For the tenth year running, China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) has claimed the #1 spot in Asia in the Financial Times 2026 Global MBA Ranking. It has also re-entered the global top ten, ranking #8 worldwide. The milestone cements CEIBS’ status as the undisputed leader in management education across the Asia-Pacific region.
CEIBS is the only Asia-based MBA programme to rank in the FT’s elite Tier 1 of full-time MBA programmes worldwide. It is a distinction that speaks to its international and regional competitiveness.
What makes this achievement even more remarkable is the school’s origin. Established through a rare government-to-government partnership between the European Union and China, CEIBS is the only business school born of such collaboration to break into the top tier of the world’s most authoritative MBA ranking. That founding mission – to serve as a genuine bridge between East and West – continues to define every dimension of the school’s identity today.
CEIBS President Wang Hong said of the achievement:
"This achievement reflects CEIBS’ commitment to innovative teaching, the empowerment and long-term development of alumni, and the enhancement of the school’s global reputation. It also speaks to the enterprising spirit of CEIBS – an international business school rooted in China that continues to forge ahead amid global uncertainty – and embodies the enduring strength of our motto: ‘Conscientiousness, Innovation, and Excellence.’ This honour has not come easily. As the school embarks on a new five-year strategic plan, the ranking carries added significance. It represents not a celebration at the finish line, but the starting point of a new journey. In the years ahead, a complex global landscape, the rise of artificial intelligence, and the restructuring of global supply chains will continue to reshape management education. CEIBS will remain true to its mission, moving forward with clarity, confidence, and resolve to achieve even greater success in the next five years."
A decade of dominance in Asian business education
Being named Asia’s top MBA programme by the Financial Times – an internationally respected authority on management education – for ten consecutive years reflects not only consistency, but sustained progress and a commitment to remaining forward-looking, reflecting a programme that is continuously evolving to keep pace with changing trends. Since first reaching #1 in Asia in 2016, the global economy and the management education landscape have undergone profound change. Maintaining this position throughout a turbulent decade demonstrates the CEIBS MBA programme’s resilience, adaptability, and continued relevance.
Central to this performance is CEIBS’ commitment to innovation at both the programme and institutional levels. The MBA curriculum is designed to evolve alongside shifts in technology, geopolitics, and global business strategy. Initiatives such as the recently launched CEIBS InnoLab – a platform supporting entrepreneurship and venture development among MBA students and alumni – are developed to further strengthen the school’s innovation ecosystem and ensure that students are equipped with skills valued by employers and entrepreneurs alike. Initiatives like these demonstrate that our dedication to offering cutting-edge solutions to today’s most pressing business issues will continue long into the future.
CEIBS’ strong performance this year also reflects measurable career outcomes and our ability to deliver for students. The programme ranked highly for career progress, employment at three months, and weighted salary. These indicators highlight our ability to deliver tangible professional advancement and build modern core competitive edges across diverse industries, geographies, and career ambitions.
Innovation, faculty, and the AI-ready curriculum
CEIBS’ Co-President Frank Bournois credited the result to the school's globally integrated identity – its ability to develop effective leaders across industries and geographies, powered by world-class faculty, a 34,000-strong alumni network, and a governance model that places Europe, China, and the wider world at its core. He underscored the school’s intent to leverage this achievement as a platform for deeper industry engagement and further integration of AI into the curriculum.
Vice President and Co-dean Zhu Tian highlighted a record-setting year in the FT’s research category, attributing it to a faculty culture that bridges China-focused scholarship with global business practice and translates research into career-ready insight for students.
MBA Programme Director Zhang Lingling pointed to the broader shift reshaping management education: as AI reduces the cost of accessing standardised knowledge, CEIBS has reoriented its curriculum around judgement, systems thinking, and leadership in ambiguity – human capabilities that algorithms cannot replicate – while continuing to embed AI-driven decision-making into its learning experience.
Built for a complex world
From international professionals intent on building their leadership skills with an Asia-focused, globally recognised MBA to aspiring business leaders in China seeking global exposure as Chinese companies expand worldwide, CEIBS continues to offer a powerful and distinctive platform defined by its guiding principle of “China Depth, Global Breadth.” The school remains committed to developing responsible business leaders and delivering an MBA that definitively ranks among the best in the world, in line with its motto of “Conscientiousness, Innovation, and Excellence.”
