In comparison with US Business Schools, the European ones mostly have a higher acceptance rate of MBA applicants ranging from 16.6% in the case Mannheim Business School to 55% at Warwick Business School.

Of the total 465 applications received in 2017-18, Mannheim admitted 77 of which 55 enrolled showing a year over year change of 3%. HEC, Paris with an acceptance rate of 17.5% had 2,231 applications in 2017-18 of which 391 were admitted of which 235 students enrolled, a year-over-year change of 5%.

IESE Business School comes next with an acceptance rate of 26.4% from a total 2,105 applications, admitting 556 of which 350 enrolled, -8% year-over-year change.

MBA Acceptance Rates in Europe: 16.6% at Mannheim To 55% at Warwick 

Meanwhile, IMD recorded an acceptance rate of 28.8% from 430 applications admitting 124 of which 90 enrolled with a year-over-year change of 63%.

London Business School has an acceptance rate of 32.8%. Oxford Said and Cambridge Judge business schools also do not provide the figures. The acceptance figure for the Spanish business schools, IESE, IE and ESADE, is between 35% and 38%.

Unlike their US counterparts, several of the B-schools in Europe shy away from providing admission statistics. INSEAD, for instance, may provide the average GMAT score of the class but would not reveal the total number of applicants, those admitted or the acceptance rates. However, the school is believed to have an acceptance rate of around 30%.

London Business School has an acceptance rate of 32.8%. Oxford Said and Cambridge Judge business schools also do not provide the figures. The acceptance figure for the Spanish business schools, IESE, IE and ESADE, is between 35% and 38%.

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INSEAD says it does not provide the statistics to avoid leading the applicants to wrong conclusions about their chances that may even lead them not to apply at some of the schools. They should have the freedom to apply depending on their profile, career goals and network opportunities.

Admission consultants opine that the opacity could also be to hide fall in application volume corresponding with a rise in acceptance rates that could be interpreted as fall in standards.

Among those refusing to part with data were the Imperial College Business School, Erasmus University’s Rotterdam School of Management, City University’s Cass Business School in London and Lancaster Business School.

In the current batch, Engineering & IT form the professional background of 39% of students followed by Business & economics at 33%. Almost 28% are from Asia/Oceania, 25% from Europe (excluding Germany). Germans comprise 17% followed by Latin Americans at 15%.

The Program and Rankings

MBS offers theoretically based and practice-oriented learning from internationally renowned faculty members and classes with participants from more than 20 countries prepare students for a career in global top management. The school is also ranked 9^th among the top ten ‘Value for Money’ programs worldwide by the Financial Times. It has reported weighted salary of $109,62279 and salary increase of 79%. MBS also improved its overall ranking to 49 in 2016 from 55 in 2015. The Economist places MBS as first among the four German B-Schools with an overall rank of 41 and regional rank of 11.

It also offers flexibility in the form of five international tracks with up to two three-month stays abroad at renowned partner institutions and elective courses allow an individual setting of priorities. The school offers effective support in career development and job search.

MBS says it takes care to have teaching content with practical relevance, renowned guest speakers from companies, and a three-month team project at the end of the program prepare for future challenges. Personal development is achieved through group work in diverse teams, soft skill workshops, and a Social Project develop and strengthen the student’s key competences.

The Fees

The current course fee is € 36.000. The tuition fee includes case studies, copies and course materials. The students will have full access to the school’s IT infrastructure, including wireless LAN and intranet as well as to all additional university services, including the library and its various databases, the gymnasium, the cafeteria and student clubs. The tuition fees also cover German language courses, coffee breaks as well as some extracurricular programs and trips.

It, however, does not include transportation, accommodation and living costs. The application fee is € 100 (non-refundable).

The first down payment of 3,000 Euros is due two weeks after the admissions contract is signed by the participant. Furthermore, 50% of the tuition fee should be paid before program start.

Admission Criteria

Applicants should possess an internationally recognized academic degree in any discipline (at least a Bachelor’s), a minimum B+ average in their undergraduate degree and at least 3 years of postgraduate working experience.

They should have leadership potential, international experience and fluency in English (TOEFL or IELTS; the language certificate request can be waived if the candidate graduated from an English speaking university in an English speaking country, for example USA, Canada, the UK, Australia or New Zealand).

GMAT scores are mandatory with a minimum score of 600. In case of good scores, the School grants a reduction of €200 to those admitted to the MBA program. While knowledge of the German language is not an admission requirement, international participants are encouraged to start taking German language courses prior to the program start.

The program starts in September. Since Mannheim has ur rolling admission process, aspirants could apply anytime for the next program start in September 2017. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis until the selection of an optimum cohort. Since only limited places are available, candidates should apply as early as possible.

If the application is submitted by the first early bird reduction deadline (November 30), there will be a € 2,000 reduction in tuition fee. Your tuition fee will be reduced by € 1,000 if the application is in by the second early bird reduction deadline (March 31).

How to Apply

Fill out the Mannheim MBA Application Form and send it together with the required documents including an evidence of payment for the application fee (€ 100). Your referees need to fill out the Reference Form and send it directly to the Admissions Manager.

Step two involves a personal or web-based interview with the Admissions Manager. A successful first interview is followed by a case study work at home.

Step three is interview with Program Management. An admissions decision will be made based on the evaluation of your application package and the selection interview within two weeks. (Image Courtesy: Mannheim Business School)