INSEAD MBA Admissions: Requirements, Deadlines and Fees for 2027

What is the INSEAD MBA and who is it for?

The INSEAD MBA is a one-year, full-time programme with two intakes, August and January. The August class finishes in ten consecutive months, while the January class has a two-month summer break you can use for an internship. Five eight-week periods cover 14 core courses, then electives from more than 75, including generative AI and machine learning.

You start in Fontainebleau or Singapore, and your campus choice does not affect your admission. From Period 3 you can exchange to another campus, including Abu Dhabi, or to partner schools such as Wharton and Kellogg in the US.

A typical class has about 90 nationalities and 38% women. If you have more than ten years of experience, INSEAD points you to its executive programmes; see our guide to INSEAD EMBA admissions.

INSEAD MBA requirements

• An undergraduate degree is usual, but not compulsory for candidates with an excellent career record and test score.
• A GMAT or GRE score, valid for five years. There is no minimum and no waiver, and the GMAT superscore is accepted.
• Proof of English: TOEFL, IELTS Academic, PTE Academic or Duolingo English Test, or a degree or full exchange year taught in English.
• A second language: native English speakers need a practical level, around CEFR B1.
• Two recommendations, ideally from a current or former manager, client or colleague.
• A CV and scanned transcripts.

INSEAD MBA admissions process and deadlines

The INSEAD MBA essays are five questions totalling 2,000 words: your career path and current role (500 words), your career goals (300), a candid self-portrait as a person and leader (500), a highly stressful situation (400) and anything else (300). Within 48 hours of your deadline you complete a Kira video assessment, so read our Kira Talent interview guide first.

Pre-selected candidates interview with two INSEAD alumni, usually in their country of residence. The process takes up to ten weeks and the application fee is €250. The INSEAD MBA deadlines for the August 2027 intake are:

January 2028 dates are not yet published. For the January 2027 intake, rounds ran from March to August 2026.

INSEAD MBA tuition and salary

INSEAD MBA tuition was €109,860 for the August 2026 and January 2027 intakes, and fees can rise each year. INSEAD estimates ten-month living costs at about €30,000 in Fontainebleau and €32,000 in Singapore.

For the class of 2025, 81% had a job offer within three months of graduating. The median base INSEAD MBA salary was €100,000, with management consulting taking 50% of hires. Some 65% changed sector, function or country, and 18% took jobs in Africa and the Middle East.

How to stand out

Strong INSEAD MBA admissions files share a few habits. For the school's wider strategy, see our INSEAD business school overview.

• Aim for balance across sections rather than one headline INSEAD MBA GMAT score, since INSEAD assesses each section.
• Explain the reasons behind each career move in your first essay, not just the titles.
• Prove international motivation with concrete evidence, not adjectives.
• Prepare distinct stories for two alumni interviews.
• Non-European applicants should apply early: French student visas can take months.

Frequently asked questions

What GMAT score do you need for the INSEAD MBA?

INSEAD has no minimum GMAT score and does not publish an average. It recommends at least the 60th percentile in Verbal and the 66th in Quantitative and Data Insights on the GMAT Focus Edition, or 80% or above in GRE Verbal and Quantitative. Your highest score carries the most weight.

How is the INSEAD MBA different from the INSEAD MiM?

The MBA is for professionals around 29 years old with several years of experience, while the Master in Management targets graduates aged roughly 19 to 24 with little or no work experience. If you are early in your career, read our guide to INSEAD MiM admissions.