INSEAD
Located in France’s Fontainebleau Forest, INSEAD’s 20-acre Europe campus is approximately an hour south of Paris. INSEAD also has another main campus in Singapore, as well as an executive education building in Abu Dhabi. Along with its full-time MBA program, INSEAD offers a Global Executive MBA program and has created partnerships with other global business schools including Johns Hopkins SAIS, Wharton, Kellogg, China’s CEIBS, Yale, and the Teacher’s College of Columbia University. INSEAD’s full-time MBA program takes place over a condensed 10-month timeframe and requires its students to have knowledge of three different languages by the time of graduation.
FAQ
What is the tuition for INSEAD's MBA program?
The tuition for INSEAD’s MBA program is €91,225-€92,575 euros per year. For more cost and fees information visit https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/mba/financing
What is the average GMAT score for admission to INSEAD’s MBA program?
The middle 80% of GMAT scores for the incoming class range between 670 and 750.
Does the INSEAD MBA program accept the GRE?
Yes. The INSEAD MBA program has accepted the GRE for a few years now.
What is the average GRE score for admission to INSEAD's MBA program?
INSEAD does not publish an average GRE score for its incoming class, but does accept the GRE for admissions.
What is the minimum number of years of work experience required for admission to INSEAD's MBA program?
INSEAD does not state a minimum requirement for years of work experience. However, it is important for candidates to be aware that they are being considered against other candidates with an average of 5.6 years of experience.
What is the average number of years of work experience for admission to INSEAD’s MBA program? (or, What is the average age of an INSEAD student?)
The average number of years of work experience among students in INSEAD's MBA program is 5.6. The average age of an INSEAD MBA student is 29 years.
What is the average starting salary for graduates of the INSEAD MBA program?
The average starting salary for INSEAD MBA graduates is $105,900 (mean salary, US dollars). The salary will vary by industry, with consulting and finance jobs generally commanding the higher salaries.
How long is INSEAD's full-time MBA program?
INSEAD offers a 1 year MBA program. Students may begin in September or January for a 10-month term.
What are the application deadlines for INSEAD's MBA program?
For January 2023 intake: The Round 3 deadline is June 14, 2022. The Round 4 deadline is July 26, 2022. For the INSEAD August 2023 intake, the deadlines are as follows. The Round 1 deadline is September 6, 2022. The Round 2 deadline is November 15, 2022. The Round 3 deadline is January 10, 2023. The Round 4 deadline is March 7, 2023. For the INSEAD January 2024 intake, the deadlines are as follows. Round 1 is March 7, 2023. Round 2 is April 18, 2023. Round 3 is June 27, 2023. Round 4 is August 8, 2023. To know more about INSEAD’s MBA program application rounds, please visit https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/mba/admissions#dates
What percent of INSEAD MBA students are women?
Thirty-five percent of the class at INSEAD are women.
VIDEOS
The Key to Success: GEMBA Viewpoints
For Enea Francissi, Fleet Director at Corsair International, the key to success was self- awareness.
See Yourself from a Different Perspective
After Rena Chai, Head of Windows Commercial, Asia at Microsoft understood herself better from how others viewed her, her life transformed.
Admissions
The Class Profile
The total class size of INSEAD’s two intakes in September and January usually lands around 1,000 students. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the school leadership decided to cut enrollment for the September 2020 intake. In September 2020, 232 students chose the Fontainebleau campus and 78 matriculated in Singapore. Thirty-two percent of the new class are women (74 chose the French campus and 25 chose the Asian one). The 310 students represent 62 different nationalities. Thirty-eight percent have primary nationality in Europe and 33 percent in the Asia Pacific region. Fifteen percent come from North America and seven percent from South America. Four percent each joined from Africa or MENA.
Business/Administration was the most popular undergraduate major, as 36% had studied it. Engineering followed at 25%. Another 12% earned degrees in economics and eight percent in law/political sciences. Ten percent had studied the sciences and five percent pursued the humanities. Over 300 candidates took the GMAT and their average score landed at 706.
The INSEAD students who joined in September averaged an age of 29 and 5.5 years of work experience. Twenty-six percent of the new group had earned pre-MBA experience in consulting. Another 21% came from financial services. Fifteen percent had worked across tech, media or telecom. The other 118 students came from corporate sectors, including retail, manufacturing, energy, healthcare and other typical fields.
Application Procedures
Because INSEAD has two classes per year, there are two sets of deadlines for applicants to keep in mind. Individuals hoping to join the January intake can submit their applications in in early March, mid-April, mid-June, or late July. For those pursuing a September start date, the timing shifts so that the first deadline is in mid-September, the second in early November, third in early January, and final in late February. To apply, applicants must submit a completed online application, two letters of recommendation, and required essays. Once those materials are submitted, applicants are given an application ID and the chance to upload a photograph of themselves, their official transcripts, their GMAT or GRE scores, and language certifications; applicants must also pay a €250 application fee. Within 48 hours of application submission, the admissions committee sends applicants a unique link and instructions to complete four video interviews. The video interviews do not replace the face-to-face interviews with INSEAD alumni. The admissions committee then notifies those applicants who are selected for an interview. INSEAD often schedules two interviews with applicants, which are conducted by INSEAD alumni in applicants’ countries of residence.
Application Checklist
- Profile
- Two Letters of Recommendation
- Job Description Essays
- Essays
- Photograph
- Application Fee
- Official Transcripts
- GMAT or GRE Score
- English Language Certification (only if applicant’s native language is not English)
- Entry Language Certification
Interview Reports
INSEAD MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 3 / Alumnus / Online Teams Meeting
My first interview was conducted by an alumnus who graduated in 2020. The overall interview lasted an hour and a half, which was longer than most of my other interviews, but he was very pleasant and open so it wasn’t very taxing. The overall flow of questions: 1. Tell me about yourself. 2. Explain your […]
INSEAD MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 3 / Alumni / Google Meet
There were two interviews, one hour each. One interview was very very tough. Both interviews focused on my goal after the MBA. Since my goal is about opening a social enterprise that is financial viable on its own, both interviews were grilling me on ROI and one even asked me to do an impromptu pitch. […]
INSEAD MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 3 / Alumnus / Off-Campus
I was put in touch with an alumnus in my city and we arranged over email to meet up in person at a cafe. It was a very relaxed and casual conversation, but she had a list of questions she needed to ask (must be something provided by the adcom): 1) Run me through your […]
Interview Report Round-Up: HBS, INSEAD, MIT Sloan
Welcome to another edition of Interview Report Roundup. This week, we’re taking a closer look at MBA admissions interview reports that HBS, INSEAD and MIT Sloan applicants have recently shared to the Clear Admit Interview Archive. A Round 1 MBA hopeful for Harvard Business School faced an adcom member very familiar with their application, as […]
INSEAD MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Alumnus / Zoom
It was an online interview that lasted about 40 minutes. It was more of a conversation and less of a formal interview. Some key questions that were asked: 1) Tell me about yourself. 2) Why MBA? 3) What do you know about INSEAD? 4) Are you applying to other schools? 5) Have you worked internationally? […]
INSEAD MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 1 / Alumni / Zoom
My first interview was with an alumna based locally who graduated ~10 years ago (over Zoom). It was very conversational, and she naturally weaved in several questions. The questions I remember were: – Walk me through your resume. – What do you do in your spare time? – What will you do in your time […]
INSEAD Interview Questions & Report: Round 1 / Alumnus / Off-Campus
INSEAD R1/ 2 interviews, both with Alumni Location: Virtual and in-person Type of interview: both Alumni, mix of application-based and resume-based Questions asked: Why MBA and Why INSEAD? Tell me a time you worked with someone from a different background/culture from you. Strengths and weaknesses? Tell me a time you failed. How will you plan […]
INSEAD MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Alumni / Zoom
I was invited to complete two rounds of interviews with 2 INSEAD alumni. I understand they were selected as my interviewers considering they both worked in industries or functions that I intended to pivot to after my MBA. My first interview was smooth and centered around general school fit. My interviewer also allocated a large […]
INSEAD Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Alumnus / Zoom
Walk me through your resume. Why MBA? Why MBA now? Why INSEAD? My short and long term goal? Leadership experience? A time I had an uncomfortable conversation at work? (This got me off guard) He noticed I had a prior masters 9 years ago and kept grilling me on my motivations. The rest of the […]
INSEAD Interview Questions & Report: Round 3 / Alumnus / Off-Campus
I had 2 separate interviews – one with a recent alum and the other with somebody who graduated probably 15+ years ago. I had to send in my full application (essays, test scores, etc.) to the interviewer ahead of time. Both interviews lasted about 45 mins. My first interviewer wanted the interview to be open […]
Insead Q&As
INSEAD LiveWire and DecisionWire
Academics
Faculty
INSEAD has a 170-strong faculty that teaches courses across nine academic areas. In addition to their teaching responsibilities, these professors help organize and direct INSEAD’s research efforts and Centres of Excellence, which range in focus from the Emerging Markets Institute to the Learning Innovation and Teaching Excellence.
Curriculum
INSEAD takes advantage of a number of different teaching methods in its classrooms, allowing its faculty to design courses that utilize the case study method, computer simulation exercises, role play, lectures and class discussions. Upon their arrival on campus, students are assigned to a diverse study group of five to six students that work together on a number of class projects throughout their first few periods at INSEAD.
INSEAD accepts two classes per year, one beginning in September and graduating the following June, the other starting in January and concluding the following December. Regardless of the start date, classes go through the same curriculum and follow an academic calendar divided into five eight-week periods. Each period ends with exams and a short break before the next period ensues, and January entrants also have an eight-week summer break during which they are encouraged to complete internships. During the first half of their studies, students must enroll in INSEAD’s 14 core courses, which cover foundational business topics including accounting, marketing, organizational behavior, operations management and strategy, among others. Students take six core courses in their first period and six in their second period. In the third period, students complete their remaining two core courses and are given their first opportunity to better sculpt their education by taking four elective courses. The fourth period consists entirely of four elective courses and the fifth period concludes with three electives and a capstone project. INSEAD offers over 75 electives across its 10 academic areas.
Students are asked to choose their preferred starting campus when they apply to the MBA program and are generally given that preferred location for their first two periods, though that is not guaranteed. Six weeks after beginning their studies, students are given the opportunity to express their preference for the location of their third, fourth and fifth periods, which also includes the option of participating in Wharton, Kellogg, or CEIBS campus exchanges. Though INSEAD does ensure that all students will have the opportunity to study at its Singapore and European campuses, it does not guarantee that students’ preferences for the timing of those stays will be met.
Other MBA Degree Options
In addition to its 10-month full-time MBA Program, INSEAD also offers a Global Executive MBA program for experienced managers. The length of this part-time program is determined by the campus at which students start—Fontainebleau, Singapore or Abu Dhabi—and ranges from 60 to 65 days over 14 to 17 months.
Elective Areas at INSEAD
- Accounting and Control
- Decision Sciences
- Economics and Political Science
- Entrepreneurship and Family Enterprise
- Finance
- Marketing
- Organisational Behavior
- Strategy
- Technology and Operations Management
Degree Offerings at INSEAD
Full-time MBA
Fontainebleau, Singapore
https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/mba
EMBA
Fontainebleau, Singapore or Abu Dhabi
https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/gemba
Dual Degrees
MBA/MA with John Hopkins
MBA/MA with Columbia University
MBA/MA with Yale School of Management
https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/mba/academics#partnerships
Campus Life
Clubs, Conferences & Competitions
Outside of their academic responsibilities, INSEAD students can take part in a wide range of extracurricular activities. The school’s nearly 30 student-run clubs cover students’ social, professional and cultural interests and include organizations such as the INSEAD Sailing Club, the INSEAD Energy Club and the INSEAD Women in Business Club. In addition to their regular offerings, such as recruiting treks and group lunches, student clubs help organize events on campus. The INSEAD Private Equity Club, for instance, hosts Private Equity conferences on both the Asian and European campuses. Students also take the lead in organizing the Global Leader Series, which brings prominent business leaders to the Asian and European campuses to speak about their career paths.
To further celebrate the international diversity on its campuses, INSEAD sponsors National Weeks. These weeks are organized by student cultural groups in order to let the larger community learn more about their home countries. For example, the Indian National Week included traditional South Indian dance, and a sitar performance.
Campus Spaces
INSEAD has two main campuses, one in France and the other in Singapore. Headquartered in Fontainebleau, the French campus’s facilities include 29 teaching spaces, 130 study group areas, the Georges and Edna Doriot Library, a bookshop, a gymnasium and housing accommodations for those enrolled in short-term programs. Students in the full-time MBA program are not provided with on-campus housing, and they are instead advised to rent apartments and houses in nearby neighborhoods.
The Singapore Campus was opened in 2000 and includes eight amphitheaters, a variety of teaching rooms and study areas, an auditorium, a 24-hour library and a gymnasium. As with the European campus, INSEAD’s Singapore campus only offers accommodation to those in shorter-term programs. Full-time students are encouraged to contact a real estate agent in order to find lodging during their time on the Asian campus.
MBA Careers
Career Services
The INSEAD Career Services team provides a variety of services to its students to help them prepare for recruiting process and their future careers. The office recommends that during their first two periods, students sit for self-assessment tests, attend career counseling sessions and workshops and begin to tailor their CVs. In the third period students are guided to create their job search strategies by doing industry research, learning more networking skills, sitting in on discussion panels and participating in networking events. During the fourth and fifth periods, the office focuses students’ efforts on interview preparation and salary negotiation skills.
Career Statistics
Ninety-eight percent of the Class of 2020 responded to INSEAD’s Career Services survey. Within three months of graduation, 89% of respondents reported that they had been offered at least one job. The annual mean salary for the class was $103,800, with a median sign-on bonus of $25,000.
Members of the Class of 2020 entered a variety of sectors upon graduation. The most popular sector was consulting, which was chosen by 48% of graduates. Another popular sector was financial services, with 14% of the class joining companies in this field, as well as technology, media, and telecommunications sector claiming 23% of the class. The remaining 15% went into an assortment of corporate sectors.
Financing
The tuition for INSEAD’s the classes entering August 2022 is €91,225, and €92,575 for the January 2023 intake. In addition to this base cost, accepted students should factor in an additional €2,000 in educational expenditures, such as an optional Business Foundations Program and a new laptop. Students should also expect to spend between €24,360 and €28,260 in living expenses, depending on which campus they are based in and whether or not they have a car lease payment. INSEAD offers both need-based and merit-based scholarships, and applicants need to fill out separate scholarship applications to be considered for these awards. Students can also finance their educations through private loans or through loan programs offered by their countries of citizenship. All admitted INSEAD students are eligible to apply for a loan from the International Loan Programme from Prodigy Finance.
Program Tuition (August intake)
- Tuition Fees €91,225
- Foundations Programme (optional) €1,500
- Laptop €1,000
- Living Expenses €27,700
- Total €121,425
Recent INSEAD News
Real Humans of Amazon: Nimisha Mund, INSEAD MBA ’22, Senior Manager, Corporate Business Development EMEA
Reflecting on your career goals often gets you to choose the MBA route, but continuing to reflect on your goals throughout the course of the MBA is also vital to your success. For Nimisha Mund, this s
Submit an INSEAD, MIT Sloan, NYU Stern, Texas McCombs or UCLA Anderson MBA Interview Report – Receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card
If you’re interested in sharing your MBA interview experience, we are awarding a $10 Amazon gift certificate to each applicant who submits an MBA interview report for INSEAD, MIT Sloan, NYU Stern,
The Week Ahead: MBA Deadlines & Decisions, March 13-17, 2023
Welcome back to the series, The Week Ahead, in which we provide a brief rundown of what is happening in MBA admissions this week! Round 2 final decisions are coming. Round 2 decisions are starting to
INSEAD Jobs Report: Classes of MBA ’21D & ’22J Find Success
INSEAD recently published their MBA jobs report for the classes graduating in December of 2021 and January 2022, with 94 percent reporting receiving at least one offer within three months of graduatio
INSEAD MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 3 / Alumnus / Online Teams Meeting
My first interview was conducted by an alumnus who graduated in 2020. The overall interview lasted an hour and a half, which was longer than most of my other interviews, but he was very pleasant and o
The Financial Times 2023 Global MBA Ranking: CBS Takes Top Spot for the First Time
The Financial Times (FT) released its rankings of the 100 best Global MBA programs for 2023. Changes to the ranking’s methodology and the glaring absence of a familiar name have really shaken t
Interview Report Round-Up: Duke Fuqua, Georgetown McDonough and INSEAD
As Round 2 interview season rolls on, we’re taking a peek at some new entries to the Clear Admit Interview Archive to help you prepare. This week, we take a look at applicants’ reported interview
INSEAD MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 3 / Alumni / Google Meet
There were two interviews, one hour each. One interview was very very tough. Both interviews focused on my goal after the MBA. Since my goal is about opening a social enterprise that is financial viab
INSEAD MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 3 / Alumnus / Off-Campus
I was put in touch with an alumnus in my city and we arranged over email to meet up in person at a cafe. It was a very relaxed and casual conversation, but she had a list of questions she needed to as
The Week Ahead: MBA Interview Invitations, February 6-10, 2023
Welcome back to the series, The Week Ahead, in which we provide a brief rundown of what is happening in MBA admissions this week! Round 2 is underway. Interview invites are rolling out for Round 2 ca