Three Catalan business schools ranked in top 40 on Financial Times Masters in Management 2025

The latest Financial Times Masters in Management 2025 ranking features three Catalan business schools among the world’s top 40: IESE Business School leads Spanish schools at number 16, ESADE Business School ranks 24th and EADA Business School comes in at number 36. This strong performance consolidates Barcelona and Catalonia’s role as a key hub for management education.

This recognition puts Barcelona among the world’s leading educational ecosystems, with three institutions in the global top 40 and a fourth, Institut Químic de Sarrià (IQS) –affiliated with Ramon Llull University– ranked 78th. These results highlight the city’s ability to attract and develop international talent, strengthening Catalonia’s growing reputation as a top destination for global professionals and executives seeking high-quality education.

It should be noted that Catalonia is home to one of Europe’s most vibrant higher education systems, with 12 universities offering 591 undergraduate and 687 masters programmes. These institutions produce highly qualified professionals who are driving the innovative economy in the region and provide international companies with access to top talent in multiple sectors. The excellent performance of Catalan business schools reflects the international competitiveness of Catalonia’s educational offering and its ability to combine academic excellence with strong career outcomes, making it even more attractive for both talent and investment.

The Financial Times ranking is considered one of the most influential in the sector. On this year’s ranking, Swiss school St. Gallen retained the top spot, followed by HEC Paris and INSEAD, while Asian institutions such as Tsinghua University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University also entered the global top 10.