If you are interested in attending a top MBA program in Europe, you have likely identified the top two programs that are consistently considered the region’s most prestigious—and most selective: London Business School (LBS) and INSEAD.
So how do these programs compare to one another? And what factors should you consider if you are researching these two schools?
In this post, we will take a deep dive into the similarities and differences between LBS and INSEAD.
Commonalities
Global Focus and Student Body
These elite international business schools both pride themselves on having a very international focus with respect to both program content and student diversity. The student body at LBS and INSEAD is typically 90% to 95% international, with no one dominant nationality, and represents roughly 60 to 110 different countries. For comparison purposes, the most globally diverse U.S. MBA programs have student bodies that are 30% to 40% international. Many of the students at LBS and INSEAD will tell you that a large amount of learning comes directly from their classmates, whether that is hearing peers share professional stories during classroom discussions or collaborating with them on team projects. Gaining such a breadth of perspectives from one’s fellow students can be a very valuable part of the MBA experience, and that is where the global student diversity becomes a differentiator when compared with U.S. MBA programs.
In addition to its primary campus in Fontainebleau, INSEAD has campuses in Singapore and Abu Dhabi, as well as a San Francisco hub, while LBS has a campus in Dubai. Both programs offer international exchange options at more than 30 partner schools worldwide, and approximately 30% to 40% of LBS students, and up to 70% of INSEAD students, participate in some type of international exchange, for a truly global MBA learning experience.
Geographic Post-MBA Employment Trends
Both LBS and INSEAD are able to strongly position their students for post-MBA employment within Europe, with 40% to 60% of the programs’ graduates remaining in the region each year. Both programs also typically send smaller but notable percentages to Asia and the Middle East.
Admissions Similarities and Program Flexibility
In terms of the admissions process, the two schools are similarly competitive, with average GMAT scores in the 645 to 655 range. Both schools seek candidates who have strong academic and leadership potential; demonstrated professional impact; strong collaborative, communication, and interpersonal skills; and global experience or at least a global outlook. Both programs feature applications that include professional and personal essay questions and video components, along with alumni-led interviews (though INSEAD’s admissions process currently includes two such interviews, and LBS includes one, but is also differentiated with a case presentation question as part of the interview).
And finally, both offer a wide variety of electives and a reasonable amount of flexibility in how students can structure their education.
Differences
Program Length and Internship Options
One of the biggest ways that INSEAD and LBS differ is an obvious one: the length of the program. Generally speaking, INSEAD is a one-year MBA program (with 10- and 12-month options), whereas LBS is effectively a two-year program (by default a 21-month program, with some opportunity to structure shorter versions of 15 or 19 months).
Worth noting is that at INSEAD, the standard ten-month program starts in September—covering five two-month study periods—and does not include an internship. However, the slightly longer program that begins in January lasts for 12 months and does include an internship option. As soon as you decide that INSEAD is on your target school list, you will need to decide whether you wish to pursue an internship, because this will affect your start date for the program and consequently the timing of your application.
By contrast, LBS’s 21-month program does include a summer internship or alternate summer option, such as the Entrepreneurship Summer School, which is unique to LBS. This extended timeline could be beneficial to candidates who would like to have more time to explore their options, take a range of electives, and participate in an internship and career research. The longer program format can also be particularly helpful for career switchers. Most LBS students follow the typical two-year path, and those who opt for one of the shorter (15- or 18-month) options take fewer electives and can opt out of completing an internship. LBS has recently launched an even shorter 12-month program, but that is limited to students who already hold an MiM degree.
Program Costs
Another differentiating factor between the two programs also relates to their length, and that is the cost. With the shorter INSEAD program, the investment will be less than LBS (although it is not half the cost!), and students have fewer living expenses and less lost income. Of course, scholarships are offered at both programs, which can make a difference with respect to cost comparison, and each candidate needs to assess their own personal budget considerations and preferences as to the importance of this factor.
Location and Campus Setting
An additional difference between LBS and INSEAD is relatively obvious but still important to consider fully, and that is location!
When you are attempting to decide between the United Kingdom and France, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you have a preferred country that you are targeting working in after business school or that you want to build more connections in?
- Do you have an interest in living in one of those two, quite different cultures during the one or two years that you are studying for your MBA?
The campus setting also differs. LBS is relatively central in the city of London, located at Sussex Place, adjacent to Regent’s Park. INSEAD’s campus, while often thought of as being in Paris, is actually about 40 minutes by train outside of Paris in the suburb called Fontainebleau.
These differences in campus setting can make a difference to your overall MBA experience. For example, LBS students can more easily explore life in London, integrated into their daily experience, because they typically rent flats in London and enjoy city activities together. If you prefer to be more fully integrated into the city, LBS might be a good choice for you in that regard. INSEAD students can still spend time in Paris and often do, but more travel is required to get to the city, and such excursions tend to be more of a weekend activity. Some INSEAD students feel that by being in more of a campus setting slightly removed from the city, they are able to bond even more closely with their classmates during the program. Decide what factors matter most to you as you compare schools head-to-head!
Post-MBA Sector Employment Trends
You can certainly go into any industry or function as a graduate of either INSEAD or LBS, but where students tend to go differs notably.
In recent years, more than 50% of INSEAD’s graduates have gone into consulting immediately after earning their MBA. In fact, INSEAD often sends more of its graduates to McKinsey & Company than any other global business school does. Recently, approximately 10%–15% of INSEAD MBAs entered technology positions; 15%-20% entered industry positions that include manufacturing, retail, and healthcare; and just 10%–15% entered roles in financial services.
At LBS, a large number of graduates also go into consulting, often more than 35% of the class, and McKinsey & Company has recently been the top recruiter at both schools. However, LBS MBAs tend to be more spread out across multiple industries, with more than 25% going into financial services and more than 20% going into technology.
In terms of post-MBA geography, 40% to 60% of LBS students typically stay in the United Kingdom after earning their degree, thanks to the UK Graduate visa program, which allows them to work in the region for two years following graduation, without needing company sponsorship.
As for INSEAD’s graduates, approximately 40% of each class finds employment somewhere in Europe. Although that figure is lower than LBS’s, it is still impressive. The bottom line is that either program could be a good option if your goal is to work in Europe after gaining your MBA. And EU visas are available if needed for the first year following your MBA program to support you in seeking a job, after which you can transition to an employer-sponsored visa.
Curriculum Structure and Approach
With respect to curriculum, the two schools have similar core offerings that students take early on in the program, and both offer extensive elective options, but because the LBS program is longer, its students are generally able to take a greater number of elective courses.
LBS’s longer program length also means that students can choose an optional elective concentration, or specialization—this is not an option at INSEAD. Specializations are available within Change Management, Entrepreneurial Management, Finance, Marketing, Private Equity, Strategy, Economics, and Technology and Analytics.
In terms of teaching style, INSEAD is known for its more extensive use of the case study method, whereas LBS has a more mixed teaching style that includes case studies, discussions, and group projects.
Language Requirements
An important logistical note to consider if you are interested in INSEAD is that the school requires that candidates be proficient in a second language by the time they apply to the school. (Until this year, they also required a third language by graduation, but that requirement has been eliminated.) LBS does not have language requirements, but the school does recommend that students achieve competency in a second language to increase their career prospects, and it offers language training courses and related opportunities as part of its MBA program.
Final Considerations
To summarize, these programs share real similarities as globally focused MBA programs in Europe, but they also significantly differ in terms of length, location, post-MBA paths, and admissions prerequisites. When deciding where to pursue your degree, pay close attention to those differences, because you need to know that you can be happy at the school you ultimately choose. One of the best ways to get to know the school is to talk to students and alumni of both programs, to get their inside take.
If you are interested in learning more about either or both of these schools, we offer a “Learning about” module for LBS and for INSEAD—and for many other MBA programs—in onTrack by mbaMission, our on-demand and highly customizable admissions course. In each school’s module, we go deep into the reasons someone might want to attend the program, as well as the reasons someone might not want to, and address the curriculum, career opportunities, and a number of school-specific special topics. These onTrack modules can also facilitate your essay writing, short-answer strategy, interview preparation, and other important application tasks.
And if you would like to discuss these or other MBA programs, or your candidacy for either, feel free to schedule with an mbaMission admissions expert.
