QS TopMBA Applicant Survey 2013: Overview

In terms of study plans, the 2013 QS TopMBA.com Applicant Survey shows that, as for every other year since the financial crisis, fewer candidates are considering full-time study among their options – another indication of increased caution as many look to remain in their current positions while they study.

However, the figure of 82.2% represents a drop of only 0.7%, the smallest single-year change in the period in question, suggesting that the decline may be levelling out.

Interest in part-time programs and online programs continues to rise, up from 26.7% to 27.8%, and 15.3% (in 2011) to 16.2% respectively. Though we can read this as the result of increased caution, another potential driver of this growth is a diversified pool of applicants, for whom such study modes makes an MBA a possibility where it wouldn’t have been before.

The UK and US remain the world’s most popular study destinations, but their dominance is showing signs of weakening as applicants increasingly consider other destinations, though with 2.7% more candidates considering studying there, interest in the US has actually increased considerably. Canada (5.4%), Australia (4.8%), Germany (3.4%) and France (2.6%) also appear more frequently on the radars of applicants. The decisive factor for most candidates is where they plan to work after completing their MBA, up to 51% from 41% in 2011.

Asian destinations have also increased in popularity. The high levels of interest in China, in which 7% of candidates are interested, and India, for which the figure stands at 8%, are certainly eye-catching. The fact that 9% of Western European applicants are considering the former seems particularly of note. Singapore still leads the way in Asia, though, and is on the radar of nearly 16% of global applicants.

This increasing interest in Asia is acknowledged by Western schools, as Ashok Som, associate Dean of the Global MBA at ECSSEC, confirms: “ESSEC has recently launched the building of its Singapore campus, a foothold in the Asia Pacific region that opens our opportunities outside of Europe to our students... It's extremely valuable for students to understand the new players in today's global economy.”

There has been a substantial long-term increase in the number of candidates relying on scholarships, rising from 45% in 2008 to 61.1% this year. Again, this can be read as suggesting a widening applicant pool. Increased prudence may be among the reasons behind the drop in candidates relying on loans – down to 13.8% from 27.4% in 2008.

This is the case at Copenhagen Business School, says Skosana: “Candidates are exploring scholarship options and loans from family rather than financial institutions more frequently. There are more queries about full scholarships, particularly from candidates who come from developing economies.” Cousins echoes this, suggesting that tightened regulations may well have played a part in the decline of students taking out loans.

In terms of demographics, there has been a single-year drop in the average age of applicants in every region expect the Americas, though the global average remains higher than in 2011, and the mean age of applicants in every region is higher than in 2008.

Though outside of the US & Canada, and Eastern Europe (female applicants outnumber male in the latter) it remains firmly entrenched, there is reassuring evidence that gender imbalance is being corrected. Som beleives this is the case: “We are seeing the number of female applicants and the number of female students enrolled increase year to year.” The range of sending countries is diversifying, he continues, “This year, we have women representing the US, Russia, Qatar, China, Taiwan, and Indonesia.”

Skosana echoes this, “We have seen a steady increase in applications from female candidates from emerging markets such as China and India.”

The full 2013 QS TopMBA.com Applicant Survey discusses these and other global and regional trends in greater detail, with expert commentary from report authors Nunzio Quacquarelli and Danny Byrne.