Top 10 MBAs in Europe for Low Work Experience

Three years’ work experience may not seem like much, but the low requirement has not dampened the quality of the cohort at the Rotterdam School of Management in the Netherlands, which takes a more holistic approach to applications. The school is ranked among the best in the world by the FT and it wants students with, rather than substantial work experience, a global mindset and soft skills like excellent communication. 

On average at SDA Bocconi in Milan, Italy, students have five years’ work experience. Yet the range is between two and 10 years. And the school says that it will admit students with even lower years of work experience if they have an excellent academic background, test scores, transversal skills, and are motivated. Managerial experience is not required, either. 

MBA candidates at St Gallen in Switzerland may have about six years of work experience on average, but the school admits applicants with as little as two years’ working knowledge. St Gallen is undoubtedly one of the best Swiss schools, as it’s ranked by most of the major publications, including the FT.  

With just two years professional experience required at Spain’s ESADE, this school is a fantastic option for high potential younger MBA aspirants. ESADE is one of Spain’s highest ranked institutions, and has a good international reputation. More than 90 percent of MBAs are employed on graduating and the average salary is a massive $149,000, a 116 percent increase on the pre-MBA pay. 

HEC Paris, with five years’ work experience required, is at the top end of the scale. But HEC remains a good option, given the caliber of the school, which is one of France’s elite Grande Ecoles schools of management. HEC is France’s second highest ranked MBA provider, according to the FT. 

Students need only three years of relevant professional experience to be considered for the International MBA at Spain’s IE Business School. IE has consistently been ranked as one of the nation’s best business schools. It takes a holistic approach to evaluating applications, so low work experience should not count against you, if your overall profile is strong. 

Cambridge Judge is another institution that needs few introductions. The UK school is famous globally for the quality of its teaching and research. The average age of work experience on the MBA is six, which may seem high, but not if you compare it with the quality of the class. The average GMAT score is high at 696, with 44 nationalities in the group too. 

In Bloomberg Businessweek’s ranking of the best non-US MBA programs, Oxford’s course was at number four, above even its arch rival Cambridge Judge. The average number of years of work experience across the Oxford MBA cohort is just five, far lower other UK schools’ averages, which can be between of seven and 10. Which is surprising, given the quality of the Oxford school. 

LBS is undoubtedly one of Europe’s best business schools, having been ranked in the top-five of the FT league table for the past several consecutive years. In the QS Global MBA Ranking 2019, LBS ranks first for employability, fourth for entrepreneurship, alumni outcomes, thought leadership, and is 16th for diversity. And yet the average amount of work experience is five years and overseas students usually have even lower work experience since their undergraduate degrees are longer than in the UK. LBS says it will admit candidates with under three years’ experience if they can demonstrate top academic credentials and evidence of outstanding leadership. 

INSEAD in France does not even have a work experience requirement. It only suggests at least two years, with the current class average being 5.5 years. Still, this really lowers the barrier to entry to what is the leading MBA program in Europe, according to the Financial Times ranking. INSEAD is renowned for a short, cheap course that is seriously international: students study on three continents and there are 90 nationalities in today’s class.