While accreditations of Masters programs are largely governed by various evaluation agencies on a national governmental level, there are a number of internationally relevant accreditation bodies for MBA/Master programs.
NOTE: PROGRAMS OUTSIDE THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU)
If your Masters or MBA program is accredited by one of the accreditation organizations below, its title should generally be accepted throughout the EU. Should your program be accredited by any other accreditation body, we recommend that you check with the respective ministry of education, as some degrees, even those from so-called top business schools, are not valid within the European Union.
NOTE: SWITZERLAND
Generally, programs offered by Switzerland’s public universities are recognized widely. For private universities, however, we recommend that you carefully research what type of accreditation the institution holds,when and where it was issued and whether your own country accepts the qualification.
AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business)
The AACSB accreditation is one of the oldest accreditations and also the most extensive of all major accreditation bodies. It grants accreditation for undergraduate and graduate business administration and accounting programs. Mostly US focused, the majority of AACSB accredited institutions are in North America, however, the AACSB also accredits international programs and increasingly, non-US programs and institutions seek AACSB accreditation. AACSB accreditation represents a high standard of achievement for business schools worldwide and institutions with AACSB accreditation will have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in management education.
AMBA introduced their accreditation service in the early 1980s and currently accredits 160 programs in 68 countries. Based in the UK, AMBA accredits MBA programs worldwide and focuses its accreditation on every aspect of MBA provision at the MBA institution such as faculty, students, curriculum, assessment and other factors.
In addition to accrediting MBA programs, the AMBA accreditation extends to MBM (Masters in Business and Management) since 2005 and to DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) since 2006.
Introduced by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) in 1997
as an accreditation institute for Management Development in Brussels, EQUIS currently accredits 110 business schools in 31 countries worldwide. The EQUIS accreditation is not solely available for MBA programs but extends to all programs offered by an institution from a first degree to a PhD. Despite being just over 10 years old, the EQUIS accreditation has made a significant impact in the market. Assessing institutions as a whole, EQUIS accredited institutions demonstrate high standards on all levels of their activities as well as a high level of internationalisation.
FIBAA (Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation)
Established in 1994 by five business associations from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, FIBAA accredits Bachelor, Masters and Diploma courses in the field of business administration, business psychology, business law and others, in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. FIBAA audits and assesses private and public higher education institutions in order to facilitate transparency in the German-speaking market.
Those planning to pursue a Masters education in the respective countries should check if the program carries the FIBAA seal.
