Guides: Business School Insider’s Guides

mbaMission’s INSEAD Insider’s Guide

mbaMission’s INSEAD Insider’s Guide

INSEAD has billed itself on its website as “the business school for the world,” and since its inception, its goal has been to offer students a truly international business education. Based in picturesque Fontainebleau in France, INSEAD launched its first program on Asian business in 1974, began offering executive programs for Brazilians in 1987, welcomed its first class on its Singapore campus in 2000, and opened the INSEAD center in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in 2007.

A defining trait of the INSEAD MBA program is its length: just ten months. INSEAD was the first school to offer a one-year MBA, in fact, and did so as its initial offering in 1959. The program, split into five academic periods, requires students to complete 14 core courses in general management and allows them to tailor their education through electives, internships, and immersive international experiences.

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  • Class size: Smaller versus Larger
  • Curriculum: Flexibly versus Mandatory Core
  • Pedagogy: Lecture versus case method
  • Academic Specializations/Recruitment Focus: Resources and Employers
  • Professional Specializations
  • Location: Urban Campus versus College Town
  • Facilities: Shaping the Academic/Social Experience
  • Alumni Base: Opportunities to Engage
  • Rankings and Reputation: Important Metrics or Arbitrary Measures?
  • The Dean: Francisco Veloso
  • Notable Professors and Unsung Heroes
  • Social/Community Life
  • Academic Summary
  • Admissions Basics
  • INSEAD Essay Tips, 2024-2025
  • INSEAD Class Profile (Class of 2025)
  • INSEAD Employment Statistics (Class of 2023)

INSEAD FAQs

Is an INSEAD MBA really worth it?

INSEAD graduates tend to find work quite easily. Of the Class of 2023, 88% reported to have received at least one job offer within three months of graduation. The average annual salary for the Class of 2023 was €113,400 (approximately 125,700 USD), in addition to a median sign-on bonus of €28,500 (approximately 31,600 USD) and a median performance bonus of €25,100 (approximately 27,800 USD).

Is INSEAD MBA better than Harvard?

INSEAD and Harvard Business School are both consistently ranked among the top MBA programs in the world. While one is not better than the other as a program, one might be better for you as a candidate—consider such aspect as location, curriculum, school culture, and cost of living to determine which program would be better suited for you. For example, INSEAD is located in Europe, while Harvard is in the United States. Geography is a major aspect of the decision-making process, especially since these programs are located on different continents.

How prestigious is the INSEAD MBA?

The INSEAD MBA program is typically ranked among the best MBA programs in the world and is often ranked number one. INSEAD does not reveal its acceptance rate, but INSEAD is known to be a very competitive school. INSEAD MBA graduates go into numerous industries after graduation and accept highly compensated jobs each year.

How much does the INSEAD MBA cost?

The tuition fee for the INSEAD MBA is currently €99,500 (approximately 110,300 USD) for the August intake and €103,500 (approximately 114,700 USD) for the January intake.  INSEAD estimates the living expenses for the ten-month program to be

€30,000 (approximately 33,250 USD) for students on the Fontainebleau campus and €32,000 (approximately 35,500 USD) for students on the Singapore campus. These expenses include accommodation, transportation, meals, and such other optional expenses as a car lease and field trips.

INSEAD offers more than 150 scholarship funds, which include merit-based, need-based, and immediate (based on admissions profiles) scholarships. Roughly 40% of INSEAD students receive scholarships. On average, INSEAD students receive €22,100 (approximately 24,500 USD) in scholarship funds.

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