Contents
Name of the B-School: INSEAD
“INSEAD” is originally an acronym for the French “Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires” or European Institute of Business Administration.
Name of the course: MBA
INSEAD holds the triple accreditation of:
As per B-School website, The INSEAD one-year MBA Program is about academic rigor, amazing diversity, excellent career opportunities and an outstanding alumni network.
As per INSEAD, With three fully-integrated campuses in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and over 90 different nationalities in the classroom, no other business school offers such a multicultural experience. So if you are searching for a place where there is no dominant culture, where you can be your true self, this course is for you.
As per INSEAD, the accelerated full-time MBA program curriculum develops successful, thoughtful leaders and entrepreneurs who create value for their organisations and their communities, and they are looking for smart, well-rounded candidates who believe that business can be a force for good.
| Business Administration | 33% |
| Engineering | 28% |
| Economics | 13% |
| Sciences | 8% |
| Law, Political Sciences | 7% |
| Humanities & Arts | 6% |
| Media & Communication | 1% |
| Other | 4% |
Eligibility criteria of one year MBA as per official INSEAD website is as follows:
This section is evaluated on the basis of a sound academic foundation and a GMAT score.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a recognized college or university (although in exceptional circumstances, we may waive this requirement for outstanding candidates with substantial professional experience). Many of the applicants have advanced degrees but this is not compulsory. To assess your academic background, INSEAD considers the competitiveness of the institution you attended and your academic performance.
All applicants are required to take a GMAT test as it provides the B-School with a standardized way of evaluating candidates. While they do not have a minimum score required for admission, they advise candidates to aim for a score at or above the 70th-75th percentile for both the quantitative and verbal sections of the GMAT. For the Integrated Reasoning section, recommend achieving a score of 6 or above. Please keep in mind, however, that standardized tests are just one of several admissions criteria. A high score does not guarantee admission, and a below average score does not eliminate a candidate.
INSEAD also accepts the GRE test for which the B-School does not have a minimum score but advise candidates to aim for a score above 85% for the quantitative and verbal sections of the GRE is highly recommended.
The B School looks for participants who can share the insights they have gained throughout their professional and personal experience. It is their belief that a substantial part of your INSEAD experience will be shaped by your interaction with your classmates and your active participation both inside and outside the classroom. As such, INSEAD welcomes participants who are mature, energetic, highly motivated, well-rounded, and possess strong communication and interpersonal skills.
The Admissions Committee looks for candidates with very strong international motivation who typically have perceptive insights into the complexities of business in an international setting. Most applicants to INSEAD have either worked or studied outside their home country; if they have not had such international experiences, they would have demonstrated in other tangible ways (working for a multinational company, learning foreign languages, travelling, etc.) that they are comfortable interacting in diverse communities and are committed to pursuing a global career.
The MBA program is taught exclusively in English. Therefore, fluent English is a prerequisite. At INSEAD, it is believed strongly in the importance of an international outlook and the ability to work effectively in multiple cultures. As such the B-School also require candidates to demonstrate at least a practical knowledge of another language before starting the program and a basic knowledge of a third language before graduating.
INSEAD is looking for applicants who can demonstrate their potential as leaders. The B-School will consider your professional experience and past performance when assessing your application. Participants typically have an average of five years of working experience (ranging between two to ten years). More important than the length of your experience, is the quality of your accomplishments. Younger applicants who demonstrate exceptional maturity and outstanding leadership through their professional and personal experiences are encouraged to apply.
| Deadline for complete application | Interview decision notification | Final decision notification | |
| ROUND 1 | 18 September 2019 | 18 October 2019 | 22 November 2019 |
| ROUND 2 | 06 November 2019 | 06 December 2019 | 24 January 2020 |
| ROUND 3 | 15 January 2020 | 14 February 2020 | 20 March 2020 |
| ROUND 4 | 26 February 2020 | 27 March 2020 | 30 April 2020 |
| Deadline for complete application | Interview decision notification | Final decision notification | |
| ROUND 1 | 11 March 2020 | 10 April 2020 | 15 May 2020 |
| ROUND 2 | 06 May 2020 | 05 June 2020 | 10 July 2020 |
| ROUND 3 | 24 June 2020 | 24 July 2020 | 04 Sept. 2020 |
| ROUND 4 | 28 July 2020 | 28 Aug. 2020 | 25 Sept. 2020 |
Important points as per INSEAD
Stage 1: submit online application & supporting documents | Complete the INSEAD MBA online application and attach the required supporting documentation to your application. |
Stage 2: Record your video interviews | Follow the link on your dashboard and in the email notification from Kira Talent to complete the video interviews. |
Stage 3: Status notification from Admissions | A status e-mail from your Admissions Officer will be sent to you within 1 week of submitting your application |
Stage 4: interview decision | You will be informed whether you have been selected to interview by the interview decision deadline. |
Stage 5: interview stage | Interviews are conducted by INSEAD Alumni interviewers, normally in your country of residence. In the majority of cases, two separate interviews are required. |
Stage 6: Admissions Committee Evaluation | Once the Admissions Office receives feedback from the alumni interviewers, your application will be re-evaluated and then presented to the Admissions Committee. The Admissions Committee, comprised of faculty and alumni, decides whether to accept or reject each candidate. |
Stage 7: Final Decision | You will be advised by email of the final decision on your application. The entire admissions process (from the Application Deadline) will take up to 10 weeks. |
Important points as per INSEAD
As per INSEAD,The whole application process is done via our online application system. You are able to work on different sections of the application separately. Please make sure to save all your data before logging off so you can return to work on it at a later stage. The online application comprises:
Once you have successfully registered, you will access the Dashboard of the online application system. You can edit your login details and set your alert notifications. You are also required to upload a photograph of yourself. To optimise the image, your photo should be 200 pixels wide and 200 pixels high. The photograph should be in JPEG or GIF format.
Profile information is hard facts, similar to a detailed resume. You can save a PDF copy of these pages at any time by clicking on the printer icon on the top of your screen. Note that not all fields are mandatory, so if one does not apply to you, leave it blank.
This is a critical part of our evaluation process. As such, we advise you to spend a significant amount of time on your application essays. Your responses provide the best opportunity to be creative and tell us about yourself. We would like to get to know you and to find out what motivates you. The essay questions are not meant to be academic articles or business memos, but rather your personal stories. You can fill in the essay questions online or copy/paste your answers in the text boxes directly within your application.
As per INSEAD, The following supporting documents must be included in your application and received before or on the day of the application deadline. Your application will not be evaluated until all of the below items have been received in addition to the online elements. Please attach your supporting documents via the online application system. Please complete your video interviews at your earliest convenience, and no later than 48 hours after the deadline which you are applying for.
A fee of €250 must be paid online with a credit card once you have submitted your application form. Please note that this application fee is non-refundable and that your application will not be evaluated until the correct fee has been received.
Please arrange to have Pearson Vue submit your GMAT test scores directly to INSEAD, code DL3-S8-89. You can take the GMAT up until the day of the application deadline, in this case a copy of your unofficial score report (to be uploaded under “supporting documents” before you submit your application form) is sufficient for us to begin evaluating your file. GMAT scores are valid for five years prior to the application deadline to which you are applying. Our GRE reporting code is 0970.
INSEAD accepts TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic, and the Certificate of Proficiency in English test. For INSEAD purposes, scores are valid for two years. With the TOEFL, please arrange to have ETS send your test scores directly to INSEAD, code 0970. For PTE Academic, the relevant code for INSEAD is:22W-R2-00. As with the GMAT, a copy of your score report is sufficient for the B-School to begin evaluating your file. Your original test score report will only be required later on during the evaluation process.
You can also demonstrate fluency in English with a university degree (a minimum of one full-time academic year with a diploma received from that host university) where all courses were taught exclusively in English. (An exchange programme does not qualify.) If your university degree was exclusively taught in English but in a non-English speaking country, please make sure that your transcripts clearly mention the language of instruction is English to complete your application.
While they do not have a minimum score required for admission, they advise candidates to aim for a score at or above:
For more details, please see the Languages section. If you are unable to supply certification at the time of your application, the deadline is 1st June for the September intake, and 1st November for the January intake.
Two professional recommendation letters are required, providing information about your leadership and management potential. As such, at least one recommendation should come from your workplace; your current supervisor or manager is usually a good choice. The other recommendation should be from someone who has had a chance to evaluate you in a professional setting, for example, a client, a former supervisor or a colleague from your community service or extracurricular activities. Academic recommendations are acceptable but they are less likely to address our main interest, which is to assess your ability to work with and manage others as well as your potential for senior management. If you feel it would add value to your application, you may also upload an optional third letter of recommendation as part of the supporting documents.
It is important to note that your recommenders can submit their online letters to us at their earliest convenience after receiving their links, and no later than 48 hours after the application deadline, to which you are applying.
Upon submission of your application form, you will receive a message requesting you to record your video interviews through Kira Talent. You will also be able to access this from your online application Dashboard. For optimal user experience, we recommend that you use Microsoft Edge or Chrome to record your Kira videos.
Please complete your video interviews at your earliest convenience, and no later than 48 hours after the deadline to which you are applying. Through the videos we hope to get a deeper insight into your background.
The application to the MBA programme is fully online. If you wish to send additional documentation by post, please mail to:
INSEAD
MBA Admissions Office
Boulevard de Constance
77305 Fontainebleau
France
IMPORTANT NOTES
INSEAD has one centralised Admissions Office in Fontainebleau for all MBA applicants regardless of your home campus. Any hard copies of your supporting documentation should therefore be sent to the above mailing address.
As per INSEAD, your transcripts should indicate both diploma and grades achieved from each college or university that you have attended. They accept transcripts in English or French. All others must be accompanied by a certified English translation. Each transcript must bear the official seal and signature of the institution.
The transcripts need to reach the Admissions Office by the deadline. For them to start processing your application, the transcripts may be either uploaded with the application form (scanned copies) or sent to INSEAD via post by the applicant or by the academic institution directly.
The size of each of your attachments should not exceed 1 MB. If you have more documents to send, please divide your pages and upload two lighter documents instead of a single big one.
Should you be admitted to the MBA Programme, you will be asked to send your original transcripts and degree to the Admissions Office by post. Photocopies are only accepted if officially certified by a public or professional body (solicitor, embassy, town hall, etc.).
According to the B School, shortly after completing your INSEAD MBA online application, you will receive an e-mail notification from Kira Talent with a unique link to complete 4 video interviews. Your link will be also available on your dashboard within the application system.
As per INSEAD, admission policies are as follows:
If English is your native language, you have to demonstrate at least a practical knowledge of a second language (referred to as ‘entry’ language) before the start of the program by passing one of our accepted language tests for your chosen second language.
If you are a non-native English speaker, your native language will fulfill the entry language requirement (no test required). However, you may need to submit certification of your English proficiency. Please check our language policy for further details.
In addition to English and your entry language, all students will need to demonstrate at least basic knowledge of a third language (referred to as ‘exit language’) in order to graduate. If you already possess basic knowledge of a third language, we recommend you certify your exit language either before the start of the program or during Launch Week on campus. If you need to learn a third language, you can do so either before or during the program and pass the language test before graduation. Language instruction is available on both campuses.
In general the B-School does not grant deferrals. You should apply for the intake in which you intend to enroll.
Due to the large number of applications INSEAD receives for each intake and the confidentiality of the deliberations of the Admissions Committee, they are unable to provide individual detailed feedback on rejected applications.
When completing the online application form, you will be asked to select your home campus preference; if you choose the value “Both campuses”, this choice means that you are totally indifferent about starting your INSEAD MBA on either of our campuses. Please note that home campus choice does not influence final admissions decisions, as it is not taken into account when your file is presented to the Admissions Committee. Therefore, you do not have a higher chance of being accepted by selecting “both campuses” in your application form. However, once we have allocated you a campus upon admission, it is very difficult to change. INSEAD will endeavor to accommodate your choice of home campus but if you have the slightest preference for one campus or the other, you should select that choice before submitting your application form. Whilst INSEAD will strive to accommodate your campus choice, if your preferred campus is full, you will be offered the choice of either a place on the alternative campus or a place on the wait list for your preferred campus.
Unsuccessful applicants may reapply for a later intake. Please exercise your own judgement in deciding if you have any significant changes in your new profile since your first application that will make a difference with the Admissions Committee. All re-applicants are requested to submit a new online application, unless otherwise indicated.
Tuition fees for the July Class are set in December each year. Fees for the December Class are announced in June.
Tuition fees for the September 2019 intake are €85,500 and January 2020 intake are €87,000. The fees are payable by installments.
Tuition fees cover all printed course materials, access to the INSEAD library, access to on-campus information technology services, language tuition and testing*, student council fees, gym access, business cards, printing and health insurance.
Business foundations program (optional): €1,950
| Installment | July Class of 2020 | December Class of 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Approximately 4 weeks after having received the admissions offer, you will be required to pay a non-refundable first tuition installment | €10,000 | €10,000 |
| 2 | Approximately one month before the program starts, you will be required to pay a non-refundable second tuition installment | €51,000 | €52,000 |
| 3 | Approximately 4 months after the program starts | €24,500 | €25,000 |
| Total | €85,500 | €87,000 |
| Instalment | July Class of 2020 | December Class of 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | After the admissions offer, the company will be required to pay a non-refundable first tuition installment | €10,000 | €10,000 |
| 2 | Approximately one month before the program starts, the company will be required to pay a non-refundable second tuition installment | €75,500 | €77,000 |
| Total | €85,500 | €87,000 |
As per INSEAD, Rent and other living expenses vary considerably depending on the participant’s family situation, lifestyle choices and financial means.
A survey of INSEAD students shows that a single participant can expect to incur the following basic expenses during the ten-month program. If you are coming with a partner, increase your budget by approximately 25%.
| Fontainebleau | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (includes utilities and charges) | €10,000 | €12,800 |
| Books | €300 | €300 |
| Car Lease* | €3,900 | not applicable |
| Field Trips** | €2,000 | €2,000 |
| Local Transport^ | €633 | €700 |
| Meals | €6,000 | €6,500 |
| Miscellaneous (i.e. relocation expenses, excluding leisure) | €1,500 | €1,500 |
| Telephone | €400 | €300 |
| Laptop (optional) | €1,000 | €1,000 |
| Travel for Exchange and Job Search (optional) | €2,000 | €2,000 |
| Total Average Expense | €27,733 – with car lease€23,833 – without car lease | €27,100 |
* In Singapore, most MBA participants use public transport. Students staying in the surrounding area of Fontainebleau may buy or lease a car. Students living in Fontainebleau itself use bicycles, buses or walk.
** Expenses related to the field trip will vary depending on the air fare, accommodation and associated expenses.
^ A monthly transportation pass in Fontainebleau is €63.30. In Singapore one can buy the travel pass for €8 and top it up depending on the travel needs.
As per B School, there goal is to recruit the best and brightest to join our school, regardless of their backgrounds or financial situations. If it has always been your dream to pursue a top-ranked MBA program, the B School will help you.
Over the last three years, INSEAD has doubled their scholarship funds which has enabled them to offer higher grants to more participants. There are over 90 types of scholarships available, which apply to both campuses in Fontainebleau and Singapore.
Three categories of scholarships are available to you: need-based, non-need based (awarded based on nationality, professional background, leadership abilities, or any combination of these criteria), and spot scholarships which are awarded immediately without the need for applications based on exceptional admissions profiles.
You can find the list of INSEAD scholarships at https://sites.insead/mba/schlmgmt/index.cfm.
According to the B-School, all scholarships have specific eligibility criteria based on a combination of merit and financial need. Candidates will be judged on the quality of their scholarship essays and the degree to which they meet the eligibility criteria. As a part of the merit criteria, the Committee will consider the academic and professional achievements and merit distinctions received. Please note that admissions essays are not part of the scholarship review process.
Company sponsorships are considered as external financial aid. They discourage candidates who are sponsored from applying for INSEAD scholarships. Their scholarship offering is designed primarily for those with fewer resources.
The group of need-based scholarships first focuses on emerging and developing markets. Financial need is the main criterion for these awards. Please note that a number of supporting documents will be required as part of the application.
List of supporting documents:
The INSEAD Louis and Evelyn Franck Endowed Award for Excellence scholarship does not require an application and all admitted candidates in each round will be considered based on the merit of the admission application. Successful candidates will receive the notification on this award approximately one week after admission. If you do not receive an e-mail within that time frame please consider that you have not been selected.
As per INSEAD, other related eligibility criteria are as follows:
Candidates in the first three rounds will apply for financial aid at interview stage. Round 4 candidates will not have access to scholarship applications. However, funds will be reserved to offer a number of merit scholarship awards upon admission. Awards will be based on the quality of the MBA application. They do not require an application and everybody will be considered. If you do not receive an e-mail within one week from admission, this would unfortunately mean that you have not been selected.
Waitlisted candidates are encouraged to apply for scholarships within the deadlines indicated above. Your scholarship applications will be reviewed while you are still on the waitlist. Financial aid decisions for the wait-listed candidates will be communicated upon admission.
If you are awarded an INSEAD scholarship and also receive a full tuition external or national award, we will automatically withdraw your INSEAD award which will be reallocated to another deserving candidate in yours or a future intake. Partial tuition awards from external sources will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
To access the scholarship application form on-line, you will first need to register (important : your name should be indicated exactly as on your admission application).
Upon registering, you will receive your personal login ID and password to navigate through the scholarship website. You will first need to answer all the profile questions (personal contact details, educational and professional information). This will serve as a background for all applications. Thereafter, you will have the option to apply for different scholarships.
Throughout the period that the on-line application is available, you can modify or withdraw your scholarship applications as you please. You can track the status of your on-line application with the help of your scholarship login ID and password. Please note that the scholarship portal is not part of the platform for the admitted candidates and therefore you will need to register for it separately.
As per INSEAD, all admitted students are eligible to apply for an International Loan Programme from Prodigy Finance.
Prodigy Finance was started by three INSEAD MBA graduates who experienced first-hand the difficulties of financing an international MBA. In 2007, they set out to solve this problem. Their innovative model offers loans to international postgraduate students at leading business schools. Through their community platform, alumni and other investors earn competitive returns, while students gain access to higher education they otherwise could not afford.
The program with INSEAD has now funded more than 1,170 applicants in recent classes.
Overview
There are 75+ elective courses available based on following academic areas
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PROGRAMME INFORMATION & CLASS PROFILE
| Website | http://mba.insead |
| Location | Fontainebleau, 77305France |
| Ranking | Business Week – 1, FT – 4 |
| Number of students in class | 887 |
| Class profile | International by residence: 90%, Average age: 29, 80% Range of GMAT score: 650-750, 80% Range of undergraduate GPA: 4, Average work experience: 5 |
| Estimated cost of attendance | $68,107 |
| Recruiting statistics |
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| % having job offer within 3 months of graduation | 86% |
PLACEMENT STATISTICS
Class of 2012
Key statistics & trends from the report
APPLICATION ESSAYS
Job Essays:
Personal Essays:
or
b) What would you say to a foreigner moving to your home country? (250 words approx.)
INSEAD Reapplicants Essay: (Reapplicants only) In case of reapplication, please use this page. Your essay should state any new aspects of professional, international, academic, or personal development since your last application. We would also like you to explain your motivation for re-applying to INSEAD. This essay should not exceed 400 words
