Top 10 MBA Programmes in the World 2022

QS World University Rankings: Global MBA Rankings 2022 has been released today.

The Global MBA Rankings 2022 highlight the best MBA programmes in the world. QS ranked 286 programmes this year from 45 study destinations, and many more were analysed. This makes the ranking the biggest ranking of accredited international MBA programmes in the world.

Data was collected in early 2021, using three surveys; the QS Global Employer Survey, the QS Global Academic Survey and a survey completed by the business schools themselves.

Let’s take a look at this year’s global top 10.

This year’s global top 10 incorporates some of the most competitive business schools on the planet.

And this year we have a new face in the top 10 – IESE Business School, with the business school's MBA programme earning a perfect score for return on investment (ROI), landing it the joint highest position for ROI in the world (shared with HEC Paris MBA in the top 10).

Stanford Graduate School of Business has held its number 1 position for yet another year.

This may seem unsurprising when taking a closer look at the ranking indicators and how Stanford fared. Stanford ranks first in the world for alumni outcomes, joint third for employability, 14th for thought leadership, joint 23rd for return on investment (ROI) and joint 76th for diversity.

Throughout their degree, MBA students can customise their curriculum with courses, electives, or seminars taught at other Stanford schools, or students can choose to undertake a joint or dual degree. Moreover, they must complete a Global Experience Requirement, where they study and work abroad for a minimum of 10 days. Previous destinations have included South Korea, Greece and Brazil. 

HEC Paris

When asked how important MBA programmes are today, Andrea Masini, Associate Dean, MBA Programmes at HEC Paris said: "MBA programmes are more important than ever today. Companies are in need of employees who can make decisions during uncertain times, who are adaptable and agile, and resilient and MBAs acquire these competencies during the programme, making them very attractive to recruiters. What our MBA students have learned in this crisis is definitely attractive to recruiters.

"With the proliferation of MBA programmes, a top ranking, global programme like the HEC Paris MBA, has a premium value on the market. Our programme combines academic excellence, with leadership training, while maintaining a very high ROI (as a result of our 16-month duration which takes our students out of the workforce for less time, unlike many 2 year programmes, and lower fees than those compared to many US programmes)."

But what does Masini think is one of the most popular elements of HEC Paris’s MBA programme? He said: "The academic quality of our programme attracts talented candidates. We combine learning-by-doing with real-time problem solving.

"Our curriculum is divided into two phases: our fundamental phase and our customised phase. Our students develop a skillset that truly differentiates them in the global marketplace. During the customised phase, students tailor their programme to match their personal aspirations and professional goals. They can choose from one of seven specialisations. While traditional MBA specialisations such as Strategy or Finance remain popular, programmes that deal with new trends and challenges, from Sustainable & Disruptive Innovation to Digital Innovation, are in demand and attractive an increasing number of students."

Masini says students continually name the Off-Campus Leadership Seminar and the MBA Tournament (MBAT) as two of their favourite traditions at the HEC Paris MBA.

He said: "The MBAT, renowned as the MBA Olympics, is the largest gathering of MBA students in Europe. Students participate as members of the MBAT’s core team, and take on the responsibility of organising a three-day, multisport competition for 1,500 participants. Students are entirely responsible for the MBAT, including all of its organisational and operational details."

But what does the future hold for the programme? Masini said: "The crisis also emphasised the importance of making decisions under uncertainty and the importance of developing agile processes.

"With an increase in the complexity, ambiguity and uncertainty of the world we live in, top MBA programmes will not have to provide students with the right answers. Instead, they will have to teach them how to ask the right questions. We need a new generation of leaders able to understand the complex interplay among different phenomena and topics and to be able to identify which links are most important.

"Global business leaders need to be knowledgeable of geopolitics in the world we live in and understand the social, cultural and geopolitical perspectives that come into play. Business leaders can no longer focus on just the business standpoint but must also be mature and open-minded.

"A larger number of candidates are looking for programmes that focus on purposeful leadership and offer opportunities to make a positive impact on our society. In recent years, we launched the Sustainable & Disruptive Innovation specialisation. Over 25 percent of the core teaching hours in the MBA are dedicated to CSR, ethics, social and environmental issues and more than a quarter of the graduating class complete a personal project focusing on social impact.

"We will continue to meet the needs of our students with the most up-to-date courses with top research faculty – the research, which has a strong focus on impact, that we produce in-house ensures our students graduate with the most innovative and up-to-date knowledge. It also instils in them an ability to not only think creatively and innovatively moving forward, but also to practice purposeful leadership."

MIT Sloan

Every MBA programme offers students something different, whether it be unique electives, specialised networking or impressive case competitions.

But what sets MIT Sloan’s MBA programme apart from the rest?

The admissions team said: "MIT Sloan leads business schools worldwide in its offerings in the area of tech ventures, IT and supply chain management and finance.

"Finance aligns with MIT Sloan’s areas of core expertise including FinTech and social impact investing, and Sloan was one of the first business schools in the world to introduce courses on blockchain and cryptocurrencies.

"Today’s market demands that MBA graduates be able to understand and harness analytics tools.  In addition to offering a certificate in Business Analytics and a number of advanced popular electives such as The Analytics Edge, MIT Sloan MBA core classes include multiple modules on AI and machine learning communicating effectively with data.

"Further, MIT Sloan’s Tracks and Certificates provide a roadmap for MBAs to prepare themselves for a successful transformation through tracks in Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Enterprise Management, and Finance; and certificates in Business Analytics, Healthcare Systems, and Sustainability. Students acquire necessary skills, knowledge and practical experience through courses including Action Learning labs."