IESE Business School vs La Salle U.R.L. vs Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - UPC vs Universitat Pompeu Fabra - UPF vs Barcelona School of Economics - BSE

Side-by-side comparison from 320 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted

Quick verdict
Higher overall rating: Neuro Business School - NBS (4.80)
IESE Business School: wins 1/6 categories
La Salle U.R.L.: wins 0/6 categories
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - UPC: wins 0/6 categories
Universitat Pompeu Fabra - UPF: wins 0/6 categories
Barcelona School of Economics - BSE: wins 5/6 categories
Neuro Business School - NBS: wins 0/6 categories
Hospitality Academy: wins 0/6 categories
Comparing
Barcelona, Spain
4.70
Read more reviews
68 reviews
×
Best programme: MBA
Barcelona, Spain
4.00
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6 reviews
×
Best programme: Business Management
Best programme: Aerospace Engineering
Best programme: Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition
Best programme: Economics
4.80
Top
Read more reviews
19 reviews
×
Best programme: MSc in NeuroMarketing
Barcelona, Spain
3.70
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3 reviews
×
Best programme: Business Management
Category ratings
Facilities
4.36
4.67
3.81
4.11
5.00
Win
4.63
3.00
Location
4.73
5.00
3.75
4.57
5.00
4.38
4.00
Professors
4.62
3.33
3.97
3.98
5.00
Win
4.74
3.33
Internationality
4.74
4.00
3.75
3.69
5.00
Win
4.79
3.67
Student life
4.70
Win
4.67
3.87
4.07
4.50
4.63
3.67
Value
4.64
4.00
4.08
4.00
5.00
Win
4.68
3.33
Accommodation
4.09
4.33
3.77
3.68
5.00
Win
4.38
3.00
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • +Inspiring cultural experiences and inclusive communities
  • +Strong career advancement opportunities and alumni networks
  • +High-quality academics and excellent faculty engagement
  • +International environment and diverse cultures
  • +Engaging, proactive, and technology-focused learning methods
  • +Strong academic content and knowledgeable faculty
  • +Excellent teaching quality and helpful professors.
  • +Vibrant campus life and diverse extracurricular activities.
  • +Supportive environment with good student welfare and flexible academic options.
  • +Knowledgeable professors and strong academic programs.
  • +Well-organized university with impressive infrastructure.
  • +International atmosphere and attractive location.
  • +High-quality teaching and research
  • +Strong career prospects and CV recognition
  • +Global environment and excellent Barcelona location
  • +Practical, creative, and engaging learning approach
  • +Inspiring and supportive teachers with real-world business insights
  • +Strong academic programs with global perspectives
  • +Flexible courses & supportive teachers
  • +Career advancement & internship opportunities
  • +Personal and professional growth
Cons
  • -Administrative and management issues cause significant frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and resources negatively impact the learning experience.
  • -Lack of communication and support from the institution is a recurring problem.
  • -Outdated curriculum and outdated facilities.
  • -Administrative and management issues are prevalent.
  • -Lack of forward-thinking and innovative educational approach.
  • -Excessive difficulty and perceived unfairness in grading contribute to student dissatisfaction.
  • -Outdated facilities and a lack of modern resources hinder the learning experience.
  • -Administrative & management issues cause frustration and slow responses.
  • -Inconsistent student backgrounds lower the academic level of discussions.
  • -Professors sometimes design classes to be less demanding due to diverse student levels.
  • -Administrative & management issues are a recurring problem.
  • -Outdated facilities and equipment are frequently mentioned.
  • -A lack of clear communication and support is a significant concern.
  • -Poor value for money regarding class hours.
  • -Disappointing overall experience not meeting expectations.
  • -Outdated course content and lack of practical training.
  • -Poor communication and a feeling of being scammed.
  • -Administrative and management issues.
Rating summary
What students say

Overall, the university garners strong student satisfaction. Its most highly rated aspects include Internationality (4.74), Location (4.73), and Student Life (4.70). Professors (4.62) and Value (4.64) also receive excellent scores. The weakest area, though still positive, is Accomodation at 4.09, while Facilities are rated at 4.36.

Outstanding scores are evident for this university's **Location** (5), **Facilities** (4.67), and **Student Life** (4.67). Conversely, the **Professors** category received the lowest rating at 3.33. Other areas like Accomodation (4.33), Internationality (4), and Value (4) are rated positively.

Across a range of surveyed categories, this university demonstrates strong performance, particularly excelling in **Value** with a rating of 4.09. **Professors** also received a high mark at 3.97. Conversely, the **Location** and **Internationality** scores are relatively lower, both hovering around 3.75, indicating these areas might be considered for improvement. Overall, the institution maintains a solid standing in its facilities, student life, and accommodation.

**The university** receives excellent marks for its **Location**, which stands out as its strongest attribute. **Value** and **Facilities** also score well, indicating positive student perceptions in these areas. Areas for potential improvement include **Accomodation** and **Internationality**, which received the lowest ratings. **Professors** and **Student Life** fall in the mid-range, suggesting generally positive but not exceptional experiences.

Outstanding marks were achieved in many areas, with perfect scores for Facilities, Professors, Location, Accomodation, and Internationality. Value also received a top rating. Student Life, while still very positive at 4.5, represents the sole area not achieving a perfect score.

The institution demonstrates considerable strengths, particularly in its internationality, with a notable 4.79 rating. Professors also receive high marks at 4.74, and value for money is strong at 4.68. Areas for potential improvement include location and accommodation, both rated at 4.375, representing the lowest scores among the surveyed categories.

A review of this university reveals a mixed but generally positive assessment. Its strongest areas are Student Life and Internationality, both scoring around 3.67. Facilities, Location, and Accommodation received a solid 3, while Professors and Value landed slightly higher at approximately 3.33.

Reviews summary
Highlights

With a ~100% positive rating, reviews highlight exceptional experiences, transformative professional growth, and excellent faculty. Students praise the welcoming culture, global diversity, and strong career connections. No negative feedback was recorded.

Nearly 83% of reviews are positive, highlighting internationality, relevant projects, and technology focus. One review (~17%) criticizes outdated architectural programs and facilities.

Nearly all (99%) of the 94 reviews are positive, highlighting helpful teachers, good academic explanations, and excellent extracurricular activities. A small amount of feedback (1%) mentioned a perceived focus on difficulty over quality.

With an average rating of 4.23/5 from 126 reviews, ~87% are positive, praising knowledgeable professors, strong academics, and an international atmosphere. Just ~1.6% of reviews are negative, citing administrative inefficiency and varying academic levels.

All four reviews are positive, averaging 4.5/5 stars. Students highlight strong skills and knowledge acquisition, excellent teaching and research, and beneficial career prospects. Some noted the academic rigor and pressure.

Nearly all reviews are positive, highlighting engaging, creative learning with practical projects and inspiring teachers. A small percentage of feedback expressed dissatisfaction with the value of full-time programs.

With an average rating of 3.67/5 from 3 reviews, approximately 67% of feedback is positive, highlighting career advancement, internships, and effective teaching. About 33% of feedback expressed disappointment with communication and outdated course content.

Rating distribution
5★
69%
33%
16%
38%
50%
95%
67%
4★
28%
50%
71%
49%
50%
0%
0%
3★
3%
0%
12%
11%
0%
0%
0%
2★
0%
17%
1%
1%
0%
0%
0%
1★
0%
0%
0%
1%
0%
5%
33%
Most useful review
Most liked
Best MBA to do a triple career change

Being at IESE was one of the best experiences of my life: 1- Professionally: this MBA is one of the best connected schools with top consultancy and banking sectors. for example, the 3 MBBs come to the school to train and interview candidates, ensuring a higher successful rate. It allowed me to jump from a civil engineering position to work for McKinsey. 2- Personal and cultural : amazing transformative 2 years, with people from all over the world (73 nationalities in my class) with great values. Totally worthy it.

Nothing to show

Opinion UPC (FNB)

As a student of the UPC, it must be said that at the level of studies and teaching staff, both the one I have had as well as friends and acquaintances, is excellent. However, as far as facilities are concerned, it leaves much to be desired, and given the university's debt, small (and historical) faculties, such as the nautical one, are negatively affected by each management.

Passionate Mentors as Professors

My journey at Pompeu Fabra has been nothing short of inspiring. The university's emphasis on research and real-world application ignited a fire within me to explore my field in depth. My professors were more than just educators; they were passionate mentors who challenged me to think critically and independently. The vibrant energy of Barcelona, combined with the university's international focus, created an environment where I felt both stimulated and supported. UPF has equipped me with a robust skill set and a global perspective, preparing me to make a meaningful impact on the world.

It's been a good year!

I believe that this is an extremely global school, and it has been a tremendous experience interacting with a bunch of people from different nationalities. It has been an absolute pleasure to learn from some great names in the field. My only complaint would be in regard to the pressure the course invariably puts on the students. Even though Barcelona is a great city, it gets difficult when you are forced to the library 7 days a week. A work in progress would be my view on the programme!

The attitude and the atmosphere

The classes are so intresting I love how they they teach you about psychology and business strategy, I really like how the teachers are real professionals in terms of marketing , buisness... overall I really enjoy it.

I wish I could leave a positive review, but...

I genuinely wish I could leave a positive review about Hospitality Academy, but unfortunately, my experience has been incredibly disappointing and feels like a scam. They promised a hospitality certificate program with proper classes and training. I attended the first class, and after that—nothing. No follow-up, no new classes, and the content they provided was completely outdated, with videos from as far back as 2008. What’s worse is the complete lack of communication. I’ve reached out more than ten times via email and received no response. I also contacted my supposed advisor multiple times, and again—nothing. This level of unprofessionalism is unacceptable, especially from a company claiming to help professionals grow in the hospitality industry. I do not recommend this program to anyone. If you're serious about your education, go directly with accredited universities. It will save you time, money, and a lot of frustration.

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