Top executive MBA programmes in the world 2023

The QS Executive MBA Rankings 2023 have been released, revealing the top executive MBA programmes offered by business schools around the world. Now in its seventh edition, the ranking sees institutions in both Europe and North America dominate the top 10.

In our methodology, we explain how each metric is generated in the QS Executive MBA Rankings. You can filter the rankings table by indicator to see which schools have performed best for the metrics which matter most to you.

For example, INSEAD and London Business School both scored 99.9 out of 100 for 'employer reputation', while MIT (Sloan) achieved a perfect score of 100 for 'thought leadership'.

Outside of the top 10 which can be viewed below, there are some other institutions which have achieved perfect scores of 100 in at least one indicator, including NEOMA Business School (ranked 61st) for the metric 'executive profile', and Warwick Business School (17th) and Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (95th) for ‘career outcomes’.  

This year features six new entrants – from North America and Europe (both with two new institutions) as well as Middle East and Africa and Asia-Pacific (each with one new institution). 

View this year's top 10 below.

How is the executive MBA evolving?

Any executive MBA choice is a significant and transformational decision that requires extensive research, planning and consideration to determine the most suitable programme.  

In a QS Admissions Survey conducted in 2022, 38 percent of the schools we surveyed, all of which were accredited by either AACSB, EQUIS or AMBA, were already offering micro-credentials. 

When asked to name the greatest threat to the future of the executive MBA, 15 percent of schools surveyed said their main challenge was the increase in alternative MBA study options, such as online programmes and a further 12 percent cited the rise of micro-credentials and certificates. 

The widespread impact of the pandemic encouraged many institutions to quickly adapt their teaching methods and provide more online learning options to students – in turn, this new approach opens more doors to students all over the world, providing them with more flexible and convenient study options.