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MBA Courses in Europe

An MBA is an internationally recognised qualification and is great way to start up a successful management career. Essentially, MBA’s are generalist qualifications designed to widen the horizons of business professionals, taking into account all the major functions and practises of a business. MBA’s are extremely relevant within the business industry today, so now is a great time to commence your studies.

When deciding on a place to study an MBA, many prospective students choose to study in the United States or United Kingdom. However now, MBA’s can be studied worldwide and MBA courses in Europe an excellent reputation. The increased demand for MBA courses in Europe has had a considerable impact on the number of institutions providing the courses, which means there is now more choice and flexibility than ever before.

Doing an MBA course in Europe is a great opportunity for you to take advantage of the chance to study a practical diploma relevant to the industry and the multicultural environment. Topics learnt throughout the duration of the course can be applied in the everyday life of a company.

MBA courses in Europe - How long are they and how much do they cost?

European MBA courses are shorter than that of those in the USA. Typically, full-time courses last for 10-15 months, with most running for one year. Europe has many of the world’s top business schools and as there are 27 countries within the EU, you are bound to come into close contact with some of the world’s major business markets.

Higher education institutions in Europe are smaller compare to those in the US and the UK. The average intake of full-time MBA students in the US is 287, whereas it is only 124 in Europe, meaning course teaching will be delivered to a smaller number of students, therefore giving the course a more personal feel.

Typical costs for an MBA course in Europe range from €10,000 to €40,000, but this all depends on the country you intend to study in and where your home country is.

How international is the student body in Europe?

European institutions of higher education have a significantly higher percentage of non-national students then their American counterparts. However, internationalisation does not translate directly into number of foreign students. Exchange programmes also contribute to an overall international culture.

Starting salary for MBA graduates in Europe

The average salary for an MBA graduate from a top business school in Europe is estimated at €85,000. This figure many vary in individual cases as it does not reflect differences in types of programmes studied or age and experience of graduates. Another promising factor for MBA graduates from Europe is that graduate salaries have increased by over 25% in the past four years according to the MBA Career Guide annual survey of over 250 recruiting companies.

MBA courses in Denmark

Full-time MBA courses in Denmark are an intensive learning experience, where focus is on putting theory into practice and thorough grounding in business essentials. Most MBA courses in Denmark are taught entirely in English, and attract talented professionals from around the world. At Copenhagen Business School, 90% of MBA participants are from outside Denmark, coming from 22 different countries.

Tuition fee costs for MBA courses in Demark currently stand at DKK (Danish Krone) 275,000 (approximately the equivalent of €37,000 and $46,000).

In order to study for an MBA in Denmark, most students will be required to obtain a residence permit. To be granted a residence permit you must be able to prove:

• That you have been admitted to a higher educational programme which has been approved by a state authority or which is offered by a publicly accredited educational institution.
• That you can support yourself with your own means for the duration of your stay in Denmark. If you are to pay a tuition fee, you must document that you have paid the tuition fee for the first semester or year, instead of documenting that you can support yourself.
• That you can speak and understand the language of instruction and have a working knowledge of either Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, English or German.

If you have been granted a residence permit in order to complete a higher educational programme in Denmark, your residence permit will be valid for an additional six months after you complete the programme. This is to allow you to look for work in Denmark. As a foreign student following a higher educational programme, you are allowed to work 15 hours a week, as well as full-time during the months of June, July and August. The same applies during the job-seeking period after the completion of your educational programme. A work permit sticker will be placed in your passport.

MBA courses in France

It is becoming compulsory for MBA courses in France to be conducted in English so that the best students and teachers are recruited. Most institutions require students to have a good TOEFL or GMAT score to apply.

MBA teaching in France is pragmatic, and the solutions proposed to solve problems are usually practical. French courses are linked more to the industry because of the structure of their institutions - universities are usually sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce, meaning students will attend meetings with company managers or company visits are organised on a regular basis.

French MBA courses also have many other advantages. Intakes of students are usually smaller than in US universities, and programmes mainly focus on quality. They also focus on the international and multicultural aspects, as many institutions have developed exchange programmes with partner universities mainly in other areas of Europe.

To gain an idea of how successful MBA students are in France, graduates from INSEAD receive an average of 2.4 job opportunities offered to them with an average starting salary of around £35,000.

MBA courses in Ireland

Ireland is a great destination to study for an MBA. With its strong links to and neighbouring the UK, it has strong finance and banking sectors, as well as expertise in various other industries including IT and pharmaceuticals. Ireland always provides high quality business education and the University College of Dublin falls within the Top 30 business schools in Europe.

Ireland is a great place for non-native English speakers to perfect not only their business schools but the language of the world's business language. Also, Britain has increasingly relaxed opportunities for MBA graduates to come to, or stay in, the country in recent years.

For MBA courses in Ireland, fees range from €10,000 - €20,000 depending on the course and university.

Citizens of certain countries who wish to pursue a course of study in Ireland must apply for a visa to enter Ireland before they travel. From 1 January 2011 there are changes to the immigration system for full-time non-EEA students including: a cap on the length of time they can stay in Ireland as students, and transitional arrangements for students already in Ireland who will be affected by the changes.

If you wish to study in Ireland for less than three months you should apply for a 'C study visa'. If your course lasts longer than three months, you should apply for a 'D study visa'. Generally speaking, the duration of a 'C study visa', is not extended once you have arrived in Ireland. Extensions will be granted in exceptional cases only. It's very important, therefore, to make sure you know the duration of your course before you apply for a visa.

As part of their visa, international students are entitled to work up to 20 hours part-time per week during the academic term and to work full-time during vacation periods. For more information of student visas in Ireland, click here.

MBA courses in the Netherlands

Located in Central Europe, the Netherlands is the perfect study destination for those seeking an MBA course in a multi-national country. The Netherlands has always been a forward thinking country in terms of delivering education in English, and nearly all MBA courses in the Netherlands are taught in English.

Like in Denmark, international students must obtain a residence permit in order to study here. Depending on your home country of residence, the visa requirements and procedure will differ. To find out about visa requirements for your study in the Netherlands, click here.

Tuition fees for MBA’s differ in the Netherlands to many other countries. Instead of charging a set fee, each university decides how much fees for each course will be. To study an MBA in the Netherlands, anything up to €29,000 is charged per programme.

MBA courses in Spain

Spain is a diverse country with a fantastic culture and exciting history, which is a great reason for you to consider studying an MBA in Spain. Anyone wishing to travel to and enter Spain must have a valid passport and/or the appropriate Spanish Visa. You may apply for a visa to the Spanish Consulate in your home country before you leave.

Students are required to pay registration and tuition fees at public universities in Spain. Tuition fees vary depending on the university and course you will be studying. On average, MBA courses in Spain will costs anything between €21,000 to €30,000 for a one year full-time course.

MBA courses in Germany

If you want to study for an MBA in a strong European country, Germany is the place for you. Germany has a long running history of a strong economy and management, making it a great place to study for an MBA.

If you belong to a country outside the EU and are applying to study in Germany, you will need a visa. There are three types of visas available for international students:

• A language course visa, which cannot be converted into a student visa and is only valid for the duration of the course
• A three-month study applicant’s visa, which is valid if you have not yet obtained university admission. After admission, it must be converted as quickly as possible into a resident permit for student purposes
• The visa for study purposes, which is valid for one year. In order to obtain this visa, you must provide proof of admission and financial support for the duration of study.

All visa applications are submitted to the German Embassy or the German Consulate in your country of residence as early as possible.

Tuition fees used to be unknown in Germany, but fees were recently introduced for long-term students, visiting students and for postgraduate and Master's students. As from the winter semester 2006/2007, fees are around 500 euros per semester.

• Fees for long-term students: Some universities charge around €500 per semester for students whose studies have lasted three to four semesters longer than the standard time to degree.
• Fees for second degrees: Those who take up a second degree course or exceed a certain number of semesters (1.5 times the standard time to degree) have to pay around €500 - €650 per semester.
• Postgraduate programmes: Most Master's programmes are fee-charging. Tuition can amount to between €650 and several thousand euros per semester.

To see what scholarship options are available for you, click here.

Top business schools in Europe http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/european-business-school-rankings-2010

Why not study here

• Institute of Economics - Polish Academy of Sciences (INE PAN)
• ESCP - Europe Business School

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