MBA Admissions Q&A: CEIBS

CEIBS – the China Europe International Business School – was founded in 1994 through an agreement between the European Commission and the Chinese government. As the name suggests, the institution’s raison d'être is to bridge East and West, offering Western style global management in an Eastern context.

Today the school and its programs command a great deal of respect, reflected in its high standing with global employers and business & management academics (which is exactly why it is sitting so pretty in the Global 200 rankings for the Asia Pacific region).

Interested in bridging that East-West gap? We spoke to Yvonne Li, director of MBA admissions & career services at the school to see who they’re looking for, and to learn more about the admissions process at CEIBS.

What is the typical acceptance rate to the CEIBS MBA program?

On average, over the past 10 years, one out of every three or four.

What is a typical ratio of domestic to international students accepted into the program?

International students typically make up about 35% of the class. So far, we have had students from over 40 countries.

What are the most important aspects of the CEIBS MBA application process besides GMAT score, prior GPA, and current job position?

It’s very important for us to identify candidates who are the right fit, so we look at things such as their level of international exposure and mindset, potential to be global leaders, the value they could bring to CEIBS’s student community, their track record and opinions related to issues such as business ethics and social responsibility. In addition to those soft skills, during the very important interview process we also find out about their long-term career plans and how CEIBS’s positioning – China depth, global breadth – fits in with their goals.

What is one mistake you see applicants make?

Some applicants may have a beautiful application package but when we get to the interview round they perform very differently from what’s on paper. Other mistakes that come to mind: the wrong school name mentioned in essay answers, or some give perfect but standard answers to all the questions but have no impact whatsoever because they haven’t shown us who they are as individuals. They completely lose sight of what makes them unique, they have no personality.

What is something you would like to see applicants do more often?

1. Be concise and get right to the point when answering questions.
2. Show their personality and uniqueness, including their shortcomings.  
3. Dress professionally.

What does the CEIBS application process look like?

You may refer to our website.

What are some of the tests, official documents, and other hurdles that international students must deal with?

Application documents are the same for all candidates. International students need to also prepare documents needed for visa application according to their home countries’ requirements. CEIBS’ foreign affairs office helps enrolled students with issues that arise such as facilitating their application for a student residence permit. 

How can a candidate overcome a lower GMAT score?

With a comparatively low score, a candidate should demonstrate other areas of strength during the application process: steady career progress to show business potential, confident and outstanding interview performance, high university GPA score, strong cross-cultural communication skills, clearly defined career plans and goals, etc.

Admissions tips

Essay: Be concise and present your points logically.

Interview: Be yourself and show the interviewers what makes you unique.

Letter of Recommendation: This should be from someone who is in a senior position and knows you professionally.

CV/Résumé: Avoid gaps.

School Visit: Plan your schedule so that you have enough time to talk to admissions officers, talk to students/alumni, sit in on classes and explore the campus and experience its atmosphere.