Best MBA programmes in the world

The MBA is a qualification sought out by thousands of budding business professionals. The average salary for graduates of AMBA-accredited business schools is over £86,225 a year, and when you look around the world it's a similar story. 

Our list counts down the top five MBA programmes in the world based on the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2021. 

Due to disruption from the coronavirus pandemic, this year a number of well-known business schools did not participate in the survey.

4=. Yale School of Management

Accreditation: AACSB
Current cost: $74,560 (£53,785) for 2020–21

This year, a boycott by some well-known business schools led to a rise in position for others, though two business schools place joint fourth in FT’s 2021 rankings. Yale builds on a core curriculum developed in year one by offering a wide range of electives in year two, allowing students to mix business and art – or game theory, or behavioural finance, or financing green technologies, and more...

4=. IESE Business School

Accreditation: AACSB, EQUIS
Current cost:  €89,950 (£78,145) for the 2-year programme in 2021

Sharing fourth place in the FT ranking, the MBA programme at IESE brings a global perspective, with students from over 55 countries and a faculty of more than 30 nationalities. With the option of bilingual study, you could even graduate with a bilingual MBA diploma. Flexible programmes offer a 15 or 19-month MBA.

3. University of Chicago: Booth

Accreditation: AACSB
Current cost: $73,440 (£52,981) per academic year in 2021

'The Chicago Approach’ challenges students at Booth to look at business from a unique perspective, to ask better questions in order to reach better solutions and become innovative leaders in the process. Whatever they're doing on Booth's 21-month full-time MBA programmes, it's working – just over 95% of graduates accept a job within three months of leaving.

2. London Business School

Accreditation: AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Current cost: £92,735 for the 15–21 month programme in 2021

The UK's number one MBA programme at the London Business School offers a flexible curriculum of 15–21 months. Following a grounding in management theory and key business skills, students can pursue their interests through a range of elective modules. Practical experience is gained through an eight-week paid internship, plus the option of an international exchange with one of 30 business schools worldwide.

1. INSEAD

Accreditation: AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Current cost: €89,000 (£77,295) for the entire programme in 2021

The MBA programme at INSEAD lasts a mere ten months, making it a seriously intensive course of study. Students thinking and outlook is challenged via a combination of study groups, classroom learning, case studies and computer simulations. INSEAD also ranks 8th overall for 'value', so you'll get more for your money there than at any of the others in this top ten.