Based in Madrid, Spain, IE Business School offers a flexible learning experience for MBA students, with 100% online or hybrid study options.
What can you expect from the IE Business School Online MBA? Here’s what you need to know:
IE Online MBA: Requirements
As the IE Global Online MBA is so highly ranked, you’ll need more than just a shining resume to land a coveted spot on the program.
The IE Business School admissions team look for ambitious, motivated, and creative learners. The school aims to take a holistic approach to reviewing candidates.
To be successful, students will need to have a minimum of three years of professional experience in a relevant field.
As part of your online application, you’ll need to submit a university academic transcript, a resume, two letters of recommendation, employment verification letter, and a personal statement.
IE Business School accepts the GMAT, GRE, IE Global Admissions Test, or Executive Assessment.
There is an online assessment that asks candidates to answer two video format questions and one written format question. If you succeed in this round, you’ll then be invited to an interview with admissions teams, which can take place online or in-person.
IE Online MBA: Cost
The admissions fee for the IE Online MBA costs €150 and is non-refundable.
The tuition fees for the September 2023 intake are €51k and the school also requests a €1.2k contribution to the IE Foundation.
Class Profile—Who is the IE Online MBA for?
As the IE Online MBA offers flexible learning options, allowing students to complete the program in 17, 24, or 30 months, the programs attracts a variety of students from diverse backgrounds.
Many students in the program come from mid- or top-level managerial roles
30% of students bring an academic background in business while 16% come from engineering, with 16% from humanities and social sciences.
The most popular job function for students is sales and marketing (26%), followed by operations (13%), and technology (13%).
There is a tie between three of the most popular sectors of employment: 15% of participants each come from energy, construction, and tech. This is closely followed by consulting at 14%.
Some of the top companies where online MBA students come from are Amazon, Nike, McKinsey & Company, and Coca-Cola.
On average, there are 34 different nationalities in the program. The average age for IE Online MBA students is 31.
IE Business School Online MBA: Curriculum
Since the IE Online MBA is a global program, the curriculum offers students a deep dive into global business matters.
The curriculum is based around three core focus areas: developing a digital mindset, making an impact in a world of change, and boosting your employability.
Courses are taught via a mix of online video conferences, forums, and face-to-face learning. Students can study a portion of the course in the Madrid campus during the residential weeks.
In the first term of the program, IE Online MBAs will study courses such as Financial Reporting and Analysis, Strategic Management, and Leading People and Change.
In the second term of the Online MBA, you an expect to learn about areas such as negotiation, influence, or business, government, and sustainability.
Meanwhile, in the virtual period, students can take courses in Digital Transformation, Data Analytics, and Entrepreneurial Venturing.
The third term will culminate with an experiential learning project that centers on entrepreneurship. This is where you’ll work in teams on an entrepreneurial project that you started in the second term.
In the face-to-face week, you’ll present your project to a panel of experts. Alongside this, there’s courses on Leadership in Uncertain Times and career-based courses.
Hear from IE Online MBA alumni
The IE Business School helped one successful Online MBA alum navigate the world of online work.
Stephanie Robles is director of global accounts at media and advertising company, Xaxis—a role she works from remotely. She used her Online MBA from IE to propel her career during the Covid pandemic, at a time when hybrid or online work wasn’t the norm.
She initially decided to join an MBA to enhance her knowledge of the business sphere from a new perspective.
“You always run out of time to learn, so I wanted to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. After the merge, an MBA felt like it was the right thing to do.”
Being able to join an Online MBA meant that Stephanie didn’t have to take time out of her career.
Attracted to the program’s focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, she knew she was in the right place.
She says some of her key learnings were learning to work alongside people and lead others in a virtual setting.
“I have to network with my team and work very closely with them even though we’ve never met and they don’t really know me. You can still network and work from a distance, that’s something I learned from the MBA program,” she says.
