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Executive MBA information meeting 15.1.2019 - Henley Business School Finland,

How to choose the best school for an Executive MBA?

Thinking about doing an Executive MBA to raise your level of knowledge, advance your career or develop yourself as an individual? Here are a few things to consider when selecting a programme that is right for you. 

Degree vs qualification 

Did you know that Henley Business School is the only education provider in Finland that offers an Executive MBA which qualifies for university-level master’s degree status? This is because the Henley Executive MBA is part of the official degree system in the United Kingdom, where it is considered as a higher academic degree, like other degrees that are completed in a university. This makes the Henley Executive MBA unique in Finland!

According to the Finnish education system, MBA programmes provided by Finnish institutions are considered qualification programmes, or adult education, but not master’s degrees.

Accreditation and rankings 

For potential employers, the school you’ve graduated from really does matter. Due to the increasing competition, it’s not enough anymore to graduate with good grades from any school. Your diploma needs to come from an accredited, high-ranking university.

If you want high-quality education, look for schools with triple accreditation. To date, there are only 88 business schools in the world that hold all three accreditations from the most sought-after international organisations: AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS. Henley is one of them. Actually, Henley was the first one based in Finland to receive the coveted “triple crown”.

On top of accreditation, you need to look at the school’s ranking. Of all the schools in the Nordics, Henley’s Executive MBA ranking is the highest. Our Executive MBA programme can be found on the world’s most prestigious ranking lists, such as the Financial Times and Economist.

The Financial Times 2017 ranking placed Henley 52nd globally, followed by: 

  • Stockholm School of Economics, Sweden, No. 65
  • Aalto University, Finland, No. 78
  • NHH Norwegian School of Economics, Norway, No. 88
  • BI Norwegian Business School, Norway, No. 99

We are ranked No. 14 in Europe for career progress and No. 13 for percentage increase in salary. 

In this year’s Economist ranking, Henley’s Executive MBA programme is ranked 27th in the world, and in fact, it is the only school in Finland to be on the list.

Both of these factors – accreditation and ranking − make Henley a truly prestigious education provider recognised as one of the top schools in the world and the premier Executive MBA programme in Finland.

Local vs international

Are you looking for an Executive MBA programme with a local or an international orientation? Do you want to study at a university which is locally or internationally recognised? At Finnish universities, it is typical to find mostly Finnish professors and students, and only a few foreigners. Henley, however, has a strong international focus.

Each programme member at Henley in Finland will have selected modules in the UK and Germany, where you will study together with students from other Henley locations around the world. The programme also includes the possibility for an International Study Visit, where programme members from all over the world are immersed in a local culture, bringing their diverse skills to consult businesses and learn from one another. 

Additionally, the programme gives you the opportunity to attend ongoing workshops at any of the Henley locations in the world. This offers unique networking opportunities.

Henley offers its programme members a diverse, world-class faculty. Many of the professors are from the UK, but the others come from all over the world. Our academics are internationally renowned and widely published experts in their fields, with plenty of practical work experience. 

So, when you’re considering an Executive MBA programme, make sure you’re clear on the facts.

Jennika Rantanen - Henley Business School Finland

Jennika Rantanen

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