ESSEC Business School vs INSEAD Business School vs Singapore Management University - SMU vs IMD Business School vs DigiPen Institute of Technology

Side-by-side comparison from 236 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted

Quick verdict
Higher overall rating: EHL Hospitality Business School - EHL (4.80)
ESSEC Business School: wins 0/7 categories
INSEAD Business School: wins 1/7 categories
Singapore Management University - SMU: wins 1/7 categories
IMD Business School: wins 0/7 categories
DigiPen Institute of Technology: wins 0/7 categories
EHL Hospitality Business School - EHL : wins 4/7 categories
Nanyang Technological University - NTU: wins 1/7 categories
Comparing
Best programme: Bachelor of Business Administration
Fontainebleau, France
4.60
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7 reviews
×
Best programme: MBA
Best programme: Information Systems and Business Analysis
Lausanne, Switzerland
Not rated
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0 reviews
×
Redmond, Washington, United States
Not rated
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0 reviews
×
Best programme: BSc in International Hospitality Management
Best programme: Aeronautical Sciences
Category ratings
Facilities
4.31
4.43
4.60
Not rated
Not rated
4.76
4.82
Win
Location
3.53
3.71
4.60
Win
Not rated
Not rated
4.29
4.56
Professors
4.33
4.71
Win
3.60
Not rated
Not rated
4.56
4.64
Internationality
4.67
4.43
3.80
Not rated
Not rated
4.92
Win
3.58
Student life
4.42
4.00
4.20
Not rated
Not rated
4.73
Win
3.96
Value
4.40
4.43
4.20
Not rated
Not rated
4.75
Win
4.34
Accommodation
3.65
4.57
3.00
Not rated
Not rated
4.64
Win
3.67
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • +High-quality, knowledgeable professors
  • +Strong academic rigor and valuable skill development
  • +Welcoming environment with good campus facilities and opportunities
  • +High-quality faculty and relevant curriculum
  • +Diverse and international peer community
  • +Practical learning and career opportunities
  • +Supportive and helpful community of people
  • +Wide variety and flexibility of course selection
  • +Practical learning experiences and engaging instructors

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  • +Strong curriculum blending hospitality and business disciplines.
  • +Welcoming and supportive international community fostering personal growth.
  • +Comprehensive institutional support for student well-being and development.
  • +Excellent teaching and knowledgeable professors
  • +Modern facilities and comprehensive library resources
  • +Diverse student life and global opportunities
Cons
  • -Administrative and management issues are frustrating.
  • -Outdated facilities and poor accommodation are common complaints.
  • -Location is inconvenient and perceived as unsafe at night.
  • -Administrative and management issues cause frequent problems.
  • -Outdated facilities and equipment hinder learning experiences.
  • -Lack of effective communication and support leaves students feeling ignored.
  • -Administrative and management issues are a recurring problem.
  • -Outdated facilities and resources negatively impact the learning environment.
  • -Lack of effective communication and student support causes frustration.

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  • -Administrative & management issues disrupt learning.
  • -Outdated facilities hinder a positive educational experience.
  • -Lack of resources and support impedes student progress.
  • -Outdated facilities and poor maintenance.
  • -Inefficient administrative and management processes.
  • -Lack of career support and unclear future prospects.
Rating summary
What students say

This university receives commendable feedback, with Internationality standing out as its strongest aspect, achieving a high rating. Student Life and Value also perform very well, indicating a positive experience and good return on investment for students. Conversely, Location and Accommodation are areas where the university is rated less favorably, suggesting potential for improvement in these particular domains.

With exceptional scores, this institution excels in its professorial staff, earning a near-perfect 4.7. Accommodation and value are also highly rated, both exceeding 4.5. The university demonstrates strong international appeal and impressive facilities, each scoring 4.4. Student life is solid at 4.0. The location, however, is the lowest-rated aspect at 3.7.

This institution excels in its physical environment and setting, with ratings of 4.6 for both Facilities and Location. Student Life and Value also score well at 4.2. Conversely, Accomodation presents a notable weakness, rated at 3. Professors and Internationality received moderate scores of 3.6 and 3.8 respectively.

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Exceptional scores characterize this university's profile, particularly in **Internationality**, which stands out with a near-perfect rating. **Facilities** and **Student Life** also received very high marks, reflecting positively on the campus environment and student engagement. **Location** is the lowest-scoring area, though still rated well. Other categories like **Professors**, **Accomodation**, and **Value** demonstrate a consistently strong performance.

Exceptional praise has been given to the university's **Facilities**, earning a near-perfect score. **Professors** and **Location** also received very positive feedback. Areas for development are **Student Life**, **Accomodation**, and **Internationality**, which received moderate to lower scores. **Value** presented a solid middle ground in the ratings.

Reviews summary
Highlights

With a 4.45 average rating from 49 reviews, ~94% of feedback is positive, praising knowledgeable professors, excellent financial support, and enriching academic environments. A small portion (~2%) noted location and accommodation concerns.

With a ~86% positive rating from 7 reviews, students highlight atmosphere, challenging programs, and learning new business skills. Some mention a packed curriculum and dislike of program location.

All five reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4/5. Students praise the helpful people, diverse course options, and engaging instructors. The university's location and project-based learning are also highlighted positively.

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The vast majority of reviews are highly positive (~94%), praising the excellent curriculum, broad program scope, and strong institutional support. Students appreciate the integration of hospitality with business disciplines and a welcoming international community. No negative reviews were submitted.

Over 96% of reviews are positive, highlighting excellent teaching, abundant resources, and modern facilities. A few students mentioned a competitive academic environment.

Rating distribution
5★
55%
71%
0%
0%
0%
81%
24%
4★
39%
14%
100%
0%
0%
13%
72%
3★
4%
14%
0%
0%
0%
6%
3%
2★
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
1★
2%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Most useful review
Most liked
ESSEC BBA : It's worth it

Essec BBA is a well known program if you want to attend a business school. The teaching is qualitative as the teachers usually are reputed experts in their fields. As far as it concerns the campus, you cannot complain about the diversity and quality of high tech equipment or the comfortable auditoriums. Pretty much everything is made for you to feel at ease and evolve as an ESSEC student. One of the rare things I could point out is the school campus location which is pretty much isolated and a bit far from the centre of Paris, otherwise, you can take public transport, easy to use and practical for your everyday student life.

diversity

like the atmosphere. Challenging program. Dislike the location of the program, too far away from city. The curriculum is very packed and the peers are very nice. Enjoying the program so far and defintely learning new business skills.

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Learning Hospitality by Living it

Choosing EHL was a very intentional decision for me. As an extroverted person passionate about hospitality, I wanted a university where service excellence is not only taught but truly practiced. EHL stood out because of its balance between academic rigor and hands-on experience. The AP (preparatory year) program had a big impact on me. Working in operational roles such as fine dining service, front office, pastry taught me discipline, attention to detail, and how to perform under pressure. It gave me real confidence in guest interaction and teamwork. Academically, I especially enjoyed classes related to financial accounting and economics as they helped me better understand how people and businesses function together. EHL’s career support also made a real difference. The interview preparation and guidance helped me secure my Front Office internship at Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, which was a major opportunity for me. What makes EHL distinctive is its international environment and high standards. You’re constantly surrounded by ambitious, driven students, which pushes me to grow both personally and professionally. My advice to future students is to fully embrace the operational experience; it builds resilience and professionalism that truly sets you apart.

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