https://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/03/0331_elite_bschools/image/insead.jpg INSEAD MBA Guide https://mba.insead.edu/ressources/images/template/logo.jpg Rankings - GMAT Club International MBA Rankings Business Week International MBA Rankings 2010 #1 Financial Times Global MBA Rankings 2012 #6 Economist MBA Ranking 2011 #19 Forbes International MBA Rankings 2011 #2 (1 Year Programs) Historical GMAT Club Applicant Threads Calling All Applicants INSEAD MBA 2013 (Sept) Intake INSEAD MBA 2013 (Jan) Intake INSEAD MBA 2012 (Sept) Intake INSEAD MBA 2012 (Jan) Intake INSEAD MBA 2011 (Sept) Intake INSEAD MBA 2011 (Jan) Intake INSEAD MBA 2010 (Sept) Intake INSEAD MBA 2010 (Jan) Intake INSEAD MBA 2009 (Sept) Intake Waitlist INSEAD MBA 2012 (Sept) Intake INSEAD MBA 2012 (Jan) Intake INSEAD MBA 2011 (Sept) Intake INSEAD MBA 2011 (Jan) Intake Admitted INSEAD MBA - Class of 2012 (July) Popular Links Programs Offered at INSEAD INSEAD Download Center INSEAD Faculty Notable Alumni INSEAD Events Stay Connected! INSEAD MBA Blog INSEAD on Facebook INSEAD MBA Students on Twitter INSEAD MBA Team on Twitter INSEAD MBA Students on Linkedin INSEAD MBA Newsletter Join the INSEAD Mailing List INSEAD Events page Current Applicant Threads: 2014 (Jan) - Calling All INSEAD Applicants 2014 (Sept) - Calling All INSEAD Applicants 2013/14 Application Instructions Deadlines Sept 2014 Intake Round* Application Interview Decision Final Decision R1 Oct 2, 2013 Nov 8, 2013 Dec 20, 2013 R2 Nov 27, 2013 Jan 10, 2014 Feb 21, 2014 R3 March 5, 2014 April 11, 2014 May 23, 2014 *To be included in a specific round, applications must be complete and submitted by midnight (23.59) Central European Time on the day of deadline. Jan 2014 Intake Round* Application Interview Decision Final Decision R1 Apr 3, 2013 May 17, 2013 Jun 28, 2013 R2 Jun 12, 2013 July 19, 2013 Sep 06, 2013 R3 Aug 7, 2013 Sep 13, 2013 Oct 25, 2013 Essays Job Description Essays Essay 1: Briefly summarise your current (or most recent) job, including the nature of work, major responsibilities, and, where relevant, employees under your supervision, size of budget, clients/ products and results achieved. (250 words maximum) Essay 2: Please give a full description of your career since graduating from university. If you were to remain with your present employer, what would be your next step in terms of position? (250 words maximum) Essay 3: If you are currently not working, what are you doing and what do you plan to do until you start the MBA programme? (250 words maximum) Personal Essays Essay 1: Give a candid description of yourself, stressing the personal characteristics you feel to be your strengths and weaknesses and the main factors, which have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary. (600 words maximum) Essay 2: Describe what you believe to be your two most substantial accomplishments to date (if possible specify one personal and one professional), explaining why you view them as such. (400 words maximum) Essay 3: Describe a situation taken from your personal or professional life where you failed. Discuss what you learned. (400 words maximum) Essay 4: a) Discuss your short and long term career goals. (300 words maximum) and b) How will studying at INSEAD help you achieve your vision? (250 words maximum) Essay 5: Please choose one of the following two essay topics: a) Have you ever experienced culture shock? What insights did you gain? (250 words maximum) or b) Describe the ways in which a foreigner in your country might experience culture shock. (250 words maximum) Optional Essay: Is there anything that you have not mentioned in the above essays that you would like the Admissions Committee to know? (350 words maximum) Re-applicant Essay: In case of reapplication, please provide an update on any new aspects of your professional, international, academic or personal profile that would not have been included in your previous application. Please also explain your motivation for re-applying to INSEAD. (400 words maximum) Essay Analysis Clear Admit INSEAD MBA Essay Analysis 2011-12 Accepted.com INSEAD MBA Essay Analysis 2011-12 Adam Markus INSEAD MBA Essay Analysis 2011-12 Precision Essay INSEAD MBA Essay Analysis 2011-12 Application Fee: 200 Euros INSEAD Offlicial MBA Application Checklist Language Requirements: The INSEAD language policy requires that you have fluent English plus a practical knowledge of a second language in order to start the programme. You will also be required to demonstrate a basic knowledge of a third language before graduating. Reapplications: INSEAD does not encourage reapplications unless there has been a significant professional or personal development since the initial application was submitted. Campus choice: The Admissions Committee does not take campus choice into account when evaluating whether to accept or decline candidates. The selection process is, therefore, entirely blind to campus choice. Whilst Admissions 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. After the first 4 months into the Programme, you will have the opportunity to exchange campuses. Interview: If you have been shortlisted for the interview, in-person interviews are conducted by INSEAD Alumni normally in your country of residence. In the majority of cases, two interviews are conducted. Click here to Apply to INSEAD :) Class Profile Class of July 2014 Class Size 507 Nationalities 74 Female 32% Average Age 29 80% Age Range 26-32 Average Work Ex. 5.4 80% Work Ex. Range 3-8 Average GMAT Score 700 Campus Fontainbleau 309 Singapore 198 Sectors Pre-MBA Consulting 27% Finance 27% Corporate Sectors 46% Class of December 2013 Class Size 534 Nationalities 68 Female 35% Average Age 29 80% Age Range 26-31 Average Work Ex. 5.6 70% Work Ex. Range 3-7 Average GMAT Score 700 Campus Fontainbleau 311 Singapore 223 Sectors Pre-MBA Consulting 24% Finance 25% Corporate Sectors 51% Class of July 2013 Class Size 491 Nationalities 67 Female 32% Average Age 29 80% Age Range 26-31 Average Work Ex. 5.5 80% Work Ex. Range 3-8 Average GMAT Score 705 Campus Fontainbleau 294 Singapore 197 Sectors Pre-MBA Consulting 26% Banking 21% Corporate Sectors 53% Class of December 2012 Class Size 512 Nationalities 72 Female 32% Average Age 29 80% Age Range 26-32 Average Work Ex. 5.6 80% Work Ex. Range 3-8 Campus Fontainbleau 301 Singapore 211 Sectors Pre-MBA Consulting 25% Banking 23% Corporate Sectors 51% Two classes, one curriculum The INSEAD MBA Programme is made up of two classes each year.The Class of July begins in late August and graduates in early July the following year. The Class of December begins in early January and graduates in late December. The curriculum, course structure, class size and composition, and campus exchange opportunities are identical across the September and January intakes. Internship The primary difference is that if you chose to begin in September, you will complete the MBA in ten consecutive months. If you chose to begin in January you will also have a two-month summer break during which you can pursue an internship or other endeavour. Career Opportunities Chances of finding a job have more to do with your skills, experience, and potential than your campus location. Career Services staff is well integrated across both locations, providing the same tools, coaching, and resources, irrespective of whether you are studying in Fontainebleau or Singapore. Whether you join in September or January, you will begin working with Career Services early on to prepare for the next step in your career. Those interested in entering into investment banking are specifically encouraged to consider the January intake, as investment banks hire full-time positions primarily through their summer associate programmes. Links to Discussions on September v/s Jan: https://insead-the-journey.blogspot.com/2010/06/insead-which-intake-september-or.html insead-jan-vs-sep-intake-application-to-acceptance-ratio-119981.html Campuses https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Insead-FBL-campus-e1328628657447.jpg https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Insead-SGP-campus-e1328628810468.jpg INSEAD is unique in having a dual-campus structure, with a Europe campus in Fontainebleau, France, and an Asia campus in Singapore. The MBA programme runs in parallel on each campus. The two campuses are equally diverse, both have world-class faculty in residence, and both offer MBA participants access to global career opportunities. In addition to being able to study on the INSEAD campuses in Singapore and Fontainebleau, participants also have the option to participate in an exchange with Wharton. Fontainebleau Singapore Campus Exchange You will be asked to choose a preferred starting c ampus when you apply to the programme. INSEAD will try to accommodate your preference for starting campus, although in some cases you may be asked by the Admissions Office to start at the other campus. This is because campus preference is not taken into account in the selection of candidates for the programme, and therefore, in order to balance the class size and diversity across campuses, it is not possible to guarantee all selected candidates admission for their preferred campus. In addition to the two INSEAD campuses, students can also, for one period, exchange at Kellogg and Wharton . From Period 3 onwards, you will have the opportunity to exchange campuses. Through an on-line bidding process which takes place during Period 1, approximately 6 weeks after the programme starts, you will be asked to indicate your campus preferences for Period 3, Period 4 and Period 5. You can also bid for the Wharton exchange during this time. You will draw upon the same capital of points for campus exchange, Wharton exchange as well as for Elective course bidding. You will have the opportunity to spend at least one period at the other campus; however, that period may not be your initial preference as there are certain capacity constraints for each campus. What alum and current students have to say: Life at INSEAD INSEAD is Fontainebleau Switching between campuses is not as smooth and easy as it's made out to be Academics Program Structure - ”Avoiding down-time” – an accelerated MBA experience The 10-month programme covers 80% of the course hours of a traditional two-year MBA programme by focusing on study five days a week and avoiding "down-time". The MBA programme includes five periods, each one lasting eight weeks. Every period ends with exams and a short break. The first half of the programme is built around 14 core courses, that provide you with a solid understanding of the key management disciplines, including finance, accounting, marketing, operations, strategy, leadership and business ethics. The second half of the programme can be customised, allowing you to choose 11 different electives that support your career and learning objectives. INSEAD offers a rich and varied choice of electives for you to choose from - over 75 altogether - including topics as diverse as "Building Business in China", "Mergers, Acquisitions, Alliances & Corporate Strategy", "Private Equity Finance" and "Market Driving Strategies". Program Structure Period 1 Period 2 Period 3 Period 4 Period 5 Financial Accounting Corporate Financial Policy Elective Elective Elective Financial Markets & Valuation Marketing Management Elective Elective Elective Organisational Behaviour 1 Organisational Behaviour 2 Elective Elective Elective Prices & Markets Managerial Accounting Elective Elective Uncertainty, Data & Judgement Process & Operations Management International Political Analysis Strategy Macroeconomics in the Global Economy Business Ethics (P1-P2) Electives Accounting and Control Applied Corporate Reporting Business Law Financial Statement Analysis Strategic Cost Management Decision Sciences Dynamic Pricing & Revenue Management Management Decision Making Models for Strategic Planning Negotiations Risk Management Economics and Political Science Advanced Game Theory Comparing World's Business Systems Economics & Management in Developing Countries Environmental Management in Global Economy Europe and the EU in a Changing World Negotiations Strategies for Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship and Family Enterprise Building Business in China (field study) Building Business in India (field study) Building Business in the Silicon Valley (field study) Business Planning Workshop Corporate Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurial Field Studies Entrepreneurial Leadership Entrepreneurial Strategies for Emerging Markets Entrepreneurship in Action Family Business Management Leveraged Buyouts Managing Corporate Turnarounds Successfully New Business Ventures Private Equity Finance Advanced Applied Corporate Finance Applied Corporate Finance Bank Management Credit Risk Corporate Governance: Financial Aspects Fixed Income Hedge Funds & Alternative Investments International Financial Management Investments Options & Other Derivative Securities Private Equity Finance Value Creation in Corporate Restructuring Marketing Brand Management Business to Business Marketing Customer Insight Discover Israel: Startup Nation (field study) Market Driving Strategies Pharmaceutical Marketing Strategy Pricing Strategies & Tactics Organisational Behaviour Career Dynamics & Self Assessment Communication & Leadership Negotiations Power & Politics Psychological Issues in Management Strategy Blue Ocean Strategy Simulation Blue Ocean Strategy Study Group China Strategy Emerging Multinationals in Brazil & Latin America (field study) Global Strategy & Management Industry & Competitive Analysis Managing Media Companies M&As, Alliances & Corporate Strategy Real Estate Strategy, Structure & Incentives Technology and Operations Management Competitive Supply Chains Management of Services Project Management Social Media Strategies Strategies for Product & Service Development At Large Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility The Art of Communication Online Bidding When you are at INSEAD, at the end of period 1 you have to decide where you want to be for period 3, 4, and 5. Do you want to be in Singapore? Do you want to be in France? Do you want to go to Kellogg? And then you also need to decide which electives you want to take. So you are given 200 points to use throughout the year, and it’s up to you how you use those points. So if you really want to go to Kellogg in period 4 and you really want to take that “Your First 100 Days” course, you want to bid more points towards those two things. For more information on the online bidding process at INSEAD, check out this blog post and this one too. Kick-Ass Courses & Rock Star Faculty Your First Hundred Days : This elective is intended to provide a taste of what it is like to assume managerial control of a company you and your team of fellow managers have just bought. To this extent, it is a logical follow-on to the Realising Entrepreneurial Potential course, although the company you will be concerned with here will not be the one you are targeting for REP. Work in Progress. Please click here to nominate courses/faculty to be added to this list. Pedagogy There is no single preferred teaching method at INSEAD. Faculty are free to choose the method they believe fits best with the content of the session. You will, therefore, experience a wide variety of teaching styles, including case-studies, computer simulations and role-plays. Approximate % teaching methods used across all the courses: Case Studies - 30% Business Simulation - 10% Experiential Learning - 10 % Lectures - 30% Group Projects - 30% Study Group When you arrive at INSEAD, you are assigned to a study group. During your core curriculum, you will work in study groups with five to six other participants. Study groups are designed to maximise national and professional diversity. No group will have more than two people of the same nationality or first language. Similarly, there will never be more than two people in the same group with the same professional background. Working within these groups to produce projects and assignments for which you will receive one group grade, you will develop the communication and leadership skills necessary to work in and lead diverse teams anywhere in the world. Sample Schedule Sample Schedule: Period 1, Singapore 8 am Breakfast with study group to review case write-up at INSEAD coffee bar 8.30-10 am Organisational Behaviour I Class 10-10.15 am Coffee break; check emails 10.15-11.45 am Prices & Markets Class 12-1 pm Lunch with my strategy professor 1-2 pm One-on-one discussion with my INSEAD Career Counselor 2-3.30 pm Financial Markets & Valuation Class 3.30-4.15 pm Workout at the fitness centre 4.30-5.30 pm Energy Club panel discussion 6.30-8 pm Dinner with housemates at Holland Village food court; catch up with emails 8-9.30 pm Meet with study group to discuss role-playing for organisational behaviour class 9.30-11 pm Read case and prepare individually for class tomorrow 11 pm Latin American National Week Party - Chilean wine tasting, Argentinean tango show & performance, Brazilian dance party Sample Schedule: Period 4, Fontainebleau 8:45 am Run through Fontainebleau forest 10:15-11:45 am Competitive Supply Chain Management Class 12-2 pm Lunch with friends; catch up on emails & news at the bar; last minute finessing for afternoon interview 2-3:30 pm Brand Management Class 4-5.30 pm Consulting Interview 5:45-7 pm Meet with Blue Ocean study group at Camembert to prepare presentation for Visual Strategy Fair 7-7:15 pm Coffee break; respond to emails 7:15-8:30 pm Realising Entrepreneurial Potential study group meeting: assignment & submission 8:30-11 pm Return home, change into casual attire & head to Chateau Montmelian (one of the student houses) for Monty Mardi's dinner & drinks 11:30-2 am Read and prepare for classes; work on job applications; catch up on emails Clubs INSEAD Industry Club INSEAD Women in Business (IWIB) INSEAD Private Equity Club (IPEC) INDEVOR, the INSEAD Organisation for Social Impact, an affiliate chapter of Net Impact INSEAD Entrepreneurship Club (IEC) INSEAD Energy Club INSEAD Consulting Club INSEAD Retail, Consumer & Luxury Goods Club INSEAD Health Care Club INSEAD High Tech & Telecom Club INSEAD Media Club OUTSEAD: Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Community INSEAD African Club INSEAD Basketball Club INSEAD Football Club INSEAD Rugby Club INSEAD Sailing Club INSEAD Tennis Club Employment GND (Grade Non Disclosure policy): INSEAD implements a Grade Non Disclosure Policy, which is supported by the students. Policy details: Recruiters should not ask students to provide any information on grades either in written applications or verbally during an interview. Students are not to broach the subject of grades with recruiters and may not disclose grades to recruiters either in written or verbal communication. Recruiters may request, and students may provide their GMAT scores either in written or verbal communication. Students may indicate if they are on the Dean’s List (top 10% of the class) Recruiters may request a copy of the Dean’s List from Career Services. Upon accepting a full-time offer, students may release their INSEAD grades to their future employers, as we understand this may be necessary to process their employment documents in certain countries. Upon graduation, alumni may release their INSEAD grades Recruiting Opportunities On Campus Recruiting On-Campus Recruiting is a programme of events consisting of company presentations usually followed by a networking cocktail where students can mingle with company representatives. Interviews are then held at a later stage. Three recruitment campaigns are organized per year: January - February: For summer internships / projects for the December graduates March - June: For full-time positions for the July graduates and summer internships / projects for the December graduates September - December: For full-time positions for the December graduates. The recruitment period begins with three weeks of company presentations taking place in the evenings, with interviews on campus or in local offices/hotels starting shortly after. Interview sign-ups are orchestrated through the School’s on-line interview scheduling system. State-of-the-art telecommunications enable students on both campuses to watch company presentations and interview with recruiters by videoconference. Other Recruiting Opportunities: Independent Job Search: Members of the Career Services team will provide guidance on job search strategy, contacts, cover letters, resume adaptation, etc. Job Postings Companies with a specific career opportunity or a summer job may prefer to post it on-line using our dedicated platform, "CareerLink." Over 2000 of these career opportunities are available to MBA participants each year via CareerLink. You can sort jobs by criteria, save jobs in your own "job cart" for later reference, keep track of your applications and also set up job alerts to automatically receive an e-mail when a relevant job is posted. The CV Book: For each MBA class, the Career Services publishes the curricula vitae (CV) of all participants available for employment which is available online and as a book. It is an important tool for prospective recruiters. Summer Internships/Project Participants beginning in January have the option of using their 8-week summer break for employment. Career Services assists MBA participants on both campuses with their job search and is committed to ensuring that the experience is successful for both the participants and the companies. Career Treks: Participants frequently organise "treks" to countries to meet first-hand with a selection of companies. There are also regional sector-specific treks (e.g., investment banking, media, high-tech) that take place. Career Services supports these treks, providing guidance and information as needed. In 2008, treks to Australia, Japan, Korea, Brazil, India and Ireland were organised. Employment Stats Median Base Salary: €85,000 ($111,350) *Exchange rate: €1 = US$1.31 Median Salary: $119,500.00 Top Functions: Consulting (47%), General Management (20%), Finance/Accounting (15%) Consulting 47 % Finance/Accounting 15 % General Management 20 % Human Resources 1 % Marketing/Sales 9 % Management Information Systems 1 % Operations/Logistics 2 % Top Industries: Consulting (44%), Financial Services (19%), Consumer Products (11%) Government 1 % Consulting 44 % Consumer Products 11 % Financial Services 19 % Manufacturing 3 % Media/Entertainment 1 % Non-Profit 2 % Petroleum/Energy 2 % Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology/Health Care 5 % Real Estate 1 % Technology 5 % Other 6 % Top Locations: Western Europe (40%), Asia Pacific (25%), Africa/Near/Middle East (8%), Central/Eastern Europe (5%), Latin America (6%), North America (8%), Southern Europe (7%), Northern Europe (1%) Top Recruiters: McKinsey (127), BCG (60), Bain & Co. (48) McKinsey & Company 127(61) The Boston Consulting Group 60(29) Bain & Company 48(17) Booz & Company 40(16) Roland Berger Strategy Consultants 15(3) A.T. Kearney 14(3) Google 13(2) Johnson & Johnson 10 L.E.K. Consulting 9 Standard Chartered Bank 9 Accenture 8 Barclays Capital 8 LVMH 8 Rocket Internet (Groupon, Zalando) 8 Eli Lilly 7 L'Oréal 7 Samsung 7 Danaher 6 Goldman Sachs 6 HSBC 6 UBS 6 Abbott 5 Amazon 5 Credit Suisse 5 Inditex 5 Morgan Stanley 5 Avon 4 Citi 4 Philip Morris International 4 Philips 4 Siemens 4 Singapore Government 4 Cargill 3 Deloitte Consulting 3 Deutsche Bank 3 General Electric 3 Hewlett-Packard 3 Hilti Corporation 3 KKR Capstone 3 Novartis 3 PwC 3 Roche 3 Vodafone 3 Click here to access INSEAD's employment stats for 2010, here to view BusinessWeek's version :) Finances Expenses: Application Fee: €200 Tution Fee: €58,000 Other Academic Expenses: Item Cost (€) Other academic expenditures (books, etc) 800 Student Council fees 100 Business Foundations Programme (optional) 1500 Language course fees per period (if applicable) 500 Laptop (optional) 1500 Total 4400 Living Expenses (based on location): Item Singapore (€) Fontainebleau (€) Accommodation (includes utilities, charges, insurance) 8500 9000 Meals 4700 5300 Local Transport 530 2000 Telephone 750 820 Personal Insurance for the year 580 560 Miscellaneous (excludes leisure) 1500 1500 Hardware, software (optional) 500 550 Travel for exchange and job search (optional) 2000 1900 Total 19,060 21,630 Funding: Loans Prodigy Finance: This was started by three INSEAD alumni in 2006 to solve the problem experienced by many international MBAs in funding their education. Their innovative model is based on community funding - individual alumni fund MBAs. Main features of the loan programme: No co-signer is required and most nationalities are covered (around 150). The interest rate varies based on individual applications. Current average APR is 7.5% Grace period of 18 months (study period plus 6 months) followed by a 7 year term. No penalties for early settlement. An application fee of 1.25% is charged by Prodigy only on successful applications. Maximum loan size is capped at tuition, although loans will be resized based on the applicant's individual profile. Current average loan size is €30 000. You can find further information on the loan and apply online if interested at: https://www.prodigyfinance.com/INSEAD Misc: Click here to view details of organisations and banks known to offer loans for the INSEAD MBA programme Scholarships: Click here to view the scholarship details & application deadlines Other Helpful Links and Discussions Chat/ Interview Transcripts Accepted MBA Admissions Q&A: INSEAD - Nov 2011 Accepted MBA Admissions Q&A: INSEAD - May 2011 BusinessWeekAdmissions Q&A: INSEAD - Aug 2011 School & Interview Guides Clear Admit: School Guide | Interview Guide Veritas Prep: School Guide (Free) Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BfVOXDDmEw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BD3xmVMQQM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR9OjROMjIY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_LFW8BbkVo Blogs Alumni Blogs: Rant & Ramble at INSEAD - Class of Dec 2009 Wendi Li on FT - Class of July 2011 NECROMONGER - Class of July 2008 Current Student Blogs Mihai Danila on FT - Class of Dec 2012 The INSEAD MBA Experience Blog Nominate your favorite INSEAD blog to be listed here! GMATClub Discussions Campus Visit Debrief Comparison Threads LBS vs. INSEAD LBS vs. INSEAD (some $) vs. SDA Bocconi (full ride) vs. MBS INSEAD vs. Ross vs. Cornell INSEAD vs. LBS How well known is INSEAD to employers in the US? This guide is a work in progress. Feel free to drop in feedback.

Last visit was: 21 Apr 2026, 16:05

It is currently 21 Apr 2026, 16:05

Toolkit

Business School and MBA

MBA Archive

GMAT Club Daily Prep

Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.

Go to My Error Log Learn more

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel

Back to Forum

Create Topic

INSEAD

rasta

Retired Moderator

Joined: 25 Jul 2011

Last visit: 20 Feb 2023

Posts: 299

Own Kudos:

316

[11]

Given Kudos: 286

Location: India

Concentration: Strategy, General Management

Schools: ISB '17 Said'16 AGSM '16 INSEAD Jan '16 LBS Imperial '18

GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V40 Verified score

GRE 1: Q800 V800 Verified score

GPA: 3

WE:Operations (Non-Profit and Government)

Schools: ISB '17 Said'16 AGSM '16 INSEAD Jan '16 LBS Imperial '18

GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V40 Verified score

GRE 1: Q800 V800 Verified score

Posts: 299

Kudos: 316

[11]

Updated on: 24 Sep 2013, 14:56

Originally posted by rasta on 18 Jan 2012, 11:54.
Last edited by kirstik on 24 Sep 2013, 14:56, edited 18 times in total.

Updated Class of 2014 Stats

Kudos

Bookmarks

INSEAD MBA Guide

Rankings

- GMAT Club International MBA Rankings

Business Week International MBA Rankings 2010 #1
Financial Times Global MBA Rankings 2012 #6
Economist MBA Ranking 2011 #19
Forbes International MBA Rankings 2011 #2 (1 Year Programs)

Historical GMAT Club Applicant Threads

Calling All Applicants

Waitlist

Admitted
INSEAD MBA - Class of 2012 (July)

Popular Links

Stay Connected!

Current Applicant Threads:

2014 (Jan) - Calling All INSEAD Applicants

2014 (Sept) - Calling All INSEAD Applicants

2013/14 Application Instructions

Deadlines

Sept 2014 Intake

Round*	Application	Interview Decision	Final Decision
R1	Oct 2, 2013	Nov 8, 2013	Dec 20, 2013
R2	Nov 27, 2013	Jan 10, 2014	Feb 21, 2014
R3	March 5, 2014	April 11, 2014	May 23, 2014

*To be included in a specific round, applications must be complete and submitted by midnight (23.59) Central European Time on the day of deadline.

Jan 2014 Intake

Round*	Application	Interview Decision	Final Decision
R1	Apr 3, 2013	May 17, 2013	Jun 28, 2013
R2	Jun 12, 2013	July 19, 2013	Sep 06, 2013
R3	Aug 7, 2013	Sep 13, 2013	Oct 25, 2013

Essays

Job Description Essays
Essay 1: Briefly summarise your current (or most recent) job, including the nature of work, major responsibilities, and, where relevant, employees under your supervision, size of budget, clients/ products and results achieved. (250 words maximum)
Essay 2: Please give a full description of your career since graduating from university. If you were to remain with your present employer, what would be your next step in terms of position? (250 words maximum)
Essay 3: If you are currently not working, what are you doing and what do you plan to do until you start the MBA programme? (250 words maximum)

Personal Essays
Essay 1: Give a candid description of yourself, stressing the personal characteristics you feel to be your strengths and weaknesses and the main factors, which have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary. (600 words maximum)
Essay 2: Describe what you believe to be your two most substantial accomplishments to date (if possible specify one personal and one professional), explaining why you view them as such. (400 words maximum)
Essay 3: Describe a situation taken from your personal or professional life where you failed. Discuss what you learned. (400 words maximum)
Essay 4: a) Discuss your short and long term career goals. (300 words maximum) and b) How will studying at INSEAD help you achieve your vision? (250 words maximum)
Essay 5: Please choose one of the following two essay topics:
a) Have you ever experienced culture shock? What insights did you gain? (250 words maximum) or
b) Describe the ways in which a foreigner in your country might experience culture shock. (250 words maximum)
Optional Essay: Is there anything that you have not mentioned in the above essays that you would like the Admissions Committee to know? (350 words maximum)
Re-applicant Essay: In case of reapplication, please provide an update on any new aspects of your professional, international, academic or personal profile that would not have been included in your previous application. Please also explain your motivation for re-applying to INSEAD. (400 words maximum)

Essay Analysis

Application Fee: 200 Euros

INSEAD Offlicial MBA Application Checklist

Language Requirements: The INSEAD language policy requires that you have fluent English plus a practical knowledge of a second language in order to start the programme. You will also be required to demonstrate a basic knowledge of a third language before graduating.

Reapplications: INSEAD does not encourage reapplications unless there has been a significant professional or personal development since the initial application was submitted.

Campus choice: The Admissions Committee does not take campus choice into account when evaluating whether to accept or decline candidates. The selection process is, therefore, entirely blind to campus choice. Whilst Admissions 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. After the first 4 months into the Programme, you will have the opportunity to exchange campuses.

Interview: If you have been shortlisted for the interview, in-person interviews are conducted by INSEAD Alumni normally in your country of residence. In the majority of cases, two interviews are conducted.

Click here to Apply to INSEAD :)

Class Profile

Class of July 2014

Class Size	507
Nationalities	74
Female	32%
Average Age	29
80% Age Range	26-32
Average Work Ex.	5.4
80% Work Ex. Range	3-8
Average GMAT Score	700
Campus
Fontainbleau	309
Singapore	198
Sectors Pre-MBA
Consulting	27%
Finance	27%
Corporate Sectors	46%

Class of December 2013

Class Size	534
Nationalities	68
Female	35%
Average Age	29
80% Age Range	26-31
Average Work Ex.	5.6
70% Work Ex. Range	3-7
Average GMAT Score	700
Campus
Fontainbleau	311
Singapore	223
Sectors Pre-MBA
Consulting	24%
Finance	25%
Corporate Sectors	51%

Class of July 2013

Class Size	491
Nationalities	67
Female	32%
Average Age	29
80% Age Range	26-31
Average Work Ex.	5.5
80% Work Ex. Range	3-8
Average GMAT Score	705
Campus
Fontainbleau	294
Singapore	197
Sectors Pre-MBA
Consulting	26%
Banking	21%
Corporate Sectors	53%

Class of December 2012

Class Size	512
Nationalities	72
Female	32%
Average Age	29
80% Age Range	26-32
Average Work Ex.	5.6
80% Work Ex. Range	3-8
Campus
Fontainbleau	301
Singapore	211
Sectors Pre-MBA
Consulting	25%
Banking	23%
Corporate Sectors	51%

Two classes, one curriculum

The INSEAD MBA Programme is made up of two classes each year.The Class of July begins in late August and graduates in early July the following year. The Class of December begins in early January and graduates in late December. The curriculum, course structure, class size and composition, and campus exchange opportunities are identical across the September and January intakes.
Internship
The primary difference is that if you chose to begin in September, you will complete the MBA in ten consecutive months. If you chose to begin in January you will also have a two-month summer break during which you can pursue an internship or other endeavour.
Career Opportunities
Chances of finding a job have more to do with your skills, experience, and potential than your campus location. Career Services staff is well integrated across both locations, providing the same tools, coaching, and resources, irrespective of whether you are studying in Fontainebleau or Singapore. Whether you join in September or January, you will begin working with Career Services early on to prepare for the next step in your career. Those interested in entering into investment banking are specifically encouraged to consider the January intake, as investment banks hire full-time positions primarily through their summer associate programmes.

Links to Discussions on September v/s Jan:

https://insead-the-journey.blogspot.com/2010/06/insead-which-intake-september-or.html
insead-jan-vs-sep-intake-application-to-acceptance-ratio-119981.html

Campuses

INSEAD is unique in having a dual-campus structure, with a Europe campus in Fontainebleau, France, and an Asia campus in Singapore. The MBA programme runs in parallel on each campus. The two campuses are equally diverse, both have world-class faculty in residence, and both offer MBA participants access to global career opportunities. In addition to being able to study on the INSEAD campuses in Singapore and Fontainebleau, participants also have the option to participate in an exchange with Wharton.

Campus Exchange
You will be asked to choose a preferred starting c
ampus when you apply to the programme. INSEAD will try to accommodate your preference for starting campus, although in some cases you may be asked by the Admissions Office to start at the other campus. This is because campus preference is not taken into account in the selection of candidates for the programme, and therefore, in order to balance the class size and diversity across campuses, it is not possible to guarantee all selected candidates admission for their preferred campus.
In addition to the two INSEAD campuses, students can also, for one period, exchange at Kellogg and Wharton.
From Period 3 onwards, you will have the opportunity to exchange campuses. Through an on-line bidding process which takes place during Period 1, approximately 6 weeks after the programme starts, you will be asked to indicate your campus preferences for Period 3, Period 4 and Period 5. You can also bid for the Wharton exchange during this time. You will draw upon the same capital of points for campus exchange, Wharton exchange as well as for Elective course bidding. You will have the opportunity to spend at least one period at the other campus; however, that period may not be your initial preference as there are certain capacity constraints for each campus.

What alum and current students have to say:

Academics

Program Structure - ”Avoiding down-time” – an accelerated MBA experience

The 10-month programme covers 80% of the course hours of a traditional two-year MBA programme by focusing on study five days a week and avoiding "down-time". The MBA programme includes five periods, each one lasting eight weeks. Every period ends with exams and a short break.
The first half of the programme is built around 14 core courses, that provide you with a solid understanding of the key management disciplines, including finance, accounting, marketing, operations, strategy, leadership and business ethics.
The second half of the programme can be customised, allowing you to choose 11 different electives that support your career and learning objectives. INSEAD offers a rich and varied choice of electives for you to choose from - over 75 altogether - including topics as diverse as "Building Business in China", "Mergers, Acquisitions, Alliances & Corporate Strategy", "Private Equity Finance" and "Market Driving Strategies".

Program Structure

Period 1

Period 2

Period 3

Period 4

Period 5

Financial Accounting

Corporate Financial Policy

Elective

Financial Markets & Valuation

Marketing Management

Elective

Organisational Behaviour 1

Organisational Behaviour 2

Elective

Prices & Markets

Managerial Accounting

Elective

Uncertainty, Data & Judgement

Process & Operations Management

International Political Analysis

Strategy

Macroeconomics in the Global Economy

Business Ethics (P1-P2)

Electives

Show Spoiler

Accounting and Control
- Applied Corporate Reporting
- Business Law
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Strategic Cost Management

Decision Sciences
- Dynamic Pricing & Revenue Management
- Management Decision Making
- Models for Strategic Planning
- Negotiations
- Risk Management

Economics and Political Science
- Advanced Game Theory
- Comparing World's Business Systems
- Economics & Management in Developing Countries
- Environmental Management in Global Economy
- Europe and the EU in a Changing World
- Negotiations
- Strategies for Asia Pacific

Entrepreneurship and Family Enterprise
- Building Business in China (field study)
- Building Business in India (field study)
- Building Business in the Silicon Valley (field study)
- Business Planning Workshop
- Corporate Entrepreneurship
- Entrepreneurial Field Studies
- Entrepreneurial Leadership
- Entrepreneurial Strategies for Emerging Markets
- Entrepreneurship in Action
- Family Business Management
- Leveraged Buyouts
- Managing Corporate Turnarounds Successfully
- New Business Ventures
- Private Equity

Finance
- Advanced Applied Corporate Finance
- Applied Corporate Finance
- Bank Management
- Credit Risk
- Corporate Governance: Financial Aspects
- Fixed Income
- Hedge Funds & Alternative Investments
- International Financial Management
- Investments
- Options & Other Derivative Securities
- Private Equity Finance
- Value Creation in Corporate Restructuring

Marketing
- Brand Management
- Business to Business Marketing
- Customer Insight
- Discover Israel: Startup Nation (field study)
- Market Driving Strategies
- Pharmaceutical Marketing Strategy
- Pricing Strategies & Tactics

Organisational Behaviour
- Career Dynamics & Self Assessment
- Communication & Leadership
- Negotiations
- Power & Politics
- Psychological Issues in Management

Strategy
- Blue Ocean Strategy Simulation
- Blue Ocean Strategy Study Group
- China Strategy
- Emerging Multinationals in Brazil & Latin America (field study)
- Global Strategy & Management
- Industry & Competitive Analysis
- Managing Media Companies
- M&As, Alliances & Corporate Strategy
- Real Estate
- Strategy, Structure & Incentives

Technology and Operations Management
- Competitive Supply Chains
- Management of Services
- Project Management
- Social Media Strategies
- Strategies for Product & Service Development

At Large
- Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility
- The Art of Communication

Online Bidding

When you are at INSEAD, at the end of period 1 you have to decide where you want to be for period 3, 4, and 5. Do you want to be in Singapore? Do you want to be in France? Do you want to go to Kellogg? And then you also need to decide which electives you want to take. So you are given 200 points to use throughout the year, and it’s up to you how you use those points. So if you really want to go to Kellogg in period 4 and you really want to take that “Your First 100 Days” course, you want to bid more points towards those two things.
For more information on the online bidding process at INSEAD, check out this blog post and this one too.

Kick-Ass Courses & Rock Star Faculty

Your First Hundred Days: This elective is intended to provide a taste of what it is like to assume managerial control of a company you and your team of fellow managers have just bought. To this extent, it is a logical follow-on to the Realising Entrepreneurial Potential course, although the company you will be concerned with here will not be the one you are targeting for REP.

Work in Progress. Please click here to nominate courses/faculty to be added to this list.

Pedagogy

There is no single preferred teaching method at INSEAD. Faculty are free to choose the method they believe fits best with the content of the session. You will, therefore, experience a wide variety of teaching styles, including case-studies, computer simulations and role-plays.
Approximate % teaching methods used across all the courses:

Case Studies - 30%
Business Simulation - 10%
Experiential Learning - 10 %
Lectures - 30%
Group Projects - 30%

Study Group

When you arrive at INSEAD, you are assigned to a study group. During your core curriculum, you will work in study groups with five to six other participants. Study groups are designed to maximise national and professional diversity. No group will have more than two people of the same nationality or first language. Similarly, there will never be more than two people in the same group with the same professional background. Working within these groups to produce projects and assignments for which you will receive one group grade, you will develop the communication and leadership skills necessary to work in and lead diverse teams anywhere in the world.

Sample Schedule

Sample Schedule: Period 1, Singapore

8 am	Breakfast with study group to review case write-up at INSEAD coffee bar
8.30-10 am	Organisational Behaviour I Class
10-10.15 am	Coffee break; check emails
10.15-11.45 am	Prices & Markets Class
12-1 pm	Lunch with my strategy professor
1-2 pm	One-on-one discussion with my INSEAD Career Counselor
2-3.30 pm	Financial Markets & Valuation Class
3.30-4.15 pm	Workout at the fitness centre
4.30-5.30 pm	Energy Club panel discussion
6.30-8 pm	Dinner with housemates at Holland Village food court; catch up with emails
8-9.30 pm	Meet with study group to discuss role-playing for organisational behaviour class
9.30-11 pm	Read case and prepare individually for class tomorrow
11 pm	Latin American National Week Party - Chilean wine tasting, Argentinean tango show & performance, Brazilian dance party

Sample Schedule: Period 4, Fontainebleau

8:45 am	Run through Fontainebleau forest
10:15-11:45 am	Competitive Supply Chain Management Class
12-2 pm	Lunch with friends; catch up on emails & news at the bar; last minute finessing for afternoon interview
2-3:30 pm	Brand Management Class
4-5.30 pm	Consulting Interview
5:45-7 pm	Meet with Blue Ocean study group at Camembert to prepare presentation for Visual Strategy Fair
7-7:15 pm	Coffee break; respond to emails
7:15-8:30 pm	Realising Entrepreneurial Potential study group meeting: assignment & submission
8:30-11 pm	Return home, change into casual attire & head to Chateau Montmelian (one of the student houses) for Monty Mardi's dinner & drinks
11:30-2 am	Read and prepare for classes; work on job applications; catch up on emails

Clubs

Show Spoiler

INSEAD Industry Club
INSEAD Women in Business (IWIB)
INSEAD Private Equity Club (IPEC)
INDEVOR, the INSEAD Organisation for Social Impact, an affiliate chapter of Net Impact
INSEAD Entrepreneurship Club (IEC)
INSEAD Energy Club
INSEAD Consulting Club
INSEAD Retail, Consumer & Luxury Goods Club
INSEAD Health Care Club
INSEAD High Tech & Telecom Club
INSEAD Media Club
OUTSEAD: Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Community
INSEAD African Club
INSEAD Basketball Club
INSEAD Football Club
INSEAD Rugby Club
INSEAD Sailing Club
INSEAD Tennis Club

Employment

GND (Grade Non Disclosure policy):

INSEAD implements a Grade Non Disclosure Policy, which is supported by the students. Policy details:

Recruiters should not ask students to provide any information on grades either in written applications or verbally during an interview.
Students are not to broach the subject of grades with recruiters and may not disclose grades to recruiters either in written or verbal communication.
Recruiters may request, and students may provide their GMAT scores either in written or verbal communication.
Students may indicate if they are on the Dean’s List (top 10% of the class)
Recruiters may request a copy of the Dean’s List from Career Services.
Upon accepting a full-time offer, students may release their INSEAD grades to their future employers, as we understand this may be necessary to process their employment documents in certain countries.
Upon graduation, alumni may release their INSEAD grades

Recruiting Opportunities

On Campus Recruiting
On-Campus Recruiting is a programme of events consisting of company presentations usually followed by a networking cocktail where students can mingle with company representatives. Interviews are then held at a later stage.
Three recruitment campaigns are organized per year:
- January - February: For summer internships / projects for the December graduates
- March - June: For full-time positions for the July graduates and summer internships / projects for the December graduates
- September - December: For full-time positions for the December graduates.
The recruitment period begins with three weeks of company presentations taking place in the evenings, with interviews on campus or in local offices/hotels starting shortly after. Interview sign-ups are orchestrated through the School’s on-line interview scheduling system. State-of-the-art telecommunications enable students on both campuses to watch company presentations and interview with recruiters by videoconference.
Other Recruiting Opportunities:
- Independent Job Search: Members of the Career Services team will provide guidance on job search strategy, contacts, cover letters, resume adaptation, etc. Job Postings Companies with a specific career opportunity or a summer job may prefer to post it on-line using our dedicated platform, "CareerLink." Over 2000 of these career opportunities are available to MBA participants each year via CareerLink. You can sort jobs by criteria, save jobs in your own "job cart" for later reference, keep track of your applications and also set up job alerts to automatically receive an e-mail when a relevant job is posted.
- The CV Book: For each MBA class, the Career Services publishes the curricula vitae (CV) of all participants available for employment which is available online and as a book. It is an important tool for prospective recruiters. Summer Internships/Project Participants beginning in January have the option of using their 8-week summer break for employment. Career Services assists MBA participants on both campuses with their job search and is committed to ensuring that the experience is successful for both the participants and the companies.
- Career Treks: Participants frequently organise "treks" to countries to meet first-hand with a selection of companies. There are also regional sector-specific treks (e.g., investment banking, media, high-tech) that take place. Career Services supports these treks, providing guidance and information as needed. In 2008, treks to Australia, Japan, Korea, Brazil, India and Ireland were organised.

Employment Stats

Median Base Salary: €85,000 ($111,350) *Exchange rate: €1 = US$1.31
Median Salary: $119,500.00
Top Functions: Consulting (47%), General Management (20%), Finance/Accounting (15%)

Show SpoilerFull Table

Consulting	47 %
Finance/Accounting	15 %
General Management	20 %
Human Resources	1 %
Marketing/Sales	9 %
Management Information Systems	1 %
Operations/Logistics	2 %

Top Industries: Consulting (44%), Financial Services (19%), Consumer Products (11%)

Show SpoilerFull Table

Government	1 %
Consulting	44 %
Consumer Products	11 %
Financial Services	19 %
Manufacturing	3 %
Media/Entertainment	1 %
Non-Profit	2 %
Petroleum/Energy	2 %
Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology/Health Care	5 %
Real Estate	1 %
Technology	5 %
Other	6 %

Top Locations: Western Europe (40%), Asia Pacific (25%), Africa/Near/Middle East (8%), Central/Eastern Europe (5%), Latin America (6%), North America (8%), Southern Europe (7%), Northern Europe (1%)
Top Recruiters: McKinsey (127), BCG (60), Bain & Co. (48)

Show SpoilerFull Table

McKinsey & Company	127(61)
The Boston Consulting Group	60(29)
Bain & Company	48(17)
Booz & Company	40(16)
Roland Berger Strategy Consultants	15(3)
A.T. Kearney	14(3)
Google	13(2)
Johnson & Johnson	10
L.E.K. Consulting	9
Standard Chartered Bank	9
Accenture	8
Barclays Capital	8
LVMH	8
Rocket Internet (Groupon, Zalando)	8
Eli Lilly	7
L'Oréal	7
Samsung	7
Danaher	6
Goldman Sachs	6
HSBC	6
UBS	6
Abbott	5
Amazon	5
Credit Suisse	5
Inditex	5
Morgan Stanley	5
Avon	4
Citi	4
Philip Morris International	4
Philips	4
Siemens	4
Singapore Government	4
Cargill	3
Deloitte Consulting	3
Deutsche Bank	3
General Electric	3
Hewlett-Packard	3
Hilti Corporation	3
KKR Capstone	3
Novartis	3
PwC	3
Roche	3
Vodafone	3

Click here to access INSEAD's employment stats for 2010, here to view BusinessWeek's version :)

Finances

Expenses:

Application Fee: €200
Tution Fee: €58,000
Other Academic Expenses:

Item	Cost (€)
Other academic expenditures (books, etc)	800
Student Council fees	100
Business Foundations Programme (optional)	1500
Language course fees per period (if applicable)	500
Laptop (optional)	1500
Total	4400

Living Expenses (based on location):

Item	Singapore (€)	Fontainebleau (€)
Accommodation (includes utilities, charges, insurance)	8500	9000
Meals	4700	5300
Local Transport	530	2000
Telephone	750	820
Personal Insurance for the year	580	560
Miscellaneous (excludes leisure)	1500	1500
Hardware, software (optional)	500	550
Travel for exchange and job search (optional)	2000	1900
Total	19,060	21,630

Funding:

Loans
- Prodigy Finance: This was started by three INSEAD alumni in 2006 to solve the problem experienced by many international MBAs in funding their education. Their innovative model is based on community funding - individual alumni fund MBAs. Main features of the loan programme:
  - No co-signer is required and most nationalities are covered (around 150).
  - The interest rate varies based on individual applications. Current average APR is 7.5%
  - Grace period of 18 months (study period plus 6 months) followed by a 7 year term.
  - No penalties for early settlement.
  - An application fee of 1.25% is charged by Prodigy only on successful applications.
  - Maximum loan size is capped at tuition, although loans will be resized based on the applicant's individual profile.
  - Current average loan size is €30 000.
  You can find further information on the loan and apply online if interested at: https://www.prodigyfinance.com/INSEAD
- Misc: Click here to view details of organisations and banks known to offer loans for the INSEAD MBA programme
Scholarships: Click here to view the scholarship details & application deadlines