Picking the best business school is tough. Especially when you’re left to choose between two of the top-tier institutes on earth: the Indian School of Business (ISB) and National University of Singapore Business School (NUS). We’ll compare the two so you can decide for yourself. Our analysis is based on the data provided by the Financial Times (FT) MBA Rankings 2023 rankings.
Rankings for NUS vs ISB:
Let's start our journey by glancing at both school's rankings. In the FT 2023 rankings, ISB snags 25th place globally, while NUS comes in at 39th. Seems like a big jump right? The previous year ISB was 32nd and NUS was 21st.
Don’t let these numbers do all the talking though. Keep in mind that they should only be one factor in many while finding your ideal business school.
Location NUS vs ISB:
One of the biggest differences between NUS and ISB is where they are located. Where is each university? Well, ISB calls India home, while NUS resides in Singapore. Each location has its pros and cons for students to consider when making their decision.
Singapore is widely considered as one of Asia’s most sought after destinations for higher education. NUS takes full advantage of this by being stationed here – benefiting from Singapore’s strategic location and global reputation as well. On the other hand we have India - a rapidly growing economy that offers unique opportunities for students looking to get insight into emerging markets.
Diversity NUS vs ISB:
Another important thing to think about when choosing which school to attend is diversity within the student body itself.
In terms of sector diversity, FT 2023 says that ISB ranks higher than NUS coming in at 51 compared to their opponent’s rank at 61. This doesn’t say everything however because NUS ranks higher than ISB when it comes to international mobility and percentage of international students. They take spots number 36 and number one respectively, meanwhile IBS ranks 84th in mobility and only has 1% international students. ISB admission process ensures diversity in the class.
Faculty NUS vs ISB:
Both schools have highly qualified experts ready to teach you. Out of all the faculty members, ISB has 100% of them with doctorate degrees while NUS is at a slightly lower 95%. However, things flip when it comes to having international faculty. Here NUS has the higher percentage with over 60% being international.
Employment opportunities at NUS vs ISB:
Yes, we want to learn - but we also want jobs afterwards. Both schools can help with that - according to FT's data anyway. They say that ISB and NUS have excellent track records for employment both scoring nearly perfect numbers, at 100% for ISB and then just a little lower at 86% for NUS. Though they’re so close you could barely even call it significant – ISB’s salary percentage increase is way higher than NUS’s (205% compared to 158%). When salaries are weighted though, both schools get about the same thing. $161k for ISB and $161k for NUS.
Value for money for NUS vs ISB:
One of the most significant factors when choosing a business school is value for money. According to the FT 2023 rankings, NUS has a better value for money rank, ranking at 20 compared to ISB ranking of 65.
Both ISB and NUS are top-tier business schools with excellent academic reputation and strong employability. The choice between the two really depends on personal preferences and career aspirations.
While ISB provides exposure to emerging markets, which can be attractive for certain students who want to study in India, NUS offers one of the most diverse student bodies and an international experience that may be appealing to others.
Students must evaluate various factors such as location, diversity, faculty, employment rate, and value for money when choosing a business school. It is also crucial to do thorough research and seek information from multiple sources such as student reviews, alumni, and industry experts before making a decision. In the end, it is important that you choose a school that aligns with your goals in your career and equips you with skills needed in today’s global economy.