Business schools in Asia are rapidly catching up with their American and European competitors to offer the best management programs for students.
Top Asian business schools—in Mainland China and Hong Kong, Singapore, and India—offer candidates exposure to some of the world's fastest-growing markets where employers are actively seeking talented MBA students.
Asian business schools also offer a quality education without the high tuition fees demanded by many top programs in the United States, such as the Harvard MBA.
Here, we break down the latest Financial Times MBA Ranking to bring you the 18 best business schools in Asia:
Best Business Schools in Asia
18. XLRI — Xavier School of Management
Position in overall ranking:99
Xavier School of Management offers a 15-month management program that ranks 99th in the Financial Times MBA Ranking. The Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management (PGDM) largely attracts students with around six years of work experience, with 30 being the average age among the latest cohort.
Besides GMAT and GRE exams, students can also opt to take the Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) to be eligible for the program. If shortlisted for the PGDM, applicants will need to participate in an interview before they’re admitted to the program.
Most XLRI PGDM graduates enter the IT sector, gaining an average salary of around $133k.
17. Sungkyunkwan University GSB
Position in overall ranking: 89
Sungkyunkwan University (SKK) Graduate School of Business (GSB) is the only South Korean business school ranked in the FT's global top 100.
SKKU has a strong focus on innovation and research in part due to its sponsors Samsung and Hyundai.
The program offers courses in business analytics, corporate finance, brand marketing, and other aspects of management. After graduating, students go on to lead companies from all over the world, making an average salary of around $133k.
16. Indian Institute of Management Lucknow
Position in overall ranking: 85
IIM Lucknow offers an MBA in entrepreneurship and innovation that focuses on helping students build and launch successful companies. The selection process invites applicants to present their business plan, followed by an MBA interview.
Throughout the course, students will navigate all elements of building a business: from identifying pain points to finding solutions and creating a business plan around these foundations.
The program offers students an immersive learning experience, with opportunities to work alongside entrepreneurs and venture capitalists.
CUHK Business School is ranked 75th globally by the FT. Students on the full-time MBA program at CUHK take advantage of the school’s location in Hong Kong with a Business Practicum project linking students with corporations in the city, and a curriculum focused on innovation and digital business.
In fact, students dive into cutting-edge topics including AI, fintech, and Impact Investing, or they can opt for a concentration in Entrepreneurship and Innovation or Finance and Technology.
14. Singapore Management University Lee Kong Chian School of Business
Position in overall ranking: 72
SMU's Lee Kong Chian School of Business has acquired triple accreditation from AACSB, EQUIS, and the Association of MBAs (AMBA).
The MBA program at Singapore Management University (SMU) offers candidates global exposure, with 71% international students making up a typical classroom.
The program offers courses in corporate finance, financial accounting, digital transformation, and business analytics, and prepares students for a rapidly evolving business world.
After finishing the program, most of the students enter careers in business, financial services, and technology, commanding salaries of around $126k.
Based in the city of Kolkata, the IIM is at the heart of one of the largest city economies in India, with major industries in the city including textiles, agriculture, and metals. Triple-accredited by EQUIS, AMBA, and AACSB, this Asian business school appears at number 67 on the FT’s list.
One of the most unique aspects about IIM Calcutta is the significantly high number of students with no work experience. The program is a good fit if you’re looking to study for a business degree program right after your bachelor's.
The IIM Calcutta MBA curriculum focuses on the business essentials, with some courses focusing specifically on business in India, such as India Economic Policy and Indian Social Structure.
On the back of this rigorous business degree, around 30% of MBA graduates land jobs in consulting, with general management and IT and analytics making up the top three sectors.
Most graduates go on to work in consulting and product analytics in companies such as Accenture, EY, KPMG, and Google, commanding salaries of around $162k.
12. Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
Position in overall ranking: 47
The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore is based in one of India’s tech hubs. IIMB’s focus is on innovation, with a research lab focusing on big data and a separate center for entrepreneurial learning.
Students study courses such as Accounting for Financial Decisions, Advances in Business Communication, Marketing Management, Managerial Economics, and Organization Design.
Graduates land job offers with the likes of Amazon, Boston Consulting Group, and Bain and Company, reaching an average salary of around $167k.
To be eligible for the top-rated program, students need to have at least two years of work experience.
11. HKU Business School
Position in overall ranking: 45
HKU is a leading business school in Asia, which invites some of the best and brightest MBA talents to take their career to the next level.
To be eligible for the program, candidates need a bachelor’s degree and at least two years of work experience.
The program offers courses in Accounting for Business Decisions, Analytics for Managers, Business Ethics, Competitive Strategy, and Corporate Finance.
Most of the graduates go into consulting with leading companies such as KPMG, Boston Consulting Group, Tencent, and McKinsey and Company. HKU grads land an average salary of roughly $137k.
Top 10 MBA programs in Asia
10. Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad
Position in overall ranking: 41
The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad offers the 41st best MBA program in the world, according to the FT, and the eighth best in Asia.
IIM Ahmedabad is one of the top management institutions in India, offering a high return on investment for its students. For the most recent cohort, top recruiters included the Boston Consulting Group and Bain and Company, with candidates landing an average salary of around $195k.
9. Peking University Guanghua School of Management
Position in overall ranking: 37
The Peking University (PKU) Guanghua Global MBA program is popular among business school entrepreneurs, many of whom credit the MBA with transforming their businesses, although most graduates go into finance, technology, and consumer goods.
Students take a course in Chinese language in their first year, as well as business fundamentals such as marketing, strategy, and finance. There are also courses that offer unique insights into the Chinese economy and common business practices.
The most recent cohort landed an average salary of roughly $172k.
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) Business School, ranked in 35th place by the Financial Times, is a highly international program, with students representing around 70 countries from across the globe.
The program trains its students in IT management, marketing strategy and policy, strategic management, corporate finance, and other key aspects of management, preparing them to lead teams and companies into the future.
Tech is a big focus of the MBA program at HKUST, as the school looks to tap into Hong Kong’s burgeoning technological hub set in the heart of Asia.
Some of the top recruiters at the campus include Goldman Sachs, Google, and Boston Consulting Group. Students land average salaries of around $169k.
The MBA at Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) Nanyang Business School is ranked 32nd in the world by the Financial Times and is one of the most sought-after programs in Asia. Students take courses such as Banking and Finance, Strategy and Innovation, Marketing Management, Business Analytics, and Sustainability.
While the program demands at least two years of work experience, the latest cohort brings around six years.
To be selected, the application should demonstrate strong intellectual capability, solid career progression, professional achievements, leadership potential, and cultural sensitivity. The latest graduates went on to work in leading tech firms, with around 20% entering technology, media, and telecommunications, making around $158k.
6. Indian School of Business
Position in overall ranking: 31
The triple accredited Indian School of Business (ISB) offers a Post Graduate Program in Management (PGPM)—a one-year course that’s ranked 31st in the world by the Financial Times.
The program is open for candidates with at least two years of work experience, with the majority of ISB students coming from backgrounds in engineering.
The Indian School of Business also benefits from partnerships with other top global business schools such as The Wharton School, London Business School, and MIT’s Sloan School of Management. Students on the Post Graduate Program in Management, ISB's MBA equivalent, primarily come from consulting, IT, FMCG, and manufacturing backgrounds.
After the program, many grads go into the consulting field, with average salaries across the board at roughly $174k.
Top 5 best business schools in Asia
4=Fudan University School of Management
Position in overall ranking: 27
The International MBA program at Fudan University’s School of Management is ranked 27th in the world by the Financial Times and is highly sought after by management professionals.
Based in Shanghai, the Fudan MBA aims to offer a blend of Eastern and Western business teaching and is taught in collaboration with MIT Sloan School of Management.
Students on the MBA get to participate in project-based learning projects with partner companies in China and as far away as Finland.
To be eligible for the program, candidates need at least three years of work experience.
According to the latest data, graduates from the program make average annual salaries of roughly $169k.
4= National University of Singapore Business School
Position in overall ranking: 27
Rated as the top business school in Singapore by the Financial Times, the NUS MBA ranks 27th on the FT’s list overall—in joint place with Fudan School of Management.
The school’s MBA program is taught by almost 120 professors from 19 countries, with over half their faculty (64%) hailing from outside Singapore. This diversity is also reflected in the program itself, with 94% of students arriving from outside Singapore, including Vietnam, Belgium, Canada, and Japan.
Taught over two years, the NUS MBA is based around experiential learning, featuring an intensive five-day soft skills program at the start of the degree. There is also a consulting project in collaboration with Singaporean SMEs.
The Best Business Schools In Asia
3. Shanghai University of Finance and Economics College of Business
Position in overall ranking: 24
Coming in at second in the list of best business schools in Asia, the Global MBA program hosted by the College of Business at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics offers a top management program, with courses on Leadership Development and Organizational Behavior, Managerial Economics, Business Statistics, and dedicated courses on business in China.
The program sets graduates up for job opportunities at global companies, with grads accessing impressive salaries of around $212k and gaining a salary increase of 190%, according to FT data.
2. Ceibs
Position in overall ranking: 21
Ceibs, or China Europe International Business School, offers one of the top business programs in Asia, ranked 21st globally by the Financial Times. The latest cohort is comprised of students from 16 different countries, eager to take their careers to the next level.
Located in Shanghai, the MBA at CEIBS offers students a program focused on Chinese business with a global perspective, and offers four concentrations in Finance, Marketing, Digital Business, or Entrepreneurship.
To be eligible, the top program requires a bachelor’s degree or above and a minimum work experience of two years. Students follow a China Strategy Project during their MBA, a high-level strategy project in collaboration with Chinese businesses. International experience is gained through five overseas electives.
Following the intensive MBA at CEIBS, grads land average salaries of roughly $189k and earning a salary increase of 163%.
The title of best business school in Asia goes to INSEAD, which ranks second overall in the 2024 FT MBA ranking.
Co-located in Fontainebleau, France, INSEAD offers students the choice of studying at the Singapore campus in the Knowledge Hub district of the city-state. Flexibility is also afforded by the choice of two intakes—students starting in September complete a fast-tracked 10-month program, while those starting in January are afforded a two-month summer break to fit in an internship or summer project.
With 96% international students represented in INSEAD’s MBA, this is a truly international program. Furthermore, 90% of INSEAD's faculty are international, and Singapore-based students can choose to spend the end of their program at exchange on another of INSEAD’s campuses—Fontainebleau or Abu Dhabi.
Committed to promoting sustainability and combatting climate change, INSEAD has also pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions across its campuses by 67% by 2035.
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Thursday 24th June 2021, 05.59 (UTC)
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Dan Pimental-Dan Pimental
A ranking of the most popular MiM listings in our directory based on unique profile views and community activity . As a part of the Keystone Academic Solutions family of student-centered websites.
Friday 21st May 2021, 05.45 (UTC)
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rohith-kumar1
Thanks for the Valuable information I suggest choose IBS Schools ICFAI Business School (IBS)-Hyderabad is a constituent of the ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education (IFHE), a Deemed University as per the UGC Act 1956. Established in 1985, IBS-Hyderabad is one of the top business schools in India. It has been ranked at #12 in the nation by Hindustan Times in a 2012 survey. The school has been re-accredited by SAQS (South Asian Quality Standards), rated A** by CRISIL, EB2 IN by ICRA and as an Excellent Business School by Eduniversal.
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