IMD is an independent business school in Lausanne with hubs in Singapore, Shenzhen and Cape Town.[1] It runs executive education, an MBA, an Executive MBA, an MSc in Sustainable Management & Technology and two Executive Masters, and says more than 20,000 executives come to it each year.[1] In the Financial Times 2026 executive education rankings IMD is third for custom programmes and seventh for open programmes.[2]
The one-year full-time MBA costs CHF 97,500 on IMD’s MBA page, listed as CHF 80,000 tuition plus CHF 17,500 mandatory fees on its fees page; IMD does not name the intake year on either page.[3][4] The Executive MBA costs CHF 125,000 in total tuition.[5] Admission is selective: MBA applicants need at least two years of full-time work experience and attend an assessment day.[6]
Key facts
| Official name | IMD (International Institute for Management Development); also called IMD Business School |
| Location | Lausanne, Switzerland (Chemin de Bellerive 23, CH-1001 Lausanne); hubs in Singapore, Shenzhen and Cape Town[1] |
| Type | Business school; IMD calls itself an independent academic institute with close ties to business (the sources do not state its legal form). Not a general university[1] |
| Founded | 1990, when the International Management Institute (founded in Geneva as CEI in 1946 by Alcan) merged with IMEDE (founded in Lausanne by Nestlé in 1956)[7] |
| Executive education | More than 20,000 executives each year from over 120 countries[1] |
| Degree programmes | MBA, Executive MBA, MSc in Sustainable Management & Technology and two Executive Masters[1] |
| MBA class | 90 students, one year full time (January to December); 34 nationalities on average in the 2026 class profile[3] |
| FT Executive Education 2026 | 3rd for custom programmes, 7th for open programmes[2] |
| Other rankings listed by IMD | FT MBA 2026: 30th worldwide; FT Executive MBA 2026: 35th worldwide; Bloomberg Best European Business Schools 2026-27: 1st in Europe and the Middle East; Poets&Quants 2025-2026: 5th[8] |
| Overall QS ranking | Not applicable or not confirmed: we found no QS World University Rankings 2027 position for IMD in the sources we read. |
| MBA fees | CHF 97,500 (tuition CHF 80,000 + mandatory fees CHF 17,500); excluding indirect taxes; intake year not named[4] |
| Executive MBA tuition | CHF 125,000 in total[5] |
| Official website | imd.org |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About IMD
IMD describes itself as “an independent academic institute with close ties to business”, based in Lausanne with hubs in Singapore, Shenzhen and Cape Town.[1] Its history page says it was founded by business executives for business executives after the Second World War: Alcan set up the CEI in Geneva on 5 November 1946, and Nestlé set up IMEDE in Lausanne in 1956. The two merged in 1990 to create IMD.[7] Wikipedia gives 1957 for IMEDE, so the founding year of that predecessor differs by source.[9]
IMD lists EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA accreditations.[8] Wikipedia adds that IMD is a Swiss university institute accredited by the Swiss Accreditation Council.[9]
How is IMD ranked?
IMD’s own news item says the Financial Times 2026 Executive Education Rankings (published May 2026) put it 3rd globally for custom programmes and 7th for open programmes, out of 90 schools; open programmes rose two places.[2] IMD’s rankings page adds: FT MBA 2026, 30th worldwide; FT Executive MBA 2026, 18th in Europe and 35th worldwide; Bloomberg Best European Business Schools 2026-27, 1st in Europe and the Middle East for the MBA; Poets&Quants 2025-2026, 5th.[8]
The earlier table entry “#1 (Executive Education, FT)” is out of date for 2026. Wikipedia lists 1st for custom programmes in the 2025 FT ranking, but 3rd is the 2026 result.[9][2] All these results come from IMD’s own pages, so treat them as the school’s selection. We found no QS World University Rankings 2027 position for IMD. Rankings differ by publisher and year. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at IMD?
IMD’s offer, according to its about page:[1]
- Executive education: open and custom programmes, executive certificates and diplomas, online programmes and executive coaching.
- Degree programmes: the MBA, the Executive MBA, an MSc in Sustainable Management & Technology and two Executive Masters.
- Advisory work for organisations and policymakers.
The MBA lasts one year, full time, from January to December, with a class of 90 students.[3] The Executive MBA is modular, with about six weeks away from the office for on-campus and international modules and 12 to 15 hours a week of distance learning.[5]
How much does IMD cost?
| Programme | Fee (CHF) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| One-year MBA | 97,500 | Fees page: tuition 80,000 plus mandatory fees 17,500 |
| Executive MBA | 125,000 | Total tuition for the programme |
| MBA application fee | 150 | Non-refundable |
The MBA page lists tuition of CHF 97,500; the fees page splits the year into CHF 80,000 tuition and CHF 17,500 mandatory fees (the total of CHF 97,500 is our addition).[3][4] Neither page names an intake year, and the fees page says all fees exclude value-added or other indirect taxes.[4] The Executive MBA page gives CHF 125,000 as the total tuition and says travel and living expenses are not included.[5]
Living costs
The fees page gives CHF 36,000 as the average annual cost for a single person in Lausanne; the MBA admissions page says students should budget CHF 30,000 to CHF 36,000 a year.[4][6]
The earlier table entry “CHF 75,000+ (MBA)” is below the fee shown on IMD’s pages today. Executive education programmes have their own fees; check the programme page. For other Swiss costs see our Switzerland guide and the Study in Switzerland guide.
How do you apply to IMD?
MBA. You need a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and at least two years of full-time postgraduate work experience; the typical range in the class is three to eight years. IMD recommends a GMAT score of 555 or above (or an equivalent GRE or Executive Assessment score), less than five years old. You also submit a one-page CV, diplomas and transcripts, and one business-related recommender. Shortlisted applicants attend a virtual or on-campus assessment day with individual and group tasks plus an interview. The application fee is CHF 150.[6]
Executive MBA. IMD describes candidates aged 35 or more with at least 10 years of relevant professional experience, and asks for a recognised undergraduate degree or equivalent, a CV, academic records, two reference letters and the CHF 150 fee. The GMAC Executive Assessment (a 90-minute online test), GMAT or GRE is accepted, and waivers may be granted to exceptional candidates.[5]
We give no deadlines here because they change every intake. See the admissions pages of your programme.
Which language level do you need?
The MBA is taught entirely in English. If English is not your native language, IMD assesses your proficiency on the assessment day; its MBA admissions page lists no minimum test score.[6] The Executive MBA requires strong written and spoken English, with no English test required; proficiency is assessed during admission.[5]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the IMD MBA cost?
How is IMD ranked?
What are the admission requirements for the IMD MBA?
A bachelor’s degree or equivalent, at least two years of full-time work experience, a recommended GMAT score of 555 or above (or an equivalent GRE or Executive Assessment score), and an assessment day for shortlisted applicants.[6]
Is IMD a university?
Do I need French to study at IMD?
The MBA is taught entirely in English, and the admissions page lists no French requirement.[6]
More about studying in Switzerland
- Switzerland: best universities
- Study in Switzerland: complete guide
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Switzerland
- Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH)
- EPFL
- ETH Zurich
- FHNW
- Franklin Switzerland
- Geneva Graduate Institute
- HES-SO
- Università della Svizzera italiana (USI)
- University of Basel
- University of Bern
- University of Fribourg
- University of Geneva
- University of Lausanne
- University of Lucerne
- University of Neuchâtel
- University of St.Gallen (HSG)
- University of Zurich
- Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)
- Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK)
Sources
[1] IMD: About us (page without a date; footer 2006-2025)
[2] IMD: IMD ranks third for custom programs and seventh for open programs in 2026 FT executive education rankings (news item of May 2026)
[3] IMD: One-year MBA (page without a date; refers to the 2026 class profile)
[4] IMD: MBA fees and expenses (page without a date; intake year not named)
[5] IMD: Executive MBA admission (page without a date; footer 2006-2025)
[6] IMD: MBA admissions process (page without a date; covers the Class of 2028 intake)
[7] IMD: Our story (page without a date; latest timeline entry 2023)
[8] IMD: Rankings and accreditations (page without a date; cites 2026 rankings)
[9] Wikipedia: International Institute for Management Development (history and accreditation; the article is tagged as promotional)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.