Choosing one of the world’s top business schools for your MBA can give you prestige and status as a business leader when you graduate. It’s a badge of honour that says I studied at the best of the best, but the reputation of an elite institution goes much further than its name.
It can mean direct exposure to the world’s biggest firms, connections to CEOs in your industry, teachers with the most diverse global experience, and access to alumni who’ve made it onto the most esteemed success lists, like Forbes 30 under 30.
When you know you’re aiming to study an online MBA at one of the best schools in the world, how do you distinguish between those at the top?
We took a deep dive into the online MBA programmes at IE Business School (Spain), Imperial College Business School (UK) and Warwick Business School (UK), which ranked first, second and third respectively in the QS Online MBA Rankings 2022, to learn what makes each school unique.
Values and specialisation
Business schools will have a set of core values that drive the focus of their MBA programmes. For the top schools, values are built on what the market demands of new MBA graduates, global change and new business thinking.
Some online MBAs will even have a specialisation like digitalisation and technology, or a focus on business analytics for those looking to advance their skills in a specific area.
For IE Business School, it’s all about self-transformation. The school aims to provide students with the global insights and strategic expertise to unlock the next best you, going beyond your professional development into your personal life too.
How does IE compare?
What values drive the online MBA? |
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Programme content
While online MBAs provide a fully-rounded experience of business management like their in-person alternatives, each programme has its differences.
The specific module choices, live projects and flexibility options play an important part in choosing a programme that best fits your career and life ambitions.
Imperial College Business School’s Global Online MBA boasts a highly flexible programme with flexcore and elective modules, so you can tailor your MBA or explore new avenues for a broader experience.
At Warwick Business School, candidates with an interest in sustainable business will be happy to know that environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors are integrated across the core modules, allowing students to address a complex world issue from multiple angles.
How does online MBA programme content differ? |
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Imperial College Business School |
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Cohort
Shape, size and diversity are important factors to consider in your online MBA. A smaller cohort of students creates a tighter community of people you’ll get to know on a deeper level. A larger cohort enables more networking opportunities with course mates across a wider variety of industries.
When it comes to diversity, Academic Director of Imperial College Business School’s Global Online MBA, Professor Mark Perkmann, is determined to encourage and support all role models leading the way in pushing the ceiling and breaking the bias.
“As part of a very diverse community, it’s something that is embedded in the personal leadership journey that students embark on together throughout the programme,” he said.
You can find infographic breakdowns of the current student cohort on all three business school’s websites. Information includes cohort number, average age, gender ratio and nationalities represented.
Who studies on the programme? |
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Learning methods and technology
The teaching format on an online MBA must be accessible for students across the globe, considering different time zones and working hours.
An effective digital platform allows students to access on-demand content from wherever they are, with capacity for interactive and collaborative learning.
Some programmes, like IE Business School’s Global Online MBA, blend the physical and digital elements of an MBA, so students get the benefit of a global online classroom and the potential exposure to leaders in the industry through face-to-face opportunities.
What learning methods are used on the online MBA? |
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Imperial College Business School |
Warwick Business School |
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Networking opportunities
Beyond the skills and knowledge you’ll gain on an MBA, one of the biggest highlights that business schools offer is exposure to the world’s biggest firms and innovative leaders in and beyond your industry.
Strategic consultancy projects, in-person residentials and live business case studies enable students to consolidate everything they’ve learned and apply it to a real business.
A school’s alumni network can also say a lot about the experience you’ll have beyond the classroom, providing you with industry contacts, crucial advice and support, global associates, innovative insight, and the opportunity to bring your experience into guest lectures for the next generation.
What are the alumni networks like? |
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Imperial College Business School |
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