Best Business Schools In Europe [2023 Rankings]

Top Business Schools In Europe

Europe is a continent that has produced some of the top business-minded people globally. Some of the best business schools in Europe are among the best in the world. Business schools in Europe have continued to churn out standard trained business-minded people running businesses in Europe and around the globe. 

These business professionals few from the experiences they have gained while training and drilling at the best business schools in Europe. A business degree, be it an MBA or an undergraduate degree from any of these business schools discussed in this post. 

While many European institutions offer degree programs in business, this article focuses on the best business schools in Europe, which have been ranked by several institutions, such as Forbes Magazine. 

Top Business Colleges In Europe Right Now


High school can be an exciting experience, but it can also be problematic. We’ve selected some of the top schools across the state and used many factors in our rankings, including state test scores, graduation rates, participation in advanced courses, and college readiness.

There are a plethora of business schools in Europe that deciding which to attend may be a daunting task for you, but luckily for you, we have researched and selected the best business schools in Europe. Here are the most iconic business schools in Europe right now:

  • London Business School
  • HEC Paris 
  • IESE Business School
  • SDA Bocconi
  • INSEAD
  • Stockholm School of Economics
  • IE
  • Imperial College Business School 
  • University of Cambridge: Judge
  • ESMT Berlin
  • ESADE
  • EADA
  • Copenhagen Business School
  • IMD Business School
  • The Business School 
  • Warwick Business School
  • Mannheim Business School 
  • ESCP Business School 
  • University of St Gallen
  • WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management

1. London Business School

London Business School is a leading business school located in London, England. It has a global reputation, with graduates working in over 130 countries worldwide and the school’s alum network, including some of the most influential corporations in the world. The school’s academic excellence is reflected by its excellent reputation for research. 

London Business School professors have won numerous awards for their work with other academics from around the globe. London Business School offers a wide range of courses that can be taken as part of an MBA program or as individual modules taught on campus or online through distance learning programs such as Executive Education (ExED). This makes this school one of the best business schools in Europe. 

2. HEC Paris

HEC Paris is a business school located in Jouy-en-Josas, France, in the Paris metropolitan area. HEC Paris is a constituent of the Université Paris-Saclay (formerly known as the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines), a mega-campus located mainly in Gif-sur-Yvette, France. HEC was founded in 1881 and was created by an Act of Parliament signed by President Jules Grévy on the advice of his prime minister Jules Ferry (1832–1893). 

HEC Paris began as an elite institution for higher education and research until it opened its doors to non-French students. According to Financial Times rankings, the school also publishes economic periodicals like HEC Forum and has been ranked among the top five European graduate business schools for several years. It is making the school one of the best business schools in Europe. 


3. IESE Business School

IESE Business School is a world-renowned business school with campuses in Barcelona and Madrid, Spain. The school has been ranked as the #1 business school in Spain by the Financial Times, as well as being included on Forbes’s list of top European MBA programs and Bloomberg Businessweek’s list of top European MBAs in the recent past.

The MBA program offers two tracks: one for non-native English speakers and one for native English speakers. Both ways require no minimum TOEFL score or GPA requirement to apply. However, you will need an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university to be admitted into either track. The school is one of the best business schools in Europe.  

4. SDA Bocconi

SDA Bocconi is a private university in Milan, Italy, one of the most prestigious universities in Europe, especially in economics, finance, and management.

In addition to being ranked second by The Economist’s 2019 Global MBA Ranking (after Harvard Business School), SDA Bocconi was also ranked as the best European business school by both Forbes (2018) and Financial Times (2017). The school has continued to be classified as a top business school in Europe by rating institutions, making the school one of the best business schools in Europe.

5. INSEAD

INSEAD, which stands for “Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires” (European Institute of Business Administration), is a business school with campuses in Europe (France), Asia (Singapore), and the Middle East (Abu Dhabi). The school has been consistently ranked as one of the best in the world by Bloomberg Businessweek, Financial Times, Forbes, and other rating institutions as one of the best business schools in Europe and globally. We are making the school one of the best business schools in Europe. 

6. Stockholm School of Economics

Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) is a business school in Stockholm, Sweden. It was founded in 1909 and is owned by Stockholm University. SSE is one of Europe’s leading economics and business administration schools, with over 4,000 students from over 100 countries studying at SSE’s two campuses: Drottningholm and Norrmalm.

The university also has several international partner universities, including New York University (NYU), HEC Paris Business School (France), Deakin Business School (Australia), The Open University Business School London Programmes LTD (UK), and The Goizueta Business School at Emory University (US). Making the school one of the best business schools in the region

7. IE Business School

If you want to study in Europe and live in one of the best cities on the continent, then look no further than IE Business School. Located in Madrid, Spain, This school is a top-ranked school that offers undergraduate and graduate students programs.

IE Business School was founded in 1958 by José Maria de Areilza, and it has since expanded its presence throughout Europe with campuses in Barcelona (Spain), Seville (Spain), Valencia (Spain), Milan (Italy), Lisbon (Portugal), Paris (France) and London (United Kingdom). 

IE Business School offers several master’s degrees with flexible schedules so you can study around your work schedule. Some such programs include Master’s Degree Executive Program; Master’s Degree – Leadership & Management; Executive MBA Program; Doctorate Degree – Innovation & Entrepreneurship; Doctorate Degree – International Marketing Management; Doctorate Degree – Strategy & Organization; Post-Graduate Diploma Programmes. You are making the school one of the best business schools in Europe. 

8. Imperial College Business School 

Imperial College Business School is a university business school in London, England. The school was formed by merging Imperial College London’s existing faculties and the Royal School of Mines. It currently has around 7,500 students across its undergraduate and postgraduate courses, taught at either the South Kensington or White City campuses in central London.

The QS World University Rankings ranked Imperial College Business School 1st in the UK for 2019-2020, making the school one of the best business schools in Europe, and making the school one of only five universities in Europe to hold this position (the other four being Oxford University, Cambridge University, ETH Zurich and Tsinghua University).

9. University of Cambridge: Judge

This school is one of the top business schools in the world, and its graduates can expect to receive a competitive salary. The school offers two degrees: an MBA and an MSc in Finance & Accounting. Both programs are designed to be completed over two years, although some students may choose to study for longer than this.

The MBA curriculum at Judge Business School is divided into five areas: entrepreneurship, technology strategy; marketing; finance, and organizational behavior. Some electives include entrepreneurship within technology firms, marketing communications management, and leadership development for women leaders (for which you can apply as part of your application). Judge business is one of the best business schools in Europe. 

10. ESMT Berlin

ESMT Berlin, or European School of Management and Technology (ESMT), is a private business school founded in 2002 by a group of German CEOs and academics. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany, and it has a campus in Berlin Mitte and offices in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt Main, and Munich.

ESMT is one of only four global top-30 ranked business schools with campuses outside of North America (along with Instead, IMD and IESE), making the school one of the best business schools in Europe. ESMT offers MBA programs and master’s degrees for professionals specializing in finance, marketing; strategy development; leadership; innovation management; digital transformation management, international business management, entrepreneurship & growth strategies, supply chain management & logistics.

The school has about 1,800 students from more than 100 countries across its five campuses: Aachen Business School(ABS), ESMT Business School (EMST), Mannheim Business School(MBS), which is co-branded together with SAP AG, RWTH Aachen University; SDA Bocconi School Of Management; the University Of St Gallen In Switzerland And York University In Canada.

11. ESADE

ESADE is one of the most prestigious business schools in Europe, and its MBA program has an excellent reputation. The school was founded in 1957; it’s private and located in Barcelona, Spain. ESADE’s motto is “Creating leaders for a changing world,” which reflects its focus on developing students’ leadership skills. As such, students can expect to find plenty of opportunities for networking and engagement within the community throughout their time at ESADE.

ESADE has been ranked as one of the best management schools worldwide by Bloomberg Businessweek since 2008, making the school one of the best business schools in Europe. Students have access to small classes with an average class size of 12 people per class.

ESADE also have access to some of Europe’s best professors through a wide range of resources like lectures by visiting faculty members from other universities around the globe or guest speakers from multiple industries ranging from banking & finance companies like Goldman Sachs​ and even consulting firms like McKinsey

12. EADA

EADA was founded in 1956. The school is located in Barcelona, Spain. EADA has ten different European campuses: two in France and eight in Spain. The school offers five main degree programs: undergraduate (BBA), MBA, MSc, MIM, and a combined program of BBA+MIM+MSc. The courses offered at EADA are taught by professors who have experience working with multinational corporations such as Google, Coca-Cola, and Amazon.

EADA has moved beyond traditional business programs to develop an integrated curriculum emphasizing entrepreneurship and innovation, technology management, and financial management for small and large companies across industries like healthcare or fashion design, making the school one of the best business schools in Europe. 

13. Copenhagen Business School

Copenhagen Business School (CBS) is a private business school in Denmark. It was founded in 1916 and is based in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is the Nordic region’s largest business school with around 6,000 students and 1,200 employees. 

Copenhagen Business School offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including Bachelor’s degrees; Master’s degrees; MBA programs both full-time and part-time; Executive MBA programs both at CBS as well as through its network of affiliated partner institutions; Ph.D. programs; Specialized Executive Programs for professionals working outside of academia or research who wish to obtain a higher level of management skills or prepare themselves for leadership positions within their organization, etc., making the school one of the best business schools in Europe. 

14. IMD Business School

IMD Business School is one of the top business schools in Europe. Located in Lausanne, Switzerland, IMD has a strong international focus, with many students coming from around the world. A member of the Global Alliance in Management Education (GAMEDAY), IMD offers programs designed to help students hone their skills as leaders and entrepreneurs.

IMD’s MBA Program is divided into three stages: Core Courses, Electives, and the International Project Course. Core courses cover leadership theories and practices through interactive workshops; elective courses allow students to choose from various topics, including finance or procurement.

IMD has an intensive seven-week long project course that provides real-world experience that can be put towards research projects across industries such as banking or retailing, making the school one of the best business schools in Europe. 

15. Edhec Business School

The Paris-based Edhec Business School is one of the leading schools in Europe, with a wide range of courses and specializations. The school offers MBA programs as well as other classes for professionals. The price for studying at Edhec depends on your level: undergraduate students pay up to €12,000 per year; postgraduate students pay up to €15,000. This fee includes registration and tuition fees but does not include other expenses such as books or accommodation costs.

She has around 2,500 students from over 100 countries studying on France’s campuses. It also has an extensive network of partners worldwide who help you get your degree. This school is one of the best business schools in Europe. 

16. Warwick Business School

Warwick Business School is ranked top 1 in the UK for MBA, #1 in the UK for EMBA, and #6 globally by Financial Times. The Warwick MBA is a two-year full-time course that includes a six-month internship abroad or at home. Students from over 110 countries take this program designed to help them improve their business knowledge while developing their leadership skills, making Warwick Business School one of the best business schools in Europe. 

Warwick has been named as one of Europe’s most innovative universities by Reuters and has won eight Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, more than any other university for its work with industry partners such as Rolls Royce (aerospace), Airbus (aircraft), and Bombardier Transportation (rail).

17. Mannheim Business School

Mannheim Business School is one of the leading business schools in Germany, with a wide range of courses and research opportunities. The school’s MBA program has been highly regarded since its inception in 1988, with an average salary increase after graduation of over 25%.

It is making the school one of the best business schools in Europe. Mannheim Business School is part of the University of Mannheim, which is one of the top 100 universities in the world according to QS World Rankings® 2020.

18. ESCP Business School

ESCP Business School is a leading European business school based in Paris. It was founded in 1819 and had more than 13,000 students from 120 different countries. Students can choose from three main academic programs: Bachelor of Science in Management, Master of Science in Management, and Executive MBA. ESCP Business School is also accredited by EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System) and AACSB International; these accreditations ensure high-quality standards for the school’s academic programs. 

ESCP Business School is also part of the Global Alliance in Management Education (CEMS), which means that its graduates will have an excellent opportunity to study abroad at some of the best universities around Europe and Asia as well as in other parts of the world like Harvard University or MIT Sloan School of Management—making the school one of the best business schools in Europe.  

19. University of St Gallen

Established in 1898, the University of St. Gallen is a private university in Switzerland. It is ranked top in Europe for its MBA program and first for its Executive MBA and Master’s programs. The university follows a trimester system that allows students to complete their Bachelor’s degree in three instead of four years. Its campus is located near Lake Constance. The University of St Gallen is one of the best business schools in Europe. 

20. WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management

WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management is a private business school in Vallendar, Germany. With its ranking as one of the best business schools in Europe and one of the top 25 business schools globally, WHU is home to over 5,000 students from 84 countries on three campuses, making it one of the best business schools in Europe. 

WHU offers an extensive range of programs on offer: In addition to its full-time MBA program (MBA), WHU also offers a Ph.D. program (Ph.D.) that has been ranked number one in Germany for the third consecutive year by Focus magazine among all German universities and Hochschulen; an Executive MBA program (EMBA); Master’s Programs; Bachelor’s Programs; Dual Degree Programmes; Summer Schools & Winter Schools; Undergraduate Seminars for High School students; Corporate Education Courses & Trainings as well as Research Projects for Ph.D. Students and Young Professionals.

The European business schools listed above offer an excellent education, but you must decide which school is right for you. We hope this list helps give you insight into what each school offers. You are left to choose from which provides your specific needs for business education. 

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