European bsuiness schools are largely (though not always) one-year programs. American MBAs are usually two-year programs. This polarizes candidates accordingly, and neither is ‘better’ than the other.

For those wanting the short, sharp shock of a one-year program, and in some cases a very viable two-year alternative to American programs, Europe does have plenty of the world’s top business schools. It also promises a close vicinity to some of the world’s major markets, a cultural variance that you won’t find in North America (there are 27 countries in the EU, for example) and a very strong history of providing an excellent education to talented MBA students.