4 European business schools offering English postgraduate degrees

The business world is evolving at breakneck speed, making it essential — more than ever — for professionals to upskill themselves to remain competitive in the workforce. Whether you’re looking to climb up the higher rungs of the career ladder or switch careers, an advanced business degree can help with your career and widen your professional network. 

This is echoed by findings in a Graduate Management Admission Council’s (GMAC) survey which found that graduate management education (GME) programmes in 2021 continue to grow among prospective students. Most respondents continue to exhibit strong confidence in the value of a graduate business degree, with four in five (84%) candidates strongly agree or agree that a graduate business degree helps someone stand out at work.

A business-related master’s degree can equip professionals with the knowledge and skills to drive their organisations forward, making it an asset for professionals looking to stand out from the pack in the competitive world of business.

While English-speaking countries like the US, Canada and the UK have long been a favourite for international students, Europe is also home to business schools that offer world-class, advanced business programmes in the global language of business. 

If your interest is piqued, here are four business schools in Europe that offer English taught master’s degree programmes. 

SKEMA Business School

At SKEMA, transforming education and the student experience is a key strategic pillar. Source: SKEMA Business School

If you’re looking for a global business school that will challenge and develop your professional expertise via interdisciplinary programmes, SKEMA Business School will prove to be a frontrunner. SKEMA is accredited by professional organisations, including EQUIS, AACSB and EFMD Accredited EMBA. Its programmes are recognised in France, as well as in the US (licensing), Brazil (certificação) and China.

Here, learning is driven by expert research. SKEMA’s programmes aim to develop students’ business knowledge and equip them with skills to help them thrive in the globalised economy. So, whether you have an interest in Corporate Financial Management, Financial Markets and Investments, Sustainable Finance and Fintech or Auditing, Management Accounting & Information Systems, you’re bound to find a specialisation that meets your personal and professional goal.

The school offers a number of one or two-year Masters of Science (MSc) programmes in areas such as finance, management, marketing, and business and strategy. Other business-related postgraduate programmes include the MSc Global Luxury and Management; MSc Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Design; MSc Artificial Intelligence for Business Transformation; and MSc Luxury Hospitality and Innovation course.

To further prepare its graduates for the workplaces of tomorrow, SKEMA has created three pioneering academies — Digitalisation Academy, Globalisation Academy and Innovation Academy — to help its students gain specific knowledge and competencies linked to a profession.

With seven global campuses spread across five countries (Brazil, China, France, South Africa, US), and a diverse cohort of students from 120 nations, SKEMA Business School is truly a global institution. 

Luxembourg School of Business

Luxembourg School of Business is accredited by the Luxembourg Ministry of Higher Education and Research. Source: Luxembourg School of Business

Created in 2014, the Luxembourg School of Business delivers high-quality management education in the heart of Europe. Experienced professionals can opt for a part-time MBA, while undergraduates can pursue a full-time Master in Management. Other specialised courses for individuals and tailor-made training for companies are offered too.

LSB’s mission is to provide an inspiring and multicultural learning environment for current and aspiring business leaders from Luxembourg as well as from across Europe and the world.

You will be taught by academics and business leaders — some of whom are executives from multinational organisations. Others are linked with institutions such as MIT, University of Michigan, Duke University, Harvard University, ESADE Business School and more.

Professors combine contemporary teaching and research methods with cultural and intellectual diversity. This is then complemented by opportunities made possible by the school’s partners with the international business community.

The Luxembourg Global Executive MBA best exemplifies this. Practical and no-nonsense, students follow a real-life approach and a curriculum designed to challenge one’s thinking, expand resilience and accelerate development.

Spanning 18 months, the programme combines immersive weeks and online learning. It is divided into six modules, each lasting 12 weeks. For each module, students follow two days of online classes and go on one immersive week, which would take place in Luxembourg, Miami, Shanghai and Dubai.

Although intense, it is flexible enough so candidates won’t need to sacrifice business commitments and their private lives. The Luxembourg Global Executive MBA is entirely taught in English.

Wu Vienna

At WU, students are encouraged to be present inside and outside of the classroom. Source: WU Facebook

Set in the heart of Vienna, WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business) is where the boundaries of knowledge are pushed beyond what’s imaginable. The university is accredited by the three most prestigious agencies for business and economics — EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA. Only 72 business universities and business schools worldwide— or less than 1% — are entitled to carry all three international seals of quality.

Here, students are trained to challenge conventional thinking, invite and embrace diverse ideas, and collaborate to change the world. This happens through the university’s wide selection of programmes, from bachelor’s and master’s to PhD and executive education programmes. 

WU’s English master programmes include Digital Economy; Economics; International Management; Marketing; Quantitative Finance; and Supply Chain Management, to name a few. Their programmes are designed to ensure students can continue working while studying, and aims to equip them with the skills required to thrive in their respective fields of study. 

WU’s excellent international reputation is also reflected in its student population — approximately one in four students on campus come from abroad. Excellent research is another main cornerstone of WU’s mission which strengthens its profile as a research university. 

Helsinki University 

HELBUS offers learners a path to a career in international business. Source: Helsinki University Facebook

Founded in 2012, the Helsinki School of Business offers students rigorous programmes, exceptional academic preparation, a cooperative and congenial student culture, and access to a thriving business community. Through its partnership with the British University of Northampton, HELBUS offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in business and management awarded by the University of Northampton. 

Programmes at this Finnish business school are taught entirely in English, while their visiting instructors come from prestigious universities in twelve countries. Over 80% of HELBUS instructors hold a doctorate and have a wealth of teaching and professional experience in their own areas of expertise.

Among the programmes offered at HELBUS include the Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme, which is offered both on a full-time and a part-time basis. The programme’s curriculum is designed to prepare students for the global stage, and gives purpose-driven leaders the tools to connect their talents to a better future for all.

Students here learn in small class size and low student to faculty ratio. HELBUS’ programmes also prepare students for careers in international business and underscores the skills and knowledge that are required by employers in the 21st century. Students also gain transferable skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International