Year after year, Scandinavian countries are ranked among the happiest in the world. Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland offer beautiful nature, unique culture, and an almost unbeatable quality of life. And don’t forget the Nordic countries’ world-leading education systems!
Scandinavian countries are renowned for providing quality education that is highly student-oriented, equal, and affordable. It’s no surprise then that the region is home to an assortment of well-ranked business schools that can help further your business career. Keep reading to learn about the best business schools in Scandinavia below.
Find Business programmes in Scandinavia
There are plenty of top business schools located in Scandinavia and many of these are featured in major business school rankings.
Rankings are often a good starting point when choosing the right business school - they are often also where company recruiters look to get an idea of the quality of education. But it’s important to note that rankings are also fallible as they can’t take into account your individual circumstances or reflect in what kind of environment you would be most successful.
Make sure to view rankings tables with a critical eye and rely on only the most reputable rankings as part of your decision-making process. One of these sources is the Financial Times - here are the best Scandinavian business schools as they place in the most recent FT top European Business School Rankings:
Overall rank | Business school | Country |
---|---|---|
22 | Stockholm School of Economics | Sweden |
39 | BI Norwegian Business School | Norway |
45 | NHH Norwegian School of Economics | Norway |
47 | Copenhagen Business School | Denmark |
50 | Aalto University | Finland |
70 | Lund University School of Economics and Management | Sweden |
71 | Hanken School of Economics | Finland |
82 | Jönköping International Business School | Sweden |
The above ranking is a good start, but as it is somewhat limited in scope, it overlooks a lot of good universities and their Business faculties. Here are more good business schools in Denmark, Sweden and Norway worth checking out:
The typical tuition fees of Scandinavian universities can vary depending on where you come from and what Business degree you’re looking for:
Beyond rankings, accreditations awarded by specialized accreditation providers are a reliable seal of quality. The most respected ones for business schools are AACSB, AMBA, and EFMD/EQUIS.
Having all three of these accreditations indicates that a school is providing education of the highest quality and standard. This is also known as having a “triple crown”.
The following business schools in the Nordics are accredited by AACSB, AMBA, and EFMD/EQUIS:
Many Northern European universities offer Business Bachelor’s and Master’s programs that are fully in English. To be admitted to one of these programs, proof of high-level proficiency in English is usually required.
Make sure to check university websites and degree pages for the specifics so that you can plan and prepare for your tests in time. Generally speaking, with an IELTS score of 7.0 or higher and a TOEFL iBT of 100 or more you are definitely on the safe side; and most schools also accept an IELTS of 6.5 and TOEFL iBT of 90.
In Sweden, language test score requirements are grouped as, for example, “English 6” or “English 7” and that corresponds to certain minimum scores in IELTS, TOEFL etc.
Language skills are important, but business schools in Northern Europe frequently require students to fulfill additional admission requirements. You’ll typically also need a convincing motivation letter / cover letter, sometimes a good GMAT score or GRE score, reference letters and other supporting documents that help you stand out from other qualified applicants.
Every business school is different, and so are their specific application processes and admission requirements. Always make sure to check each school’s particular application process, and do it in time so that you know what needs to be submitted by what date.
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