Which business schools have the prettiest campuses?

TL;DR

• Business school offers great career prospects and return-on-investment, but it's also important to find an environment that will keep you inspired and allow you to unwind during your studies
• Our prettiest business school campuses in Europe include Trinity Business School, London Business School, and IEDC Bled School of Management
• Elsewhere in the world, the prettiest campuses include Cornell Johnson, HKUST Business School, and Asia School of Business

Business school is a great way to get that much-needed boost in your career, but during your studies you can also enjoy beautiful buildings, views, and natural landscapes. 

Finding the right school is about more than just ranking and ROI—it’s about finding an environment that will inspire and entertain you for the duration of your degree. With so many schools to choose from around the world, there’s no shortage of great locations for your MBA or business master's.

We rounded up 11 of the prettiest business school campuses from around the globe.

1. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) Business School, Hong Kong

©The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - HKUST/Facebook

Beneath HKUST Business School’s campus is the appropriately-named Clear Water Bay, a country park boasting aquamarine waters and sandy beaches. The campus is only 30 minutes from central Hong Kong by public transport, making the location the best of both worlds.

2. Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

©Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management/Facebook

Situated in leafy Ithaca, known for its lakes and expansive state parks, the Sage Hall campus at Cornell Johnson looks the part of an idyllic Ivy League school. The business school is housed in a 19th-century High Victorian Gothic building that was originally built as a dormitory, with further locations including Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island in New York City.

3. Nyenrode Business Universiteit, Breukelen, the Netherlands

©Nyenrode Business Universiteit/Facebook

One of the most unique campuses in the world, Nyenrode Business Universiteit is located on a historic estate with 27 monuments, including a 13th-century castle. Nyenrode Castle has its own moat, and the school still sports the original coat of arms as its logo.

4. Graziadio Business School at Pepperdine University, Malibu, California

©Pepperdine Graziadio Business School/Facebook

Known for its stunning coastal views, the Drescher Graduate Campus at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School is home to a number of the school's programs, including full-time MBA and EMBA programs, as well as the Villa Graziadio executive center and conference facility. Beyond the campus, Malibu offers extensive sophisticated shopping, dining, and cultural experiences, alongside hiking trails and incredible beaches.  

5. London Business School, London, UK

©London Business School/Facebook

Old Marylebone Town Hall, a building once known as the venue which has hosted more celebrity weddings than any other building in the UK, was re-opened as a site for business education in 2017. The hall, which has seen celebrities including Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Sean Bean, and Antonio Banderas tie the knot, now plays host to LBS's Sammy Ofer Center, offering an historic site of learning in the heart of the city.

6. Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

©Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon/Facebook

Designed as an innovation hub, the Tepper Quad at Carnegie Mellon University puts the business school right at the center of the campus, offering a meeting-point for engineering, design, computer science, policy, and arts faculties. The building has been designed in a modern style with large open spaces and with a focus on sustainability.

7. Trinity Business School, Dublin, Ireland

©Trinity Business School/Facebook

Part of Ireland's oldest university, Trinity Business School's Innovation and Entrepreneurship building opened in 2019. Situated overlooking the university’s rugby pitch, the building is a focal point for university-wide innovation and entrepreneurship, right in the heart of the city.

8. Warwick Business School’s executive campus, London

Although Warwick Business School's main campus is located in the city of Coventry, its executive MBA campus can be found on the 14th floor of the Shard in London. One of the most iconic spots in London, studying an EMBA here not only grants you incredible views, but access to one of the top financial hubs in the world.

9. Asia School of Business, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

©Asia School of Business in collaboration with MIT Sloan/Facebook

Asia School of Business opened a new campus in 2020, drawing inspiration from traditional Malaysian Songket designs. The academic building and residential village follow a curving landscaped path, which connects to the National Financial Center.

10. IEDC Bled School of Management, Slovenia

©IEDC Bled School of Management/Facebook

Finally, IEDC Bled School of Management aptly names itself 'a school with a view.' The school's campus directly overlooks the famous Lake Bled, a popular destination for tourists, and is surrounded by an international sculpture park.