IE Business School MBA Class Profile | 5 Key Takeaways

IE Business School has a reputation as one of the top business schools in Europe and is consistently ranked among the best business schools in the world.

IE is known for its strength in entrepreneurship and innovation, and boasts startup founders, CEOs, and executives of Fortune 500 firms among its notable alumni. 

Each year, candidates from around the world apply to secure a place in IE Business School’s International MBA program. After graduation, around 54% change industries and 65% land a job in a new country.

To give you a better picture of the students who get accepted into this top-ranked MBA, and support your IE MBA application, here’s five key takeaways from the latest IE Business School MBA class profile.

1. IE Business School MBA students have six years of work experience on average

IE Business School MBA candidates are required to have at least three years’ work experience, though many on the program actually have more. The average work experience for IE MBA students in the current MBA class is six years.  

Alongside work experience, IE Business School MBA students in the current MBA class are typically aged 29, which is higher than some US MBA programs but still around the average age of MBA students worldwide. 

2. IE Business School boasts an international MBA class

With a highly diverse cohort, IE MBA students represent 44 different nationalities. Enrolling in such a diverse program means you’ll get the opportunity to work and form connections with people from various personal and professional backgrounds.

While at top institutions in the US, such as The Wharton School, the class is composed of 31% international students, the IE MBA has a 96% international classroom. This makes for a highly diverse experience helping students expand their horizons and develop their cultural awareness during in-class discussions. 

3. IE Business School MBA students typically come from finance, consumer products & tech

A total of 14% of IE Business School MBA students come from the financial sector, having worked in either banking, insurance, or financial services. This makes it the most popular pre-MBA sector. 

Finance is followed by consumer products and retail (11%), and technology (10%). Consulting is also a popular industry with 7% of the class having experience with consultancies before joining the MBA. 

Other students come from industries as varied as retail, real estate, non-profit, hospitality, and government. 

Ultimately, you can become an IE MBA student whatever your background. BusinessBecause even interviewed a former chef who enrolled in the MBA at IE Business School.

When it comes to educational backgrounds, 39% of IE MBA students have previously studied business. A further 20% of the current class are finance graduates and 9% studied economics before their MBA.

READ: IE Business School MBA Jobs & Salary Review 

4. IE Business School’s average GMAT score is 680

GMAT scores can tell you a lot about the competitiveness of an MBA program. At IE Business School, the average score for MBAs is around 680. IE also accepts other tests like the GRE. 

Your GMAT score is key to your application and you should aim for the class average or higher. But what matters more to IE Business School is that applicants are a good fit for the program, and other parts of your application like the interview and personal statement are just as important. 

5. IE Business School MBA requirements include essays & interviews

IE Business School’s MBA requirements are broader than test scores alone. They include:

- Online application form
- Resume
- Two letters of recommendation
- University transcripts
- English language certificate for non-Native English speakers - TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, or Cambridge Advanced or Proficiency level are accepted
- Personal statement in format of your choice
- Online assessment
- GMAT, GRE or IE Global Admissions Test score
- €150 application fee ($165)

Applicants also have either a face-to-face or online interview with someone from the admissions team. This is your chance to go further in-depth into your achievements and skills, and show the team your unique attributes.

Applying for a place in the IE MBA class is a rigorous process, which makes sense for a top-ranked European MBA program. 

If you're applying for a spot in the IE MBA, the most important thing to remember is to make your application unique. IE Business School look for diverse professionals on the MBA cohort and evaluate candidates holistically, so if you resonate with the program it’s worth applying. 

IE Business School MBA Class Profile | Key Takeaways

The IE Business School MBA attracts a huge range of professionals from diverse industries. IE MBA students want to work in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment at one of the best business schools in Europe. 

As well as a focus on test scores, the IE Business School admissions team like to get a more personal view of their applicants through additional requirements like a unique personal statement and quick-fire online assessment. 

To succeed in your IE MBA application, make sure the admissions team gets to know the real you. 

Data in this article is sourced from IE Business School