New AMBA & BGA report reveals growth in MBA applications and enrolments amidst competitive landscape

Key findings from the report include:

· A 3% increase in applications per business school globally, with notable growth in Africa, Europe, and India.

· A 5% rise in enrolments per business school, reflecting strong interest in MBA programmes.

· Diversity trends show mixed results, with female enrolment dipping to 40% and international student enrolments seeing a slight decline.

· Part-time MBAs remain the most popular format, making up 62% of all programmes.

The report is based on data from 268 AMBA-accredited business schools, providing the most comprehensive year-on-year analysis to date. It offers valuable insights for business schools, policymakers, and industry leaders navigating the evolving MBA landscape.

Andrew Main Wilson, Chief Executive of AMBA & BGA, commented: "This year’s findings underscore the resilience of AMBA-accredited business schools in a highly competitive market. The increase in applications and enrolments signals the continued relevance of the MBA, and we are proud to support business schools as they adapt to changing student expectations and market demands."

To access the full AMBA & BGA Application and Enrolment Report 2024 click on the button on the right hand side.

Key findings

Changes to MBA demand and provision: like-for-like analysis, 2022-2023

How courses are taught:

· The part-time MBA remained the most popular format on offer in 2023. Globally, 62 per cent of all programmes were taught part time. In addition, 16 per cent of MBAs were delivered in a modular format, further highlighting the importance of allowing participants to study alongside their existing professional and personal commitments at MBA and executive MBA level.

Applications and enrolments:

· Globally, there was a three per cent increase in the average number of applications received by each business school between 2022 and 2023. This notable rise relates to the combined volume of applications received for a school’s entire portfolio of MBA programmes. There was also a one per cent increase in applications to individual programmes.

· There was also a notable uptick in the average number of students enrolling in AMBA-accredited MBA programmes worldwide between 2022 and 2023, with a five per cent increase in enrolment volume per business school portfolio and a three per cent increase per individual programme across 233 responding business schools.

Diversity in MBA programmes:

· The proportion of women enrolling in MBA programmes fell three percentage points to 40 per cent in 2023.

· Findings at the global level point to a mixed picture for international students. While there was an average increase of three percentage points in the proportion of international students applying to MBA programmes between 2022 and 2023, there was a decrease of two percentage points in the proportion of international students enrolling on programmes.

MBA application and enrolment in 2023: overview of AMBA-accredited schools

Format of programmes:

· Globally, MBA programmes were most likely to be delivered in a part-time format in 2023, (62 per cent) followed by full-time (24 per cent) and then modular (15 per cent) formats.

Acceptance and yield rate:

· Globally, the acceptance rate was 13 per cent, with significant variance between individual regions.

· The global average yield for AMBA-accredited business schools was 64 per cent.

Diversity:

· In 2023, women represented 36 per cent of applicants to MBA programmes offered by AMBA-accredited business schools across the world, as well as 40 per cent of those who enrolled in these programmes.

For media enquiries, interviews, or further details, please contact:

Ellen Buchan
Insight, Content & PR Manager, AMBA & BGA
E.buchan@amba-bga.com