In an increasingly competitive and dynamic global education landscape, business schools play a critical role in shaping the leaders, innovators, and change-makers of tomorrow.
Recognising the unique challenges and opportunities faced by business schools, we’ve developed a specialised methodology tailored to the sector. QS Stars for Business Schools is a ‘rating’ system that evaluates business schools across a range of criteria to help institutions identify their strengths and areas of improvement, highlighting and demonstrating their quality and increasing their reputation in business education.
“I founded QS as a mission-led business to give international students access to comparative data and information about business schools.”
Nunzio Quacquarelli, QS Founder and President of QS and Wharton School MBA graduate
What is the QS Stars Business School methodology?
The QS Stars for Business Schools rating system involves a detailed institutional health check conducted by QS over a span of up to six months, culminating in a report that offers insights into the school’s performance compared to established standards. This report aids institutions in mapping their strategic goals, enhancing communication efforts, and boosting their reputation.
Additionally, it benefits students by offering detailed insights into programme strengths, facilities, employability, social impact, diversity, and other critical factors they value. QS Stars for Business Schools analyses several key dimensions, offering a holistic view of their performance and output:
Entrepreneurship
A key aspect of the unique methodology is its strong focus on entrepreneurship. The QS Stars for Business Schools methodology assesses how business schools support entrepreneurial endeavors through dedicated programmes, start-up resources, mentorship opportunities, and partnerships with industry leaders.
Specialist Programmes
Business schools provide courses in areas like Finance, Marketing, and Digital transformation to meet industry needs. The methodology investigates these programmes for depth, relevance, and innovation, recognising their role in equipping students with skills for specialised sectors and preparing them for leadership roles.
Employability
The QS Stars for Business Schools framework acknowledges the impact of graduate employability in business education. During the assessment, we measure placement rates, career services, industry connections, and alumni networks. Schools with strong performance in these areas are highlighted for effectively preparing students to excel and lead in a competitive job market.
By providing detailed feedback to business schools in these crucial categories, this methodology aims to elevate the global reputation of institutions that stand out, enhancing their brand, attracting top talent, and forging impactful partnerships.
Key differences of the QS Stars for Business Schools to QS Stars methodology
Although both frameworks are based on the same foundation, they have been divided into two distinct systems. QS Stars for Business Schools is distinguished from QS Stars in the following ways:
Tailored methodology: QS Stars for Business Schools employs a customised version of
the existing QS Stars methodology. The weightings of key areas have been adjusted to better align with the specific priorities of business schools.
Focus on relevant criteria: There are 10 categories analysed, which differ from the main methodology with 14. This system measures critical areas such as Entrepreneurship, Specialist Programmes, and Employability—factors essential to the success of business schools.
A better fit: It removes the emphasis on academic research and other categories such as Arts, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer found in the standard QS Stars, providing a more suitable evaluation for business schools.
Custom badges for a unique sector: A QS Stars for Business Schools rating allows for more precise, like-for-like comparisons with other business schools globally.
“The decision to create a dedicated methodology for business schools within QS Stars was driven by extensive market feedback and considers the evolving landscape of business education,” Florence Webb, Head of Frameworks at QS said.
“We understood that the unique needs and challenges faced by business schools require a more specialised approach and our goal was to develop a methodology that not only evaluates, but also empowers Business Schools to excel in key areas such as employability or entrepreneurship.”
