5 best business schools in the world for international students

When it comes to choosing a business school, there’s no question that you should always pick from the best of the best. Reputation can open a multitude of doors for you in the business world — from forming lifelong connections to giving you invaluable knowledge on how best to achieve success.

Students at the best business schools in the world know this — which is why most aim for the top. 

For most cases, these schools tend to maintain their position among the top in the world — promising consistency in calibre. You generally expect, for example, the highest quality of teaching from the best business schools in the world. Likewise, excellent campus facilities, networking events, career opportunities and more. 

Beware that most have high tuition fees attached to them. This is especially true for those in the US, where most of the world’s top business schools can be found. The reason for this? Tuition has increased by 2.9% since 2021, with the strengthening of the US Dollar against other currencies — fluctuations that can make or break an international student’s ability to study in the UK, US, Canada and Europe.

Still, this isn’t always the roadblock you may think it is. Most of the time, landing a top business school will open doors for funding opportunities and scholarships from your local institutions and governments — you just have to start the application. 

Here are the top business schools for international students: 

Elon Musk is one of the few notable graduates from the Wharton Business School. Source: Angela Weiss / AFP

The best business schools in the world for international students

The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania is part of the Ivy League, signifying its prestige and reputation among institutions in the US as well as the world. The Wharton School is no less impressive. Ranked the #1 business school in the country by US News and World Report, Wharton offers a range of competitive programmes across undergraduate and postgraduate levels in business. 

This includes their standard undergraduate programme — a BS in Economics — as well as others across international studies and business, management and technology, life sciences and management, and more. MBA programmes are similarly valued — providing for an interesting mix of specialisations that can lead to a more comprehensive and holistic study of how business applies to the wider world. 

London Business School

Located in Regent’s Park, London Business School is located in the very heart of the UK’s capital. Here, students can pursue a range of programmes relating to business, including MSc, MBA and EMBAs across accounting, economics, finance, management science and operations, marketing, organisational behaviour, strategy, and entrepreneurship. 

More than that, graduates from these programmes are proven to be consistently valued by employers worldwide. For example, they 94% of LBS management graduatessecured a job offer within three months of graduation, with a starting salary of US$58,223 on average. 

Peter Fudakowski (far left) is an Oscar-winning producer who graduated from INSEAD Business School. Source: Darryl James/AFP

MIT Sloan School of Management

MIT is one of the most recognisable universities worldwide, placing among the top across all subjects. It has particular expertise in engineering and the physical sciences but is also a strong contender for students pursuing economics, political science, urban studies, linguistics, and philosophy. 

Business is another subject it thrives in, and leading this is the Sloan School of Management. Its MBA programme is ranked among the world’s best. More than that, students at Sloan have the added benefit of absorbing the bustle of activity that comes with attending a campus that is not exclusively centred around business — providing for more opportunities for connection as well as professional growth. 

Harvard Business School

Anyone who is fairly familiar with the world of higher education has heard of Harvard University. Its business school is similarly famous, having produced a number of notable and remarkable leaders and innovative individuals who have changed the landscape of business as we know it. 

Programmes at Harvard Business School are focused on the postgraduate level. Here, you can pursue the classic two-year, full-time MBA programme, as well as other executive programmes, those conducted online, and across doctoral levels. 

INSEAD Business School

INSEAD Business School is a familiar name in the business world. Located in Fontainebleau, France — with an equally competitive school in Singapore — the postgraduate institution has a range of masters degrees, open programmes, foundation certificates, and more for forward-thinking business leaders to choose from. 

An education at INSEAD has proven to offer graduates a competitive edge in whichever industries they choose to pursue, as well. From providing water solutions to over 300,000 people to enhancing Singapore’s space industry, INSEAD students go on to achieve many remarkable feats — and show no signs of stopping.