ESADE Business School
ESADE Business School, part of Ramon Llull University in Barcelona, is one of Europe’s leading institutions for management education, known for its strong international focus and commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship, and social impact. With campuses in Barcelona, Sant Cugat, and Madrid, ESADE offers a wide range of programs including the Full Time MBA, Executive MBA, MSc programs in management, and PhD. The school is recognized for its collaborative learning environment, diverse student body, and close ties to global companies and entrepreneurial ecosystems. ESADE’s emphasis on responsible leadership and global perspective prepares graduates to excel in an increasingly interconnected world.
Representative:
- Judith Puigbò| Associate Director of Recruitment & Admissions | [email protected]
- Sharon Mizrachi | MBA 2025
School brochure: click to open
Q&A with admissions: click to open
2024 Chat Transcript:
ESADE
Hi @Kohen! Absolutely
ESADE
Definitely! No one is perfect and we know that you might be lacking some aspects. That's no problem. You will compensate with other strenghts
Kohen
Hello! I don't have any community experience but tons of other extracurricular activities. Is that ok?
Hazan
I lack international exposure, Can I compensate it somehow?
ESADE
For sure. You can request a 1-2-1 call with my colleague Judith ([email protected]) who is currently responsible for recruitment in Israel. She will have a chat any time that is suitable for you. Also, she travels to Israel a few times a year, so you could meet in person too.
Leo
thanks for this info - will there be another chat session like this or in person event? (I have time, only applyign in 2026...)
ESADE
Definitely not. It's not about having reached a high position or working for a top company. You might have many talents through your current role. You will just need to explain to us how you can add value to the classroom
Armon
In my work experience, I do not have much impact to demonstrate, will that be counted as a negative aspect of my profile?
ESADE
Ideally you should have strong academics (good GPA/GMAT or Esade Test score), good work experience that can add value to a class discussion, international exposure and good personal fit with the school values
Hazan
What are the core strengths you look for in an applicant?
ESADE
We have need-based scholarships that range from 70-80% of tuition and talent scholarships that range from 15-40% tuition. You need to apply through your applicant portal for the talent awards, and upload the specific required documentation onto a cloud link for the need-based.
elad
Are there full scholarships for MBA program? How do you get them?
ESADE
@hanna if you want to work in Spain, it is recommended (we offer Spanish language throughout the year) since many Spanish companies appreciate when a candidate speaks the local language. In general Israelis can learn Spanish quite easily. However, our program is 100% in English and Barcelona is a very non-Spanish-speaking friendly city. So it only depends on who much you want to work in Spain. Regarding your second question, there is a high percentage of non Europeans who stay in Europe post-MBA. As I mentioned earlier, you'll need to put in a lot of effort into finding the right job for you, but it's not about which passport a candidate has. You just need to be a strong competitor.
ESADE
@elad when it comes to applying, there is no difference. In fact, our class is 95% international (with close to 50 nationalities in class) so you can imagine for us 'international student' is the norm :). If you want to work in Europe and you do not have a European passport, it can be slightly more challenging because there is more bureaucracy involved. But the general message is easy: finding the right job is the main challenge. The paperwork is not the reason why you won't get the opportunity you want.
Hanna
Hi ESADE. thank you. I just read your answers and flipping through the employment report
2 questions please
1. Do i need to know Spanish to find a job?
2. I dont have an EU passport, I am assuming the jobs are for people with EU passports?
elad
How should international students who are impacted by visa restrictions position themselves to be competitive with other applicants? Do domestic students have an advantage when applying to your programs?
ESADE
Esade is the top MBA in Europe for Entrepreneurs. Not only is it part of the core academics, but there are many extracurricular related initiatives: Entrepreneurship Club, an Entrepreneurship specialization plus the support of our Eworks department which is dedicated to the Entrepreneurship ecosystem at Esade
ESADE
tons :). For a quick summary, you can check page 21 of this report https://itemsweb.esade.edu/mba/PDF/FTMBA_Employment_Report_2022.pdf
ofir
Hi, what entrepreneurship courses and programs do you offer?
ESADE
@Barak unfortunately we cannot admit students without a Bachelor's for legal reasons as the Ministry of Education in Spain sets specific requirements that we cannot skip
ESADE
@ofir it depends on what works for you. if we happen to be traveling to your city, we can do it in person. else, online via Zoom or Teams
Barak
Hey,
I do not hold an undergraduate degree but have a strong GMAT score (690 GMAT Focus) and an excellent career record in tech and military intelligence, including management experience. Would I still be considered for the MBA program? How significant is the lack of an undergraduate degree given that I surpass all other criteria?
ESADE
@Yair you can choose the length (once you are doing the MBA, not before) of 12-15-18 months depending on whether you do an internship and or exchange. Exchanges in the US can be with: Babson, Booth, Cornell, Darden, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, Hass, Kellogg, McCombs, Ross https://digitalbrochures.esade.edu/.ftmba/#page=5https://digitalbrochures.esade.edu/.ftmba/#page=5
ofir
How do you conduct admission interviews? phone/zoom or in person?
ESADE
@sharon You will have the chance to explain in your essays about your choices and motivations, but you shouldn't worry! There is no disadvantage in having previous education
Yair
and followup about exchange opportunities? maybe in the US?
Yair
hi ESADE. can you talk about the length of the program
sharon
I have done a distance MBA degree (which I realize was not very useful). So technically, this will be my second MBA. Do I need to explain this anywhere in the application
Armon
Thank you.
ESADE
Don't forget you can also take the Esade Admissions Test https://itemsweb.esade.edu/documents/TAE_Instructions.pdf
ESADE
They are both important, but a strong GMAT has a stronger impact in your competitiveness when it comes to admission or a scholarship
Armon
As an international applicant, should I focus more on Essays or my GMAT exam?
ESADE
@inbar it does not as long as we see that our MBA can also help you. We wouldn't want to waste any of your time or money! :D
ESADE
@Kedem yes, they will need a working permit provided by the company as with any other non-EU citizen
ESADE
@maya unfortunately not. By law we can only admit students who have a BA
inbar
I have done an MBA already. Does this hurt my chance in any way?
ESADE
@Armon you can be genuine and transparent. We're not expecting a specific answer through an essay, just to know you better.
Kedem
Can partners work in Spain (we have Israeli passports...)
Maya
Hi ESADE :) I come from a family business. but as I worked straight out of the army, I didnt have the chance to complete my BA. can I still register to the MBA?
ESADE
In very specific cases we offer application fee waivers, yes. You should send your request and motivations to Judith as well at [email protected]
ESADE
My colleague Judith ([email protected]) is responsible for Admissions in Israel - she could not join today. But she has an extensive network of Alumni from Israel who she can connect you with for a chat. Else, we can also connect with Alumni/students from other countries if you are targeting a specific company or industry. Reach out to her any time!
Armon
Do you prefer a specific approach to the essay?
Oren
Do you give an application fee waiver?
rotem
How can I connect with current students/alumni?
ESADE
here is a link to the instructions of our test in case it's helpful. This test is included in your application fee if you choose to take it instead of the GMAT
ESADE
https://itemsweb.esade.edu/documents/TAE_Instructions.pdf
ESADE
Hello! We cannot waive a GMAT score but you can take the classic GMAT, the GMAT Focus, GRE or our internal test
rotem
Hi Donna, do you waive GMAT and/or accept the focus edition GMAT?
ESADE
Hello! I am Donna Ramírez from MBA Admissions at Esade. Feel free to send your questions!