MBA Schools and Programs in Barcelona, Spain

About MBA Schools and Programs in Barcelona, Spain

An MBA (Master of Business Administration) is a general management programme for graduates who usually already have some work experience. It covers strategy, finance, marketing, operations and leadership. In Barcelona, several business schools and universities run full-time, part-time, executive and online MBAs, many of them in English.

Official master's or school qualification

In Spain an official master's degree (máster universitario) has 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits, according to Royal Decree 822/2021. Universities and schools may also award their own qualifications (títulos propios), which are not official degrees. Both types exist among Barcelona MBAs, so check the status of the qualification on the programme page, particularly if you need an official degree for a doctorate, a public-sector job or recognition in your own country.

Examples: IESE Business School states that the Spanish Board of Universities recognises its MBA as an official master's degree. The RUCT lists Universitat Ramon Llull MBAs such as the Máster Universitario en Dirección de Empresas (MBA), an MBA in Digital Management and an Executive MBA. EAE Business School describes its Barcelona MBA as its own qualification (propia), awarded with the Universitat de Lleida.

Where to study an MBA in Barcelona

• IESE Business School: a full-time MBA of 15 or 19 months taught in English, and an 18-month part-time Executive MBA. According to IESE, the Executive MBA costs €85,000 in Barcelona.
• EAE Business School: a full-time MBA of 10 months in Barcelona, in Spanish or English, for holders of an official university degree.
• La Salle-Universitat Ramon Llull: an International MBA taught in English on campus.
• ESEI International Business School: an MBA and combined master's and MBA programmes, for example a Master in Business Management, plus online options.

Other schools in the city, such as EADA, also offer international, bilingual and executive MBAs.

Admission and requirements

Requirements vary by programme. IESE expects strong English, and its MBA students typically have five years of work experience on average. Its Executive MBA requires at least five years of experience and a GMAT, GRE, Executive Assessment or IESE admissions test. For an official master's degree, Royal Decree 822/2021 allows graduates from outside the European Higher Education Area to apply without homologating their bachelor's degree, after a check by the university.

A foreign MBA cannot be homologated in Spain, because homologation applies to regulated professions and business management is not one, but its holder can apply for a declaration of equivalence.

Careers

MBA graduates move into general management, consulting, finance, marketing and product management, or start their own companies. Executive MBAs are designed for managers who keep working while they study.

Frequently asked questions

Is an MBA in Barcelona an official degree?

It depends on the programme. IESE's MBA and the Universitat Ramon Llull MBAs listed in the RUCT are official master's degrees, while other MBAs are the school's own qualification.

How long does an MBA in Barcelona take?

Full-time programmes range from about 10 months (EAE) to 15 or 19 months (IESE). Executive MBAs are part-time; IESE's lasts 18 months.

Can I do an MBA in English in Barcelona?

Yes. IESE teaches its MBA in English, La Salle-URL offers an International MBA in English, and EAE offers its Barcelona MBA in Spanish or English.