Greetings Everyone,

I am based out of Singapore, looking to move to Barcelona for a potential MBA Degree. As of now, I don’t have a GMAT score and happen to be exploring MBA options over a few schools such as UPF-BSM, EAE or UAB / TBS (business masters).

While UPF’s Barcelona school of management seems to have accreditations, EAE seems to fare slightly better in terms of employment networks, based on the information provided by the university though EAE does not seem have important accreditations, which seems a bit odd. TBS does seem like a great option, but they offer private degrees which are not accredited by the government, so I am not sure whether they are eligible for work visa prospects with regard to non-EU students in Spain as my goal is to explore employment prospects.

I have explored possibilities with regard to EADA but still trying to fetch more information about their entrance test. Currently pursuing A2 Spanish, looking to target next year's intake.

I would greatly appreciate esteemed insights and valuable counsels from the wonderful folks of this community over my query. Once again, thanks an absolute ton for your time & expertise.

Regards,
Juzo

[Edited by Juzo on Nov 05, 2024]

First, what specific role and industry do you want to work in after your MBA? This will help determine which schools can actually help you achieve your goals.
For working in Spain as a non-EU citizen, you'll need:
-- A state-recognized degree (not just a private diploma)
-- Strong Spanish language skills (B2 minimum for most business roles)
-- A school with solid employer connections and career support
Of the schools you listed:
-- UPF-BSM does offer state-recognized degrees and has decent local connections
-- EAE's employment stats require verification - without key accreditations, proceed cautiously
-- TBS's private degrees may create visa issues
-- EADA is triple-accredited and has better employer recognition
I'd suggest:
-- Get your GMAT score first - this opens more options
-- Focus intensively on Spanish - A2 is not sufficient for most jobs
-- Consider ESADE or IESE if possible - they have much stronger employer networks
-- Target schools offering state-recognized degrees to avoid visa complications
If budget is a constraint, consider:
-- Taking a year to improve your Spanish and GMAT
-- Looking at other EU countries with English-language jobs
-- Pursuing a specialized masters instead of an MBA
-- Building experience in Singapore first
What specific role/industry interests you in Spain?

Greetings Stuart, Thank you very much for reaching out to me in such a prompt manner, your guidance is genuinely appreciated. I deeply value your insightful counsel and will absolutely take it into consideration. I am exploring roles in the capacity of business development and management as I have bit of an experience of over 5 years. Moreover, I absolutely second your advice over trying to get a decent GMAT score.

With regard to other EU countries what's your take on recent modifications in the Irish & UK laws with minimum required wages being (41k or 38k respectively) for non - EU / UK citizens. Would it be fair to assume that it may be a bit difficult for folks from non-tech backgrounds. Also, would you rate EAE's mba with AI specialization tho I absolutely agree with you over the fact that since key accreditations are missing it's best to proceed with caution. Once again, thanks an absolute ton for sharing such an insightful counsel & expertise, genuinely appreciated it!

[Edited by Juzo on Nov 05, 2024]