What Is INSEAD?
Let me explain what INSEAD is directly: it's one of the world's top graduate business schools, with campuses in France, Singapore, San Francisco, and the Middle East in Abu Dhabi. Founded in 1957, INSEAD stands for Institut Européen d'Administration des Affaires.
Today, you should know that INSEAD is recognized globally as a leading business school. It has 165 faculty members from 42 countries, and more than 1,500 students enroll in its various degree programs each year. Additionally, over 11,000 executives participate in its executive education programs annually.
Key Takeaways
- INSEAD is one of the world's leading and largest graduate business schools with five campuses and centers around the globe.
- The school offers a variety of graduate programs, including MBAs, a doctorate in management, and a certificate program.
- The school has 165 faculty members and more than 1,500 students enrolled in its graduate degree-granting programs each year.
History of INSEAD
INSEAD was established in 1955 when the Paris Chamber of Commerce decided to create a European business school. Four years later, in 1959, it welcomed its first MBA students. By 1960, 52 students from 14 different countries had graduated from the MBA program. In 1968, INSEAD started its executive program, and the PhD program launched in 1989.
The school expanded with its Asian campus in Singapore in 2000 and its Middle East campus in Abu Dhabi in 2010. In 2020, INSEAD announced a new hub in San Francisco to build a North American presence.
INSEAD Campuses
The main campus is in Fontainebleau, France, near Paris. The Asian campus is in Singapore's Buona Vista district, just 15 minutes from the financial district. The Abu Dhabi campus in the United Arab Emirates opened in 2010. There's also the San Francisco hub for North America.
Programs Offered at INSEAD
INSEAD provides a range of graduate and doctoral programs, plus customized executive education in partnership with corporations. Here's what you need to know about the key ones.
The MBA is a 10-month accelerated program with intakes in January and August. You take core subjects like finance, economics, accounting, business ethics, and marketing, plus electives from 75 options. About 94% of graduates find employment in their field within three months.
The Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) is for experienced executives at the France, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore campuses. It's a 14- to 17-month modular program with group coaching, team activities, and 360-degree assessments. Classes typically have 222 students, each with an average of 14 years of work experience.
The Executive Master in Change runs for 18 months with eight modules of three to four days each, focusing on human behavior and organizational dynamics. You learn to increase self-awareness, become an effective change agent, adopt new coaching methods, and understand organizational behavior better. Classes have about 30 participants in France and Singapore.
The Executive Master in Finance is an 18-month program for working professionals on the Asia campus. It includes six two-week modules spaced three to four months apart. Typical classes have 35 participants with 9.5 years of average experience.
The Tsinghua-INSEAD Executive MBA (TIEMBA) is a partnership with Tsinghua University in Beijing. You can study at INSEAD's France, Singapore, or Abu Dhabi campuses or at Tsinghua.
The PhD in Management is a five-year program for those aiming for academia. The first two years focus on coursework, followed by three years of research and dissertation. Intake is in Europe or Asia, with an exchange option through the Wharton School. There are up to 18 spots per year, encouraging cross-area collaboration, and students receive scholarships and living allowances.
INSEAD also offers a certificate in business foundations, like the INSEAD-Sorbonne Université Certificate Programme for recent master's and doctoral graduates.
Is INSEAD Better Than Harvard?
Depending on the ranking, INSEAD can rank higher than Harvard for MBAs. For instance, in the 2023 Financial Times ranking, INSEAD was number two, while Harvard was number four.
How Much Does INSEAD Cost?
For the MBA starting in August 2023, the tuition is €97,000. For January 2024, it's €98,500. This excludes living expenses, which add about €25,000 in France.
Is INSEAD an Ivy League School?
No, INSEAD is not an Ivy League school. The Ivy League refers to a specific group of U.S. universities, and schools outside the U.S. like INSEAD are not included.
The Bottom Line
INSEAD is a top graduate business school with its main campus in France and additional locations in Singapore, North America, and the Middle East. It offers various business degrees and stands as one of the world's leading business schools.
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