Studies & Degrees in International MBA
International MBA Study Programs
An International MBA is a Master of Business Administration designed for an international class and an international career. The core is the same as in any MBA: strategy, finance, marketing, operations and people management. The programme is usually taught in English, the students come from many countries, and the subjects are studied from the point of view of companies that work across borders. Many programmes add a module or a study period abroad.
"International MBA" is a programme name, not a protected degree title. Schools use "International MBA", "Global MBA" or simply "MBA" for similar programmes.
What students learn
The first part of an MBA covers the main areas of running a company. At EAE Business School in Barcelona, the International MBA has modules on the socio-economic context, marketing in international markets, talent management, business strategy, finance for decision-making, entrepreneurship and internationalisation, and operations, and it ends with a master's thesis. At Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, the full-time MBA has three phases: core modules (6 months), electives (3 months) and a thesis (3 months), with an international module in Milan.
The second part is applied work: a consulting project, a business plan, an internship or a dissertation. At IAE Bordeaux University School of Management, classes in the second-year MBA run from September to December, and the period from January to 31 August is for an internship, a job or a research dissertation, in France or abroad.
Qualifications and levels
An International MBA is a postgraduate programme. Applicants need a first university degree, and many schools also ask for work experience.
- Length and credits: one year and 60 ECTS credits is a common format. The programmes at EAE Barcelona and IAE Bordeaux and the MBA of the Swiss School of Management have 60 ECTS. The Frankfurt School MBA lasts 12 months. The MBA at CESTE in Zaragoza has 90 ECTS.
- Spain: an official master's degree (máster universitario) has 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. Universities can also award their own qualifications, and one of them, the Máster de Formación Permanente, must always use that name. The same programme can lead to both. EAE states that its International MBA gives an EAE qualification of its own (Máster de Formación Permanente) and an official Máster Universitario en Administración y Dirección de Empresas from the Universitat de Lleida. CESTE states that its MBA is a British degree from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, registered in the Spanish register of universities and degrees (RUCT) under code 8000086.
- France: the IAE Bordeaux MBA is the second year of a master's degree (Master 2), taught in English.
- Admission: Frankfurt School asks for a first degree, at least three years of work experience after graduation, a GMAT or GRE score (or its own admission test) and English at IELTS 7.0 or equivalent. IAE Bordeaux asks for a four-year bachelor's degree (240 ECTS) in business, economics, accounting or finance, or relevant professional experience, plus proof of English. At EAE, the class has four years of work experience on average.
- Fees: they differ widely between public and private schools. IAE Bordeaux, part of a public university, charges €5,655 for the 2026-27 academic year. Frankfurt School charges €42,000 plus a €600 enrolment fee for the intake of 1 September 2027.
Where to study an International MBA
SpainExchange lists 15 schools for this subject: 10 in Spain, 3 in France, 1 in Italy and 1 in Germany. In Spain they include IE Business School and Universidad Villanueva in Madrid, EAE Business School in Barcelona, ENAE Business School in Murcia, CESTE in Zaragoza, ESEUNE in Zamudio and the Universidad de León. Abroad, the list includes IAE Bordeaux, the American Business School Paris, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management and the Rome campus of the Swiss School of Management.
English is the usual language. The programmes at EAE Barcelona, Frankfurt School and IAE Bordeaux are taught in English.
When comparing schools, start with the qualification: ask whether the diploma is an official degree, the school's own qualification, or both, and what recognition it has in your country. Then look at accreditation: the Association of MBAs (AMBA) accredits MBA programmes, and says it accepts only the top 2% of business schools; ask each school which accreditations its programme holds. Also compare the work experience required, which shapes the class (at EAE, 93% of participants are international, from 14 nationalities), and the format.
Careers
Graduates move into management roles with an international scope. EAE lists positions such as operations director in multinational companies, international business consultant, and business development and expansion director.
An MBA is not a legal requirement for these jobs. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, top executives typically need at least a bachelor's degree and considerable work experience, and top executives of large corporations may have an MBA. In the United States, employment of top executives is projected to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 304,100 openings a year.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an International MBA take?
Many full-time programmes take one year. The EAE Barcelona and IAE Bordeaux programmes have 60 ECTS credits, and the Frankfurt School MBA lasts 12 months. Some are longer: the MBA at CESTE has 90 ECTS.
Do I need work experience?
It depends on the school. Frankfurt School requires at least three years of work experience after graduation. IAE Bordeaux accepts a four-year bachelor's degree in a business field or relevant professional experience.
Is an International MBA an official degree in Spain?
Not always. An official master's degree is a máster universitario with 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. Many MBAs are the school's own qualification, and some programmes give both. Ask the school which diploma you receive and what recognition it has.