Singapore, 8 February 2021 (Monday) – Singapore Management University’s (SMU) Lee Kong Chian School of Business (LKCSB) has been ranked 58th in the Financial Times’ (FT) 2021 global ranking of Master of Business Administration (MBA) programmes, advancing five spots from its previous 63rd position in the 2020 rankings.

The MBA programme has much to be proud of. Alumni of the programme reported a weighted salary^[1] of US$121,279, an increase from US$115,039 reported in last year’s ranking. SMU LKCSB’s MBA Programme also excelled in indicators such as ‘value-for-money’^[2] (31st worldwide, moving up 14 spots from last year’s 45th place).

In support of the nation-wide lifelong learning initiative, SMU encourages alumni to partake in a range of courses to continue honing the skills in their discipline of choice. Building on the sound foundations laid during their postgraduate experience, graduates get to broaden their knowledge beyond their primary domain, and acquire new skills for career resilience in a workplace that is being reshaped by the current pandemic and technology becoming ubiquitous.

Diversity of the programme also improved, with 24 per cent female faculty and 33 per cent women on the board. The programme’s 2021 intake achieved gender parity and these latest recruitment efforts, as well as the rankings, attest to SMU LKCSB’s commitment towards infusing gender diversity into its MBA programme. With less homogeneity in organisations today, the School recognises the fact that gender diversity enhances the learning experience for everyone, which includes improving empathy in engaging with issues during classroom discussions.

In addition, the School introduced the Overseas Immersion Programme (OIP), which involves taking its MBA students outside the classroom and beyond Singapore, for exposure to how business and management are conducted in other parts of Asia. In particular, the OIP gives MBA students opportunities to engage business leaders as well as network with SMU alumni in other parts of Asia.

“The ongoing pandemic has spotlighted the need for individuals and institutions to adapt to new ways of working and learning. This ranking attests to the distinctive value that our MBA programme brings to equip our graduates to thrive in a Covid and post-Covid world. We will continue to place strong emphasis on adding value to the programme, ensuring its robustness and responsiveness to the changing needs of industry, in tandem with nurturing future leaders who are innovative, agile and driven by purpose,” said Professor Gerard George, Dean of SMU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business, and Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Notably in 2018, SMU LKCSB was one of the youngest business schools in the world and the only Singaporean business school, to achieve ‘Triple Crown’ accreditation. This distinction of being triple accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), AMBA and European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), is held by a very select group of business schools around the world.

About the SMU MBA programme

Started in 2009, the SMU MBA is well recognised as a programme that offers a purposefully planned curriculum with an Asian perspective, delivered by a strong faculty panel with extensive teaching and industry track record. To cater to the changing needs of busy professionals, SMU offers flexibility in allowing for its full-time MBA programme to be completed in 10 months or in 15 months, while the part-time MBA programme is completed within 18 months.

The programme comprises real-world learning from award-winning case studies on Asian and Western companies, interactive seminar-style pedagogy and exposure to an internationally diverse faculty. The digital-focused curriculum of the MBA programme is paired with industry experience and experiential learning, where students are tasked to develop practical solutions to address real issues faced by organisations. 

Students benefit from the opportunities to engage with outstanding leaders from the business community, and an immersive and international learning experience comprising overseas exchanges and Overseas Immersion Programme (OIP). Post graduation, MBA students are offered the option of enrolling in complimentary MBA elective classes with SMU, to keep up with industry trends and take advantage of learning opportunities.  

About the FT Global MBA Ranking 2021

FT’s closely watched annual ranking, now in its 23rd year, ranks a total of 100 full-time MBA programmes from countries around the globe, according to multiple criteria such as career progression and salary of alumni, and the diversity of students and faculty. The ranking considers the features of the institutions and their programmes, and is based on surveys of the business schools and their graduates.

For full results and more details about FT MBA Rankings 2021, please refer to the following:

FT MBA Rankings 2021

FT MBA Rankings 2021 Methodology

[1] Weighted salary US$: average graduate salary three years after graduation, with adjustment for variations between sectors.

[2] Value for money: calculated using salary today, course length, tuition and other costs, including lost income during the MBA.