Globally, MBA applications at AMBA-accredited Business Schools and for AMBA-accredited business and management programmes both increased by 7% between 2018 and 2019, according to new research from the Association of MBAs (AMBA).
The research, the AMBA Application and Enrolment Report 2020, also found that the proportion of women applying for AMBA-accredited MBA programmes rose by two percentage points between 2018 and 2019, and the proportion of women enrolling in these programmes increased by one percentage point in the same timeframe. Globally, 40% of those applying and 38% of those enrolling onto MBA programmes in 2019 were women.
Key findings
- Globally, MBA applications per AMBA-accredited Business School (i.e. applications to a School’s entire portfolio of programmes) and per AMBA-accredited programme both increased by 7% between 2018 and 2019.
- The proportion of women applying for AMBA-accredited MBA programmes rose by two percentage points between 2018 and 2019, and the proportion enrolled in these programmes increased by one percentage point in the same timeframe. Globally, 40% of those applying and 38% of those enrolling onto MBA programmes in 2019 were women.
- Enrolments per Business School and per programme remained largely the same as in 2018, with 202 students enrolled per School in 2019, on average, compared to 203 in 2018. There was no change in enrolments per programme, with the average class size remaining at 54 students, year on year.
- 66% of programmes delivered globally were offered in a part-time format, 19% of programmes were taught using a full-time format, and 14% were defined as modular.
- Globally, 82% of programmes were taught in a classroom, 7% online and 11% were taught using a blended delivery mode.
- Each AMBA-accredited Business School received an average of 576 applications for their portfolio of programmes and an average of 153 applications per programme.
- Globally, 30% of those applying to AMBA-accredited MBA programmes in 2019 were classed as international applicants. The equivalent figure for those who ultimately enrolled was 25%. The highest proportion of international applicants were seeking admission to Business Schools in the UK (77%), followed by those applying to Business Schools in North America and the Caribbean (66%).
