The QS International Trade Rankings 2025 are now live!
Developed in partnership with the Hinrich Foundation, a philanthropic organisation, the QS International Trade Rankings are designed to help students identify the programmes that best fit their academic and skills development goals, and guide employers to recruit graduates that meet their requirements.
We use six indicators to assess two separate categories of programmes: MBA and Master’s; and Executive MBA (EMBA) – this approach reflects the varying study levels of these courses. Our analysis starts with the MBA and Master’s category. To jump to our analysis of the EMBA category, click here.
The top ten universities in the QS International Trade Rankings 2025: MBA & Master’s
1. Thunderbird School of Global Management – Arizona State University, US
2. Saïd Business School – University of Oxford, UK
3. IMD, Switzerland
4. The University of Warwick, UK
=5. Adam Smith Business School – University of Glasgow, UK
=5. Leeds University Business School – University of Leeds, UK
7. CEMS, France
=8 The University of Sydney, Australia
=8 UPF Barcelona School of Management, Spain
10. Tsinghua University, China (Mainland)
Four top 10 universities are based in the UK
Four UK universities make the top 10, compared to only one (the University of Glasgow) in the 2024 edition.
Arizona State University maintains its 1st position, but there is movement elsewhere in the top 10. Eight institutions are new to the top 10, with the University of Leeds and Tsinghua University both moving up by over 20 positions. The University of Oxford and France’s CEMS are both new entrants.
MBA and Master’s: Overall analysis
Of the 87 institutions ranked, 22 improved their rank. We welcomed 33 new entrants, and 29 locations are now represented.
Further emphasising the country’s strong performance, the UK has the most institutions ranked in the QS International Trade Rankings 2025: MBA and Master’s.
The top ten universities in the QS International Trade Rankings 2025: Executive MBA
1. Judge Business School – University of Cambridge, UK
2. Georgia Institute of Technology, US
3. London Business School, UK
4. Alliance Manchester Business School – The University of Manchester, US
=5. Columbia University, US
=5. Fuqua School of Business – Duke University, US
7. Johnson Graduate School of Management – Cornell University, US
8. INSEAD, France
9. Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands
10. National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore
The US leads the EMBA category
The US is the most represented location among the top 10 of the EMBA category, with four of the top 10 based there. However, the UK’s University of Cambridge, now ranked 1st, overtakes the US’ Georgia Institute of Technology.
11 of the of the top 20 are new entries into the rankings. London Business School is the highest new entrant, placing 3rd.
Notes on the methodology
See the weightings for each ranking indicator in our handy guide. Click or tap to expand the image.
For more information, read our support page.
