Best Business Management Colleges and Universities in the World
About Business Management
In simple terms business management involves monitoring and supervising all elements of business operations. It ensures that resources are used to their full potential. Through planning and organization, business management removes all sorts of wastage in all business processes and guarantees an increase in revenues. Management also encourages employees to give their best effort and makes sure that the business is operating efficiently. And this job of managing a business organization is performed by business managers.
Business management has grown in popularity as a high-paying career option among the traditional standard job possibilities, such as engineering and medicine. This article on business management is a good starting point for anyone interested in a career in this industry.
Duties of Business Managers
A business manager is not specifically a single job position but refers to a group of management positions that includes anybody who works in a managerial framework for a company, organization, or institution. As a result, they are often allocated a wide range of activities depending on their specific function. For example, a business manager may be in charge of a specific department in a large organization or the entire operation of a small business. The core tasks are the same in either case. The following are some general responsibilities:
- Develop strategic goals and policies for the growth and expansion of the business
- Oversee daily operations and implement business strategies to promote goal attainment
- Identify areas for potential growth and expansion into new markets
- Build and maintain relationships with partners, investors and customers
- Analyze and set financial goals for the company
- Ensure adherence to local and state rules and regulations
- Gather and analyze external and internal data and write reports
- Represent the company at events and conferences
- Ensure that the company has enough skilled employees to maintain productivity
- Maintain safety standards for employees at work
- Keep up to date with new advancements in business techniques or operations
- Maintain accurate records of accounts and financial transactions
- Come up with sales and marketing strategies
Popular degrees for pursuing a career in Business Management
A career in business management requires a formal degree. An undergraduate degree in business management is sufficient for entry-level roles, but most employers prefer students to have a master’s degree that provides students with all of the required skills and knowledge to manage a business completely. Universities that offer degrees in economic studies also offer MBA courses in business management. Here are some popular degrees offered by top business universities in the world.
Bachelor’s programs
- Bachelor of Business Management
- Bachelor of Business Administration
- Bachelor of Business Studies
- B.S. in Finance
- B.S. in Operations Research
- Bachelor of Business Administration in Management
- B.A. in Financial Economics
- B.S. in Marketing
Master’s programs
- Master of Finance
- Master of Management
- Master of Accountancy
- Master of Business Studies
- M.S. in Supply Chain Management
- Master of Business Administration
- M.S. in Operations Research
- M.A. in Financial Economics
- M.A. in Business Economics
- MBA in Human Resource
Doctoral programs
A doctoral degree or a P.h.D. in business management prepares students for academic research and practice. These degrees focus more on research involving innovative theoretical approaches to business operations.
- P.h.D. in Business Management
- P.h.D. in Business Administration
- P.h.D. in Business Economics
Specializations in Business Management
Although business management appears to be a narrow field, it offers a plethora of subfields in which students can specialize to land in their desired industry. These specializations can be chosen by students based on their interests, academic backgrounds, and the scope of the specialty.
- Financial management
- Marketing management
- Sales and retail management
- Human resource management
- Information resource management
- Strategic management
- Production management
- Program and project management
- Knowledge management
- Operations management
- Service management
- IT management
- Public relations management
- Supply chain and procurement management
- Research and development management
- Engineering management
- Design management
- Quality management
- Risk management
- Change management
- Innovation management
- Facility management
- Event management
- Transportation management
- Healthcare management
Duration of programs in Business Management
Business management programs focus on the study of topics related to the management of businesses and organizations and also the development of entrepreneurial skills in a candidate. Here is the duration of regular courses as laid down by some of the top universities in business management.
Country | Bachelor’s Degree | Master’s Degree | Doctoral programs |
USA and Canada | 4 years | 1-2 years | 4-7 years |
UK | 3-4 years | 1-2 years | 4-6 years |
Australia | 3-4 years | 1-2 years | 4-7 years |
Others | 3-4 years | 1-2 years | 4-7 years |
Career opportunities in Business Management
A management degree is one of the most flexible and broadly applicable types of degrees out there. A degree in management can lead to employment opportunities in the corporate, government, education, manufacturing, and non-profit sectors. Knowing what occupations are available within business management might help prospective students decide if it is the correct educational path for them. Have a look at some of the popular career opportunities in business management:
- Business analyst
- Business consultant
- Client service manager
- Human resource officer
- Event manager
- Business development manager
- Data analyst
- Supply chain manager
- Financial manager
- General operations manager
- Marketing and sales manager
- IT manager
- Chief executive officer
- Advertising, promotions, and marketing manager
- principal/head of the department
Average salaries in Business Management
Even at the entry-level, management positions are known to pay well. A business degree is also extremely adaptable, allowing students to work in any industry that requires management and administration. Here is a list of average business manager salaries from around the world:
Country | Average salary in USD*/year |
Hong Kong | 76,502 (Source: Payscale) |
USA | 63,747 (Source: Payscale) |
Singapore | 62,175 (Source: Payscale) |
China | 57,880 (Source: Payscale) |
Canada | 50,080 (Source: Payscale) |
UK | 47,171 (Source: Payscale) |
*Note: All prices mentioned in the USD are for reference only. Exchange rates may vary from time to time and from country to country.
Top 50 Universities in the world for Business Management based on academic rankings (Shanghai/QS/THE):
The rankings for top universities in the world for business management is typically based on the internationally accepted, Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation and peer assessment surveys.
Shanghai Ranking | QS Ranking | THE Ranking | University | Country | Bachelor’s Programs | Master’s Programs |
1 | 12 | 14 | National University of Singapore | Singapore | Click Here | Click Here |
2 | 1 | 5 | Harvard University | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
3 | 6 | 11 | University of Pennsylvania | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
4 | 16 | 25 | Erasmus University Rotterdam | Netherlands | Click Here | Click Here |
5 | 52 | 29 | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | Hong Kong | Click Here | Click Here |
6 | 2 | NA | INSEAD | France | Click Here | Click Here |
7 | 112 | 49 | Arizona State University | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
8 | 27 | 16 | University of Michigan Ann Arbor | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
9 | 4 | 5 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
10 | 121 | 86 | University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
11 | 38 | 18 | University of Toronto | Canada | Click Here | Click Here |
12 | 72 | 119 | Pennsylvania State University – University Park | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
13 | 82 | 88 | University of Montreal | Canada | Click Here | Click Here |
14 | 17 | 26 | New York University | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
15 | 86 | 45 | Georgia Institute of Technology | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
16 | 24 | 78 | University of Warwick | UK | Click Here | Click Here |
17 | 83 | 193 | Texas A&M University | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
18 | 66 | 93 | Michigan State University | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
19 | 132 | 93 | University of Maryland, College Park | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
20 | 5 | 4 | Stanford University | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
21 | 8 | 5 | University of Cambridge | UK | Click Here | Click Here |
22 | 58 | 151 | City University of Hong Kong | Hong Kong | Click Here | Click Here |
23 | 7 | NA | Bocconi University | Italy | Click Here | Click Here |
24 | 139 | 29 | University of Washington | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
25 | 15 | 201-250 | Copenhagen Business School | Denmark | Click Here | Click Here |
26 | 121 | 105 | Purdue University – West Lafayette | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
27 | 14 | 24 | Northwestern University | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
28 | 22 | 66 | The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology | Hong Kong | Click Here | Click Here |
29 | 3 | Reporter | London Business School | UK | Click Here | Click Here |
30 | 201-250 | 351-400 | The University of Texas at Dallas | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
31 | 71 | 201-250 | Aalto University | Finland | Click Here | Click Here |
32 | 13 | 8 | University of California, Berkeley | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
33 | 34 | NA | Imperial College London | UK | Click Here | Click Here |
34 | 108 | 167 | Indiana University Bloomington | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
35 | 47 | 22 | Cornell University | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
36 | 38 | NA | Singapore Management University | Singapore | Click Here | Click Here |
37 | 79 | 28 | Carnegie Mellon University | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
38 | 61 | 351-400 | City, University of London | UK | Click Here | Click Here |
39 | 117 | 85 | The Ohio State University – Columbus | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
40 | 117 | 154 | University of Florida | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
41 | 114 | 48 | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
42 | 63 | 201-250 | Tilburg University | Netherlands | Click Here | Click Here |
43 | 151-200 | 351-400 | The University of Georgia | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
44 | 90 | 63 | University of Southern California | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
45 | 19 | 11 | Columbia University | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
46 | 87 | 42 | KU Leuven | Belgium | Click Here | Click Here |
47 | 36 | 84 | Shanghai Jiao Tong University | China | Click Here | Click Here |
48 | 20 | 46 | Nanyang Technological University | Singapore | Click Here | Click Here |
49 | 54 | 47 | The University of Texas at Austin | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
50 | 31 | 16 | Tsinghua University | China | Click Here | Click Here |
Top universities in the USA for Business Management
The undergraduate business management programs in the USA lasts four years, with fees ranging from 30,000 to 60,000 USD for international students. While graduate business management programs in the USA lasts one to two years, with fees ranging from 50,000 to 80,000 USD for international students. Most of the colleges in the USA offer scholarships to international students, so students prefer to study in the USA.
The average yearly salary for business managers in the USA is 63,747 USD. The table below offers a list of the top business schools in the USA, as ranked by ranking agencies, as well as the bachelor’s and master’s programs offered by them.
*Note: All prices mentioned in the USD are for reference only. Exchange rates may vary from time to time and from country to country.
Shanghai Ranking | QS Ranking | THE Ranking | University | Country | Bachelor’s Programs | Master’s Programs |
2 | 1 | 5 | Harvard University | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
3 | 6 | 11 | University of Pennsylvania | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
7 | 112 | 49 | Arizona State University | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
8 | 27 | 16 | University of Michigan Ann Arbor | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
9 | 4 | 5 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
Top universities in the UK for Business Management
As universities in the UK offer a number of scholarships and financing options for business management courses, the UK is a perfect place to study for international students. In the United Kingdom, bachelor’s degrees in business management last three to four years and cost roughly 26,137 USD. The UK’s master’s programs in business management last one to two years and cost around 52,274 USD.
The following is a list of the top business schools in the UK, as ranked by ranking agencies, along with the bachelor’s and master’s programs they offer.
*Note: All prices mentioned in the USD are for reference only. Exchange rates may vary from time to time and from country to country.
Shanghai Ranking | QS Ranking | THE Ranking | University | Country | Bachelor’s Programs | Master’s Programs |
16 | 24 | 78 | University of Warwick | UK | Click Here | Click Here |
21 | 8 | 5 | University of Cambridge | UK | Click Here | Click Here |
29 | 3 | Reporter | London Business School | UK | Click Here | Click Here |
33 | 34 | NA | Imperial College London | UK | Click Here | Click Here |
Top universities in Canada for Business Management
Undergraduate business management programs in Canada last three to four years, with fees starting at 16,000 USD for international students. While graduate business management programs such as MBA last one to two years, with fees ranging from 30,000 to 40,000 USD for international students. Given below is a list of top business schools in Canada, as ranked by ranking agencies, as well as the bachelor’s and master’s programs offered by them.
*Note: All prices mentioned in the USD are for reference only. Exchange rates may vary from time to time and from country to country.
Shanghai Ranking | QS Ranking | THE Ranking | University | Country | Bachelor’s Programs | Master’s Programs |
11 | 38 | 18 | University of Toronto | Canada | Click Here | Click Here |
13 | 82 | 88 | University of Montreal | Canada | Click Here | Click Here |
Top universities in Singapore for Business Management
Singapore is known as the global business hub as many multinational companies have chosen to set up their bases in Singapore. Hence, international students prefer studying in Singapore, especially for management courses. Here is a list of top business schools in Singapore, as ranked by ranking agencies, and the programs offered by them.
Shanghai Ranking | QS Ranking | THE Ranking | University | Country | Bachelor’s Programs | Master’s Programs |
1 | 12 | 14 | National University of Singapore | Singapore | Click Here | Click Here |
36 | 38 | NA | Singapore Management University | Singapore | Click Here | Click Here |
48 | 20 | 46 | Nanyang Technological University | Singapore | Click Here | Click Here |
Top universities in Hong Kong for Business Management
Here is a list of top business schools in Hong Kong, as ranked by ranking agencies, as well as the bachelor’s and master’s programs offered by them.
Shanghai Ranking | QS Ranking | THE Ranking | University | Country | Bachelor’s Programs | Master’s Programs |
5 | 52 | 29 | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | Hong Kong | Click Here | Click Here |
22 | 58 | 151 | City University of Hong Kong | Hong Kong | Click Here | Click Here |
28 | 22 | 66 | The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology | Hong Kong | Click Here | Click Here |
Academic requirements for studying Business Management
Admission to top universities for business management courses, particularly their MBA programs, is extremely competitive. Simply meeting the admissions standards isn’t enough to secure a spot at one of the top business schools. Students must have a solid profile that includes job experience as well as high scores in competitive examinations such as the SAT, ACT, GMAT, and others. General academic requirements from some of the best business schools in the world are listed below:
Bachelor’s level
- A high school diploma with a GPA of 3.0 or greater
- Academic transcripts
- SAT and/or ACT scores (varies from university to university)
- Personal statement
- Letter of recommendation
- Valid passport
- English proficiency test scores such as TOEFL (90 and above) or IELTS (6.0 and above)
Master’s level
- A bachelor’s degree in business management or relevant field with GPA 3.0 or greater
- Academic transcripts
- GMAT, MCAT and/or GRE scores (varies from university to university)
- Personal statement
- Letters of recommendation
- Valid passport
- Resume
- Work experience
- English proficiency test scores such as TOEFL (90 and above) or IELTS (6.0 and above)