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Be part of an exciting, dynamic and diverse student body
The MBA programme is your stepping stone to a fulfilling future as a leader in a competitive, global business world. We believe that our multi-cultural environment, comprising of students representing over 90 nationalities and an international faculty of world-class business experts, is ideal for your professional and personal development.
The MBA Admissions team are looking for people with intellectual curiosity, personal qualities to contribute to the many INSEAD activities and a desire to stretch themselves in a rigorous academic programme. We welcome applications from around the world regardless of race, religion, gender, colour or financial status. Our aim is to build an exciting, dynamic and diverse student body.
Join the Top One Year MBA Programme
INSEAD has four equally important application criteria that guide us in our selection of an exciting, dynamic and diverse student body. Gain insights into these criteria and how you can strengthen your MBA eligibility from Virginie Fougea, Director, MBA Recruitment and Admissions.
Application Process
Important notes
Please check our Admissions Deadlines.
If you choose to delay submission of your application until the following round of the same intake, your application form details will be saved automatically. Note that access to your form will be temporarily disabled at 23:59pm (French Time) on the day of the deadline, as the system will shut down for about 4 days. Access to your form will resume once the temporary shutdown period ends, so you can continue editing it.
Please bear in mind that if you miss all 4 rounds of a particular intake, the majority of the application content is transferred if/when you open a new application form.
To be included in a specific round, complete applications must be submitted by 23:59pm Central European Time (CET / French Time) on the day of the deadline.
Applications will not be evaluated until all supporting documents and the online portions of the application are received.
Applications for both campuses are processed in Fontainebleau and all correspondence should be with your designated Admissions Officer in Fontainebleau. For any queries after submitting your application, please write to [email protected], until you receive the name of your designated Admissions Officer via e-mail.
Campus choice is not taken into account when evaluating whether to accept or decline candidates. We will strive to accommodate your campus choice, but if your preferred campus is full, you will be offered the choice of either a place on the other campus or a place on the waitlist for your preferred campus.
Due to the confidentiality of the Admissions Committee deliberations, we regret that feedback on rejected applications will not be provided.
We do not encourage applications from previously rejected candidates unless there has been a substantial change in the profile of the applicant.
Please rest assured, each application is carefully evaluated regardless of the volume of applications received.
Application Requirements
Prerequisites for admission into the INSEAD MBA programme include submitting an online application form and the required supporting documentation listed below.
Online Application | Supporting Documentation | Official Transcript |
The whole application process is done via our online application system. You are able to work on different sections of the application separately. Please make sure to save all your data before logging off so you can return to work on it at a later stage. | The following supporting documents must be included in your application and received before or on the day of the application deadline. Your application will not be evaluated until all of the below items have been received in addition to the online elements. Please attach your supporting documents via the online application system. | Your transcripts should indicate both diploma and grades achieved from each college or university that you have attended. We accept transcripts in English or French. All others must be accompanied by a certified English translation. Each transcript must bear the official seal and signature of the institution. |
View online application list > | View supporting documentation list > | View official transcript details > |
Most common questions
How many questions are in the video interviews?
You must record your answers to 4 questions. Questions always vary from one applicant to another. You have 45 seconds to prepare each answer and 60 seconds to record your answer.
How many times can I try the practice questions?
You can practise an unlimited number of times. The practice session has several questions available and you can do as many practice sessions as you need to feel comfortable with the video interviewing. You do not need to complete everything in one go. You can create an account and come back later.
Are the practice questions recorded?
No, the practice questions are available for you to prepare, learn and improve. You can replay them and see how you performed and/or check if the sound and image are satisfactory.
What technology is needed?
You will need an internet connection, a desktop or laptop, a camera and a microphone. You can test your devices before starting the exercise. For optimal user experience, we recommend that you use Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Safari or Chrome to record your Kira videos (Internet Explorer is not supported). Please note that mobile devices, smartphones and tablets are not supported in Kira at this time.
What is the address for the technical support?
If you experience technological issues with the video (practice questions, device set up, etc.), please check the following technical support webpage https://www.kiratalent.com/support/. You can either e-mail, phone or chat with the Kira technicians.
When will I receive the link to the video?
The unique link to the video interview is available within an hour of submitting your application. An e-mail message containing the link is sent to you by Kira Academic. The link is also available on the dashboard of the online application system.
When should I submit the video interview?
Please complete your video interviews at your earliest convenience and no later than 48 hours after the deadline to which you are applying. We strongly recommend however that you complete this step before the final date to allow yourself some time to prepare for this exercise.
Dates & Deadlines
While we operate a staged admissions process, with four deadlines for each of the two intakes per year, within each round, applications will be reviewed on a rolling admissions process. This means that the Interview and Final Decision deadlines you see below are the latest dates by which you would receive your decision, but it could be earlier. Rest assured that releasing decisions earlier than the published deadlines does not affect our thorough application evaluation. Please note that while competition for each of the rounds is equal, the earlier you gain admission, the more time you have to secure financing and arrange logistics. The new online application form opens approximately two months before each Round 1 application deadline.
Deadline for complete application | Interview decision notification | Final decision notification | |
ROUND 1 | 11 September 2020 | 16 October 2020 | 20 November 2020 |
ROUND 2 | 06 November 2020 | 11 December 2020 | 22 January 2021 |
ROUND 3 | 08 January 2021 | 12 February 2021 | 19 March 2021 |
ROUND 4 | 26 February 2021 | 02 April 2021 | 07 May 2021 |
Deadline for complete application | Interview decision notification | Final decision notification | |
ROUND 1 | 05 March 2021 | 09 April 2021 | 14 May 2021 |
ROUND 2 | 23 April 2021 | 28 May 2021 | 02 July 2021 |
ROUND 3 | 18 June 2021 | 23 July 2021 | 03 September 2021 |
ROUND 4 | 30 July 2021 | 27 August 2021 | 24 September 2021 |
Important notes
Please note the following:
- We have added a fourth round of admissions to allow us to better manage the influx of incoming applications and to provide additional flexibility to our applicants.
- If you choose to delay submission of your application until the following round of the same intake, your application form details will be saved automatically. Note that access to your form will be temporarily disabled at 23:59pm (Central European Time) on the day of the deadline, as the system will shut down for about four days. Access to your form will resume once the temporary shut down period ends, so you can continue editing it.
- Please bear in mind that if you miss all four rounds of a particular intake, your application form and its entire contents will expire. At this point, you will be required to complete a new application from scratch, for the next intake.
- To be included in a specific round, applications must be complete and submitted by 23:59pm French time on the day of the deadline.
- To enjoy an optimum application experience and to avoid the peak period, we strongly encourage you to apply a couple of weeks prior to the application deadline if possible.
- Competition for each round is equal regardless of the intake or round you apply for. We review the pool of applications submitted within each round independently, keeping the “offer ratio” (percentage of candidates accepted vs. applications received) fairly constant across all rounds. By “Class” we are referring to the entire population of students beginning the INSEAD MBA programme at the same time (regardless of campus location).
Admissions Policies
Language Requirements
If English is your native language: If English is your native language, you have to demonstrate at least a practical knowledge of a second language as soon as possible by passing one of our accepted language tests for your chosen second language.
If you are a non-native English speaker: If you are a non-native English speaker, your native language will fulfil the second language requirement (no test required). However, you will need to submit proof of your English proficiency.
In addition to English and your second or native language, all students will need to demonstrate at least basic knowledge of a third language in order to graduate. If you already possess basic knowledge of a third language, we recommend you certify this language as soon as possible or during Launch Week on campus. If you need to learn a third language, you can do so during the programme and pass the language test before graduation. Language instruction is available on both campuses.
Test Score Validity
- GMAT and GRE scores are valid for 5 years prior to application deadline.
- English language certifications are valid for 2 years prior to application deadline.
Deferrals
In general we do not grant deferrals. You should apply for the intake in which you intend to enroll.
Application Submission
If you choose to delay submission of your application until the following round of the same intake, your application form details will be saved automatically. Note that access to your form will be temporarily disabled at 23:59pm (French Time) on the day of the deadline, as the system will shutdown for about four days. Access to your form will resume once the temporary shut down period ends, so you can continue editing it.
Please bear in mind that if you miss all four rounds of a particular intake, your application form and its entire contents will expire. At this point, you will be required to complete a new application from scratch, for the next intake.
To be included in a specific round, applications must be completed and submitted by 23:59pm French Time on the day of the deadline. A complete application includes the online application to which supporting documents have been attached. Please refer to the Application Requirements for more details.
In order to avoid any last minute difficulties, we strongly advise applicants to submit their completed application one to two weeks before the application deadline. Do note that your recommenders can send in their letters of recommendation by the stated deadline or before you submit your application.
Due to European Data Protection laws and our own confidentiality policy, we are unable to give any information about applications over the phone. Furthermore, if you contact INSEAD, it will not be possible to confirm receipt of your application given the volume of applications received. An email notification will be sent to you within one week of submitting your application which will inform you as to whether your file is now complete.
You can either attach your supporting documents to your application or send them by post in advance of the set deadline. This is because your application will only be evaluated once it is complete. If your application is completed after the deadline, it will be reviewed for the next round or for the following intake (for last round applicants).
Feedback
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.
Campus Choice
When completing the online application form, you will be asked to select your home campus preference; if you choose the value “Both campuses”, this choice means that you are totally indifferent about starting your INSEAD MBA on either of our campuses. Please note that home campus choice does not influence final admissions decisions, as it is not taken into account when your file is presented to the Admissions Committee. Therefore, you do not have a higher chance of being accepted by selecting "both campuses" in your application form. However, once we have allocated you a campus upon admission, it is very difficult to change. INSEAD will endeavour to accommodate your choice of home campus but if you have the slightest preference for one campus or the other, you should select that choice before submitting your application form. Whilst we will strive to accommodate your campus choice, if your preferred campus is full, you will be offered the choice of either a place on the alternative campus or a place on the wait list for your preferred campus.
Reapplications
Unsuccessful applicants may reapply for a later intake. Please exercise your own judgement in deciding if you have any significant changes in your new profile since your first application that will make a difference with the Admissions Committee. All re-applicants are requested to submit a new online application, unless otherwise indicated.
Discover the MBA Programme
Download our brochure for more information on our MBA.
- Benefits of the INSEAD MBA
- Admissions Criteria and Class Profile
- MBA Curriculum
- Personal Leadership Development Programme
- Career Development
- Application Dates & Fees
FAQs
How many years working experience do I need to be admitted?
INSEAD does not have an absolute requirement for years of work experience, although at least two years is strongly encouraged. Participants in our current class have an average of 5.5 years work experience, with the range being between two and ten. However, applicants with less experience who demonstrate exceptional maturity and outstanding leadership through their professional and personal experiences will also be considered.
What is the typical student's profile at INSEAD?
There is no typical profile at INSEAD. We have an extremely diverse student body in terms of age, professional experience, education and culture. Check the latest class profile.
Will my campus preference influence my chances of admission?
Your campus selection has no impact on the admissions decision. In fact, the Admissions Committee, which makes all final admission decisions, does not have access to information about candidates' campus preferences.
Is there an age limit for entry?
There is no age limit for entry. However, the MBA is aimed at those who are at an early stage in their career. INSEAD participants in the current class have a range of between two and ten years of post-graduate work experience. If you have more than ten years of work experience, we encourage you to consider one of INSEAD's Executive MBA Programmes, where you will have the opportunity to learn with a more experienced and mature peer group.