The University of Cambridge’s Judge Business School is one of the UK’s leading MBA providers. Founded in 1990, the school is relatively young, but draws on centuries of academic excellence at the wider university. This connection gives the one-year Cambridge MBA program a distinctly academic flavor, with the stated goal of “transforming individuals, organizations and society”. In recognition of the success of this approach, the Cambridge MBA was featured prominently in MBA Rankings, notably in terms of value for money and achievement of aims.

Of course, as would be expected of such a prestigious school, the admissions process is competitive. Applicants are expected to have graduated in the top 25% of their university degree class and must have either a GMAT or GRE score, as well as having at least three years of business experience and some degree of international experience. Shortlisted applicants attend an interview day on campus, after which successful applicants receive a conditional offer, which becomes unconditional when all financial requirements are met. In an unconventional enrollment quirk, each candidate is also required to become a member of the one of the 31 colleges of the University of Cambridge; this is arranged by the university, but specific college preferences will be considered. The course fee is £55,000 (just over US$70,000), with an additional application fee of £150 (US$200).

The Cambridge MBA course is divided into four terms, and consists of 16 compulsory modules and a personal selection from 48 elective modules. Electives are grouped into concentrations, which include finance, marketing and digital transformation. Each student chooses one concentration, which consists of a selection of electives, coaching sessions and team projects. There’s also an ongoing career development program designed to improve employment prospects, and each term is built around a practical ‘learning milestone’. The milestones are: a Cambridge venture project, a global consulting project, a boardroom impact study, and an individual project or work experience placement.

This combination of academic and practical education gives Cambridge MBA students strong leadership skills and the confidence to transform organizations according to a responsive vision. As a result, 85% of Cambridge MBA students find employment within three months of graduation, with an average salary of just under £100,000 (US$133,000). Of the most recent graduating class, an impressive 95% changed their location, job function or industry. What’s more, thanks to the university’s global status, major employers are drawn to Cambridge MBA graduates, with top employers including Google, Amazon, DAZN, Deloitte, Uber, McKinsey and Boston Consulting Group. Notable alumni include Whitbread CEO Alison Brittain, Crescent Enterprises CEO Badr Jafar, and former OPEC President Diezani Alison-Madueke.