3 European business schools preparing global professionals

When companies like Nokia and Kodak failed to adapt to digital disruption, it was because they missed the bigger picture. Today, keeping up with a world in flux, from AI dominance to a climate crisis, requires more. A broader skillset, one that includes analytical thinking, flexibility, agility, and leadership skills – i.e. the most sought-after core skills among employers today according to a World Economic Forum 2025 report. 

These are exactly what a master’s in business prepares you for. But the best programmes add another element: global immersion. Different country means different cultures and different rules. Taken out of your comfort zone, you grow. You adapt. You solve new problems. You learn what it takes to get your message across. Cross-border roles, especially those at a more senior and strategic level, already demand all of this as must-haves.  

 The universities below know how to equip you to lead – whatever the next disruption, and from wherever in the world: 

With comprehensive support from study coaches and more, SRH is where you learn, grow, and achieve your goals. Source: SRH University

SRH University 

With five schools, over 200 programmes, and a global community of 9,500 students from more than 140 countries, SRH University is known to many for its “Education made in Germany” — and made for you.

Learning here revolves around the proven CORE (Competence Oriented Research and Education) Principle, which was honoured with the 2018 Genius Loci Award for Teaching Excellence. The CORE principle is proven to be fun and gives you the best possible learning success — by harmonising all learning objectives, forms of examination, as well as teaching and learning methods. You’ll work on practical tasks like project work and case studies in small teams and since everything is taught in five-week blocks (with a maximum of two subjects at a time), you won’t be overwhelmed at the end of the semester. Each block finishes with its own exam, so there’s no massive exam week waiting for you either. It’s an experience that equips you with the professional, social, and self-management skills to thrive anywhere in the world.

One example is the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA)-awarded International Management MA. In the general track, you’ll explore global economic issues, master international and European law, and prepare for management challenges facing diverse teams. The best part is you can study in up to three different countries and earn another master’s degree along the way. You can study in Berlin and Shanghai, Rome, Paris, and more. There’s even the option to study in Berlin, Granada and Paris/Bordeaux. It’s your combination to customise.

You can tailor your MA to match your goals too. In Entrepreneurship and Intrapreneurship (available in Berlin), you’ll learn the essentials of growing a business. Courses cover everything from international contracts and risk management to entrepreneurship, business analysis, and planning, and more. Then, during the Incubator Semester, you can bring your ideas to life and build your own product, service, or startup. Meanwhile, the Creative Leadership specialisation, also only taught in Berlin, brings together international management theories with creative thinking to help you become an effective leader who can think creatively while managing strategically. This path prepares you for roles in marketing, communications, and creative management.

SRH is a place where growth happens naturally, and it’s one of its biggest appeals to students like Judith de Haas. “I was looking for a programme that would help me develop the personal skills I need to take on a more responsible role in the cultural sector,” she says. “The International Management programme gave me the foundations I need to orientate myself in the organisation of projects in the performing arts. My degree programme helped me to not just see obstacles, but to simply take it step by step.”

BBS welcomes over 3,500 students from more than 100 countries every year. Source: Bologna Business School

Bologna Business School

Where history meets innovation — that’s what makes Bologna Business School special. Its home, Villa Guastavillani, is a stunning 16th-century residence nestled on Mount Barbiano, just minutes from Bologna’s city centre. Across the villa is the new campus. It ties nature, history, and modern architecture to create spaces that inspire learning. 

Within this environment, BBS connects theory with real-world experience, working with Italy’s leading industries. You can choose from a wide range of one-year professional master’s programmes, all accredited by the University of Bologna: Food and Wine, Global and Emerging Markets, Green Management and Sustainable Businesses, Life Science and MedTech, Made in Italy, New Space Economy, Italian Premium Brands, Retail Management and E-Commerce, Sport Management, and Tourism, Heritage, and Events.  

And that’s not all; being part of the University of Bologna, the world’s oldest university, comes with big perks. You can join global experiences like Erasmus+, the Overseas Mobility Programme, and fieldwork projects, with plenty of scholarships and grants to help you make the most of your studies.   

For graduate Greta Gardinali, now working with Piaggio & C, her time at BBS has become a defining part of her professional growth. “I believe that the value of an educational institution like BBS lies not only in providing theoretical knowledge, but more importantly in offering practical experience and direct connections with the corporate world,” she says. 

The University of West London, known as the Career University, focuses on preparing students for successful careers after graduation. Source: University of West London/Facebook

University of West London

What if your business degree came with a career built in? At the University of West London’s  (UWL) Claude Littner Business School, that’s exactly what students can expect. Part of a university ranked 41st in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2026), an education here signals quality and career-readiness to recruiters.  

Its location is where ambition meets opportunity. Based in Brentford, west London, the school’s location couldn’t be more strategic. The area’s “Golden Mile” is home to more than 50 major UK companies and countless start–ups, offering you real access to the world of business right on their doorstep.  

The connection between classroom and career is built into every programme. Postgraduate programmes in accounting and finance, marketing, human resource management, business administration, and management are all accredited by professional bodies such as the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), among others, setting you apart in competitive job markets.  

Inside the classroom, learning feels dynamic and relevant. Professors combine academic theory with hands-on insights from their own professional experience. Regular case studies, guest lectures, and networking sessions with industry leaders will keep you engaged with current business trends and practises. Beyond the lecture halls, opportunities for internships and graduate schemes enable you to gain firsthand experience in top companies, preparing you to meet the fast-changing demands of a global economy. 

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International