An MBA is classified as an “International MBA” when its curriculum develops the global mindset through experiential learning programs, the class has sufficient international representation, and the course work covers global businesses and marketplaces.
In this analysis of the Best International MBA program, we cover:
• Top MBA Programs - International Class Percentage (Ranking)
• Top MBA Programs - International Courses (Ranking)
• Top MBA Programs - Experiential Learning (Ranking)
Top MBA Programs - International Class Percentage (Ranking)
Asian and European schools dominate when it comes to international class percentage. The University of Hong Kong and HEC Paris tie in at first place for enrolling the highest number of international students (95%).
UK’s Oxford’s Said Business School and London Business School feature second and fourth positions respectively. Melbourne Business School is the only school to feature from Australia, tying in at fifth place with Hong Kong UST Business School.
Babson’s Olin in the first place and Columbia Business School tied with UC Davis Graduate School of Business in second place, topped the schools from the US, representing 81% and 48% of international students respectively.
| Rank | School Name | International Student Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Hong Kong | 95% |
| 1 | HEC Paris | 95% |
| 2 | Oxford Said Business School | 94% |
| 3 | St. Gallen | 91% |
| 4 | London Business School | 90% |
| 4 | NUS Singapore | 90% |
| 5 | Hong Kong UST Business School | 89% |
| 5 | Melbourne Business School | 89% |
Top MBA Programs - International Courses (Ranking)
Each school brings its own set of expertise through alumni, faculty, and corporate partnerships with multinationals to incorporate as many engaging global learning experiences as possible. However, we noticed that most schools follow a formula – experiential learning in Latin America, Africa, China, Europe, and India, with the core and elective courses remaining focused on the host region.
Ranking Methodology: To find the best international MBA program, we had to look beyond the 5-region formula and analyze the curricula of 34 top schools. Courses with reference to global or international contexts have been included, in addition to electives with international exposure for the study.
NYU Stern, Yale, and Kellogg MBA offered the widest geographical focus.
| Rank | School Name | Courses/Electives with International Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York University Stern | 45 |
| 2 | Yale School of Management | 14 |
| 3 | Northwestern University Kellogg | 7 |
#1. NYU Stern
NYU Stern ranks #1 with its Doing Business In… electives covering 22 countries from Asia, Europe, and Latin America. These electives are in addition to courses that cover finance, economics, banking, strategies, social impact, and investing from a global perspective.
| NYU Stern International Coursework/Electives | 44 International Electives | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Operations in Panama | The Craft and Commerce of Cinema: Cannes Film Festival | The Global Economy | International Accounting and Financial Statement Analysis |
| Global Banking and Capital Markets | Global Financial Markets | Private Banking and Wealth Management | Topics in International Finance |
| International Finance - International Investments Analysis | Dbi Argentina | Dbi Asia (Singapore) | Dbi Asia/Pacific Rim(Vancouver) |
| Dbi Australia | Dbi Brazil | Dbi China (Beijing & Shanghai) | Dbi China (Hong Kong) |
| Dbi Colombia & Latin America | Dbi Costa Rica: Sustainable Business in Latin America | Dbi Germany | Dbi Hungary / Central and Eastern Europe |
| Emerging Markets and Global Challenges | Dbi India (Bangalore) | Dbi Ireland | Dbi Israel |
| Dbi Istanbul: The Economic, Political and Cultural Crossroads of the World | Dbi Italy (Luxury Retail & Branding) | Dbi Morocco & North Africa | Dbi Poland / Central and Eastern Europe |
| Dbi Spain European Union | Doing Business in Copenhagen | Emerging Financial Markets | Global Banking and Capital Markets |
| Global Economic Trends and Policy Challenges | Global Financial Markets | Global Marketing Strategy | Global Markets, Human Rights and the Press |
| Global Social Impact Strategies | Global Strategy | Global Value Investing | Globalization of the Entertainment Industry |
| Growth in the Developing World and the Global Economy | The Globalization of Business Enterprise | Emerging Economies and Globalization: 1950 to the Present | Globalization, Open Innovation, and Crowdsourcing: New Ways of Organizing |
#2. Yale School of Management
Yale’s affiliation with the Global Network for Advanced Management, a consortium of 21 business schools located across the world, is the main reason behind its second position. The GNAM electives are taught by the member schools for a period of 1 week, where the credits contribute towards the MBA program.
| Yale School of Management MBA GNAM | 14 International Courses | |
|---|---|---|
| GNAM Investments and Value Creation in Global Sports | GNAM: Responsible People Management | GNAM: Retail Marketing |
| GNAM: New Product Development | GNAM: Urban Resilience | GNAM: Service Management: Into the Post-digital x Post-COVID Future |
| GNAM: Agile Leadership | GNAM: The Changing Business Environment | GNAM: A Primer on Social & Financial Innovation |
| International Real Estate | Global Social Entrepreneurship: India | Global Financial Crisis |
| The International Financial System | The Future of Global Finance |
#3. Kellogg School of Management
Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management comes in at third position with 7 Global Initiatives in Management. Each course focuses on a different management perspective to tackle business in a unique region. MBAs are required to study the region from history to politics to macroeconomic trends and culture.
| Function | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Doing Business in the Middle East: Israel and the UAE | Social Impact: Peru and Chile |
| Frontier Markets: Panama and Costa Rica | Sustainable Ventures: Ecuador and Mexico |
| Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: Germany & the Netherlands | Leadership & Organizational Change: UK & France |
| Branding the Nation: Spain & Greece |
Top MBA Programs - Experiential Learning (Ranking)
IESE is #1 for offering the most comprehensive experiential learning program with their Capstone project giving MBAs access to 55 countries. The Doing Business In.. puts NYU Stern at #2 as the experiential learning elective covers 21 countries. Darden is at #3 with 11 destinations while offering a dedicated scholarship – the Batten Worldwide Scholarship, to fund one Darden Worldwide course for all full-time MBA students.
| Rank | School Name | No. of International Experiential Learning Courses | No. of Countries Covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IESE | 1 (The Capstone Project) | 55 |
| 2 | New York University Stern | 1 (Doing Business In…) | 21 |
| 3 | Darden Business School | 1 (Global Immersion) | 11 |
| 4 | Rotterdam School of Management | 10 | 10 |
| 5 | University of Rochester Simon | International Immersion (Switzerland, Israel, Latin America, Asia, South Africa) | 10 |
Who should consider the International MBA programs?
With the acceleration of globalization, the challenges facing leaders in Management are not just about supply chain management and global partnerships but building core competencies and strategies that negate disruptions. Pandemics, global conflicts, automation, geopolitical maneuvers, and climate change can unsettle clearly defined strategies.
A global leader in Management should have the exposure and perspective to manage global teams, partnerships, politics, and a dynamic regulatory environment. In that regard, NYU Stern provides maximum exposure through its internationally focused electives and experiential learning. The three-way tie between IESE, University of Hong Kong, and HEC Paris highlights each school’s strength - IESE for experiential learning, whereas HEC Paris and the University of Hong Kong for attracting qualified international students.
Yale School of Management and Oxford’s Said Business School tie in at third place for international coursework and international student percentage, respectively.
In fourth place, there is a two-way tie between Kellogg (third highest score in international coursework) and Darden (third highest score in experiential learning).
At fifth place is London Business School for attracting 90% of international students for the full-time MBA program.
| Rank | School Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | New York University Stern |
| 2 | IESE |
| 2 | The University of Hong Kong |
| 2 | HEC Paris |
| 3 | Oxford Said Business School |
| 3 | Yale School of Management |
| 4 | Northwestern University Kellogg |
| 4 | Darden Business School |
| 5 | London Business School |
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