Best MBA programs in Asia

Asian business schools have undeniably made a mark globally by securing 18 positions in the top 100 Financial Times business school rankings.

The recent years have seen several Asian MBA programs making it to the global MBA rankings, giving their counterparts a tough competition.

According to GMAC prospective students survey, the topmost factor that determines students’ international MBA destination choices is the reputation of the educational system (75%).

The next top deciding factor for students includes the program that can better prepare them for their career (54%) followed by the attractiveness of the location (34%).

In case of domestic candidates applying to Indian MBA programs, the top deciding factor is the program affordability (58%) while the business school location or its proximity from their home doesn’t seem to matter much.

The top Asian MBA destinations include Hong Kong, Singapore, India, and China. In this article, we’ll explore what each of these MBA destinations has to offer including the top business schools that have made it to the reputed Financial Times MBA rankings.

College / Business school name	Location	Post-MBA Career change (% of career changers)	Employed within 3 months of graduation	International students	Fees
INSEAD	Singapore	84% sector, country or function 27% changed all three	88%	95%	August intake: US$106,855 January intake: US$108,493
CEIBS	Shanghai, China	75.8% industry, function or both	93.2%	32%	US$67,704
SUFE college of business	Shanghai, China	92.45% industry	100%	14%	US$41,583
National University of Singapore	Singapore	–	87%	88%	S$76,000 (excluding GST)
ISB	Hyderabad / Mohali, India	–	99.4%	1%	US$40,075 (incl. shared accommodation) US$43,349 (incl. studio accommodation)
Nanyang Business School	Singapore	92% sector, geography or function	90%	95%	S$70,953 (incl. GST)
HKUST	Hong Kong	78% job function 70% industry	100%	50%	US$76,930
IIMA-PGPX	Ahmedabad, India	–	99%	–	US$38,510 incl. single accommodation) US$40,954 incl. married student housing
HKU	Hong Kong	83% job location 61% industry 64% function	96%	53%	US$59,625
IIMB-EPGP	Bangalore, India	–	100%	–	US$28,118 US$5,256 international immersion
IIMC MBA Ex	Kolkata, India	–	100%	–	US$37,899 (incl. accommodation)
CUHK	Hong Kong	–	78%	38%	US$73,895
IIM Lucknow IPMX	Noida, India	87% functions/roles 82% industry	100%	–	US$31,785 (incl. single occupancy accommodation on campus)
IIM Indore EPGP	Indore, India	–	100%	–	US$27,038 for Indian nationals US$40,559for foreign nationals

Let’s now look at some of these programs in more detail.

Best MBA programs in Hong Kong

Hong Kong was ranked 12^th in the ‘QS Best Student Cities’ rankings for the world’s most student-friendly locations.

A cosmopolitan business hub – Hong Kong has innumerable internship and job opportunities – coupled with the ease of obtaining an IANG (Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates) visa to work post-MBA makes Hong Kong one of the top sought-after MBA destinations in Asia.

HKUST Business School

Ranked no. 3 by Times Higher Education for ‘Best universities in Hong Kong’, HKUST is another globally ranked university that offers an accelerated 12-month or standard 16-month full-time MBA.

It has the largest campus in Hong Kong of around 150 acres on the northern end of Clear Water Bay Peninsula. The buildings offer a wonderful sea view as they are located on the terraced grounds along the slopes of the shore.

The MBA program has an optimal class size of 54 that allows for stronger bonds among classmates. The 16-month MBA allows students to spend an entire term at one of the MBA programs across the globe including top schools like Wharton, Yale, London Business School, Kellogg, HEC Paris, Duke, Cornell and many more.

The University of Hong Kong (HKU)

HKU happens to be Hong Kong’s oldest institution (over a hundred years old) for higher education. It has earned the no. 1 position in Times Higher Education rankings for ‘The most international universities in the world’ and also ‘Best universities in Hong Kong’.

The HKU business school is in heart of Hong Kong – a lively city and a melting pot of cultures.

The HKU MBA program has a one-year duration. The intimate class size of around 50 translates into a collaborative culture. The entire MBA team gets the chance to know the students very well.

The MBA program has its focus on Asia business but you can also gain international exposure by choosing a track at partner institutions – London Business School (LBS), Columbia Business School or Fudan University.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

CUHK is the first business school in Asia to offer an MBA, BBA and EMBA. It has been placed 4^th in Times Higher Education rankings for ‘The most international universities in the world’. It has also ranked no. 2 in Times Higher Education ‘Best universities in Hong Kong’.

It has a small class size of 53. It offers a 12-month duration accelerated MBA or a standard 16-month MBA program. Students can gain hands-on experience by being part of Business Practicum projects. They can get global exposure by participating in business field study trips to Greater China, Asia, Europe and the United States.

There are exchange programs across the world including the US, Canada, Europe, Australia or Asia at top business schools like University of Michigan, HEC Paris, LBS, NUS and several others.

Best MBA programs in Singapore

Singapore ranked 13^th in the QS Best Student Cities world’s most student-friendly locations. According to McKinsey survey, 43% of Southeast Asia’s unicorns are Singapore-based.

Singapore’s vibrant high-income economy, its culturally live cosmopolitan culture, high standard of living, excellent connectivity, diverse food options make Singapore a top choice for living and studying.

INSEAD Singapore

INSEAD is a leading elite business school with its presence (for full-time MBA programs) across two continents – Asia and Europe. In Singapore, it is located strategically very close to the financial district and near the airport.

It has consistently ranked among the top four schools in the Financial Times (FT) rankings over the last several years. INSEAD’s reputation is evident from the fact that top recruiters from every industry and sector recruit INSEAD grads with around 84% of the MBA class managing a career change.

It sees a diverse cohort comprising 95% international students. The program duration is 10 months for the September intake and 12 months for the January intake. Students can exchange between the campuses or participate in an international exchange at partner schools including Wharton, Kellogg or CEIBS.

Also read:
– INSEAD scholarship chances with 720 GMAT in Round 2 deadline
– Life before and after IIT Bombay, INSEAD and McKinsey: Diary of an overachiever

NUS (National University of Singapore) Business School

NUS is Singapore’s flagship university and the oldest autonomous institute of higher learning. Though it was originally founded in 1905, the National University of Singapore was established in 1980 through the merger of the University of Singapore and Nanyang University.

The NUS MBA is one of the well-known top MBA programs in Singapore with an intake of 120. It offers a 17 month long full-time MBA program. The curriculum has a strong Asia focus.

Also read:
–NUS Singapore MBA and 4 other admits for Indian IT Engineer Male
– How I got into NUS MBA after multiple rejections: Reapplicant story

Nanyang Business School Singapore

The Nanyang Business School (NBS), part of Nanyang Technological University (NTU), one of the largest public universities and the oldest business school in Singapore. NTU has been globally recognised for its technology, research initiatives and innovation.

The one-year full-time MBA program leverages NTU’s expertise in these fields and in addition to business fundamentals, the curriculum spans across areas including sustainability, business analytics, e-business and technology.

The program has a flexible duration and can be completed in 12 months or 18 months. With an international student mix of 15 nationalities, students have the opportunity to study Asian business in the vibrant city of Singapore.

Also read: Nanyang MBA admit with scholarship for reapplicant with GMAT 710

Best MBA programs in India

Some of the best MBA programs including those offered by India’s premier institutions – the IIMs and ISB have made it to the global MBA rankings. These reputed one-year fully residential programs have a competitive selection process and remain the top choices for candidates looking for a one-year program for experienced professionals.

Indian School of Business (ISB)

ISB is India’s leading business school with the original sprawling 260 acres campus in Hyderabad and the more recent one, measuring 70 acres in Mohali. It offers the one-year fully residential Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP).

ISB has academic alliance with leading business schools including Kellogg, Wharton, London Business School (LBS) and MIT Sloan. ISB achieved an impressive 99.4% employment rate with salary increase of 229% and was ranked no 1 by FT in salary increase. It also achieved a high rank of 8 in alumni network rank. It has ranked no. 1 among Indian business schools in the FT Business school rankings.

ISB’s Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) program is for professionals with 2-25 years of work experience. It has an intake of 843. The program sees students from unconventional backgrounds including defence, merchant navy, medicine, hospitality, healthcare and legal services. Students may be assigned either of the campuses however they also get to exchange terms and interact with students on the other campus.

Also read:
– MBA after CA: From IIM, ISB or abroad after 8 years of work experience
– ISB Placement Success Stories and Salary Statistics

IIMA MBA (PGPX)

Another top choice among Indian MBA applicants, IIMA MBA PGPX is an internationally ranked one-year full-time residential MBA program which saw a competitive cohort of around 148 coming in from diverse professional backgrounds including defence, government jobs, journalism, architecture, social services, media, advertising, communication, pharma, travel and hospitality, healthcare, aerospace and aviation.

The architectural masterpiece conceptualised and designed by renowned architect, Louis Kahn is spread across a 102 acres campus that houses the academic block, administrative buildings, auditoriums, student and faculty housing, indoor/outdoor sports facilities and gym.

The teaching methods include case discussions in addition to lectures, role plays, group exercises, seminars, games and industrial visits. The program requires candidates to have a minimum of four years of work experience. Students can spend two weeks at a partner school during international immersion.

The most recent placements saw top consulting firms – BCG, Bain & Company make the most offers, other top recruiters included Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Accenture.

IIMB EPGP

The Executive Post Graduate Programme in Management (EPGP) at IIM Bangalore is another top one-year full-time residential program for professionals with around 5-12 years of work experience.

The lush green 100 acres stone architecture campus is located in South Bangalore, a city popular as India’s tech capital as well as a growing business and start-up hub, It has a small class size of 75. With a 100% placement record well before convocation, it sees top recruiters including McKinsey, Bain, Accenture, EY, Amazon.

Also read: MBA after Civil Engineering: IIM and ISB admits for reapplicant

IIMC MBAEx

Established in November 1961, IIM Calcutta happens to be the first IIM in India – a joint effort between the government of India, Alfred P. Sloan School of Management (MIT), the Government of West Bengal, The Ford Foundation and Indian industry.

The MBA for Executives Programme (MBAEx) offered by IIM Calcutta is a fully-residential one-year program for mid-career professionals with more than five years of work experience. The class sees close to 80 students (with an average 8 years work experience) from diverse fields and professions.

IIM Lucknow IPMX

The IPMX (International Programme in Management for Executives) is a one-year residential program offered by IIM Lucknow for mid to senior professionals at its NOIDA Campus.

In addition to the Noida campus, students also get a chance to spend time on the Lucknow campus as well as an international partner school during the month-long international immersion term.

The employment report shows an impressive average increase of 70% in pre and post-MBA CTC.

Also read:
– Placement Statistics for IIM MBA for Executives

IIM Indore EPGP

IIM-I doesn’t rank in the latest FT ranking, but we’ve included it since it’s a popular option among Indian applicants.

The Executive Post Graduate Programme in Management (EPGP) program offered by IIM Indore is an intensive one-year full-time residential program for experienced professionals.

This program is a good option for professionals with a minimum of five years of work experience.

The most recent batch saw 41 enrolments with an average work experience of over eight years. The graduating batch reported a 78% salary increase after program completion.

Best MBA program in China

China happens to be one of the largest and fastest growing economy in the world. It is another top destination for prospective MBA aspirants.

CEIBS

China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) is among the top business schools in Asia and has consistently ranked in the top 20 globally in the Financial Times (FT) MBA rankings for business schools. It has ranked first among business schools in Asia in the FT rankings.

The school came into existence in 1994 through a joint effort of the Chinese government and European Union (EU) in partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

The full-time MBA classes are held at the Shanghai campus, with a program duration of 12 or 16 months. The class size is fairly small with an enrolment of 133. Students can exchange with top programs including INSEAD, Wharton, LBS and NYU Stern.

The MBA program has an excellent career outcome with 270 recruiting companies and 75.8% of the class switching industry, function or both.

Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE) College of Business

Though the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics was founded in 1917 as the earliest business research institution of higher learning in China, it started offering an MBA in 1991.

SUFE college of business located in Shanghai has been placed at the 24th position globally in the FT MBA rankings for business schools and also ranked no. 1 by Bloomberg in the Asia-Pacific B-Schools ranking. A quantum leap from 64th rank in 2021 to the 23rd position in 2023, this business school has made quite a splash.

The MBA full-time global class is a 2 years program that saw an excellent career outcome with 92.45% of the class changing industry, while the average of those switching industry over the last five years exceeded 75%, mainly in finance and consulting industry.