DEFINITION of IE Business School

IE Business School is a non-profit, independent educational institution that provides graduate level programs in several fields of study. IE Business School offers MBAs, executive master's programs and Ph.D. and DBA programs.

BREAKING DOWN IE Business School

IE Business School is a graduate school located in Madrid, Spain. It was founded in 1973 under the name Instituto de Empresa and since 2009 is part of IE University. IE Business School runs MBA, executive MBA, master's degree programs in finance and management, executive education programs, PhD and DBA programs. Approximately 1,900 students from 90 countries undertake degree programs at IE each year.

IE Business School Programs

IE Business School offers students several business-focused programs:

  • Master’s in Management: A 10-month full-time program with two intakes (February and September). During the third term, students study one of the following business specializations: International Business, Sales & Marketing or Digital Business. Students can also opt to do a Dual Specialization by doing an additional specialization, do an International Exchange program, or join the IE Venture Lab.
  • Master’s in Finance: A pre-experience, 10-month course. The first two terms are dedicated to the core curriculum, which covers the key topics in finance. During the third term students choose elective courses.
  • International MBA: A 12 month course that has two intakes each year (January and September). The program is divided into four terms, two core, the Labs period and an elective along with a pre-program covering quantitative methods and financial accounting.
  • Global Executive MBA: A blended program which combines online periods with onsite modules in Spain, China, the United States and Brazil. In addition to traditional MBA components, the program has a special focus on Asian markets, sustainable development and the liberal arts. The Global Executive MBA Program runs for 13 months.
  • Executive MBA: A 15 month program that is offered in two different formats, both combining residential modules with interactive online classes. It consists of five building blocks: Soft skills, Hard skills, Networking, Career Management and Entrepreneurship.
  • Executive Education: The English edition of the Advanced Management Program was created in 2003, and the Global Senior Management Program in 2004. The GSMP is a joint venture with the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
  • Doctoral Programs: The Ph.D. and DBA programs are very similar. The DBA program focuses more on the application of academic research to practice of business whereas a Ph.D. focuses more on the development of new theories relating to the practice of business.