Discover higher education possibilities in Spain: studying at a business school in the Iberian Peninsula
You wish to start business studies ? If so, have you thought about studying in Spain? Spain is a natural choice for many students as it has some of the best business schools in Europe. The two universities featured in this article rank highly in global education league tables, and teaching is delivered in English.
Study business at IE Madrid Business School
L’IE Business School appears in the prestigious international rankings from the Financial Times, The Economist and the Wall Street Journal, to name but a few, as’one of the best business schools in Europe.
You have the choice between two sites for the first two years of study – one is the IE university campus in the city of Segovia, which is located in the Santa Cruz la Real convent, a historic building declared a national heritage site in 1931. It hosts students from more than 80 countries and is both academic and lively.
The second is the IE Tower, a technology-focused urban campus located in city centre of Madrid. With its proximity to many leading international companies and state-of-the-art facilities, the tower is a training ground for innovation and entrepreneurship, featuring more than 64 classrooms, as well as auditoriums and sports facilities.
Years 3 and 4 are based on the Madrid campus.
Bachelor degree courses
IE's Bachelor programmes are aimed at ambitious students who want to succeed professionally.
You have the choice between 14 bachelor's degrees and 8 double degrees. The most popular degree at this business school is the Bachelor of Business Administration, but there are many other choices such as Applied Mathematics, Economics, International Relations and PPLE (Philosophy, Politics, Law and Economics).
But work at the IE isn't everything! There are numerous other activities and clubs that you can join with other people sharing the same ideas and passions...
From arts clubs, which include painting, drawing, music, dance and photography, to geography, sports and social clubs, which offer the opportunity to network and share personal interests.
IE considers that its clubs are essential to the international business school experience it offers.
IE University, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How do I apply to IE Madrid Business School?
Admission requirements
Applications are received from all over the world. On average, students speak three languages each and come from more than 60 different educational systems.
All candidates are assessed individually. The university's review process identifies and recognises creativity and a wide range of skills, which does not always correspond to traditional assessments, which tend to be based solely on academic results.
All students must comply with the requirements established by the Ministry of Education and, in general, they must meet the university entrance requirements of their country of residence in order to studying in Spain, for example, A Levels, the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma or the French Baccalaureate. You will find a full list of requirements and required grades on the IE Madrid Business School website.
Procedure and application
To begin the application procedure, you must fill out a online application. This gives you the opportunity to highlight your past experience and future aspirations.
The application is subject to a non-refundable admission fee.
Then, you must attach the following documents to your application :
Proof of your school reports from the previous two years, as well as the grades you have obtained this year.
If you are studying in the following educational systems, you must also submit them:
- International Baccalaureate (IB): IB predicted grades (if available)
- French Baccalauréat: Early Examination Grades
- A-Levels: GCSE certificates and your predicted A-Level results.
- A letter of recommendation from your teacher or tutor.
- A CV, including your educational background, work experience and extracurricular activities.
- A copy of your passport
- A passport photo
- Any additional document that you feel will give a better idea of you, your achievements and your interests. This could be proof of an award or a diploma, or a portfolio of your work.
- Finally, “Express yourself”. This is a topic that you will find on the application form. This section includes 3 questions to choose from. You must choose one question and answer it with a video, an essay or a PowerPoint presentation.
Application to IE Madrid: The KIRA assessment
You will need to reply to three questions within a set time limit. One of the answers must be written and two spoken. Your answers are recorded via a video.
The test should only take 20 to 30 minutes. The system allows an unlimited number of practice sessions before answering each of the three official questions, but you only have one opportunity to record your official answers. The questions will be related to EI values or training values.
The aim is to allow the admissions team to get an idea of your personality and potential before deciding whether you should move on to the interview stage. They will also assess your level of English.
Admissions officers will then review your application and decide whether you can proceed to the final two stages of the application process: the admissions test and the interview.
Find out more about the Test Kira.
The entrance test
The admissions test is online and takes place in English. It assesses verbal, logical and numerical skills. It focuses on your reasoning ability, rather than on knowledge of factual information, so you do not need to study to pass the test. It also assesses your level of English.
The interview
Securing a personal interview is a source of pride. This stage allows the university to get to know you better and to evaluate certain qualities more precisely, such as your personality, your critical thinking, your method of expression and your other communication skills.
Once the interview is over, your application along with all test results and interview observations are sent to the admissions committee for review.
You will be notified in writing if your application is successful.
Tuition fees
If you need help and further information on the business school application process in Spain, contact Expat Student to get help from our experts and a remote consultation.
Studying business, law or international relations at Esade in Barcelona
At the’Esade, you will find Bachelor's degrees and double degrees to continue your business studies, in law or in international relations. You will experience a unique educational experience in Barcelona ; you will learn languages and learn to think differently and creatively. You will travel abroad, do internships and help others through solidarity projects.
Esade was founded in collaboration with the Society of Jesus in 1958 with a commitment to generating positive and major change in business, entrepreneurship and people. Esade is a member of the network UNIJES of Jesuit universities and is part of the’Ramon Llull University since 1995.
Find out more by visiting the website of the’Esade.
Leader in the world's most prestigious rankings
Esade's international educational experience is centred on the development of the individual. This commitment to excellence allowed the school to position itself as a leading business and law school, which is reflected in the numerous rankings it has received from prestigious publications. Here are a few examples:
- Esade is in the top 4 business schools for executive education around the world – Financial Times
- Classified in the top 3 for new skills and learning (new ways of thinking) – Financial Times
- Number 1 for innovative education (Ibero-America) – El Economista
- Number 1 for private business administration degrees (Spain) – El Mundo
- Number 4 for the best executive education – Financial Times
- Number one for marketing specialisation (excluding United States) – QS
Undergraduate programmes at Esade
Esade offers a range of undergraduate programmes across two of its distinct academic units: the Business School and the Law School
Studying in Barcelona: undergraduate programmes at Esade
Tuition fees
- Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) – €19,300
- Bachelor of Laws – €19,300
- Bachelor in Global Governance, Economics and Legal Order – €20,300
- Bachelor in Transformational Leadership and Social Impact – €22,200
- Double Degree in Business Administration and Law – £22,200
- Double Degree in Law and Global Governance, Economics and Legal Order – €22,200
- Bachelor of Business Administration & Bachelor in Artificial Intelligence in Business – €22,200
Jordiferrer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Application to Esade
Like any other Spanish university or business school, Esade has a specific recruitment process. If you think that you’support from a careers adviser will benefit you, you can be assisted at every stage of your application.
Admission requirements
There are academic and linguistic requirements to be completed. To apply, you must be in your final year of secondary school before university.
Academic conditions
These conditions vary depending on the country you are applying for. You will find the complete list on the Esade website. However, generally you must possess a high school diploma such as the IB, 3 A levels or the French baccalaureate.
The admissions procedure
The admission procedure for the Bachelor programmes is as follows:
- Whether you want to go to business school or another course, fill out the fonline application form for the qualification you wish to pursue.
- You must pay 135 € of administration fee before closing and submitting your application, as these fees are non-refundable.
- You must to answer a number of questions on your academic background and your motivation to join Esade.
Documents to download
- A passport-sized photo.
- The final transcript of all your grades for the last 3 years of secondary education.
- Final year of secondary education: first term grades.
- Official English language proficiency accreditation (TOEFL, Cambridge, IELTS, Michigan etc.) if available.
Once you have filled in the online application, it is time to take the entrance test for your degree.
The admission tests are designed to measure your language skills, your logic and your mathematical skills Basically. They primarily assess your reasoning capacity more than your memory.
Depending on the training course you decide to apply for, you may be asked to answer a challenge via a video. For the BBA, the assessment includes a mathematics test.
Once the assessment is complete, your application, test results and supporting documents will be reviewed by the cESADE admissions committee and, for certain subjects, you may be invited to an interview.
The final decision will depend on the’individual and overall assessment of each candidate in relation to that of all candidates and according to the number of available places.
Tuition fees
Esade's tuition fees vary depending on the programme studied:
- Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) – €19,300
- Bachelor of Laws – €19,300
- Bachelor in Global Governance, Economics and Legal Order – €20,300
- Bachelor in Transformational Leadership and Social Impact – €22,200
- Double Degree in Business Administration and Law – £22,200
- Double Degree in Law and Global Governance, Economics and Legal Order – €22,200
- Bachelor of Business Administration & Bachelor in Artificial Intelligence in Business – €22,200
Esade offers generous scholarships and need-based bursaries for undergraduate degrees. You will find information about this on their website.
Interested in studying in Spain? Check out our article on Veterinary studies in Spain: testimony on medical studies in Valencia.
Expat Student can help you with your applications to attend a business school in Spain!
If you want to do a bachelor's or master's degree in business in Madrid or Barcelona, Expat Student can help you apply for degree courses at IE Madrid and Esade.
Expat Student helps students apply for the course that best matches their interests and abilities, helping them to write their personal statement and prepare their CV, by offering them individual and personalised support.
We can also help you apply to prestigious universities in the UK, Europe and Canada for courses as diverse as international business, engineering, British literature, history, international relations and political science, international law, medicine and veterinary studies.
If you wish to study in Spain, you may be interested in information about medicine studies in Spain.
Ready to start your business studies in Spain?
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