Hello
I am currently applying to a lot of MBAs in Europe and Asia. I am non-EU citizen.
I want to be a consultant in the future (even straight after MBA, after working in a giant corporate firms then becoming a consultant is fine).
I am applying to IE Business School, ESADE, St Gallen, HEC Paris, INSEAD, LBS, IMD, Rotterdam Business School, Bocconi, IESE, Oxford and Cambridge. Which schools are good for my career after MBA and for consulting firms?
Thank you.
Hi Younho,
All of the schools you listed are respectable, but when it comes to consulting outcomes right after MBA, some have stronger track records and pipelines into MBB and T2 than others. Here’s a practical hierarchy based on typical consulting placement:
Very strong for consulting
• INSEAD – One of the top feeders into consulting globally, especially MBB and T2, with strong European and Middle East recruiting
• London Business School (LBS) – Excellent consulting placement, particularly into UK and EMEA
• HEC Paris – Strong consulting brand with solid MBB and T2 hires
Good consulting brands with decent pipelines
• IESE – Good consulting placements and a strong alumni network
• Oxford and Cambridge – Short programs but still respectable for consulting with focused prep
• St Gallen – Good regional consulting placement, especially in DACH
Moderate but possible with strong networking
• ESADE and IE Business School – Good reputations, but slightly weaker consulting conversion relative to the very top
• Bocconi, Rotterdam, IMD – Strengths vary by region and industry, with more regional or leadership focused outcomes
For consulting straight after MBA, your strongest options are typically INSEAD, LBS, and HEC, as these schools have the most structured recruiting relationships and alumni pipelines.
Happy to help you on your journey to secure a role if useful.
Best,
Evelina
That's a very ambitious and comprehensive list of applications. It shows you understand that the school network is the primary entry point for consulting firms in Europe.
Here's the reality of how MBB views those programs, particularly when recruiting a non-EU candidate: They operate on efficiency and scale. When considering placement power for a global career, you need to look at schools that have massive recruiting density and global brand recognition that simplifies visa sponsorship in multiple countries.
For a non-EU candidate aiming for global consulting, you must prioritize INSEAD and LBS first. These two are the unrivaled feeder programs in Europe; they have huge cohorts, dedicated pipelines to all global firms, and the brands travel best, which is critical if you need to pivot to a non-EU office (like Dubai, Singapore, or New York) for visa reasons. Following closely are IESE, HEC, and IMD—these are stellar schools that recruit heavily for their regional hubs (Spain, France, Switzerland) but offer slightly less automatic global mobility than the top two.
The second tier (IE, ESADE, Bocconi, St Gallen) are excellent regional schools, but their recruiting success is often highly dependent on local language skills and targeted office placement (e.g., Bocconi places very well into Milan offices). As a non-EU applicant, your time and money are best invested in the schools that offer the highest possible saturation of recruiters and the most flexible global platforms. Focus your energy and interview prep primarily on the top 4–5 schools that maximize your global optionality.
All the best with your applications.
