MBA in Spain
Spain is full of business schools that offer MBA programs of the highest quality. If you wish to pursue an MBA in an international, challenging, collaborative, and innovative academic environment — Spain is the best choice. In addition to attending a world-class MBA program, you can also have a good time exploring Spain’s culture, beaches, and vibrant cities.
Why Study MBA in Spain?
MBAs are some of the most popular degrees. You can pursue a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A) degree anywhere in Spain. What attracts thousands of students to pursue an MBA in Spain is the numerous business schools — you can find some of Europe’s best business schools in Spain. In addition to this, Spanish universities have lecturers of the highest expertise.
Some of the best cities to pursue an MBA in Spain are Barcelona and Madrid.
MBA Programs in Spain
Some of the best MBA programs in Spain can be found in the schools below:
- IESE Business School - University of Navarra
- CESMA Business School
- Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
- ESADE Business School - Barcelona Campus
- IE Business School
- EADA Business School
- Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M)
- ESCP Europe - Madrid Campus
- ESIC Business and Marketing School
MBA in Spain Program Types
Spanish universities offer MBA programs in a range of formats. You can attend an MBA program either full-time or part-time. If you are interested in working and earning an MBA degree at the same time, Spanish universities offer part-time courses which you can attend.
Whether you have a lot or little to no experience, there will be an MBA program for you in Spain. See below:
| MBA Program Types | Duration |
|---|---|
| Full-time MBA | 1-2 Years |
| Part-time MBA | 2 Years |
| Executive MBA | 10 - 15 Months |
| Global MBA | 15 Months |
| Dual Degree | 19 Months |
Top MBA Specializations in Spain
Some of the most common MBA specializations in Spain are:
- MBA in Business Analytics
- MBA in Marketing Management
- MBA in Finance Management
- MBA in Operations Management
- MBA in International Business
- MBA in Human Resources
- MBA in IT
MBA in Spain Eligibility
In Spain, the admission requirements for MBA programs vary from one university to another. Usually, all universities state on their website what requirements you must meet in order to secure admission to an MBA program. It is important you meet at least the minimum requirements set by your university.
Eligibility criteria that you must meet to enter an MBA program in Spain include the following:
| Academic Qualifications | A minimum qualification: a bachelor’s degree, or equivalent. |
|---|---|
| Work Experience |
Work experience in some universities is preferable, in others it is a must. Universities require 1 to 3 years of work experience. |
| Language Proficiency | Depending on the language of instruction of your chosen university, you must provide proof of English or Spanish language proficiency. |
| GMAT or GRE | Universities list GMAT or GRE scores as a requirement for admission. |
| Financial Stability | You must be able to prove that you can support yourself financially during your MBA studies in Spain in order to obtain a visa. |
| Visa | International students coming from a non-EU/EEA country or Switzerland must obtain a study visa to pursue an MBA in Spain. |
MBA in Spain Cost
The cost of an MBA degree in Spain depends on a few factors. The business school you choose to attend (whether it is a private or public school), the city in which your school is located, and also the country of your origin play an important role on the cost of your MBA.
Although these elements may impact the total cost, you can still finish your MBA with quite reasonable fees.
Tuition Fees
If you choose to attend a public university, you can expect to pay €960 to €1,800 per semester. If you choose to pursue an MBA degree at a private university, you can expect to pay from €10,000 to €20,000 per semester. Regardless of what type of institution you choose to attend, you will receive the best preparation possible for your business career.
The cost of tuition in Spain is cheaper than in countries such as the United Kingdom or the United States. In fact, among European countries, tuition fees in Spain are some of the lowest. Many international students choose to pursue an MBA in Spain because of the affordability of education in the country.
Living Costs
Generally, living costs in Spain are pretty affordable. However, the lifestyle you choose to lead will have a huge impact on your monthly expenses. On average, you will need around €900 per month in Spain to cover the cost of rent, food, drinks, and utilities. This amount does not include the cost of your tuition.
In Spain, a one-bedroom apartment in the city center can cost from €450 to €1,000 per month. A one-bedroom apartment outside the city center can cost from €350 to €780 per month. Living in larger cities in Spain will be more expensive than living in more rural areas. When it comes to living costs, the region of Andalusia is generally the cheapest region in Spain.
Other monthly expenses include food, transport, or any leisure activities you might want to try. Generally, the cost of food is affordable in Spain. You can cover food costs with €150 per month. To cover the cost of utilities you will need around €100 per month. Transport is not as expensive in Spain. You can use the local transport by paying a monthly pass from €28 to €56.
MBA in Spain Careers
Earning an MBA degree in Spain can get you into various business fields including Accounting, Marketing, Human Resources, Finance, Sales, Management Information Systems, etc. Due to the academic excellence of Spanish universities, work opportunities increase highly once you graduate, not only within Spain but also internationally.
Once you earn your MBA degree in Spain, you can apply for a post-study work visa. Requirements for applying for a post-study work visa include being a resident in Spain at the time of your application, having a recent university degree from a Spanish university, and having proof that you can support yourself financially.
Noteworthy: Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world, and residing in the country in which it is the official language should motivate you to learn the language. Considering the nature of your study program, you will be in daily contact with different people, including natives that do not speak English or another foreign language, so speaking Spanish would be an asset.
Average Salary in Spain for MBA
MBA degrees are the best paying degrees in Spain — with students earning an average of €44,930 ($51,000) per year. As an MBA graduate in Spain, you can expect to earn from €2,500 ($2,835) to €6,000 ($6,804) per month. These differences in salary for MBA graduates in Spain depend on a number of factors.
Mainly, your salary will depend on the specialization you choose to pursue, the amount of work experience you possess, and in some cases, the business school from which you earned your MBA degree. Additionally, location is also an important factor that may determine your salary in Spain. In larger cities, MBA graduates may earn higher salaries.
Careers for MBA graduates in Spain include:
| Career | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Project Manager | €2,700 ($3,060) |
| Assistant Manager | €3,380 ($3,830) |
| Branch Manager | €3,490 ($3,958) |
| Director | €4,670 ($5,296) |
| Executive Director | €6,070 ($6,883) |
| Manager | €4,250 ($4,819) |
| MIS Executive | €3,980 ($4,513) |
| Production Manager | €4,050 ($4,592) |
| Supply Chain Manager | €4,250 ($4,819) |
Can I Study MBA in Spain Without GMAT?
Scores of the GMAT exam still remain a crucial element of MBA programs’ admissions process.
However, more and more universities are accepting students without GMAT scores. So, yes, you might have a chance to study in Spain without GMAT. In Spain, business schools that do not have GMAT scores as a priority, usually require extensive work experience, and proficiency in English or Spanish (depending on the language of instruction).
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) was formulated with the aim of helping business schools predict your performance in graduate business programs. With this in mind, there are other ways you can use to demonstrate you could be a successful MBA student.
If you have prior work experience in a business field, you can use this experience to demonstrate the skills you have developed.
Another element you can use to demonstrate you can be a suitable candidate for an MBA program in Spain is your academic background and qualifications. Having an excellent GPA or proving you have been successful in leader roles prior to applying, can increase your chances of getting admitted.
Can I Study MBA in Spain Without Work Experience?
A large number of students begin their MBA studies with years of work experience. A few others start an MBA right after graduating from college. This prevents them from gaining any type of work experience besides the one gained during their bachelor’s studies. In Spain, many universities welcome students who wish to pursue an MBA but do not have work experience.
Although work experience is quite an important element for prospective MBA students, it does not mean that you will not succeed if you do not have any. Spanish universities design their MBA programs to help students of different professional backgrounds. Therefore, your MBA studies in Spain will allow you to develop business abilities that will help you succeed.
There are quite a few benefits to beginning your MBA studies right after college. This will allow you to continue your studies without any break. During your studies, you would also grow your business expertise by networking with professionals of different business backgrounds. In a few words, an MBA from a Spanish university only will automatically add value to your CV.
Can I Study MBA in Spain in English?
Although the official language in Spain is Spanish, there are plenty of universities that offer MBA programs in English. In order to pursue your MBA studies in Spain in the English language, you must be able to prove your proficiency of the language. Spanish universities accept scores of exams like TOEFL, IELTS, or CPE-A-C from students whose native language is not English.
Usually, you can find out which test scores your university would prefer to receive on their website. Whatsmore, Spain has over 11 million English-speaking residents, so if you are not great at Spanish, you can still communicate in English with the locals. Although knowing the native language of your target country is important, you can get by with your English skills.
Some of the universities that offer English-taught MBA courses in Spain are:
- IE Business School
- IESE Business School - University of Navarra
- EU Business School
- Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M)
- EAE Business School
- ESADE Business School - Barcelona Campus
