3 leading economics and business schools in Europe

Business and its related subjects — finance, accounting, and economics — are favourites among students globally. QS reveals these fields dominate higher education, especially at the graduate level, fuelling the popularity of business schools worldwide. But with many such institutions, how do you find one that’s right for you?

While the best business schools have many outstanding features, perhaps the biggest differentiator that separates them from the rest is their people. A diverse faculty, recruited from the top of their respective fields, elevates teaching and learning. These international educators convey theories and bring real-world business challenges into the classroom. Pair that with a cohort recruited from various backgrounds and you’ll have no shortage of new perspectives to learn from and connect with. The three economics and business schools in  Europe are thriving for these very reasons:

Central European University

Central European University is accredited in the US and Austria, and offers English-language bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. Source: Central European University

Set in Vienna, the Central European University (CEU) is a gateway to a world-class education that transcends borders. Here, students can pursue a more affordable master’s degree (especially compared to the US and the UK) that opens doors to career options worldwide. CEU boasts a cutting-edge curriculum and a world-class faculty, providing a unique American-style education experience in the heart of Europe.

Designed by CEU economists, the two-year MA in Economics, Data, and Policy program provides a curriculum tailored to various needs, offering specializations in Economic Policy, Research, Data Science, or Finance. Regardless of your chosen track, you’ll engage with many issues that define contemporary economics and draw on complementary social science disciplines to contextualize your learning. Those with a solid economic foundation can opt for a one-year program with available Research and Global Economic Policy tracks.

With professors from over 30 countries and having obtained PhDs from renowned institutions like Princeton and Harvard, CEU ensures world-class academic excellence. The faculty’s active involvement in research, publications in top-ranked journals, and prestigious grants expose students to frontier research, creating a dynamic and intellectually stimulating environment.

Students benefit from small class sizes (7:1 student-to-faculty ratio), which encourages an intimate and interactive learning environment. The Department of Economics and Business organizes weekly research seminars featuring speakers from Harvard Business School, LSE, Princeton, Berkeley, and more. The university’s library, stocked with relevant books and online resources, further supports students’ academic pursuits.

CEU’s impact is global. Its student body is diverse. Alumni are scattered worldwide. Keen to join them? CEU also offers MS programs in Business Analytics and Finance. All programs are in English, ensuring unparalleled educational and professional opportunities for students worldwide.

University of Manchester

At Alliance Manchester Business School, ‘Original Thinking Applied’ guides their approach in everything they do. Source: Alliance Manchester Business School/ Facebook

Located within the University of Manchester, the Alliance Manchester Business School boasts a triple accreditation from AACSB International, AMBA, and EQUIS.

Established in 1965 as one of the pioneers among the UK’s business schools, today it is home to students of 135 nationalities. They’re drawn to Alliance MBS’s comprehensive range of industry-focused programmes. As a full-service business school, it offers programmes at all levels, from undergraduate to executive education, including a highly-regarded PhD programme. For those eyeing a master’s degree, the institution offers 17 programmes, including business analytics to operations, human resource management to innovation and entrepreneurship.

The MSc Business Analysis and Strategic Management explores the intricacies of comparative international strategic management. Theoretical insights seamlessly merge with real-world applications through client-facing projects, providing invaluable work experience. The programme hones skills crucial to global business consulting, ensuring graduates are well-equipped for the dynamic professional landscape.

The best part? You’ll be guided by internationally recognised experts who not only teach but conduct research. The university boasts more Nobel laureates among its academic staff than any other in the UK, ensuring a learning environment infused with cutting-edge insights and discoveries.

Copenhagen Business School

At CBS, students can select from over 30 graduate programs, each offering its own unique specialisation. Source: Copenhagen Business School/ Facebook

Over 90% international students; Scandinavian values; excellent post-MBA visa and work opportunities; small class sizes; a strong emphasis on sustainability; triple-accredited; top-ranked; a student cohort made up of 40% women; a location in one of the greenest and happiest cities in the world — these are the features that define the Copenhagen Business School (CBS) Full-time MBA.

Alumna Priyanka Bansal describes her intensive one-year experience here as “extraordinary.” “It gave me a new injection of energy, immense knowledge on subjects, old and new, and fantastic times with many highly-skilled people,” she shares.

If you’re looking for a programme that will challenge you, change you and boost your professional profile, the Copenhagen MBA fits the bill. If Denmark’s capital is known for being green, innovative and progressive, then CBS is recognised for ethical decision-making, social responsibility and green agenda.

Sustainable Management is the central theme of the Copenhagen MBA and students will reflect on this as they progress through the programme. In their fourth and final term, students can personalise their MBA by choosing between four concentrations: Digitalisation; Entrepreneurship; Finance; Governance and Sustainability. This is supplemented by the Leadership Discovery Process (to uncover personal leadership styles), the personalised Career Module (to identify goals and how to get there) and the Advisory Board Programme (to apply skills gained by advising startups). It culminates in an Integrated Strategy Project, with an internationally oriented company based in the region, to bring your entire MBA skillset to life.

The Copenhagen MBA is set to turn your dreams into reality and ambitions into achievement. To make your mark in the business world, arrange a virtual meeting here.

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