Top 7 MBAs in Spain

As of 2019, IESE Business School in Barcelona was the highest ranked Spanish school by both the Financial Times and Bloomberg Businessweek; the FT placed it 12th globally, though the school is down from 10th in 2017. IESE’s full-time MBA is distinguished by its flexible duration that can be competed in 15 or 19 months. That format provides time enough for an internship, which can be a path to post-graduation careers in fields such as investment banking, management consulting, or consumer goods. 

Close to IESE both in rankings and location is ESADE Business School, also in Barcelona and ranked by the FT. Established in 1958, ESADE has a global alumni network numbering 60,000, very useful for securing jobs. The school is known for its emphasis on corporate social responsibility and entrepreneurship. The ESADE BAN business angels network, which backs student and graduate companies, is comprised of 200 alumni investors who analyze over 600 projects each year. 

IE Business School, in Madrid, boats students from over 128 countries in its highly-ranked MBA programs (the full-time course is considered one of the best in the world by the FT). The school has an 82 percent employment rate and its weighted salary in USD for alumni after three years is $153,547, higher than its key competitors, IESE and ESADE. 

EADA Business School in Barcelona is accredited by three major accreditation bodies — AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS — putting it in a small club of top-quality schools around the world. The full-time MBA offers three concentrations, in global innovation management, structured finance and energy, and customer experience and “omni-channel” management. What’s more, the program includes a week abroad in Singapore, Hong Kong, or Kazakhstan. 

The MBA at Carlos III was launched as recently as 1997 but is already accredited by AMBA, one of only six Spanish programs to achieve the feat. The course is delivered over 12 months and taught in English, with tuition fees at bargain rates compared to some of its competitors. The school provides Spanish language training, which is useful for overseas students who wish to work in the country on graduation from the MBA. 

ESCP is one of Europe’s best business schools, and it has a campus in Madrid. The MBA in International Management is taught there in English over 12 months. The course is accredited by AMBA and entry requirements are a master’s or bachelor’s degree with a minimum of three years’ professional work experience. 

Accredited by AMBA, ESIC runs a full-time MBA that is taught in both English and Spanish over a period of 12 months. The school also offers a “Global MBA” that takes place in Madrid, Florida and Shanghai. Graduates receive three degrees, from each partner university.