We all are aware of the most established and prestigious universities in the world: Harward, Yale, Oxford… However, there are plenty of excellent options out there that are less-known because they are young. In this article, we are going to talk about the top 6 youngest European universities for Business Studies ranked by Times Higher Education. These universities are ranked according to their teaching, research, international outlook, and their work with industry.
What is classed as a ‘young’ university?
A young university is classified as one which is less than 50 years old. These may be universities which are less well-known than some of the more famed, established institutions. However, that does not necessarily mean that the standards of education are any lower.
What are the benefits of studying at a young university?
While you may not find the corridors steeped in history and the university name may not be as familiar as some, there are quite a few benefits to be gained from studying at a less established institution. Younger facilities tend to be still in the process of solidifying their place in the educational landscape and establishing their reputation. Therefore there is no time for them to become complacent. This constant drive and focus can be infectious throughout the university.
Secondly, for younger universities, change can happen more rapidly as there aren’t decades of established processes or procedures to contend with. This is particularly important in the modern, constantly-changing, technological world.
Top 6 Youngest European Universities for business studies
1. École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne – EPFL, Switzerland
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne – EPFL finds itself in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. It specialises in science and engineering, however, its business course is quite revered. More than half the students enrolled at the university are international, with about 120 different countries represented on campus.
The École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne EMBA is a programme designed specifically for managers and executives with a fully-accredited MBA curriculum. This is the longest-running European Executive MBA programme specializing in the management of innovation. The course is 16 months long and the teaching is hands-on. The curriculum includes Digital Transformation, Creativity and Ideation, and Corporate & Personal Branding.
2. Maastricht University – UM, The Netherlands
A public university located in Maastricht since 1976, Maastricht University is the second youngest of the thirteen Dutch universities. They currently have 18,000 students enrolled and 4,400 employees. It is one of the best young universities in the world according to THE and QS.
UM offers the MaastrichtMBA with two formats: an Executive MBA and an Online MBA. This 2-year, part-time programme is designed for professionals worldwide who want to advance their management and leadership skills. The MaastrichtMBA will help participants to boost their career and advance their expertise in business administration.
3. UNIVERSITAT Pompeu Fabra University, Spain
The Catalan government founded Universitat Pompeu Fabra in 1990 with the aim of creating a public university that focuses on academic excellence. UPF was the 11th highest-ranked university in the world among those under 50 years of age and also is the 1st Spanish university (position 143 worldwide and 60 in Europe) according to the Times Higher Education.
It has many business management courses like Accounting and Financial Management, Master of Science in Management etc. Their Master of Science in Management is a full-time programme which is taught in English. This course is for students who want a career in International management.
4. University of Duisburg-Essen – UDE, Germany
The University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) is located in the middle of the Ruhr Metropolitan Region of Germany. In the Times Higher Education Ranking, it holds the 14th place among the best 200 universities worldwide younger than 50 years old. They offer a Masters in Business Administration. You can specialise in Accounting and Finance, Supply Chain Management and Logistics or Telecommunications Management. The teaching language at the University of Duisburg-Essen is German.
5. UNIVERSITÉ DU LUXEMBOURG – UNI.LU
This public research university is situated on Belval Campus and in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. The University of Luxembourg was founded only in 2003, and because of that, it is one of the top 6 youngest European universities for business studies. It counts 850 scientific and research staff supporting 242 professors, assistant professors and lecturers in their teaching.
The Luxembourg School of Business offers a weekend MBA programme which is a general management programme designed to fit with your full-time job. During this MBA practice is a key factor in the teaching. The professors are some of the best in business schools around the world. The course goes on for 2 years over the weekends and is entirely taught in English.
6. AALBORG UNIVERSITY – AAU
Aalborg Universit is a Danish public institution with campuses in Aalborg, Esbjerg, and Copenhagen. It offers 76 undergraduates and 112 postgraduates. Several of those are conducted in English.
The university is placed in the QS World University Ranking (2016–17) among the 300 best universities in the world. AU offers a demanding and intense part-time MBA that lasts two years. It requires considerable effort and attracts ambitious and motivated students from all over. The tuition fees are DKK 189,000, which is around €25000.
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