GMAC Advisor

International students comprise nearly two in three students enrolled in master’s level business programs at British business schools. As a result, Brexit uncertainties coupled with COVID-19 travel restrictions have been particularly severe for many business schools in the UK as international student mobility faced more disruption. Yet, data shows that demand for pursuing graduate business programs in the UK remains strong among international candidates.

GMAC’s annual Application Trends Survey of over 1,000 programs worldwide uncovered nuances in the demand for graduate management education and identified growth variations by regions, schools, and candidates. A combination of factors—including regional contexts, barriers faced by candidates, and strategies adopted by business schools— influenced the enrollment outcomes. Looking ahead, a survey snapshot of prospective students suggests business schools need to continue to innovate and adapt to the candidates’ shifting journeys.

How is the demand for MBA and business master’s programs shifting in the context of COVID-19? GMAC’s annual Application Trends Survey uncovered nuances of the global demand for graduate management education and identified growth variations by program locations and types. One of the key takeaways is that decision-making, for schools and candidates, in this pandemic-induced economic downturn is about hedging risk and managing uncertainty. The reconfiguration of the enrollment funnel in terms of a higher number of applications and a lower yield shows that the 2020 application season for business schools was unlike any other.

How are prospective international students considering MBA and business master’s programs for the 2021 application season responding to US elections' outcomes? A pre-election poll suggests that international candidates are more likely to study in the US if Biden is elected president. In addition to direct implications for the US, alternative destinations competing to attract global talent are also likely to experience the impact of this shift in preferences.

Now available as a recording, last week’s webinar broke down the current state of the market for Asia-Pacific programs.

Now available as a recording, last week’s webinar broke down the current state of the market for European programs.

Now available as a recording, last week’s webinar broke down the current state of the market for US programs.

The Application Trends Survey Report 2019 analyzes demand for graduate management education globally and by program type and location.

Join the team behind this year’s report for deep dives into the state of the market in the United States, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

Three-quarters of the world’s female full-time MBA candidates are citizens of just three countries.