Know International MBA Accreditations: AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS, ACBSP, IACBE

Know International MBA Accreditations: AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS, ACBSP, IACBE

Edited By Prabha Dhavala | Updated on Feb 20, 2023 11:42 AM IST | #MBA

International MBA Accreditations like AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS, ACBSP, IACBE are much touted in the media when it comes to BSchools and management education. However, what are these international accreditations namely AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS, ACBSP, IACB and what do they add to any institute that offers management courses? This is one question that comes to mind when it comes to checking business schools and selecting one. In this article we check out the various accreditations like AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS, ACBSP, IACB and their importance.

Know International MBA Accreditations: AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS, ACBSP, IACBE
Know International MBA Accreditations: AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS, ACBSP, IACBE

Before starting to understand these accreditations, it's imperative to understand what accreditation actually means, the role it plays in ascertaining the quality of education at any institute and its importance for any MBA aspirant.

MBA Accreditation - Meaning, Types

The dictionary meaning of accreditation holds true in this case. Accreditation means the action or process of officially recognizing something as being qualified to perform a particular activity. In the case of MBA accreditation, this translates to the course and by extension the institute being rated as a quality one with value in the industry.

What are the types of MBA accreditation?

MBA aspirants must look for both national and international accreditations. This is because national accreditations take the domestic factors into consideration while international MBA accreditations allow for global recognition.

Types of International MBA Accreditation

Some of the popular MBA accreditations cited by business schools across the globe are AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS, ACBSP, IACBE. Each accreditation is looked at in detail in the section below.

  • AACSB: A global nonprofit association located in the USA, Netherlands and Singapore, AACSB accreditation indicates a business school’s commitment to four major factors - strategic management, learner success, thought leadership, and societal impact. To achieve AACSB accreditation for MBA, business schools undergo a rigorous process. Performance in critical areas, such as teaching, research, curricula development, and student learning is measured. More than 950 plus schools across the world have been accredited.
    The main advantage with choosing an institute with AACSB accreditation is that it is recognized worldwide by employers and universities. Therefore studying in an AACSB accredited institute would allow more access to top recruiters, vie for competitive salaries. Such institutes also attract excellent faculty hence the quality of education provided would be the best.
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NAAC A++ Accredited| Ranked #24 in University Category by NIRF

UPES | BBA Admissions 2025

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BSchools in India with AACSB Accreditation


  • AMBA: Another recognised international MBA accreditation is from the Association of MBAs (AMBA). More than 260 business schools across 75 countries are part of the accredited institute list of AMBA for their MBA, DBA and Master’s Degree programmes. Programmes need to reflect the prescribed standards in teaching, learning and curriculum design, career development and employability, student, alumni and employer interaction to achieve accreditation from AMBA.
    A major advantage of the AMBA accreditation is that business schools are recognised at the international level.
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Institute having AMBA Accreditation

Goa Institute of Management

IIM Rohtak

Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai (and Gurgaon)

Indian School of Business

IMI New Delhi (and Bhubaneswar)

MDI Management Development Institute

Indian Institute of Management Calcutta

NMIMS School of Business Management

Indian Institute of Management Indore

S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research

Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode

T. A. Pai Management Institute

Indian Institute of Management Lucknow

XLRI Xavier School of Management

Indian Institute of Management Tiruchirappalli

-


  • EQUIS: This is a comprehensive review system developed by the EQUIS Accreditation Board. The review process looks at a conceptual framework of quality criteria. An international committee evaluates each component of the framework as per the standards set up in place. EQUIS is internationally acknowledged and is often a prerequisite for entry to rankings. The assessment standards are set up such that schools can improvise on their strategies for curriculum development and design, research. EQUIS accreditation opens the doors to a vibrant community where mutual learning is encouraged amongst different systems of higher education.
    Factors that form part of EQUIS accreditation include MBA programmes, students and faculty, R&D pursued by a business school, Executive Education provided, resources and administration, Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability, Internationalisation and connections.
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Institutes having EQUIS Accreditation:

IIM Ahmedabad

IIM Bangalore

IIM Calcutta

IIM Indore

Indian School of Business

IIM Kozhikode


  • ACBSP: One of the popular international MBA accreditation is by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. Also known as ACBSP the accreditation process is modelled on the Baldrige model. The MBA accreditation process focuses on recognizing excellence in teaching, student learning outcome determination with a continuous improvement model. The learning approach with a focus on student-centered teaching is measured to ensure that students gain the right sets of skills.

Institutes having ACBSP Accreditation


  • IACBE: Recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), IACBE is an accrediting organization that accredits business, accounting, and business-related degree programs (associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels) in institutions of higher education across the globe. Some significant benefits of IACBE accreditation include external quality assurance, sharing of best practices and public accountability.

Importance of MBA accreditation

While most students don't bother with understanding accreditation and its uses, it is imperative to always pick an institution that has accreditation. International MBA accreditation is a vital factor that should always be considered by students while choosing an institute. The reason being that accredited institutes have to maintain quality in various aspects like the curriculum, practices, employ good faculty, inculcate research to name a few. Moreover, international MBA accreditation also allows for a global presence/ recognition. All these combine to give a wholesome institute that makes the MBA worthwhile.

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Questions related to MBA

Have a question related to MBA ?

Hi, first of all, take a deep breath—it’s completely normal to feel stressed in such situations, but there’s still a way forward.

If you missed the NMIMS CET exam because you couldn’t download the admit card, the first thing you should do is immediately contact the NMIMS admissions helpdesk . Explain your situation clearly—mention your application ID, registered email ID, and the exact issue you faced (like not receiving the admit card or not being able to access it on the portal). Sometimes, if it was a technical issue and you have a valid reason, they might allow you to reschedule the exam, especially if multiple test slots are available.

However, if all CET test windows have closed, you may not be able to appear this year. Still, don’t lose hope. NMIMS offers admissions through other routes like NPAT for UG management and commerce programs , or direct admission based on board scores for certain courses (depending on the stream you were aiming for—like BBA, BTech, etc.).

Also, look out for spot admissions or management quota seats , if your family is comfortable with that option financially. And if NMIMS is your top choice, remember—you can always aim again next year with better preparation and awareness of the timelines.

Lastly, don’t let one missed exam define your future. There are plenty of great colleges and entrance exams still open this year depending on your stream

After completing an MBA, you have good chances to join the banking sector in jobs like bank manager, credit analyst, financial advisor, or operations manager. Many banks recruit MBA graduates through exams like IBPS PO, SBI PO, or through campus placements. Your MBA skills in finance, marketing, or HR will help you grow faster. You can work in public sector banks, private banks, or financial institutions. It’s a stable job with good salary and growth opportunities. Preparing well for banking exams is important.



Hello there,

If you're continuously receiving calls from universities after sharing your details, here’s what you should do immediately to stop them:

To stop university calls:

  • Send START 0 to 1909 to activate DND.

  • Report spam by SMS to 1909 with the number, date, and time.

  • Block the numbers on your phone.

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I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries, feel free to share your questions with us, and we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you, and I wish you all the best in your bright future.

With a rank of 4902 in CMAT and being from Hyderabad BC-A category, getting a seat in Andhra University School of International Business for MBA might be difficult. Usually, the cutoff is higher for top colleges. But because you belong to BC-A category, you may get some relaxation. It’s best to attend the counseling process and apply to other good colleges too. Keep checking official updates during admission time to improve your chances.



Hello,

As per the NIRF 2024 rankings (2025 ranking has not been released), the top private institute for studying MBA in India is Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur, which holds the 9th position overall among management institutions. Some other good institutions are:

  • Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon – Ranked 11th
  • Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM), Pune – Ranked 13th
  • S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai – Ranked 20th

Hope this helps. All the best!

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