CEIBS
The China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) has campuses in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Zurich, and Accra. The Shanghai campus is home to CEIBS’ MBA program and is approximately 20 minutes from the city center in the Pudong district, in the quiet neighborhood of Jinqiao. As the clear economic and business hub of China, Shanghai is an ideal location for MBA students interested in a globally-focused education and a plethora of post-MBA career opportunities. The CEIBS MBA is well known for its “China Depth, Global Breadth” emphasis as well as preparing leaders to enter the global business economy.
In addition to the Full Time MBA, CEIBS also offers a Finance MBA, a Global EMBA, a Hospitality EMBA, a DBA program, and an EMBA.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the tuition for CEIBS’ MBA program?
The tuition fee for the 16-month MBA 2028 program (2026 intake) is RMB 488,000, the same for all students, or approximately $68,000. Early Action applicants receive an application-fee rebate upon enrolment.
What is the median GMAT score for admission to CEIBS’ MBA program?
The median GMAT score for the incoming class at CEIBS is 615.
Does the CEIBS MBA program accept the GRE?
Yes, the CEIBS MBA program accepts the GRE.
What is the average GRE score for admission to CEIBS’ MBA program?
Recent incoming classes at CEIBS have an average GRE score in the range of 326–329, updated with each cohort.
What is the minimum number of years of work experience required for admission to CEIBS’ MBA program?
CEIBS requires a minimum of two years of full-time work experience.
What is the median starting salary for graduates of the CEIBS MBA program?
According to the latest CEIBS MBA Career Report, graduates report a median annual guaranteed cash compensation of approximately RMB 500,000, with significant variation across industries, functions and locations.
How long is CEIBS’ full-time MBA program?
The CEIBS full-time MBA spans 16 months, with a 12-month option also available. The program begins in August.
What are the application deadlines for CEIBS’ MBA program?
The CEIBS MBA typically opens applications in September each year, with multiple rounds running through to May, and one intake per year beginning in August. Early application is encouraged, as scholarships and class capacity are considered on a rolling basis. For current round dates and deadlines, visit ceibs.edu/mba/admissions.
What percent of CEIBS MBA students are women?
In the MBA 2027 cohort, women make up 53.3% of the class.
What type of interview does CEIBS use for MBA admissions?
Shortlisted applicants are interviewed in English, usually by two interviewers drawn from CEIBS faculty, department directors, alumni or admissions staff. The interview typically lasts around 30–40 minutes and is a key part of the evaluation process. It is designed to assess your academic and professional background, your motivation for pursuing the MBA, your career goals, and your ability to contribute to a diverse, international cohort. Applicants may be asked to discuss their work experience, leadership examples, decision-making approach, and interest in CEIBS specifically. The interview is considered alongside the full application — including test scores, essays and recommendations — as part of a holistic assessment of overall fit and potential.
Admissions
Class Profile
The CEIBS MBA Class of 2027 represents 20 countries, with an average of 5.4 years of full-time work experience on entry. Women make up 53.3%, and 30.5% joined from outside Mainland China. Backgrounds span technology, financial services, consulting, manufacturing and healthcare. The reference median is a GMAT Focus Edition score of 615, with an average GRE of 326–329.
Application Procedures
CEIBS offers three application rounds each year, typically in December, March and May, alongside an Early Action round with an October deadline. Early Action applicants who enroll receive a rebate on their application fee. Prospective students are encouraged to apply early.
A complete application comprises the online application form, evidence of at least two years’ full-time work experience, GMAT, GRE or CEIBS Admission Test scores, university degree certificate and transcript, a copy of ID or passport, the required essays, two letters of recommendation and a non-refundable application fee. Requirements and admissions criteria are identical for Chinese and international applicants.
Interviews are required and conducted on an invitation-only basis. Applicants in Mainland China interview on campus; those based elsewhere may interview by video conference.
Essay Topic Analysis
Recommendation Questions
CEIBS Q&A's
CEIBS LiveWire and DecisionWire
Academics
Faculty
CEIBS employs 104 faculty members across five academic departments: Economics/Decision Sciences, Finance/Accounting, Strategy/Entrepreneurship, Organizational Behavior/Human Resource Management, and Marketing. The faculty composition is approximately 60% international faculty members and 40% Chinese faculty members. The school also houses numerous research centers and think tanks as well as hosting numerous seminars, symposiums and forums.
Curriculum
The full-time MBA can be completed in 12 or 16 months. The 12 month program is an accelerated version of the 16 month program. The 16 month program is broken into eight terms of approximately two months each.
The program begins with the online pre-program module, Orientation Week and a kick-off in August. This is then followed immediately by Term 1 and Term 2, which lasts from September through December. MBA students in the 12-month program then have four more terms, while those in the 16-month program have six more terms. Students may pursue an internship or take more elective courses.
A total of 60 credits are required to graduate, 32 of which are earned in five core foundation areas: Strategy, Economics and Decision Sciences, Finance and Accounting, Marketing, and Organizational Behavior and Human Resources Management. Core courses are mandatory and cannot be waived. The remaining 28 credits are made up of a wide variety of electives.
International experience is built into the program. On both MBA programs, term 3 includes an overseas module; on the regular length (16 month) program, students partake in another international exchange during term 5. The former encompasses experience ranging from lectures to company visits; the latter makes use of the more than 40 partnerships that CEIBS holds with elite institutions
Another hallmark of the program is the Integration Consulting Project, in which students work together in groups to act as consultants for firms.
In addition, CEIBS offers two U.S.-based coordinated degree programs: an MBA/MALD at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University, or an MBA/MPH at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Other MBA Degree Options
In addition to the full-time MBA, CEIBS offers a Finance MBA, a Global EMBA, a Hospitality EMBA, and an EMBA.
The part-time Finance MBA is designed for senior and middle-level managers in financial management. The program lasts nearly two years, meeting on average two weekends a month with a few courses on weekdays, and is taught exclusively in Chinese. The Global EMBA focuses on ambitious business leaders who want to take their career to the next level. The part-time program lasts 24 months and starts in November of each year, and students are required to have at least 8 years of work experience, 5 of them in managerial positions. The 24-month part-time Hospitality EMBA combines business education with service management and is offered in various locations throughout Asia and Europe. Lastly, the part-time EMBA meets four days a month, lasts two years, and offers attendees the chance to join China’s largest EMBA alumni network.
Degree Offerings at CEIBS
Full-Time MBA: https://www.ceibs.edu/mba
One-Year MBA Option: https://www.ceibs.edu/mba/one-year-option
Finance MBA: https://www.ceibs.edu/fmba
Global EMBA: https://www.ceibs.edu/gemba
Hospitality EMBA: https://www.ceibs.edu/hemba
Campus Life
Clubs, Conferences and Competitions
CEIBS has 16 student clubs that vary between academic, professional, and personal interests. For example, the CEIBS MBA Social Impact & Responsibility Club organizes educational and discussion-based events, industry seminars and company visits to help instill the skills needed to approach climate change challenges in business.
CEIBS hosts a number of symposiums throughout the year, including a Department of Strategy & Entrepreneurship Annual Academic Symposium. The Department of Economics and Decision Science holds an annual academic symposium as well, with an alternating focus on economics and decision science each year. The school’s three other departments also partake in running symposiums.
In addition to annual conferences, students also take part in a number of business competitions each year, including the annual INNOVATEChina. Focusing on different industry issues each year, teams of students from all over the world compete to develop solutions into business proposals to tackle some of China’s most dynamic challenges, both locally and globally.
Campus Spaces
Though situated outside of Shanghai’s city center, the CEIBS campus is a thriving center of innovation and academia. It is known for its impressive appearance, blending Chinese and European architecture in a manner which embodies the school’s core value of “China Depth, Global Breadth.” Its facilities offer students a technologically advanced and comfortable experience, in a building designed both to awe and to welcome. Many of the MBA lectures and events are held in the Sinopec Auditorium, within the CEIBS Shanghai campus.
One central academic hub is called Academic Centre IV. This space houses lecture theatres, discussion rooms, and administrative offices. Additionally, the Commons Building on Phase III of the campus provides a large gathering space for students to relax and dine between classes. The Shanghai campus also includes a library, an auditorium, a conference center, and student residences.
Students choose to either live in one of four on campus dormitories, or off campus in the surrounding area. Most off-campus accommodation recommended by CEIBS is close to the campus and costs roughly $75 USD per day.
MBA Careers
Career Services
CEIBS’s Career Development Centre (CDC) is dedicated to supporting MBA students to define and achieve career goals that align with their personal aspirations. The CDC provides self-assessment tests, career counseling, workshops, mock interviews, and role-playing practice.
The CDC hosts recruitment fairs outside of Shanghai, on-campus corporate presentations, and structured alumni engagement programs to further strengthen a student’s professional network.
Career Statistics
Recent CEIBS MBA graduates report a median annual guaranteed cash compensation of approximately RMB 500,000, with significant variation across industries, functions and locations. Around 90% of job-seeking graduates accept an offer, and over 80% successfully switch career track across function or industry. More than 300 companies recruit on campus each year, posting over 800 full-time positions. Around 75–80% of international graduates take up roles in China and the Asia-Pacific region, with the remainder typically returning to their home markets.
Financing
Financing
The tuition fee for the 16-month MBA Class of 2027 is RMB 488,800 (approximately US$68,000). Living expenses for on-campus dormitories are around RMB 3,000 per month, which includes water, electricity, AC, and WiFi.
CEIBS offers a variety of funding options for students looking to finance their MBA, including conditional-based fellowships, merit-based scholarships, loans, needs-based education funds, and company sponsored scholarships. In the MBA class of 2026, more than 50% students received financial aid covering 20-100% of their tuition fees. No separate application is necessary for merit-based scholarships, though applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible to ensure availability. Merit scholarships are awarded for both professional and academic achievements, personal accomplishments, interview performance, and an applicant’s potential for contributions to the MBA program. For international students, CEIBS partners with Prodigy Finance to offer loans. Other loan opportunities differ depending on the student’s country of origin.
Recent News
Contact
Address
MBA Admissions Office CEIBS
699 Hongfeng Road Pudong Shanghai 201206, PRC
Phone: +86-21-2890 5555
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.ceibs.edu/mba
X (Twitter) Handle: @ceibs