to use our course matcher tool.
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