The online MBA programme at Spain’s IE Business School has been ranked not only the best in Europe once more, but also the best in the world in the QS Online MBA Ranking 2021.

Released today, the QS Online MBA Rankings assess the online MBA offerings of 57 business schools worldwide. You can find out more about the methodology used to produce the rankings here.

Read on to find out more about the top 10 programmes setting the standard for exceptional online MBA provision worldwide.

10) EU Business School

Kicking off this year’s European top 10 in QS’s Online MBA rankings 2021 is EU Business School.

53 percent of students on EU Business School’s online MBA programme also identify as female (however, a slight drop from 56 percent last year).

The online MBA programme boasts 100 percent international students and has received a perfect score in class experience. The student cohort’s average years of work experience is high at 9.5.

Upon graduation, EU Business School students receive a state-accredited MBA from the University of Roehampton in London, as well as their EU degree.

The program – which can be completed in 12 or 15 months – is a mix of interactive webinars, business simulations and on-campus networking opportunities, giving students the opportunity to personalize their e-learning experience.

Tuition is EUR17,400, equivalent to US$19,515.84.

9) Birmingham Business School

The online MBA programme at Birmingham scored quite highly for the class profile and class experience indicators.

Ranked joint-13th globally (alongside University of Otago Business School), Birmingham online MBA programme has 350 students in this year’s cohort. 40 percent of students are female, 69 percent are international, and 25 nationalities are represented. Students have an average of 13 years work experience under their belt.

Students can begin the programme in March, June, or October.

The 180-credit programme is split between 12 modules, plus a final dissertation which is completed in the final six months of the programme. Elective module options include Critical Integration in Management and Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

To assess your understanding, you will be asked to complete a range of coursework-based assignments, including written reports, essays and group presentations.

Established in 2015, students complete the programme in 2.5 years. The programme costs US$29,534.

8) Oxford Brookes Business School

Oxford Brookes Business School’s Global MBA programme is ranked 12th in the world.

Compulsory face-to-face time on Oxford’s Global MBA programme includes two three-day residential hotel-based workshops and one six-day on-campus module in Oxford. Students can choose to take these 12 days in a row, or bite-sized blocks of three and six days. Students are supported by their dedicated Academic Advisor.

Of the 362 students currently enrolled, 50 percent are international, 41 percent are female, and 41 nationalities are represented. Students have an average of 13 years work experience under their belt. Since the programme’s inception in 2002, there have been 1,371 graduates.

Tuition is $25,432 – 76 percent of students are self-funded, 22 percent are on a full company scholarship and two percent received a partial company scholarship.

7) Durham University Business School

Durham Online MBA students will be expected to devote around 15 hours per week to study. Online modules are delivered over a 12-week period, including assessments.

Optional residential modules are offered in Durham at points throughout the year. The Residential includes speaker events, a variety of social events, and a truly unique opportunity to enjoy the Durham experience.

Online MBA students will complete five core modules (Accounting, Finance and Economics, Leading and Managing People, Marketing, Operations and Technology, Strategic Management), two optional modules, and a Strategic Case Analysis.

There are 281 students currently enrolled on the programme, of which 29 percent are female, 53 percent at international and 24 nationalities are represented. Students have an average of 16 years work experience under their belt – the join-highest in the global ranking. Launched in 1998, the programme boasts 2,862 graduates. The two-year programme costs US$32,815.

6) Vlerick Business School

In ninth place is new-entry Vlerick Business School, the only Belgian school on the list. The school’s online MBA programme – with a standard duration of 26 months – can be shortened to just over a year through a Fast Track option or extended to a maximum of five years if needed.

The programme is made up of 12 courses, a practical Knowledge in Action Project and an interactive game, and received high scores in the faculty and teaching and employability indicators. This year’s class profile includes the smallest cohort on the list – 76 students – with 40 percent international and female students respectively.

Total fees are €37,500 (approx. US$43,990).

5) MIP Politecnico di Milano Graduate School of Business

In sixth place is MIP’s online iFlex/Flex EMBA offering, which has a standard duration of 24 months. The programme was among the top scorers for class experience and faculty and teaching.

The course requires applicants to have at least six years of professional experience, with current students having an average of 13 years of industry experience. 29 nationalities are represented in the cohort – accounting for 41 percent of international students – and 17 percent of candidates are women.

The programme costs €37,000 (approx. US$43,375).

4) Alliance Manchester Business School

Gaining two spots from last year is Alliance Manchester Business School, the first of three British schools on the list. The Manchester Global Part-time MBA combines live-taught core courses, electives, applied learning and in-person interaction opportunities.

The two-year flexible programme has tuition fees of £30,000 (approx. US$37,293) or £27,500 (approx. US$34,177) for the accelerated Finance pathway. The cohort is highly diverse, with 80 percent international students coming from 70 different countries, 30 percent female students, and an average of 12 years’ work experience.

3) Warwick Business School

WBS kicks off the top three for the second year in a row, achieving high scores in the employability, class profile and faculty and teaching indicators.

The Distance Learning MBA cohort is diverse, with 14 years’ average work experience, 79 percent international students and 33 percent female students. Fees for the programme are £34,150 (approx. US$47,000).

Warwick’s program takes between one and two years to complete. It combines eight required modules, two “Warwick Weeks” on campus, four elective modules and a consultancy project.

2) Imperial College Business School

In second place once again is the Global Online MBA at Imperial College Business School, which received the second-highest scores in the top 10 for employability and faculty and teaching.

Most of the teaching during the programme is conducted through The Hub, a virtual learning platform developed by Imperial’s award-winning Edtech lab. Students complete pre-study modules, then attend a five-day compulsory in-person induction week, as well as four core module periods followed by an optional global experience week. The course ends with a capstone business game.

The Global Online MBA cohort is the second-most international on the list, with 85 percent international students and 62 nationalities represented. 36 percent of candidates are women. Fees for the 24-month programme are £41,350 (approx. US$56,974).

IE Business School

Retaining the top spot for yet another year is IE Business School, whose Global Online MBA programme achieved once again a perfect score for employability, as well as high scores across all other indicators.

Known for its diverse cohorts, the class profile for IE’s 18-month course is made up of 95 percent international students (up from last year’s 86 percent), 40 percent women (up from last year’s 34 percent), and an average 10 years’ work experience.

The programme is made up of three core online periods, one Global Immersion Week (locations include Shanghai, Los Angeles and Mumbai), plus three face-to-face weeks in Madrid. Teaching includes working in interactive small groups on real-world and industry-based case studies. Total fees amount to €51,200 (approx. US$60,094).

The online MBA at Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education (ADDOE), Amity University has the largest class size of all the online MBA programs featured in the QS Online MBA Rankings 2021, with 28,110 students.

Released today, the QS Online MBA Rankings 2021 assess the online MBA offerings of 57 business schools worldwide, demonstrating just how easy it is to earn your MBA remotely.

You can find out more about the methodology used to produce the rankings here.

10) FIU – Chapman School of Business

Kicking off the top 10 for largest cohorts is the tenth-best programme in the world and the third-best in the US: the Professional MBA (PMBA) Online from the Chapman Graduate School of Business at Florida International University, which scored particularly high for class profile and employability. There are 660 students in the 2021 cohort.

The programme is highly customisable: candidates can choose from three different pacing tracks (33 months, 21 months, and 18 months), five term starts (January, March, May/June, August and October) and eight specialisations. It also includes a two-day in-campus residency, seminars, industry nights, virtual meetings and business career management opportunities.

Tuition for the entire programme is US$42,000 for both in-state and out-of-state students.

9) Deakin Business School

Next, we have the online MBA from Deakin Business School, which scored high for class experience and class profile.

Out of the 690 enrolled students in this year’s cohort, 45 percent are women and two percent are international candidates, accounting for nine nationalities, with an average of 12 years work experience among students.

The programme includes 12 core courses and four electives that students can choose from. Candidates also have the option to reduce the duration of the course based on their previous qualifications and experience. Tuition is US$39,963.

8) West Texas A&M University

In eighth place is the second-cheapest online MBA programme in the world: the online MBA from West Texas A&M University. The programme usually takes 24 months to complete, combining electives, specialisations, and remote group activities.

Out of this year’s cohort of 883 students, 49 percent women, seven percent are international students, and participants have an average of seven years’ work experience.

Fees are US$9,900.

7) Warwick Business School

Next we have the Distance Learning MBA from WBS, the third-best online MBA programme in the world. The course achieved high scores in the employability, class profile and faculty and teaching indicators.

The Distance Learning MBA cohort of 930 students is diverse, with 14 years’ average work experience, 79 percent international students and 33 percent female students.

Warwick’s programme takes between one and two years to complete. It combines eight required modules, two “Warwick Weeks” on campus, four elective modules and a consultancy project. Fees for the programme are £34,150 (approx. US$47,000).

6) CSU College of Business

In sixth place is the 21-month MBA from CSU College of Business, which has a cohort of 960 students. The programme scored high for class experience and class profile.

The course has five start dates: August, October, January, March, and May. This year’s cohort is the largest in this top 10 with 960 enrolled, with an average 10 years’ work experience. 43 percent of students identify as female, but only one percent are international.

Fees are US$42,615.

5) AGSM @ UNSW Business School

Halfway through the list – with a cohort of 976 participants – is the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) at the University of New South Wales Business School.

The school’s MBAX earned high scores across the board, especially for employability and class experience. The programme includes a compulsory starter course, followed by five core courses, five specialisation courses, and a capstone course within an elective the area of study, including Change, Social Impact, Technology or Finance.

Tuition is US$44,588

4) Kelley School of Business

Next we have the online MBA offered by Kelley School of Business, the top programme in the US and the seventh-best in the world.

The course – which this year attracted 1,403 students – scored high for class experience and employability. Students can enrich up to 50 percent of their curriculum with electives and choose from seven major specialisations including Business Analytics, Marketing and Finance. Participants can also take part in international experiences, consulting projects, fully live classes and group discussions.

This year’s class profile is made up of 17 percent women and 41 percent international students with an average of 13 years’ work experience. Fees are US$74,520.

3) Alliance Manchester Business School

The online MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School has the third-largest cohort among the ranked programmes with 1,598 students enrolled this year.

The Manchester Global Part-time MBA has tuition fees of £30,000 (approx. US$37,293) or £27,500 (approx. US$34,177) for the accelerated Finance pathway. The programme combines live-taught core courses, electives, applied learning and in-person interaction opportunities.

The large cohort is highly diverse, with 80 percent international students coming from 70 different countries, 30 percent female students, and an average of 12 years’ work experience.

2) Jack Welch Management Institute

In second place for largest cohort is the online MBA programme from Jack Welch Management Institute, which scored high for class profile.

This year’s cohort of 1,987 participants is made up of 51 percent women, 18 percent international students, and an average 15 years’ work experience. Students can complete the programme from 18-36 months, there are 12 classes (10 weeks per course), each amounting to 10 to 15 weekly hours.

Students will learn business lessons from Welch, as well as from CEOs of companies like Berkshire Hathaway and Starbucks. Tuition is US$46,200.

1) Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education (EDDOE), Amity University

The programme with the largest cohort in the world – with 28,110 students – is the online MBA at Amity University, which boasts high scores for class experience and class profile.

This year’s cohort includes 61 nationalities – accounting for 31 percent international students – and 41 percent women.

Amity’s online MBA offers systematic and structured PCP (personal contact point), live interactive lectures, virtual recorded sessions, books, and study material received via courier. The average length is 24 months.

Fees are US$3,300.

Which online MBA programmes have the highest proportion of female students in 2021?

Released today, the QS Online MBA Rankings 2021 assess the online MBA offerings of 57 business schools worldwide, demonstrating just how easy it is to earn your MBA from the comfort of your home.

One of the indicators included in the ranking is the employability indicator, revealing the top business schools for graduate employability.

By collecting data from QS surveys and schools themselves, the ranking gives a comprehensive outlook about the institutions employers prefer to hire from.

You can find out more about the methodology used to produce the rankings here.

8=) Walsh College

Walsh College held its first virtual course in 1998.

You will receive personal attention in small virtual class settings from academic faculty who bring years of real-world experience to the classroom. No matter where you are in the world, you will interact with fellow students and feel part of a community.

Year-round registration lets you plan your academic year in advance, and our streamlined program means you can complete your MBA in 12 months.

8=) Cincinnati (Lindner)

Students have 8 years of work experience on average, and three percent of the 642 students in the cohort are international, with six nationalities represented.

8=) Jack Welch Management Institute

The JWMI online MBA was founded by former GE CEO Jack Welch in 2009. The program scored close to a perfect score for the Class Profile indicator. Students will learn business lessons from Welch, as well as from CEOs of companies like Berkshire Hathaway and Starbucks.

Students can complete the program from 18-36 months, there are 12 classes (10 weeks per course), and you’ll only spend 10-15 hours per week per class. The JWMI emphasizes that you can ‘Learn it on Monday, apply it on Tuesday’.

Tuition fees are US$46,200 for the whole course, with funding assistance also available. Of the 1987 students in the cohort, participants have an average of 15 years’ work experience (the second-highest number in the global ranking), 18 percent of students are international, 67 nationalities represented (the third-highest number in the global ranking), and 51 percent are female.

8=) Kogod School of Business

Kogod School of Business at the American University’s online MBA programme was one of the top overall scorers for class experience.

The Kogod online MBA has a standard course duration of 24 months, but can also be completed on a 12, 15 or 18-month track. The curriculum features two in-person immersions, 13 core courses and two elective courses.

The programme has surpassed gender parity with 51 percent female students in this year’s cohort. Ranked 22nd globally, this year’s cohort incorporates four nationalities, two percent international students, and students have an average of 5.5 years work experience. Tuition is US$86,976.

6=) University of Memphis (Fogelman)

The University of Memphis’s Fogelman College offers prospective students a 36 credit-hour online MBA.

Fogelman online MBA grads have landed jobs in a number of high-stake companies, including: Deloitte Consulting; Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc.; Verizon; AutoZone; FedEx; Nike.

There are five nationalities represented in this year’s cohort, two percent of students are international, 53 percent identify as female, and students have an average of 5.5 years work experience.

6=) EU Business School

53 percent of students on EU Business School’s online MBA programme also identify as female (however, a slight drop from 56 percent last year).

The online MBA programme boasts 100 percent international students and has received a perfect score in class experience. The student cohort’s average years of work experience is high at 9.5.

Upon graduation, EU Business School students receive a state-accredited MBA from the University of Roehampton in London, as well as their EU degree.

The program – which can be completed in 12 or 15 months – is a mix of interactive webinars, business simulations and on-campus networking opportunities, giving students the opportunity to personalize their e-learning experience.

Tuition is EUR17,400, equivalent to US$19,515.84.

4=) George Washington University

The online MBA programme at George Washington – ranked 18th globally – scored very highly for the class experience indicator.

Of the 355 students in class, 54 percent are female, 11 percent are international, and 15 nationalities are represented. Students also have an average of 15 years’ worth of experience under their belt (the second joint-highest in the overall global ranking).

Students may begin the program in the Fall, Spring or Summer semesters (August, January, or May). Generally, students will take six credit hours per semester. Students must complete 46.5 credits (34.5 credits in required courses and 12 credits in electives).

Since the programme began in 2004, the programme boasts 1105 graduates.

Tuition for the programme is $103,635 – the second-highest tuition in the global top 10.

4=) Chapman Graduate School of Business – FIU

Next is the online MBA from Chapman Graduate School of Business at FIU, which received an employability score of 73.10 and a high score for class profile. The cohort’s make up features 54 percent female students, 20 percent of students are international (with 22 nationalities represented), and students have an average of 7 years of work experience.

The programme is highly customisable: students can choose from three different pacing tracks, five term starts and eight specialisations. It also includes a two-day in-campus residency, seminars, industry nights, virtual meetings and business career management opportunities.

Tuition for the entire programme is US$42,000 for both in-state and out-of-state students.

3) Temple University (Fox)

The final school coming in joint sixth place is Fox School of Business and Management.

Students on Fox’s medium-size program have an average of 11.7 years of work experience, one of the highest in this year’s ranking. The program received a high score for class profile.

The majority of faculty at Fox’s online MBA also teach on-campus MBA courses, guaranteeing students receive the exact same education experience – regardless of being online or in-person – ensuring the online MBA is consistent with the school’s values and learning objectives. Classes are taught on the learning management system Canvas and students can interact with each other and faculty members through Zoom.

Tuition is US$59,760.

2) Suffolk University (Sawyer)

Dropping down one spot to second place in this year’s top 10 is Suffolk’s online MBA, however, the programme actually boasts a higher percentage of female students this year at 64 percent up from 59 percent.

The school scored high in class experience, offering its students 12 concentrations and over 100 electives to choose from to tailor their MBA experience to their interests.

Throughout the course, students have the opportunity to work remotely on over seven different client projects, developing strong business acumen and the skills necessary to be successful in the business world.

Of the 134 students on the programme, participants have an average of 5.6 years’ work experience, two percent are international, with two nationalities represented.

Clarkson University

Topping the table for the most female students on an online MBA programme this year is Clarkson University – which also scored very highly for the class experience indicator.

The Online MBA at Clarkson runs on quarter-based terms that usually start in September, January, March and June.

Clarkson's Online MBA consists of 14 3-credit courses (10 core courses and four electives) giving students a balanced educational experience.

The online MBA cohort is a modest size with 122 students enrolled – of which nine percent are international with six nationalities represented, and students have an average of 9.5 years work experience. Established in 2010, students usually take an average of 21 months to complete the programme. Tuition for the programme is US$49,308.

There are four award levels associated with the online MBA at Clarkson: Fellowship (at least 15 percent); Dean’s (at least 25 percent); Presidential (at least 40 percent); Trustees (at least 75 percent)

The online MBA programme from Mashall is the most expensive course of those featured in the QS Online MBA Rankings 2021, at an astonishing fee of US$106,595.

Released today, the QS Online MBA Rankings 2021 assess the online MBA offerings of 57 business schools worldwide, demonstrating just how easy it is to earn your MBA from the comfort of your home.

You can find out more about the methodology used to produce the rankings here.

10) Imperial College Business School

Kicking off the top 10 for the most expensive online MBA programmes is Imperial College Business School’s online MBA offering.

Earning the employability silver medal for yet another year is Imperial College Business School’s online MBA, which received a near-perfect score of 99.20.

The Global Online MBA cohort is one of the most international in the world with 85 percent international students and 62 nationalities represented. 36 percent of candidates are women. Most of the teaching during the programme is conducted through The Hub, a virtual learning platform developed by Imperial’s award-winning Edtech lab. Students complete pre-study modules, then attend a five-day compulsory in-person induction week, as well as four core module periods followed by an optional global experience week. The course ends with a capstone business game.

Fees for the 24-month programme are US$51,410.

9) Eller

The Eller Online MBA Programme features two sessions per semester, and a typical session offers two core courses and a minimum of two electives. Students take 45 credits, including 28 core units and 17 elective units.

Core courses include: Marketing of Innovations; Market-Based Management; Leadership in Organizations. Students can also choose from concentrations in Entrepreneurship; Finance; Health Care Management; Management and Organizations; Privacy and Security; Marketing. Elective courses range from Health Economics to Integrative Leadership to Social Media Marketing.

There are 306 students in this year’s cohort of which 28 percent are female, with three percent international students and three nationalities represented. Students have an average of 9.2 years work experience. 43 percent of students on the programme are entirely self-funded.

8) Naveen

Naveen Jindal School of Management’s Global Leadership MBA – ranked 16th in the overall ranking – scored high for class experience.

The programme, which lasts on average 21 months, has a small cohort of 75. The class profile is diverse compared to other US-based online MBA courses: 43 percent of students are women, while 17 percent are international, but with a smaller cohort, it’s easy to see why.

7) Fox

The Fox Online MBA is ranked 32nd in the global ranking. This year, there are 305 students on the programme, of which, four percent are international, three nationalities are represented, and 57 percent are female. Students have an average of 10.5 years of work experience under their belt.

There have been 856 graduates since the programme began in 2009.

At the beginning of their first semester, students are on campus for a week of networking, professional development and the first course of the programme. Students attend information sessions on student financial services, participate in professional development workshops, network with classmates and more.

Each course is delivered online over five weeks. Live and collaborative web conferencing sessions with faculty and classmates are held on Thursday nights from 8–10 p.m. ET.

6) Warrington

Next is the online MBA at UF Warrington College of Business, which takes an average of 21 months to complete.

The students of this year’s cohort of 378 students have an average of 6.4 years work experience. 37 percent of students identify as female, while four percent are international, accounting for 11 nationalities.

5) Kelley

Halfway through the list, sliding back two spots from last year’s third position, is Kelley School of Business. Kelley’s online MBA programme scored high for both employability (78.90) and class experience.

The course is highly customisable: students can build up to 50 percent of their curriculum with electives and choose from seven major specialisations including Business Analytics, Marketing and Finance. This year’s class profile is made up of 17 percent women and 41 percent international students, and students have an average of 13 years of work experience under their belt.

4) Kogod School of Business

Just missing out on a top three spot was Kogod School of Business at the American University’s online MBA programme – which was one of the top overall scorers for class experience.

The Kogod online MBA has a standard course duration of 24 months, but can also be completed on a 12, 15 or 18-month track. The curriculum features two in-person immersions, 13 core courses and two elective courses.

The programme has surpassed gender parity with 51 percent female students in this year’s cohort. Ranked 22nd globally, this year’s cohort incorporates four nationalities, two percent international students, and students have an average of 5.5 years work experience. Tuition is US$86,976.

3) University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business

The online MBA programme at University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business scored very highly for the class experience indicator.

Ranked 21st in the full online MBA ranking, Smith’s online MBA programme (which features 360 students this year) is usually completed in 24 months. Women make up 42 percent of students, with 15 nationalities represented on the programme and six percent of students being international. Students have an average of 5.6 years work experience.

2) George Washington

The online MBA programme at George Washington – ranked 18th globally – scored very highly for the class experience indicator.

Of the 355 students in class, 54 percent are female, 11 percent are international, and 15 nationalities are represented. Students also have an average of 15 years’ worth of experience under their belt (the second joint-highest in the overall global ranking).

Students may begin the program in the Fall, Spring or Summer semesters (August, January, or May). Generally, students will take six credit hours per semester. Students must complete 46.5 credits (34.5 credits in required courses and 12 credits in electives).

Since the programme began in 2004, the programme boasts 1105 graduates.

Marshall

The most expensive online MBA programme this year is the online MBA at Marshall – at a whopping US$106,595.

Students must complete the following courses to graduate from the programme: Role of the Manager; Fundamentals of Business; Opportunity Recognition and Implementation; Managing Inside the Firm; Managing Outside the Firm; Business Environment & Leadership.

Synchronous activities include:

• Class meetings
• Collaborative virtual activities and assessments including facilitated team meetings
• One‐on‐one faculty sessions via webcam*
• Other real‐time interactions

Courses are undertaken Monday-Thursday, 6:00pm-8:00pm (Pacific). Students complete the programme in an average of 21 months.

Marshall’s online MBA scored very highly for the class experience indicator. Of the 307 students on the programme, 34 percent are female, three percent are international, and three nationalities are represented. Students tend to have 10 years of work experience on average.

The online MBA programme from GBSB Global Business School is the shortest course of those featured in the QS Online MBA Rankings 2021, with an average duration of 10 months.

Released today, the QS Online MBA Rankings 2021 assess the online MBA offerings of 57 business schools worldwide, demonstrating just how easy it is to earn your MBA from the comfort of your home.

You can find out more about the methodology used to produce the rankings here.

=6) Parker College of Business, Georgia Southern University

The first of several programmes with an average duration of 21 months is the WebMBA from Parker College of Business, Georgia Southern University.

This year’s cohort is medium-sized with 117 students enrolled, with 41 percent identifying as women and no international students. Candidates on the programme have an average of 10 years work experience.

The online MBA consists of 10 courses, with students completing two courses each semester for five consecutive semesters. For US residents, there is also a mandatory in-person orientation prior to the first week of classes.

=6) MIP Politecnico di Milano Graduate School of Business

Next is MIP Politecnico di Milano Graduate School of Business.

MIP’s online offering is ranked sixth best worldwide in the overall ranking, as well as sixth for employability. The programme requires applicants have at least six years of professional experience, with current students having an average of 13 years’ worth. 29 nationalities are represented in the cohort – accounting for 41 percent of international students – and 17 percent of candidates are women.

Tuition €37,000 (approx. US$43,375).

=6) Marshall School of Business

Next is the eighth-best online MBA programme in the world, the OMBA from Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, which costs US$106,596.

The programme includes an integrated curriculum that spans across five cross-disciplinary courses, through which students acquire essential knowledge about core subject areas of business such as marketing, finance, management and entrepreneurship.

Women make up 34 percent of this year’s cohort, which is also the least international on the list, with only three percent international students and three nationalities represented.

=6) University of Florida – Warrington College of Business

Next is the online MBA at UF Warrington College of Business, which takes an average of 21 months to complete.

The students of this year’s cohort of 378 students have an average of 6.4 years work experience. 37 percent of students identify as female, while four percent are international, accounting for 11 nationalities.

Tuition is US$58,000.

=6) Naveen Jindal School of Management – UT Dallas

Naveen Jindal School of Management’s Global Leadership MBA – ranked 16th in the overall ranking – scored high for class experience.

The programme, which lasts on average 21 months, has a small cohort of 75. The class profile is diverse compared to other US-based online MBA courses: 43 percent of students are women, while 17 percent are international, but with a smaller cohort, it’s easy to see why.

Fees are US$53,000.

=6) Clarkson University

Next is the online MBA from Clarkson University, which has the highest number of female students in its 2021 cohort – 65 percent – among the shortest programmes and the overall online MBA ranking this year. The course also received a high score for class experience.

Clarkson’s online MBA consists of 14 three-credit courses, of which four are electives for students to choose from depending on their interests.

Tuition is US$49,308.

=6) CSU College of Business

The last programme with an average duration of 21 months is Colorado State University College of Business’ online MBA, which scored high for class experience and class profile.

The 21-month programme has five start dates: August, October, January, March and May. This year’s cohort is the largest on the list with 960 enrolled, with an average 10 years’ work experience. 43 percent of students identify as female, but only one percent are international.

The course costs US$42,615.

=5) Macquarie Business School

Next, with an average length of 20 months, is the 19th best in the world: the online MBA from Macquarie Business School, the only Australian and Asia-Pacific school on the list. The course is also one of the cheapest in the world, with total tuition amounting to US$25,387.

Macquarie’s online MBA received a perfect score of 100 for class experience. This year’s cohort of 206 is diverse, with 41 percent of students identifying as female and 76 percent international candidates.

=5) Kennesaw State University – Michael J. Coles College of Business

In joint fifth position for shortest programme is the online MBA from Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University.

The class profile is made up of 38 percent women and four percent international students, with 11 years’ average work experience.

The course is one of the most affordable worldwide with a tuition of US$24,470.

4) IE Business School

In fourth position is the top online MBA programme in the world, the Global Online MBA from IE Business School.

Known for its diverse cohorts, the class profile for IE’s 18-month course is made up of 95 percent international students (up from last year’s 86 percent), 40 percent women (up from last year’s 34 percent), and an average 10 years’ work experience. The programme received a perfect score for employability and high scores across all other indicators.

Tuition is €51,200 (approx. US$60,094).

3) EU Business School

In third place is EU Business School, which received one of the highest scores for the class experience indicator. The EU online MBA programme takes 15 months to complete.

Teaching is delivered through live, interactive webinars, group projects and business simulations. Participants can choose to major in one of eight topics including International Business, Communication & PR, and International Marketing.

This year’s cohort of 130 students is one of the most diverse on the list, with 100 percent international students, 43 percent female students and 61 nationalities represented. Fees are €13,800 (approx. US$16,416).

2) OBS Business School

In second place is OBS Business School, whose online Global MBA has a standard duration of 12 months. OBS was founded in 2006 as the first 100 percent online business school in Spanish.

The programme has a highly diverse class profile, with 40 percent female students, 96 percent international students and 14 years’ work experience on average.

Fees are €13,900 (approx. US$16,550).

1) GBSB Global Business School

GBSB Global Business School takes the lead as the school offering the shortest online MBA programme in the world, which can be completed in 10 months.

Alongside IE Business School, GBSB has a fully international cohort with 27 nationalities represented. Women make up 45 percent of this year’s class, with six years’ average work experience.

The programme has three annual intakes in September, January and April, and a flexible approach to learning, with classes pre-recorded and available to students at all times. Tuition is €15,050 (approx. US$17,919).

The Online MBA Programmes with the Highest Level of Work Experience 2021

The online MBA cohorts at Vlerick Business School and Durham University Business School have the highest average years of work experience among the global 2021 cohorts.

Released today, the QS Online MBA Rankings assess the online MBA offerings of 57 business schools worldwide. You can find out more about the methodology used to produce the rankings here.

Read on to find out more about the 10 business schools across the globe whose online MBA cohorts offer the highest level of experience in the field pre-MBA.

7=) OBS Business School

OBS Business School’s online Global MBA has a standard duration of 12 months and is the fourth cheapest programme in the world with tuition of US$16,550. OBS was founded in 2006 as the first 100 percent online business school in Spanish.

The programme has a highly diverse class profile, with 40 percent female students, 96 percent international students and 14 years’ average work experience.

7=) Curtin Graduate School of Business

Kicking off our top 10 is Curtin Graduate School of Business’s CGSB MBA.

International students make up just two percent of the programme, with nine nationalities represented. Participants have an average of 14 years’ work experience, with students taking an average of 35 months to complete the programme. Since its inception in 2004, the programme now has 518 graduates.

Students can opt for the generalist MBA or study one of two majors: oil and gas (in partnership with Aberdeen Business School at Robert Gordon University) or leadership.

Tuition equals US$37,157.

7=) Aston Business School

Aston’s online MBA programme is designed in three phases: Aston Edge Futures; Aston Edge Reflections and Growth; Aston Edge Project.

Core modules on the programme are: Measuring and Enhancing Financial Performance; Creating and Delivering Customer Value; Crafting Organisational Strategy; The Global Economic Environment Designing and Managing Operations, Systems & Processes; Leading Complex Organisations.

Of the 167 students on the programme, 60 percent are international with 10 nationalities represented, and 35 percent are female.

Tuition is US$25,575.

7=) Warwick Business School

Next we have the Distance Learning MBA from WBS, the third-best online MBA programme in the world. The course achieved high scores in the employability, class profile and faculty and teaching indicators.

The Distance Learning MBA cohort of 930 students is diverse, with 14 years’ average work experience, 79 percent international students and 33 percent female students.

Warwick’s programme takes between one and two years to complete. It combines eight required modules, two “Warwick Weeks” on campus, four elective modules and a consultancy project. Fees for the programme are £34,150 (approx. US$47,000).

3=) Jack Welch Management Institute

The JWMI online MBA was founded by former GE CEO Jack Welch in 2009. The programme scored close to a perfect score for the Class Profile indicator. Students will learn business lessons from Welch, as well as from CEOs of companies like Berkshire Hathaway and Starbucks.

Students can complete the programme from 18-36 months, there are 12 classes (10 weeks per course), and you’ll only spend 10-15 hours per week per class. The JWMI emphasises that you can ‘Learn it on Monday, apply it on Tuesday’.

Tuition fees are US$46,200 for the whole course, with funding assistance also available. Of the 1987 students in the cohort, participants have an average of 15 years’ work experience, 18 percent of students are international, 67 nationalities represented (the third-highest number in the global ranking), and 51 percent are female.

3=) George Washington University

The online MBA programme at George Washington – ranked 18th globally – scored very highly for the class experience indicator.

Of the 355 students in class, 54 percent are female, 11 percent are international, and 15 nationalities are represented. Students also have an average of 15 years’ worth of experience under their belt (the second joint-highest in the overall global ranking).

Students may begin the program in the Fall, Spring or Summer semesters (August, January, or May). Generally, students will take six credit hours per semester. Students must complete 46.5 credits (34.5 credits in required courses and 12 credits in electives).

Since the programme began in 2004, the programme boasts 1105 graduates.

Tuition for the programme is $103,635 – the second-highest tuition in the global top 10.

3=) Naveen Jindal School of Management

Naveen Jindal School of Management’s Global Leadership MBA – ranked 16th in the overall ranking – scored high for class experience.

The programme – which was established in 1995, making it one of the oldest online MBA programmes in world – lasts 21 months on average. The class profile is diverse compared to other US-based online MBA courses: 43 percent of students are women, while 17 percent are international, but with a smaller cohort, it’s easy to see why.

Tuition for the programme is $53,000, and 84 percent of this year’s cohort are completely self-funded. Established in 1995 – with 444 grads to date – it’s one of the oldest programmes in the global ranking.

3=) University of Otago Business School

Otago’s online MBA programme scored a perfect score for the class experience indicator – one of only two online MBA programmes in the global ranking to achieve this alongside Macquarie Business School.

Ranked 13th in the global ranking, Otago’s online MBA cohort has 183 students enrolled this year, of which 38 percent are female, 10 nationalities are represented, and one percent is international. Students tend to complete the programme in 36 months.

For international students, tuition is NZ$59,709 (approx. US$49,951), but for domestic students its NZ$36,078 (approx. US$25,339).

Durham University Business School

Durham University Business School’s online MBA programme this year has 281 students. 53 percent of students are international, 24 nationalities are represented, and 29 percent are female.

Online MBA students are expected to spend around 15 hours per week to study. Online modules are delivered over a 12-week period, including assessments. Students will complete five core modules, two optional modules, and a Strategic Case Analysis. There are three pathways to choose from: Entrepreneurship; Consultancy; Technology. Students can complete the programme in two years.

Since its inception in 1998, the programme boasts 2,862 grads. Tuition is $32,815.

Vlerick Business School

This year, Vlerick Business School’s online MBA programme scored a 73.30 for employability – with the programme also scoring highly for the faculty and teaching indicator.

The programme is made up of 12 courses, a practical Knowledge in Action Project and an interactive game.

Vlerick’s online MBA programme has a standard duration of 24 months, but can be shortened to 12 or lengthened to 48 months depending on your needs.

Of the 76 students in the cohort, 40 percent are international and female respectively.

Total fees are €37,500 (approx. US$43,990).

The online MBA programme at Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education (EDDOE), Amity University offers once again the cheapest tuition in the QS Online MBA Rankings 2021.

Released today, the QS Online MBA Rankings 2021 assess the online MBA offerings of 57 business schools worldwide, demonstrating just how easy it is to earn your MBA from the comfort of your home.

You can find out more about the methodology used to produce the rankings here.

10) University of Memphis – Fogelman College of Business & Economics

Tuition: US$24,552

Kicking off the top 10 for cheapest tuition is the University of Memphis, whose 36 credit-hour online MBA offers students the opportunity to choose between synchronous and asynchronous learning. The programme is characterised by small cohorts with high percentages of female and international students.

9) Kennesaw State University – Michael J. Coles College of Business

Tuition: US$24,470

Next is the online MBA from Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University. The class profile is made up of 38 percent women and four percent international students, with 11 years’ average work experience. The programme takes on average 20 months to complete.

8) Nottingham Business School - Nottingham Trent University

Tuition: US$21,740

In eighth place is Nottingham Business School, whose online MBA programme boasts one of the most diverse cohorts on the list with 64 percent international students and 37 percent women.

The course takes around 30 months to complete and includes a consulting project, electives, and specialisations for candidates to choose from and international experiences.

7) SBS Swiss Business School

Tuition: US$19,382

Next is Switzerland’s SBS Swiss Business School, which once again scored high for class experience. This year’s cohort of 192 students boasts 55 percent international students and 43 percent female students, all of whom have an average of 10 years’ worth of work experience.

There are 15 modules on the 24-month SBS online MBA, each taking eight weeks to complete. Aside from traditional e-teaching, students can participate in a wide range of webinar sessions and online forums.

6) Pacifico Business School

Tuition: US$18,000

In sixth place is the only Latin American business school on the list: the Peruvian Pacifico Business School. The Pacifico online MBA programme received high scores for class experience and faculty and teaching.

This year’s cohort is the smallest of the top 10 with only 60 students enrolled. Only two percent are international, while 34 percent are women.

5) GBSB Global Business School

Tuition: US$17,919

Halfway through the list is the shortest online MBA programme in the world, the 10-month online MBA from GBSB Global Business School.

The course has three annual intakes in September, January and April, and a flexible approach to learning, with classes pre-recorded and available to students at all times.

Alongside IE Business School, GBSB has a fully international cohort with 27 nationalities represented. Women make up 45 percent of this year’s class, with nine years’ average work experience.

4) OBS Business School

Tuition: US$16,550

In fourth place for cheapest tuition is OBS Business School, whose online Global MBA has a standard duration of 12 months. OBS was founded in 2006 as the first 100 percent online business school in Spanish.

The programme has a highly diverse class profile, with 40 percent female students, 96 percent international students and 14 years’ average work experience.

3) EU Business School

Tuition: US$16,416

In the bronze medal position this year is EU Business School, which received one of the highest scores for the class experience indicator. The EU online MBA programme takes 15 months to complete.

This year’s cohort of 130 students is one of the most diverse on the list – and in the global ranking – with 100 percent international students, 43 percent female students and 61 nationalities represented.

Teaching is delivered through live, interactive webinars, group projects and business simulations. Participants can choose to major in one of eight topics including International Business, Communication & PR, and International Marketing.

2) West Texas A&M University

Tuition: US$9,900

Just missing out on the top spot with the second-cheapest online MBA programme in the world is the online MBA from West Texas A&M University. The programme usually takes 24 months to complete, combining electives, specialisations, and remote group activities.

This year’s cohort is made up of 49 percent female students, seven percent of students are international, and participants have an average of seven years’ work experience.

1) Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education (EDDOE), Amity University

Tuition: US$3,300

If you’re looking for an online MBA that won’t cost you a fortune, Amity University’s might be the perfect one for you. The cheapest online programme in the world boasts high scores for class experience and class profile.

This year’s cohort is the largest of all the online MBA programmes available in our global ranking with 28,110 students. It includes 61 nationalities – accounting for 31 percent international students – and 41 percent women.

Amity’s online MBA offers systematic and structured PCP (personal contact point), live interactive lectures, virtual recorded sessions, books, and study material received via courier. The average length is 24 months.

The recently released QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021 features 650 of the top higher education institutions to study computer science.

The QS University Rankings by Subject are based on four indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations per paper and the H-index (a way of measuring the productivity and published work of a scientist or scholar). You can find more details about the methodology behind the subject rankings here.

Read on to learn more about the best computer science schools in each region. Alternatively, if you would like to explore the computer science schools in further detail, click here to view the full table.

Top universities for computer science in the US & Canada

In this year’s QS Subject Rankings for computer science, 110 of the 650 schools featured are situated in the United States, with five of these in the top 10 for computer science worldwide (the most of any country).

Outside of the top 10, there are plenty of top computer science universities available, including Princeton University (14th), University of Washington (15th), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA, 17th) and Columbia University (18th). Cornell University, New York University (NYU) and California Institute of Technology (Caltech) all rank in the world top 25.

Canada is home to 24 excellent computer science universities, including University of Toronto in 11th place. Other notable computer science universities in Canada are the University of Waterloo in joint 23rd place and the University of British Columbia which remains in 25th place this year.

Top universities for computer science in Europe

The UK has an impressive 52 top universities in the QS World Rankings by Subject 2021 for computer science – two of which can be found in the worldwide top 10. Outside of the top 10 but still in the worldwide top 30 are Imperial College London (16th), University College London (UCL) (joint 23rd) and the University of Edinburgh (26th).

Ireland is home to seven universities featured in the subject rankings in 2021, including Trinity College Dublin at joint 89th.

In Denmark, there are five top computer science universities, including Aarhus University in the world top 100. Similarly, Finland is home to five top universities in the subject rankings, including new entrant this year, the University of Jyväskylä. Sweden has 10 universities in the rankings, including KTH, Royal Institute of Technology in 42nd place.

The Netherlands performs well in the subject rankings for computer science in 2020, with no fewer than 12 universities featured, and three of these in the worldwide top 100; University of Amsterdam (40th), Eindhoven University of Technology (joint 64th) and Delft University of Technology (72nd). 

France, Germany and Italy all perform extremely well in the rankings, France hosting 29th top computer science schools (including Université PSL (Paris Sciences & Lettres) which rises four places this year to joint 35th) and Germany with 30 of the best universities in the world for computer science, with its top university, Technische Universität München, in joint 35th place worldwide. Italy is home to 22 ranked universities, with Politecnico di Milano coming out on top for computer science in joint 44th place.

Spain has 13 universities in the rankings, including three new entrants this year: Universidad de Salamanca, Universitat de Valencia and Universidade de Santiago de Compostela.

Belgium has eight entries this year, with two of these, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

and Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) in the top 100.  Portugal’s three entrants include 151-200 ranked University of Lisbon. Of Switzerland’s seven entries, two (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)) can be found within the top ten worldwide.

Top universities for computer science in Australia & New Zealand

Australia is home to an incredible 22 universities featuring in the subject rankings in 2021, with three of these appearing in the worldwide top 50: the University of Melbourne (39th), the University of Sydney (50th) and Australian National University (ANU, 51st).

New Zealand’s seven universities include the University of Auckland in 106th place and Victoria University of Wellington (201-250th).

Top universities for computer science in Asia

Mainland China has one of the largest presences of any Asian country in the ranking with 35 universities, and three of these in the top 50 worldwide: Tsinghua University (13th) Peking University (20th) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (climbing five places this year to 29th).

Over in South Korea we have 18 top computer science universities, including Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in 32nd place and Seoul National University in 41st place. Six of the top universities for computer science are found in Hong Kong, such as the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST, 30th), the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK, 31st) and University of Hong Kong (HKU, 43rd).

Japan have 16 entrants in the rankings this year, including the University of Tokyo, which rises one place this year to 27th. Singapore has four top universities in the rankings, with the National University of Singapore climbing eight places this year to rank in the global top 10 (in fourth place).

India performs well this year, with 23 universities featured in the rankings. Of these, two are in the worldwide top 100; Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB, 67th) and Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD, 70th). 

Taiwan has 12 of the top universities for computer science including National Taiwan University (NTU) in the top 100 worldwide, at joint 62nd. Macau’s sole entrant, University of Macau, places 351-400th in 2021.

Top universities for computer science in Latin America

In Latin America, Mexico has five computer science universities in the rankings this year, with one of these, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), in the top 100 in the world at 94th. Argentina has two featured universities this year; Universidad de Buenos Aires (151-200th) and Universidad Nacional de La Plata (551-600th).

13 of the world’s top universities for computer science can be found in Brazil, including Universidade de São Paulo (USP), which ranks at joint 79th, the highest ranked school in Latin America, along with Chile’s Universidad de Chile.

Top universities for computer science in the Africa & the Middle East

South Africa has three computer science universities in the rankings this year, with University of Cape Town in 350th place. Egypt has four universities in the computer science university rankings this year, with Cairo University coming top, in 151-200th place, and scoring particularly well in the employer reputation indicator.

Bahrain’s single entrant, the University of Bahrain, ranks 601-650th in the world. Iran is home to three universities in the ranking with the top ranked Sharif University of Technology in 251-300th place.

The United Arab Emirates also has six of the top universities for computer science (with two new entries this year), with United Arab Emirates University coming out on top in 201-250th place. Qatar University, Qatar’s sole entrant this year, also places 201-250th.

Kuwait’s single entrant, Kuwait University, ranks 501-550th in the world. Oman’s Sultan Qaboos University is Oman’s only university in the rankings this year and comes in at 551-600th. Jordan’s four universities in the rankings this year include new entrant Princess Sumaya University for Technology and two computer science universities in the top 300 worldwide, including Jordan University of Science and Technology and University of Jordan (both 201-250th).

Israel has five universities featured in the rankings this year, including three in the top 250: Technion - Israel Institute of Technology  (joint 103rd), Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University (both 201-250th) .

The recently released QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021 features 220 of the top higher education institutions to study art and design.

QS Rankings by Subject are based on four indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations per paper and the H-index (a way of measuring the productivity and published work of a scientist or scholar). You can find more details about the methodology behind the subject rankings here. The weightings of certain indicators vary by subject, with art and design assessed based solely on academic reputation and employer reputation.

Read on to learn more about the best art and design schools in each region. Alternatively, if you would like to explore the top art and design schools further, click here to view the full table.

Top universities for art and design in the US & Canada

An impressive 39 schools in the US feature in the art and design rankings, as well as seven schools in Canada. The top ten is comprised of five US Art & Design schools, three British ones, and Italy’s Politecnico di Milano and Finland’s Aalto University - the highest position achieved by any Finnish institution across the 48 subject tables.

Outside of the top 10, other highly ranked US schools include new entrant, New York’s New School University (14th place), California Institute of the Arts (17th)  Carnegie Mellon University (18th) and Stanford University (19th).

Heading north, Canada has one entrant in the top 50 this year, the Emily Carr University of Art and Design, who climb up the rankings from joint 40th to 30th in 2021. Other notable art and design schools in Canada include Concordia University and University of Toronto (both ranked 51-100).

Top universities for art and design in Europe

There are 91 leading European art schools featured in the ranking, including 18 in the global top 50. The United Kingdom is the most well-represented country in Europe, with 27 programs in the rankings. Outside of the top 10, notable institutions in the UK include Goldsmiths, University of London (joint 15th place), Loughborough University (31st), University of Oxford (36th) and University College London (UCL, joint 48th).

Outside of the UK, Italy is the most well-represented country in Europe, with nine schools in the rankings. Highest ranked of these is Politecnico di Milano, ranked fifth in the world, plus Italy has two new entrants this year: NABA - Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (51-100) and Università degli Studi di Firenze (UNIFI, 201-220).

Whilst there are no French schools in the top 10, two make it into the top 50, with École Nationale Supérieure de Création Industrielle, ENSCI Les Ateliers taking 26th place and Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts Decoratifs (ENSAD) in joint 39th. Also, with two entrants in the top 50 is Sweden, with Umeå University in joint 33rd and Konstfack University College of Arts, Crafts and Design rising to 26th place this year. 

Other notable European institutions in the global top 50 for art and design include new entrant, the Netherlands’ Delft University of Technology (11th) Design Academy Eindhoven (12th place), The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts - The School of Design (22nd), Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK, 35th) and Universität der Knste Berlin (joint 41st).

Top universities for art and design in Australia & New Zealand

In total, 12 Australian art and design schools are featured in the rankings, plus four schools in New Zealand. New Zealand’s highest ranked program is at Massey University, which comes in at 51-100.

Australia has an impressive three schools in the global top 50, with RMIT University the highest ranked in joint 15th place. Also featured in the top 50 are the University of Technology Sydney (UTS, 25th place) and Queensland University of Technology (QUT, joint 48th place).

Top universities for art and design in Asia

Asian universities performed well in the art and design rankings – out of 47 ranked universities in the region, eight made it into the global top 50. Mainland China takes the crown for the highest ranked Asian institution, with Tongji University taking 13th place. Two other Chinese universities are in the top 50 - Tsinghua University (23rd) and China Central Academy of Fine Arts in 24th.

Elsewhere in the global top 50, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University came in 20th place globally, the only art school in Hong Kong to make it into the top 50. Singapore had three entrants into the rankings, and, impressively, two made it into the global top 50, with the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 28th place and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in 43rd.

After Mainland China, South Korea is the most well-represented Asian region in the art and design rankings, with nine schools in total. However, only one of these makes it into the global top 50 – Seoul National University (SNU) in joint 39th place.

Top universities for art and design in Latin America

Latin America performs well in this years’ art and design rankings, with 16 schools in the region ranked globally, including one in the global top 50. The highest ranked school in Latin America is Mexico’s Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) in joint 48th.

A further five Latin American programs make it into the global top 100, including Universidad de Buenos Aires and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Mexico is the most well-represented country in Latin America with four schools, whilst Brazil, Chile and Colombia all have three schools each in the ranking.

Top art and design schools in the Middle East

This year, two universities in the Middle East are included in the art and design rankings – no schools from this region featured in last year’s ranking. These are the United Arab Emirates’ American University of Sharjah (151-200) and Lebanon’sAmerican University of Beirut (AUB, 201-220). Both universities scored very highly in the employer reputation indicator.

The recently released QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021 features 203 of the top higher education institutions to study politics and international relations around the world.

The QS University Rankings by Subject are based on four indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations per paper and the H-index (a way of measuring the productivity and published work of a scientist or scholar). You can find more details about the methodology behind the subject rankings here.

Read on to learn more about the best politics schools in each region. Alternatively, if you would like to explore the politics schools in further detail, click here to view the full table.

Top universities for politics in the US and Canada

The United States is home to 44 of the 200 universities featured in this year’s politics rankings with Canada claiming seven.

Harvard University bags the top spot for the best politics school in the world for the sixth consecutive year. It earns perfect scores several indicators including the H-index, which measures the productivity and impact of the work produced by scholars at the school.

The US is also home to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT,14th) which scores exceptionally well in the employer reputation indicator, despite dropping five places this year in the index. A number of prestigious internship opportunities are open to MIT politics undergraduates, including the MIT Washington DC Summer Internship program. These internships provide opportunities for students to network with government executives and leaders and gain first-hand experience of political and policy activity.

Canada’s highest ranked politics program is found at the University of Toronto (27th) which earns a strong score in the H-index this year. The University of Toronto’s faculty frequently publishes high quality research used by academics around the world. Several faculty members have won Governor-General’s awards (a prestigious Canadian book award), and many are Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada.

Other noteworthy Canadian universities include McGill University (36th), University of British Columbia (43rd ) and Université de Montréal (51-100).

Top universities for politics in Europe

Europe has an impressive total of 90 politics programs featuring in the subject rankings this year, including 15 in the global top 50.

The United Kingdom is home to 27 of these universities, with four politics programs in the top 20 this year. The University of Oxford’s politics program ranks first in the UK for another year running.

Another notable UK university is SOAS - School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, ranking in 21st place this year. The school earns a particularly high score in the academic reputation indicator and is widely regarded for its critical approach to the study of international politics of the Global South. The University of Essex has largest change in the UK this year, falling 19 places to joint 48th.

Sciences Po Paris takes the title of the best continental European university to study politics. In second place globally, it earns a perfect score for academic reputation. Sciences Po Paris’ politics programs aim to bridge the gap between theory and practice and students are taught by some of the world’s best academics and global leaders. France has three other politics programs in the index in 2021, including Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne which also places in the top 100.

Eight of Europe’s politics programs are located in Germany, whose top politics school this year is Freie Universität Berlin in 20th place. Denmark’s three featured universities include University of Copenhagen in joint 33rd place. Meanwhile Ireland and Belgium each have two universities featured in this year’s politics subject rankings.

Switzerland and Spain each boast six universities in this year’s rankings. Switzerland’s ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) performs particularly well in 37th. It earns a high score in the research citations indicator, with its politics department issuing around 500 publications every year.

Also counting six universities in the index this year are Netherlands and Italy. These include the Netherlands’ Leiden University (22nd) and University of Amsterdam (26th). Italy’s European University Institute and Luiss Guido Carli University both place in the top 50 for politics, ranking 40th and joint 48th respectively.

Russia and Sweden each have four politics programs in the rankings this year, including Russia’s Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO, 41st). MGIMO earns a high score for employer reputation this year, with many of its politics graduates finding work in government and international organizations and several going on to work in the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Poland, Norway, Hungary, Finland, Estonia, Czech Republic and Austria each only have a single entry in the politics subject rankings this year. Of these seven locations, Hungary performs the best, with Central European University ranking 25th worldwide for its politics program.

Top universities for politics in Australia and New Zealand

Australia is home to nine top universities offering politics courses. Three of these are in the worldwide top 50, including Australian National University (ANU, 9th) which earns a near-perfect score for academic reputation this year. ANU’s politics students enjoy the program’s wide-ranging curriculum with options to specialize in different areas of politics, from human rights and globalization to European and Latin American studies.

Other notable Australian universities include the University of Sydney (44th, falling 20 places this year) and the University of Melbourne (joint 46th).

New Zealand has four politics universities in this year’s subject rankings, with Victoria University of Wellington placing in the worldwide top 100. The university teaches students about politics both in the past and the contemporary world, with a broad curriculum taught by world-leading scholars.

The University of Auckland also places in the global top 100 for politics this year.

Top universities for politics in Asia

There are 30 Asian politics universities in the index this year.

Asia’s highest ranked school is the National University of Singapore (NUS, 10th) which earns a high score for the employer reputation indicator. The diversity of NUS’ politics courses means its graduates have gone into a wide range of careers in many sectors, including government, business, teaching and the foreign service. Also located in Singapore is Nanyang Technological University (NTU) ranking 31st.

Mainland China, Japan and South Korea each have six politics universities in this year’s rankings. Mainland China has three schools in the top 50, including its top ranking Tsinghua University (joint 33rd).

Japan’s University of Tokyo (joint 29th) earns a particularly strong score in the employer reputation indicator. Politics students can benefit from the University of Tokyo’s connections within Japan’s academic, political and governmental circles, as well as its political research in Japan and Asia.

India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand each have a single entrant in the rankings this year. India’s Jawaharlal Nehru University (101-150) scores well for academic reputation, having one of the largest and most prestigious politics departments in the country.

Taiwan’s two entrants include National Taiwan University (NTU, 51-100) and South Korea’s Seoul National University (SNU) ranks joint 46th.

The University of Hong Kong (HKU, joint 29th) ranks amongst Hong Kong’s three entries in the politics school index this year. The university has been teaching political science since 1915 and has contributed to advancements in its field both locally and internationally through its research and teaching.

Top universities for politics in Latin America  

There are 15 top politics programs offered in Latin America in 2021. Brazil and Colombia each boast four universities in this year’s rankings, with Brazil’s Universidade de São Paulo (USP) the highest ranked university for politics in Latin America, ranking 50th.

Chile has two politics universities in the index, including Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile which ranks in the top 100 and earns a high score for employer reputation.

Mexico has two new entries this year for politics: Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM, 101-150), which scores well for employer reputation this year, and Instituto Tecnológico Autonomo de México (ITAM) ranking at 151-200.

Top universities for politics in Africa and the Middle East

Africa’s sole entrant for politics this year is University of Cape Town in South Africa ranking 151-200. The University of Cape Town’s research is widely respected has been frequently published both in scholarly and research journals.

Over in the Middle East, Lebanon and Israel each have a single entry in the politics schools ranking this year.