why most European MBAs are 1 year?

Question

Why most European MBAs besides LBS, such as INSEAD, IMD and etc. are 1 year program? Will that become a disadvantage when compare to U.S. MBA?

twixt · Answer

As an European guy my vision of this is the following :

Average university studies duration in Europe (except in the uk) are by far longer than the one in the US
Direct implication is that a couple of years of working experience later you are over 30, an age where you do not necessarily have 2 years to spend for an MBA especially if you have some family responsabilities !
(I personnaly started working at 26 and am actually 30 and am now considering a 1Y mba)

Take care

DLMD · Answer

Twixt, since you are from France, how good is INSEAD if you can compare it to a B-school in the US? 

Also, I checked INSEAD's employment stats., lots of their graduates came from consulting background and went back to consulting after graduation. Do you think INSEAD is a good place for I-Banking?

Thanks

twixt · Answer

DLMD,

I am not an INSEAD expert but screened as you did their stats. I also have lots of friends who are alumn. By the way this is my n1 pick.
IMO Insead is not the best idea to join IBanking if you are not originally from this financial field. This is mainly a consulting oriented MBA with a really broad content and a strong recognition in Europe, not in the US.

If you plan to work in Europe and get into an European programme, the sole place to do real finance is London, then it is better to join LBS, another flagship, as you are already on the spot, knowing that IBs recruiters in London are tightly linked with LBS, for sure better than they are with Insead.
 
Eventually if IB is your dream job, definitely choose to go to the US. 
Example : my best friend and his wife are students at Wharton, and current interns at GS and MSDW ; they had 4 offers all from IBs without any pb. Moreover IBs in the US or in London will always select the best brandnames and are used recruiting at H, W, Chicago, Columbia.

Paul · Answer

I agree with the differention between LBS and INSEAD. If you are aiming IB, and want to do a 1 year programme, you might even want to consider their Masters in Finance program, which is what I did. In terms of opportunity costs, it is great and you won't have to waste 2 years without any income in one of the most expensive cities in the world.

DLMD · Answer

Thanks for the insight, Twixt and Paul. I live in Los Angeles work in security industry and already applied Chicago, NYU and Columbia. I know for IB, the best choice would be stay in the states. The reason I consider INSEAD is I always want to visit western europe and this would be a good opportunity if INSEAD has good finance. Now it seems I cannot enjoy French Romatic anytime soon :cry:

Paul, I will definitly consider the one year program at LBS next year (you know I missed the deadline this year anyways). Make sure you come back and tell us how do you like LBS when your school starts. I am a huge soccer fan and watching English Premier league everyday would be such an enjoyment. Twixt, you done your test or when you plan to take it again?

saurya_s · Answer

Hey Paul,
Have you joined LBS then? When are you strating!! If yes, welcome to England!! and get used to the beer culture and football.
S

Paul · Answer

Yes, I joined LBS and will be starting this September

saurya_s · Answer

Good!! I live in Oxford so feel free to visit me if you visit Oxford. I will start a new job in Guildford which is half an hr from London. So I am planning to go to their open day.I will try to meet you in LBS if I come . I am tragetting 2006 if everything goes well.
Did you manage to get scholarship.
Best wishes
S

Paul · Answer

Certainly Saurya. I would be delighted to meet with you. I will PM you then to provide you with my info once I get to London in late August.

twixt · Answer

DLMD,

I must retake the test cause I want to improve my score, scheduled at the end of this month...

Paul,

Congrats for your admission, I primarily thought you were aiming an intake within a couple of years finally you will dive before lots of us ;-)

DLMD · Answer

good luck Twixt, you will ace it.

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why most European MBAs are 1 year?

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