Top universities for masters in management

The recent QS Business Master’s Rankings 2024: Management covers 201 schools offering master's degrees in management around the world. 

The rankings are compiled using five indicators: employability, alumni outcomes, value for money, thought leadership and class and faculty diversity, with data collected from a global survey of employers and other sources. Find out more about the methodology used here.   

Read on to find out more about the top universities in each region for master’s degrees in management. Alternatively, see the full list of ranking here. 

Top institutions for master's degrees in management in the US and Canada   

The US is home to 29 of the 201 institutions recognised for their management master’s degrees this year.  

The MSc in Global Strategic Management, a collaboration between McIntire School of Commerce, ESADE, and Lingnan College in China, holds the impressive rank of seventh place, making it the only programme in the United States to be included in the top 10. This programme excels in the thought leadership indicator, securing a remarkable global ranking of second place. 

Four prestigious US institutions, namely Mclntire School of Commerce, Michigan Ross School of Business, Fuqua School of Business, and Questrom School of Business, have achieved positions in the global top 50. The Fuqua School of Business has climbed three spots to be ranked 20th this year. Notably, many of these institutions shine in the alumni outcomes indicator, with 14 of them securing ranks within the top 50.  

One Mexican institution and six Canadian institutions are featured in this year's rankings, with the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia claiming the top spot in both regions at 36th position. Their Master of Management programme has achieved the highest scores for alumni outcomes and diversity indicators. 

Top institutions for master's degrees in management in Europe 

This year, with a total of 114 entries, more than half of the institutions in this ranking are situated in Europe. Nine out of the top 10 master's degrees in management are also from European institutions.  

In the region, the UK leads with 31 entries, and the London Business School's Masters in Management stands out by securing third position. This programme excels across various indicators, particularly for being jointly ranked first globally for alumni outcomes and second globally for employability.  

Seven UK-based institutions have managed to secure ranks within the global top 50 and Alliance Manchester Business School has climbed up by five places this year to be ranked joint 23rd in the world.  

Following closely, France boasts 25 entries, with four programmes in the top 10, including the world's top-ranked master's programme for management at HEC Paris and the second-best at ESSEC Business School. In total, 11 of the 25 institutions are within the global top 50.  

HEC Paris excels across the board, ranking first for employability, thought leadership, and alumni outcomes, while also sharing the top spot for value for money with ESSEC Business School. 

The majority of the French institutions score excellently for the diversity indicator with 23 out of the 25 entrants ranked within the global top 50.  

14 of the European institutions are based in Spain with IE Business School and Esade Business School ranked within the global top 10. The majority of these institutions are recognised for their value for money, with seven of them included in the global top 50 for this indicator.  

Germany has eight institutions featured in this year's rankings, with five of them in the global top 50. A noteworthy accomplishment comes from one of the German programmes, the Master in Management of EU Business School, which is jointly ranked first globally for value for money. 

Switzerland has five entrants, while Italy, the Netherlands, and Portugal each have four. Belgium, Ireland, and Poland all boast three representatives in this year's ranking. Denmark has two, and Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, and Norway each have a single entrant. 

Top institutions for master's degrees in management in Asia 

Out of the total of 201 entrants, 28 institutions are located in Asia althoughonly five have managed to rank within the global top 50. The Master in Management from Peking University HSBC Business School is the highest-ranked programme from the region (21st). The highest score attained by this programme is for employability, for which it’s ranked 13th in the world.  

India houses most Asian entrants, with 17 institutions from the total of 28. The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore's Master of Business Administration leads the region, ranked 31st globally. This programme excels in alumni outcomes, securing 10th spot worldwide, and is also ranked 22nd for employability. IIM Ahmedabad's Post Graduate Programme in Management is the highest-ranked for employability in the region, securing 19th spot. 

Hong Kong and Japan each contribute three entrants to this year's ranking, but only one Hong Kong institution, HKUST Business School makes it into the global top 50. NUCB Business School in Japan holds the highest rank among Japanese programmes, ranked 111-120. Mainland China and Thailand both have two entrants, while Taiwan has a single entrant, which is globally ranked 17th for the value-for-money indicator. 

Top institutions for master's degrees in management in Australia 

Australia is represented by only five out of the 201 entrants, and the Master of Management from the University of Sydney Business School is the best-performing, ranked 25th.  

This programme excels in alumni outcomes, having been ranked 23rdfor this indicator. Notably, among the five Australian institutions, four have earned places in the global top 100. 

Top institutions for master's degrees in management in Africa and Arab Region 

Three institutions from Africa and the Arab region have secured spots in this year's rankings. The Master's in Management programme from Wits Business School, the sole representative from Africa, is ranked 85th globally, holding the top position in the region. The two institutions from the Arab region are ranked 151+. 

Wits Business School has achieved noteworthy success in the alumni outcomes indicator, for which it’s ranked 18th.