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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.

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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 | AMBA & AACSB Member | Highest CTC 16.22 LPA | Merit-based Scholarships | Last Date: 5th Jun’25

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

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  • 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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Certifications By Top Providers

Explore Top Universities Across Globe

University of Essex, Colchester
 Wivenhoe Park Colchester CO4 3SQ
Queen Mary University of London, London
 Mile End Road, London E1 4NS
University of Strathclyde, Glasgow
 16 Richmond St, Glasgow G1 1XQ
Oxford Brookes University, Oxford
 Headington Campus Oxford OX3 0BP UK
Northumbria University, Newcastle City Campus
 Sutherland Building, Northumberland Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST
Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff
 Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue, Cardiff, CF5 2YB

Questions related to MBA

Have a question related to MBA ?

Many reputed MBA colleges in India offer foreign exchange programs,

  1. IIM Ahmedabad
  2. IIM Bangalore
  3. IIM Calcutta
  4. XLRI Jamshedpur
  5. SPJIMR Mumbai
  6. ISB Hyderabad
  7. MDI Gurgaon
  8. NMIMS Mumbai

For a long-term career, both an MBA in Marketing and an MBA in HR offer significant opportunities, but the "better" option depends on your individual interests and career aspirations.

Marketing is ideal for those drawn to creativity, understanding consumer behavior, and brand strategy, while HR is best for those passionate about building organizational culture, talent management, and employee engagement.

Doing an MBA from a top 30 institution can definitely be worth it, but it depends on a few things:

Pros:

Better Placements: Top 30 colleges usually have strong industry connections and better job opportunities.

Quality Education: Good faculty, infrastructure, and exposure to real-world business.

Networking: You'll meet motivated peers and alumni, which helps in career growth.

Brand Value: A reputed college name adds value to your resume.

Hello,

You should take admission in MBA just after you complete your graduation, if you are sure about doing it. Most colleges open their admission process between October to June, depending on the entrance exam and the college.

If you are going through entrance exams like CAT, XAT, or MAT, then you need to apply and appear for them first. After results, colleges start their admission rounds. So, plan accordingly and check the dates of the exams and colleges you are interested in.

If you want to gain some work experience first, then you can do MBA after 1-2 years of job also.

Hope it helps !

Hello aspirant,

MBA candidates are not required to take entrance examinations like the CMAT in order to get admitted.  While CAT is a requirement for admission to IIM MBA programs, several Tier-2 and Tier-3 MBA colleges have adopted alternative admissions methods.  A lot of MBA schools use entrance tests to choose their students.  Colleges administer the XAT and NMAT as MBA entry exams.

Thank you

Hope it helps you

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