Business schools in Spain

• Why business school in Spain?
• Education programs in Spanish business schools
• Spanish business schools: requirements for admission
• Spanish business schools in global rankings
• Top business schools in Spain 2015-2016: ranking by El Mundo

Spanish business schools are divided into three groups:

• prestigious international schools present on the Spanish educational market with the leading positions in international rankings. For example, the schools IESE, ESADE, and IE are included on the list.
• schools with the highest numbers of foreign students who come to Spain to earn the MBA; these schools are supported by international organizations. ESIC, EADA, EAE, and ESEUNE are among the schools of this type.
• young or recently established Spanish business schools that have already acquired the fame of a high-quality educational institution in the international arena, although the percentage of the foreign students and teachers in these schools is still relatively low. Deusto, IEDE and FUNDESEM are among these schools.

Without a doubt, in Spain there are many other business schools that offer high-quality programs. In this article, we will present the schools included on the list of the top twenty Spanish business schools according to international rankings.

Why business school in Spain?

The cost of education in Spanish business schools varies from 2000 euros to 20,000 euros. Relatively low accommodation fees and food prices, considerably lower than the average prices in Europe, present a major advantage to foreign students.

One of the reasons foreign students choose Spanish business schools is the advantage of the Mediterranean climate and the beaches. Living next to the sea transforms the educational process into a real pleasure. Barcelona is also a leader when it comes to the variety and quality of its international educational programs. For example, many business schools in Barcelona offer one-year preparatory programs to potential students before they apply to a Bachelor’s program.

Education programs in Spanish business schools

Spanish business schools offer different educational programs and cycles. Foreign students can earn Bachelor's or Master's degrees. The duration of the Bachelor's degree is three to four years. Master’s programs are designed for the period of one to two years following the completion of the Bachelor’s. During this time, a specialist obtains the Master's degree that expands horizons and promotes the building of a successful career. It is important to mention that in order to apply to a Master's program, foreign students do not need to wait until the end of the Bachelor's program in their own country. Many business schools apply an individual approach for every student during the admission process, so it makes sense to think about pursuing a Master's degree in a Spanish business school during the third or fourth year of the Bachelor's program. Many business schools also offer summer education programs. Ask our specialists for more details concerning these programs.

Spanish business schools: requirements for admission

Every Spanish business school has its own requirements for admission. Normally, admission to business school takes into consideration the documents submitted, interviews, tests, academic excellence levels, and the number of seats available. Because the admission process requires the submission of translated and legalized documents and the number of seats for the program is limited, we recommend beginning the preparation process in advance. Moreover, it is extremely important to find the complete list of required documents. To this end, a major advantage of Spanish business schools is that they accept the documents required for admission throughout the year.

Spanish business schools in global rankings

The prestige of Spanish business schools is clearly demonstrated by their leadership in the world rankings. In 2013, 2014 and 2015, the influential “Executive Education Ranking” named IESE Business School at the University of Navarra the best school in Spain, Europe, and in the world. This business school was awarded the first position on the list of 85 participants, outrunning the business schools of many famous universities, such as Oxford, Cambridge, and Columbia Business School, USA.

The latter business school stands out among other schools due to the wage levels of its graduates (more than $130,000 per year) and the percentage of wage increase (over 153%).

According to the Executive Education Ranking, the list of the best business schools in Spain includes ESADE, Escuela Superior de Administracion y Direccion de Empresas (High School of Administration and Companies Management). ESADE’s international programs, quality of education, and teaching innovations are intended to prepare students for company management positions. The distinctive feature of the MBA program for ESADE is the fact that its students have the opportunity to acquire professional experience.

IE Business School is ranked third, and stands out due to its duration of training (on average, the duration of the program is 13 months, while in other schools, studies last for 21 months). The average student age is 28 years.

The ranking results are based on the questionnaires and interviews conducted by Financial Times, as well as statistical data. The ranking takes into account the curriculum, the number of foreign students and teachers, and the variety of educational events and extracurricular activities.

Top business schools in Spain 2015-2016: ranking by El Mundo

The results of the world ranking of the Spanish business schools coincide with the data of El Mundo, the renowned Spanish periodical that presents an annual report on premier schools.

A further advantage to studying business in Spain is that the education is affordable. However, if you plan to study abroad, it is important to start planning your experience in advance. The specialists at the service center, “INEEDSpain,” will help you choose an individual study program, assist you in preparing your documents, and consult with you on any issues related to the student visa application process. Call us at the phone numbers indicated on our website, and we will provide you with helpful recommendations on how to enter a business school in Spain!