Exams for MBA Abroad

We all aspire to study abroad and when it comes to business management, studying in one of the top business schools in the world opens the door to endless possibilities. An MBA is a professional degree in Business Administration that requires comprehensive knowledge of a wide range of management specialisations. The multicultural environment, dynamic curriculum and an array of job opportunities outside, prompted thousands of students to pursue an MBA from abroad. In this blog, we’ll be going back to the basics this time to answer the most commonly asked query related to international MBA admissions. “What are the exams for MBA abroad?” As foreign MBA requirements are quite different from India, let’s take a look at those in detail.

Entrance Exams for MBA Abroad

Once you have met the primary eligibility criteria, the next milestone in the admission process is to prove your language efficiency and also clear certain aptitude tests. This is mandatory for international students as it ensures that the right candidates have been chosen for specialised degree programs. Let’s take a look at some of the major exams for MBA abroad:

English Language Proficiency Tests

In order to receive education in any of the English speaking countries, you need to qualify the English-language proficiency test. The test is aimed at checking your ability to communicate and comprehend the course taught at the university. Some of the common exams included in this are IELTS, PTE and TOEFL.

TOEFL

Oldest amongst the lot, TOEFL is accepted at more than 10,000 universities, colleges and organizations in almost 150 countries. Test of English as a Foreign Language is a standardized test to measure your English-language proficiency by evaluating your skills in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. The score is then calculated on a scale of 0-120, with each section carrying 30 points. The score required to study abroad is between 90-100.

Also Read: Know the TOEFL Syllabus inside out

IELTS

The International English Language Testing System or IELTS has two types, one for academic purposes and the other for general training for immigration and work purposes. is also accepted at a majority of universities worldwide. Like TOEFL, IELTS is accepted worldwide which evaluates your skills on the similar four parameters. The score is calculated on the band of 0-9 with 7 being the perfect score to help you grab admission in one of the top B-schools abroad. There are certain universities in Canada that accept students with IELTS 5.5 and 6 score. 

PTE

Being relatively new, the Pearson Language Tests or PTE is accepted at some universities like Yale University and Harvard University. The test is dedicated to assessing and validating your English language skills through a score on a range of 10-90 points. With 79 points, you can expect to get a seat in one of the good universities.

Aptitude Tests

All the top B-schools are in a race to enrol talented candidates worldwide. In order to ensure that they are giving admission to deserving and skilled candidates, universities require the score of the aptitude tests taken by the candidates as one of the major eligibility criteria. GMAT and GRE are among the most popular aptitude exams for MBA abroad.

GMAT

Graduate Management Admission Test or GMAT is a computer-based exam conducted to evaluate candidate’s aptitude on various parameters. Being the most popular among major exams for MBA abroad, 9 out of 10 enrolments for the MBA program are made on the basis of the GMAT score validity. The 3-hour long exam comprises of 4 sections: Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning. There are around 650 GMAT test centres in 114 countries where the exam is conducted.

GRE

Graduate Record Examinations or GRE is another exam that was earlier a prerequisite for MS programs abroad. But now, a large number of universities have started accepting GRE as an aptitude test for the admissions in MBA courses. Conducted by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), it lasts for a duration of 4 hours and consists of 5 sections to test your aptitude and reasoning abilities – Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Unidentified Unscored Section and Identified Research Section.

Application Process & Eligibility Requirements for MBA Abroad

To study an MBA from abroad, you are required to meet certain criteria set by the universities and colleges. While these prerequisites may differ as per the program as well as the university, we have listed down the basic eligibility criteria for an MBA abroad that one must know before going ahead with their application.

Academic Requirements

The basic academic requirement for an MBA abroad is that you must have completed a bachelor’s degree in any field or related discipline to the specialisation you are applying for. Generally, one can opt for an MBA after courses like Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Engineering (BE), Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech), Bachelor of Science (B.Sc), amongst others. Further, you can also study an MBA after MS to gain a professional exposure into a particular field of interest.

Work Experience

Many international business schools and universities required MBA aspirants to have gained professional experience in the field they want to study. The admission committee of a business school abroad not only evaluate your academic track record but also consider other factors like professional accomplishments, recommendations and leadership qualities at work amongst others. However, there are many options to pursue an MBA without work experience for those who are freshers in their field.

Language Proficiency Exams & Management Aptitude Tests

Language proficiency tests plays an imperative role in any study abroad application. If you are aiming for an English-speaking country, English proficiency test scores such as IELTS, TOEFL or PTE, etc. are required for those who are from a country where English is not the official language. On the other hand, there are entrance exams for an MBA abroad especially GMAT and GRE which one needs to appear for. These exams have been elaborated in detail in the next section.

Resume, Admission Essays & Recommendations

Along with the transcripts and work experience, you will also need to submit a resume, MBA essays and recommendations while sending an application for an MBA abroad. In an MBA essay, you will have to provide your reasons for applying for the program, strengths and weaknesses as well as career goals to give a brief overview of why you have chosen a certain course and university. Moreover, LORs can also augment your MBA application, an SOP is an integral admission essential as well as a resume which exhibits your academic and professional achievements.

Interview

The concluding step for your application to study an MBA abroad is a personal interview through which the admissions committee analyses your application and ask the necessary questions to assess your aim to pursue your chosen program.

Quick Read: MBA Interview Questions & Answers

Essential Documents for MBA Abroad

While applying for MBA abroad, there are certain essential components that students must be prepared with. Abroad MBA applications require the following –

1. Correctly filled application forms
2. CV
3. Recommendation letters
4. MBA essays
5. Entrance exam scores 

MBA Abroad Scholarships

For students who wish to pursue MBA abroad, and are not sure about how to cover up for the financial expenses, there are a number of scholarships provided. We have listed few top scholarships offered for MBA programmes abroad –

1. GREAT Scholarship
2. Go Clean Scholarship
3. Forte Fellowship
4. Heinrich Boll Scholarship
5. Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship Programme
6. Australia Awards Scholarship
7. Ontario Graduate Scholarship
8. Debesh Kamal Scholarship

Top MBA Colleges 

Now comes choosing the correct college for a MBA programme. In this section we have listed the top MBA colleges abroad :

QS Global Rankings 2023	University Name
1	Stanford Graduate School of Business
1	The Wharton School
5	Harvard Business School
6	London Business School
8	University of Chicago
9	Hass School of Business
3	MIT Sloan
3	INSEAD
7	HEC Paris

FAQs

In all the exams for MBA abroad, getting a good score is crucial. And, preparing for the competitive exam, is what you need to master. Let our career experts at Leverage Edu devise a strategy for you to ace your competitive exams and get into your dream B-school. Book a free online demo session with us and get best tips on GRE, GMAT and IELTS preparation.