This year’s FT rankings has hit an important milestone. For the first time in the rankings’ 13-year history, over 100 schools have entered the competition, with 100 programs receiving a seat at the table. This result highlights the growing importance of this master’s program, especially in the European market.
The Top 10 Rankings for 2018
1. University of St.Gallen
2. HEC Paris
3. London Business School
4. ESSEC Business School
5. ESCP Europe
6. Bocconi University
7. University College Dublin: Smurfit
8. Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
9. CEMS
10. IE Business School
The top 10 have remained somewhat stable relative to last year. St.Gallen continues to top the list, while HEC retains its second-place position. Two newcomers to the top 10 are University College Dublin, which has jumped 8 places to rank 7, and Rotterdam School of Management, which has moved up 3 places to rank 8. Of note is the recent drop in the rank of IE, which, having fallen from 3rd place, now ranks 10th. IE has experienced quite a few difficulties this year, beginning with its inability to meet the ranking requirements of the Financial Times’ 2018 global MBA rankings, excluding it completely from the list.
As you evaluate these rankings, it’s important to keep in mind that while they can help you identify schools of interest, they should not be used as the sole metric by which you decide your educational future. These rankings do not reflect the sort of network, professional opportunities, geographic requirements, and school fit that any one individual may require to best progress in his post-degree field. Once you’ve identified some potential target schools from the rankings, it’s important to do your own due diligence by reading about the programs, contacting them, heading to events, and speaking with alumni. You’re only going to pursue an MiM once in your lifetime, so make sure to make it count.
