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The Financial Times has just released their 2016 rankings for the world’s top business schools and MBA programs, and the top school has created quite a stir.

For the first time ever, the number one slot in the FT rankings is occupied by a one-year MBA program:  France’s INSEAD Business School.

And that’s not the only first racked up by INSEAD this year; it’s also the first time a school with a strong Asian presence has topped the rankings; the second non-US program to be ranked number one; and only the fifth program overall to take the top spot in the Financial Times’ 17 years of ranking business schools.

INSEAD beat out Harvard Business School, which has held the number one spot in the FT rankings for the last three years. Previous best schools included Wharton School of Business, Stanford Graduate School of Business, and London Business School.

Business Schools are Going Global

There are a number of factors that have gone into INSEAD’s dominance in this year’s ranking. Certainly, the cost and convenience of the one-year program makes INSEAD a popular choice for MBA applicants.

However, the program’s strong presence in Asia and the Middle East is also a significant draw for students who are looking for a business education with a truly global outlook.

INSEAD has campuses in both Singapore and Abu Dhabi, as well as partnerships with the China Europe International Business School and prestigious US schools like Wharton and Kellogg.

The INSEAD MBA program makes it easy for students to get experience across multiple locations, with opportunities at the Abu Dhabi campus ranging from multi-part modules to a full elective course. In addition, the campus exchange program allows students to bid for the chance to spend their third, fourth, or fifth program period at one of the school’s other campuses or associated schools.

Of course, INSEAD taking the top spot is not the only indication of the rise in prominence of a global MBA experience. In fact, this is the first time that US. schools have made up less than half of the list for the Financial Time Top 100 Business Schools: the FT top 25 list includes business schools in France, Spain, Switzerland, China, India, and Italy, in addition to schools in the US and UK.

Other top international performers on the FT list include the Indian Institute for Management in Ahmedabad, ranked as the top school for career progress; Renmin University of China School of Business, the high-ranked new entrant at 43^rd place on the list; and Ipade Business School in Mexico, ranked as the best international experience.

Your Turn

While business school rankings shuffle a bit each year, there’s no denying that an MBA from a top-ranked business school can take you far in the working world. But when it comes to choosing the right MBA program for you, there are a lot of factors to consider.

A free MBA application assessment from EXPARTUS can help you get a handle on where to go. Our trusted admissions consultants will give you an unbiased assessment of your application, help you understand your strengths and weaknesses, and identify the schools where you should apply.

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