The St. Gallen Full-Time MBA

With a vision of ‘promoting integrative thought, responsible action and an entrepreneurial spirit of innovation in business and society’, the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland aims to give students a full understanding of complex business realities so that they can function and lead in a community-focused, socially beneficial manner. Founded in 1898, the institution is old, even among venerable European business schools, yet prides itself on a modern approach to industry and the wider economy. The St. Gallen one-year full-time MBA program is the practical realisation of this approach.

Admissions to the St. Gallen full-time MBA are competitive, as the program attracts professionals from across Europe and the entire world. Applicants must submit the normal materials, and must have at least two years of professional work experience, though four years is advised. GMAT/GRE scores are accepted, or applicants can attempt the St. Gallen MBA admissions test, in which a score of 80% is required. Finally, all applicants are advised to speak to St. Gallen’s senior talent acquisition managers, who can advise if the course a suitable fit for each applicant’s long-term career goals. Tuition fees are around US$57,000, plus an application fee of around US$250. The university also offers a wide range of scholarships, including an LGBTQ scholarship, an early-achiever scholarship, and a women in business scholarship.

Academically, the St. Gallen full-time MBA is designed to be challenging. Careers services and core modules begin simultaneously, combining learning about the fundamentals of global management and corporate accounting with building a personal brand and CV development. The middle part of the year comprises elective courses, allowing students to specialize or continue with a generalist course. The final three months, from June to August, are devoted to practical business projects, in which students are based on-site at real-life partner companies, and must produce either a strategy project presentation, a business plan, or research paper, putting into practice all the theory and skills they have learned.

This thorough academic and practical grounding means St. Gallen MBA graduates are highly sought-after by leading businesses. Of the most recent graduating class, 70% received their first job offer before even completing the course, with 11% receiving an offer within three months of graduation. The majority of those students went on to work in Europe, with the largest proportion (27%) working in a finance or accounting capacity. The average post-graduation salary was US$106,000, with an average sign-on bonus of US$11,000.