At a Glance
Your Admissions Journey Starts Here
Whether you're preparing to apply or just starting your research, this page will guide you through every step of the MBA admissions process. Explore the full admissions journey, from application requirements and deadlines to tips on completing your application form and preparing for the GMAT or GRE.
Admissions Criteria
Ability to Contribute
Unique perspectives and experiences that enrich the class
Academic Capacity
Strong analytical skills and proven ability to succeed in an intense programme
International Motivation
Curiosity and openness to diverse cultures and perspectives
Leadership Potential
Evidence of initiative, responsibility, and the ability to inspire others
Application Deadlines
| Application deadline | Interview decision notification | Final decision notification | |
| Round 1 | 16 September 2025 | 17 October 2025 | 21 November 2025 |
| Round 2 | 04 November 2025 | 05 December 2025 | 16 January 2026 |
| Round 3 | 20 January 2026 | 20 February 2026 | 20 March 2026 |
| Round 4 | 10 March 2026 | 10 April 2026 | 08 May 2026 |
| Application deadline | Interview decision notification | Final decision notification | |
| Round 1 | 17 March 2026 | 17 April 2026 | 15 May 2026 |
| Round 2 | 21 April 2026 | 29 May 2026 | 26 June 2026 |
| Round 3 | 30 June 2026 | 31 July 2026 | 28 August 2026 |
| Round 4 | 04 August 2026 | 04 September 2026 | 09 October 2026 |
Preparing for the GMAT or GRE?
Get ready with our free practice tests, and unlock the official INSEAD GMAT/GRE guide e-book, video tips and a customisable study planner.
Application Process
Submit online application
Complete the online form, upload your supporting documents, and record your video interview in the Kira platform.
Pre-selection decision
An Admissions Officer will review your application and inform you of the pre-selection decision about one month after the application round closes.
Interviews with Alumni
If pre-selected, you will be invited to interview with two INSEAD alumni. These interviews typically take place in your country of residence.
Admissions Committee review
Following the feedback from your alumni interviewers, your application will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee.
Final decision
You will receive the final outcome of your application via email. The full process takes up to 10 weeks from the date of submission.
Application Requirements
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Online Application
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Once registered, you will gain access to your application dashboard, where you can update your login credentials and manage alert notifications.
You can download a PDF version of your application at any time by clicking the printer icon at the top of your screen.
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GMAT and GRE scores
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You may take the GMAT or GRE anytime up to your chosen application deadline.
Scores must be sent directly to INSEAD. They are valid for five years.
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Video Interview
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After submitting your online application, you will receive an email from Kira Talent with a unique link to complete a video and written assessment. You must complete this step within 48 hours of your application deadline.
You will be asked four video questions. For each, you will have 45 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to respond. The final question is written, with five minutes to submit your answer. The full assessment takes approximately 15–20 minutes.
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Job Description Questions
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These questions help us understand your career path and motivations for pursuing an MBA at INSEAD. They are a key part of your application and a chance to share your story, beyond your CV.
We encourage authentic and thoughtful responses that reflect on your experiences, career choices, and aspirations.
These are not academic essays or business reports. Your answers should reflect your own voice and perspective. You can write directly in the application form or copy/paste your answers into the designated text boxes:
- Provide a summary of your career since graduating from university, explaining the rationale behind your key decisions and career progression. Include a description of your current (or most recent) role, covering the scope of your work, major responsibilities, employees under your supervision, budget size, clients/products, and any notable results achieved. (500 words)
- Describe your short and long-term career aspirations, including your target geography, industry, and function. How do you plan to bridge the gap between your current position and these goals, and how will INSEAD help you achieve them? (300 words)
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Motivation Essays
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The motivation essays are a critical part of our evaluation process. We encourage you to invest time in crafting thoughtful, well-structured responses to the following prompts:
- Give a candid description of yourself as a person and a leader, emphasising the strengths and weaknesses you recognise in yourself. Explain how you are actively working on your development, sharing key experiences that have shaped you, providing specific examples where relevant. (500 words)
- Describe a highly stressful situation you faced and how you managed it. What did this experience teach you about yourself and your interactions with others? (400 words)
- Is there anything else that was not covered in your application that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee? (300 words)
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Language Declaration
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Fluency in English is required to study at INSEAD. If you are not a native speaker, you will need to submit a valid TOEFFL, IELTS or PTE Academic score. Alternatively, we also accept a University degree taught in English or an academic exchange year during which the curriculum was fully taught in English.
Please refer to the MBA Language Policy for more information and for our second language requirement.
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Letters of Recommendation
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Two recommendations are required and must be submitted by your application deadline.
We strongly recommend choosing individuals who have evaluated your performance in a professional context, such as a current or former manager, client, or colleague. Academic references are accepted but may be less effective in demonstrating your leadership and management potential.
You may also submit an optional third recommendation in the supporting documents section if it adds value to your application.
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CV
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Your CV may be submitted in free format or using the INSEAD official CV Book template.
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Official Transcript
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Please attach scanned copies of your transcripts and diploma. If admitted, you will need to provide official documents.
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Supporting Documents
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You may upload any additional documents you believe strengthen your application, such as awards or scholarships, a third letter of recommendation, etc.
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Campus Choice
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You will be asked to indicate your preferred home campus: France or Singapore.
If you select “Both campuses”, this indicates no preference and you may be allocated to either campus. Please note that once assigned, campus changes are rarely possible.
If your preferred campus is full, you will be offered a place on the alternative campus.
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Application Fee
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A non-refundable application fee of €250 is required. Payment must be made online via credit card.
Your application will only be reviewed once the fee is received.
Admission Policies
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Deferrals
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In general we do not grant deferrals. You should apply for the intake in which you intend to enroll.
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Feedback
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Due to the large number of applications we receive for each intake and the confidentiality of the deliberations of the Admissions Committee, we are unable to provide individual detailed feedback on rejected applications.
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Reapplications
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Unsuccessful applicants may reapply for a later intake.
We encourage you to assess whether your profile has significantly changed since your previous application. All re-applicants must submit a new online application, unless instructed otherwise.
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Background Check
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INSEAD is committed to upholding integrity and fairness throughout the admissions process.
The Admissions Department reserves the right to conduct background checks on any application where there is reason to believe that the information provided may be false, misleading, or associated with any legal infraction. Applicants are expected to demonstrate honesty and transparency at every stage of the process.
Attend an Event
Master Programmes
MBA Coffee Chats l London
Master Programmes
Open Day with Faculty Masterclass | Asia Campus
You are warmly invited to experience the learning environment at INSEAD! Take this opportunity to join a masterclass by a renowned INSEAD faculty member and to learn more about the INSEAD Programmes. Our team and students will be there to share advice and their personal journey through a panel discussion followed by a networking reception.
Date: 3 March 2026, Tuesday
Time: 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Venue: INSEAD Asia Campus, 1 Ayer Rajah Avenue, 138676
Masterclass Topic by Professor Pushan Dutt: A Brave New World: Trade Wars, Macroeconomics & Geopolitics in the Age of Trump
Synopsis: This session examines how renewed protectionism, geopolitical fragmentation, and the global AI race are reshaping the world economy. Drawing on current macroeconomic data and historical parallels, Professor Pushan Dutt explores the implications of trade wars, weakened multilateralism, and rising strategic competition—particularly between the US, China, and Europe. The session highlights why uncertainty is now a permanent feature of the global system, how firms and countries must shift from efficiency to resilience, and why innovation, talent, and scale have become decisive competitive advantages. The discussion concludes with strategic insights on navigating tariffs, geopolitical risk, and technological disruption in an era where long-term plans give way to adaptive, dynamic strategy.
Agenda
6:30 pm – 7:00 pm: Optional Campus Tours
7:00 pm – 8:15 pm: Masterclass by Professor Pushan Dutt , Professor of Economics & Political Science
8:15 pm – 8:30 pm: Sharing by Career Development Centre by Larry Medina
8:30 pm – 9:30 pm: Breakouts by Programmes
9:30 pm – 10:00 pm: Networking reception + End of Event
Breakout rooms:
MBA | Amphi 102 Level 1
MIM | Flatroom 1015 Level 1
EMBA | Amphi 103 Level 1
EMFin | Flatroom 1017A Level 1
Joining us at this event
EMBA Alumni:
Darmawan Shi | TIEMBA‘23 | Co-Founder, Revenue Scaler
Olivier Menos | GEMBA‘18
Shigeto Miyamoto | GEMBA’24 | VP of Digital Solutions, APAC, Syneos Health
MBA Alumni:
Rhea Mann | MBA'22D | Associate Director, Global Marketing, Klook
MIM Alumni:
Vibhu Walia | MIM’23 | Senior Associate, SGX Group
Nino Gkotsis | MIM'23 | Research Analyst, Womar Logistics Pte Ltd
EMFin Alumni & Admits:
Justin Yang | EMFin'23 | Director, Global Corporate Banking, OCBC
Benjamin Lazarus | EMFin'25 | Head of Private Capital, APAC, NatWest Markets
Euganthra Baskaran | EMFin'27 | Programme Director, Risk & CFCC, Standard Chartered
You may view our Recruitment team here. You may also speak to our respective recruitment team member if you are keen in the Executive Master in Change (EMC) programme as well.
Master Programmes
Faculty Masterclass with Prof. Lite Nartey | Dubai
Join us in Dubai this month for an exclusive INSEAD Masterclass led by renowned faculty member Dr. Lite Nartey, Affiliate Professor of Strategy and Academic Director of the INSEAD Africa Initiative, where you'll gain fresh insights into leadership and business strategy.
You will also have the opportunity to have all of your questions answered and to interact with like-minded individuals.
*In celebration of the Holy Month, we will end the evening with a Networking Iftar in the Astor Ballroom I. Seats are limited, and RSVP is required.
Agenda:
4:30 pm – 5:00 pm | Welcoming & Registration
5:00 pm – 5:10 pm | Welcoming and Quick Intro (Mustafa Dada)
5:10 pm – 5:20 pm | Introduction to INSEAD Programmes (Segen or Ahmed)
5:20 pm – 6:30 pm | Faculty Masterclass (Lite Nartey)
6:30 pm – 6:45 pm | Prayer
6:45 pm – 8:00 pm | Networking Iftar
Venue: Astor Ballroom I | The St Regis Dubai, The Palm
Testimonials
Neha Singh Jadoun
A big lesson I have learned at INSEAD is that it's a humbling environment where you will always encounter more knowledgeable and exposed people than you.
Julian Zachmann
Before my MBA I was a scientist and didn't know any career options outside of science. The MBA really broadened my horizons.
Andrea Van Scheltinga
I was impressed by the entrepreneurial focus, which also reflects itself in the career paths of the school’s alumni
Stay Inspired
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Many of you already know that soon after sending in your application for the MBA programme at INSEAD, you will receive a link to submit answers to four questions via a video interview.
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Is an MBA only for people with business backgrounds? What if your previous work experience doesn’t seem to fit into any of the more traditional pre-MBA profiles such as consulting, finance and corporate? We share insights as well as admissions advice for applicants with “non-traditional” backgrounds.
