16.9.2026
Moving up three places from last year to #26 worldwide, the ESSEC Global MBA continues to strengthen its position among leading full-time MBA programs. The program’s strong performance across all five QS ranking dimensions highlights the breadth of the Global MBA experience, from its highly international learning environment and strong academic foundations to its focus on career development and outcomes.
Diversity is one of the defining features of the ESSEC Global MBA, bringing together professionals frommore than 23 nationalities on average, across industries and career backgrounds. The program consistently welcomes more than 50% women, contributing to a diverse classroom and a broad range of perspectives.
This diversity also shapes how participants learn and collaborate throughout the program. Each semester, they are placed in multicultural core groups, working alongside peers from different backgrounds on projects and sharing perspectives through international learning opportunities. With its boutique-sized cohort, the Global MBA combines a close-knit learning environment with highly personalized academic, leadership and career support.
The Global MBA’s #4 worldwide position for Diversity reflects the strength of this international and inclusive learning environment.
The latest ranking also recognizes the ESSEC Global MBA for the value it delivers to participants before, during and beyond the program, with strong results across Value for Money, Employability and Alumni Outcomes.
The 12-to-16-month full-time program combines core business foundations with opportunities to tailor the experience to individual career ambitions. AI and digital leadership are increasingly embedded across the curriculum, helping participants develop the judgment and practical skills needed to lead in an AI-enabled business environment. Participants can choose from Industry Learning Labs in Consulting, Tech & Product Management, Finance and Luxury, while practical experiences such as a Global Field Project, Venturing Project or Internship provide opportunities to put their learning into practice.
Career development is also integrated throughout the program. The dedicated Global MBA Talent Center supports participants with career planning, professional positioning, networking, and interview preparation and job-search strategy, while the ESSEC alumni community provides a global network that participants can continue to draw on throughout their careers.
Reflecting on this achievement, Julien Malaurent, Executive Vice-President & Dean for Post Experience Programs, Corporate Programs and Relations, stated:
"For us, these results are meaningful because they reflect the experience we seek to offer our participants – an international and diverse learning environment, strong academic foundations and opportunities to apply what they learn to their professional goals. The Global MBA is designed to support participants from the moment they start the program until their graduation and beyond, while giving them the knowledge, skills and perspectives to pursue the career direction or pivot they are looking for”.
The QS Global MBA rankings are based on five main criteria: Employability (Employer Reputation and Graduate Employment Rate), Value for Money (Return on Investment and Payback Month), Alumni Outcomes (Alumni Impact and Entrepreneurship), Thought Leadership (Academic Reputation, Research Impact and Staff with PhD) and Diversity (Student Gender Ratio, Faculty Gender Ratio, International Student Ratio and International Faculty Ratio).
