Portugal‘s Business Schools Shine in Latest Financial Times Ranking
portugal is celebrating the success of its business schools, with five management masters programs now ranked among the top 100 globally in the annual Financial Times Masters in Management ranking, published Monday. Nova School of Business and Economics (Nova SBE) leads the Portuguese contingent, achieving fourth place overall – a climb from eighth position last year.
The Financial Times ranking combines scores across various criteria, including post-graduation salary and career advancement. This year’s top three spots are held by the Master of St. Gallen (1st), HEC Paris (2nd), and Insead (3rd). Nova SBE graduates report an average annual salary of $123,485 (approximately €105,000).
Alongside Nova SBE, three other Portuguese institutions maintained their positions in the prestigious list. The Catholic Lisbon School of Business and economics fell slightly from 27th to 30th place. The Faculty of Economics of porto improved its standing, rising from 70th to 62nd, while ISCTE Business School experienced a decline, moving from 60th to 87th.
A notable newcomer to the ranking is the Catholic Porto Business School, which enters at 95th place, having not been included in the 2024 edition.
Participation in the Financial Times ranking requires schools to hold accreditation from either the European Equis system (with annual fees starting at €3,312) or the American AACSB. Accreditation is by invitation only, with institutions confirming their interest in March of the ranking year. The specific costs associated with AACSB accreditation are detailed on their website.
The Financial Times evaluation process relies heavily on surveys completed by program alumni.To qualify for inclusion, programs must achieve a minimum response rate of 20 alumni responses or 20% of the graduating class, whichever is greater. For example, a program with 100 graduates needs at least 20 completed surveys.