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Frequently Asked Questions

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What are the differences between the September and January intakes?

The curriculum, course structure, class size and composition, and campus exchange opportunities are
identical for the September and January intakes. The primary difference is that if you choose to begin in
September, you will complete the MBA in ten consecutive months. If you choose to begin in January you
will have a two-month summer break during which you can pursue an internship or other endeavours.

What is a typical day of an INSEAD student?

There is no typical day as the schedule will change every day throughout the year. During the first two
periods when students take their core courses, they often have 2 to 3 classes a day of 90 minutes each,
Monday to Friday, starting at the earliest at 8.30am and finishing at the latest by 7.00pm. Students also
have assignments and group projects, career counselling sessions and extra-curriculum activities. For the
last three periods, each student has their own academic schedule depending on the electives he or she has
chosen, with the same amount of assignments and group work, and typically increasing time spent on
career related activities.

INSEAD accept transfer credits from other schools?

No, we do not accept transfer credits from other schools.

Can I tailor my INSEAD MBA?

INSEAD offers more than 75 electives across both campuses, giving you the chance to construct a tailor-
made MBA programme that fits your personal and career goals. We do not have specialisations or majors.
You are free to pursue a generalist path towards management or specialise in a particular area such as
finance or entrepreneurship. However, regardless of the path you decide to take during your elective
period, everybody graduates with the same general MBA degree diploma

How will I be graded at INSEAD?

Final course grades for most classes will be determined by a mix of class participation, projects and
exams. For exams, INSEAD grades on a Standard Normal Curve, also called a Z-Curve, with a mean of
3.0. There are no forced fails. To graduate, participants must maintain a mean grade of 2.1 in core courses
and electives.

Will INSEAD disclose my grades?

No. INSEAD adheres to a strict non-disclosure policy. Your grades will never be shared with recruiters,
classmates, or anyone outside of the INSEAD community. During on-campus interviews, recruiters are
not permitted to ask about your grades, and you are not permitted to volunteer them. This policy allows
you the freedom to challenge yourself and enhance the breadth of your knowledge by taking electives in
unfamiliar subject areas without worrying that your grades will influence your job prospects

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What are the benefits of the one-year format?

The INSEAD MBA curriculum is designed to quickly and thoroughly prepare you for a career in
international business. Taking on the challenge of our accelerated programme, you will see a considerably
faster and greater return on your MBA investment. Our recruiters tell us that the one-year format helps
students to manage their time efficiently and effectively. Setting priorities and making choices about
learning, socialising and personal time from the very beginning of the programme, you will become an
expert at decision making which is one of the most valued qualities in a business leader.

What is the relationship between INSEAD and the CFA Institute?

CFA Institute partners with a limited number of globally diverse, select institutions that are recognized
leaders and serve as role models for other institutions. These universities cover a significant portion of the
CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge, including its ethical and professional standards, in their
degree programmes. The INSEAD MBA programme is recognized as CFA partner, because of the large
number of finance core and electives in its program. As part of the partnership, INSEAD students are
entitled to apply for scholarships, have access to CFA Institute curricula, journals, webcasts, and other
educational resources. Each student will have access to a specially prepared online Level I sample exam.

How many years work experience do I need to be admitted?

Participants in our current class have an average of 5.5 years work experience, with the range being
between two and ten. However, applicants with less experience who demonstrate exceptional maturity
and outstanding leadership through their professional and personal experiences will also be considered.

Is there an age limit for entry?

There is no age limit for entry. However, the MBA is aimed at those who are at an early stage in their
career. INSEAD participants in the current class have a range of between two and ten years of post-
graduate work experience. If you have more than ten years of work experience, we encourage you to
consider one of INSEAD's Executive MBA Programmes, where you will have the opportunity to learn
with a more experienced and mature peer group.

I don't have a business background. Will this impact my chances for admission?

At INSEAD, we value diversity at every level. We welcome applications from people with a variety of
professional and academic backgrounds, including the arts, law, medicine, military, non-profit, etc. As
with all candidates, we will be looking for you to demonstrate your potential as a leader, and we will
consider your professional experience and past performance when assessing your application.

Will my campus preference influence my chances of admission?

Your campus selection has no impact on the admissions decision. In fact, the Admissions Committee,
which makes all final admission decisions, does not have access to information about candidates' campus
preferences.

What is the typical student’s profile at INSEAD?

There is no typical profile at INSEAD. We have an extremely diverse student body in terms of age,
professional experience, education and culture. Check the latest class profile.

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I don't have an undergraduate degree. Can I still be considered for admission?

Yes. While the vast majority of our participants have undergraduate and/or advanced degrees, this is not
compulsory for admission. Candidates who do not hold an undergraduate degree, but who have an
excellent career record and GMAT score are also welcome to apply.

What’s the minimum qualifying GPA?

INSEAD does not have a minimum GPA requirement as the GPA system is not a globally used grading
methodology. We primarily look at the courses taken and the grades received in each course, in addition
to the overall academic performance.

What is the code for reporting my GMAT score to INSEAD?

Our GMAT reporting code (through Pearson Vue) is INSEAD: DL3-S8-89 MBA, Full Time.

What GMAT score do I need to apply?

INSEAD does not have a minimum required GMAT score. Rather than focusing on your overall score, we
assess your individual results in the Quantitative, Verbal and IR sections of the exam. We need you to
demonstrate your strengths in all of these sections. In order to be competitive, you should aim to achieve a
score at or above the 70 - 75 percentile in both the quantitative and verbal sections. For the Integrated
Reasoning section, we recommend achieving a score of 6 or above. Please keep in mind, however, that
the GMAT is just one of several admission criteria. A high score does not guarantee admission, and a
below average score does not eliminate a candidate.

I have taken the GMAT more than once. Which score will you consider?

If you have reported more than one score to INSEAD, the Admissions Committee will still consider the
full history of your GMAT attempts, but will place the greatest weight on the highest score you achieved.
Also, if you have obtained a satisfactory percentile in one section of the test but a lower percentile in the
other, and vice versa in a second test, the Admissions Committee may consider that you have reached a
sufficient level overall, provided the second test does not show too significant a drop in the lower
element.

How long is my GMAT score valid for?

Your GMAT score is valid for five years prior to application deadline.

Can I apply before taking the GMAT?

No. We will review your application only when all elements of the application package have been
received, including your GMAT score. You can take the GMAT up until the day of the Admissions
deadline but you would need to provide us with a copy of your 'Unofficial Score Report' (to be uploaded
as part of the supporting documents).

How does INSEAD evaluate the IR section and what score is required for admissions?

As of June 2012, the GMAT test includes an Integrated Reasoning (IR) section, which is designed to
measure a test taker’s ability to evaluate information presented in new formats and from multiple sources.

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When taking the GMAT test, you should aim for achieving an IR score of 6 or above.

Will INSEAD still accept GMAT scores from the old version of the GMAT exam?

Yes, assuming your test results are still valid (five years from the date of test to application deadline),
INSEAD will accept them.

Where can I learn more about this new section of the test?

You can visit mba.com for more detailed information on the exam.

Do you accept GRE scores instead of GMAT?

In countries where the GMAT test is not offered, we will accept a GRE test instead. Similarly, a GRE test
is acceptable for prospective students looking to follow the Dual Degree path. A score above 85% for the
quantitative and verbal sections of the GRE is highly recommended. The ETS code to report the score to
INSEAD is 0970 and the score is valid for five years.

What is the language of instruction?

English is the language of instruction at INSEAD. You need to be fluent in English to apply to the MBA
programme. Acceptable valid English proof must be sent with your application for it to be considered as
complete before your admissions evaluation starts. (See page 5 of the Language Policy.)

Why does INSEAD have a language policy?

At INSEAD, we believe strongly in the importance of an international outlook. The ability to

communicate in more than one language will give you a competitive advantage in the global marketplace
and enable you to work effectively across multiple cultures. Check our Language Policy for more details.

Do I need to speak French?

No. English is the language of instruction on both campuses.

How do I provide proof of fluency in English?

When: The Admissions Office requires valid English proof to consider an application as complete to start
the selection process. (See page 5 of the Language Policy.)

How: You can demonstrate English fluency:

Either with a university degree (a minimum of one full-time academic year with a diploma received
from that host university) where all courses were taught exclusively in English. (An exchange
programme does not qualify.) If your university degree was exclusively taught in English but in a
non-English speaking country, please make sure that your transcripts clearly mention the language
of instruction is English to complete your application
Or by taking one of the following English tests and aiming for the recommended scores in brackets
hereafter: TOEFL (internet-based test: 105, computer-based test: 260, paper-based test: 620);
TOEIC (all 4 sections) Listening & Reading (950), Speaking (190) & Writing (170); IELTS
Academic (7.5); CPE (B); PTE Academic (72). These tests have a validity period of 2 years prior to

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the application deadline to which you are applying. (See page 3 of the Language Policy.)

English is not my native language, but I have lived and worked in an English speaking country for
many years. Do I still need to provide additional proof of fluency in English?

Yes. Living and working in an English-speaking environment is not accepted as proof of fluency in
English. If you possess a full university degree (undergraduate or postgraduate) where all courses were
taught exclusively in English, we will accept your degree as proof of your fluency in English. Your
transcripts should clearly indicate that the curriculum was entirely taught in English. Otherwise, you may
take one of the following English language tests (the recommended minimum score is in brackets):
TOEFL (iTOEFL: 105, Computer-Based: 260, Paper-Based: 620); IELTS (7.5); CPE (B); PTE Academic
(72); TOEIC Listening and Reading (950) plus TOEIC Writing (170) plus TOEIC Speaking (190). For
TOEIC and IELTS, you need to submit score results for all 4 parts: Listening, Reading, Speaking, and
Writing. More details can be found in our Language Policy.

How many languages must I speak in addition to English in order to be admitted?

If English is your native language, you have to demonstrate at least a practical knowledge of a second
language (referred to as 'entry' language) before the start of the programme by passing one of our
accepted language tests for your chosen second language. If you are a non-native English speaker, your
native language will fulfil this requirement (no test required).

English is my native language. When and how do I certify my entry/2nd language?

If you are joining the programme in September, you will need to provide certification of your second
language no later than 1 June. If you are joining the programme in January, you will need to provide
certification of your second language no later than 1 November. Accepted certifications are listed in the
Language Policy.

What is meant by exit language and how do I provide proof of it?

In addition to the two entry languages, all students will need to demonstrate at least basic knowledge of a
third language (referred to as 'exit language') in order to graduate. If you already possess basic knowledge
of a third language, we recommend you certify your exit language either before the start of the
programme or during Orientation Week. If you need to learn a third language, you can do so during the
programme and pass the language test before graduation. Language instruction is available on both
campuses.

Are there any restrictions on the choice of entry and exit languages?

Yes. Both entry and exit languages must be officially recognised by the government of a country. Entry
and exit languages must also be sufficiently different from each other. More details are available in the
Language Policy.

What does 'fluent', 'practical' and 'basic' knowledge mean, exactly?

'Fluent' knowledge is defined as the ability to communicate precisely and effectively in complex
situations.

'Practical' knowledge is defined as the ability to communicate about familiar matters regularly

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encountered at work, school, and in leisure activities.

'Basic' knowledge is defined as the ability to communicate in a direct exchange of information in the
simple present, future and past tenses.

Is an interview required for admission?

Yes. All applications go through a process of first selection, whereby a short-list of interviewees is
compiled. At this stage, only those selected for interview continue with the application process. In most
cases, two separate interviews are conducted.

When will I hear if I have been selected for interview?

You will be informed if you have been selected for interview within approximately six weeks of receiving
your acknowledgement of your completed application. For a full overview of our interview and decision
deadlines please visit Dates and Deadlines.

I was selected for interview. When will I hear if my application has been successful?

You will be informed of your final decision approximately six weeks after you were informed that you
were selected for interview. For a full overview of our interview and decision deadlines please visit Dates
and Deadlines.

How will my admissions decision be communicated?

You will be advised by e-mail of your final admissions decision.

What is the fee payment schedule?

If you are offered a place on the MBA programme, you will be notified of a specific date by which you
must confirm acceptance and pay a non-refundable deposit of approximately 10% of the total academic
fees (usually within four weeks). Approximately one month before you begin your programme you will
also need to pay a non-refundable tuition instalment equivalent to 60% of total tuition (90% for company
sponsored participants). The final tuition payment (remaining 30% of total academic fees) is due
approximately four months into the programme. For more information visit Fees and Expenses.

What sources of funding are available to me?

Each year, INSEAD awards scholarships to participants. In addition, we encourage you to explore all
sources of financing which may be available to you in your home country or country of residence. There
are a variety of international and national scholarship programmes, as well as attractive loans available
through external sources. Those which are known to INSEAD can be found on our External
Funding page.

Does INSEAD offer students loans?

All admitted MBA students are eligible to apply for an International Loan Programme from Prodigy
Finance, a loan programme funded by INSEAD and other top business school alumni. For more details,
visit www.prodigyfinance.com.

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What INSEAD scholarships are available to me?

Scholarships are granted according to various criteria depending on the sources. The two basic categories
of scholarships are 'Need-based' and 'Merit-based'. To view detailed descriptions and eligibility criteria for
all of our scholarships, visit the INSEAD Scholarships page.

When may I begin to apply for INSEAD scholarships?

Candidates in the first three rounds will apply for financial aid at interview stage. Round 3 candidates
qualify to apply for the Need-based, L’Oreal and Louis Franck Scholarships only, so if scholarships are a
priority to you, you should apply within the first two rounds. Round 4 candidates will not have access to
scholarship applications. However, funds will be reserved to offer a number of merit scholarship awards
upon admission. Awards will be based on the quality of the admission application.

What are the deadlines for scholarship applications?

Deadlines for scholarship applications can be found on our Scholarship Application Guide.

Can I be awarded more than one INSEAD scholarship?

Yes, you may be awarded up to two INSEAD scholarships. However, we encourage you to limit the
number of scholarship applications to a maximum of five.

When will I be informed of the scholarship decision?

Scholarship decisions are announced up to ten weeks before the start of the programme.

How can I track the status of my scholarship application?

Throughout the period that the online scholarship application is open, you can modify or withdraw your
scholarship applications as you please. In addition, you can track the status of your application with the
help of your personal link.

How can I find out which companies recruit at INSEAD?

You can find a list of companies recruiting at INSEAD in the latest Employment Statistics, which is also
available online. The majority of these companies are regular recruiters on campus or companies with
which INSEAD Career Development Centre have established relationships.

What types of salary and benefits packages are typically offered to graduates?

Salary and benefits packages vary widely across industries, companies and regions. Please refer to our
latest Employment Statistics for detailed salary information of the last two graduating classes.

How easily can I make a career change after INSEAD?

You will find detailed insight into our graduates’ career, function and location changes in our latest
Employment Statistics. Naturally, some career changes can be made more easily than others and are
influenced by previous professional experiences, knowledge of the market, languages, etc. For those who
are interested in making a career switch to banking specifically, it is recommended that you secure a

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summer internship with a financial institution or investment bank. For other sector or functional moves,
graduates need to identify these career goals early on and work in conjunction with Career Development
staff to prepare for these transitions.

What are my chances of securing a job outside of my home country?

Some recruiters see an intrinsic value in hiring international graduates and are used to securing work
permits for employees. For other recruiters, it depends on whether the skills you have are in demand in
that specific geography (language abilities, experience in certain markets, etc.) to justify the extra burden
of obtaining working papers. The delay in obtaining a work visa can vary considerably, and is impacted
by both the applicant’s own nationality and the country in which the applicant wishes to work. There are
some countries for which working papers may be more easily obtained for INSEAD graduates.

What are my chances of working in Asia if I am based on the Europe campus? What are my
chances of finding a job in Europe/U.S. if I am based on the Asia campus?

Your chances of finding a job have more to do with your skills, experience and potential than your
campus location. The Career Development team is well integrated across all locations and provides the
same tools, advising, and resources, irrespective of whether you are studying in Fontainebleau, Singapore
or Abu Dhabi. Career Development strongly recommends that you start networking in your target region
early on and choose your campus for the peak recruiting season accordingly. On-campus recruiting is not
generally impacted by location, as all companies recruiting from INSEAD must include students from
both campuses in their recruitment campaign. Of course there may be exceptions where recruiters in the
different regions have separate processes but they can also use the videoconference facilities or Skype, to
conduct interviews with students, regardless of location. Being based in the region where you ultimately
want to work does obviously increase opportunities for networking, which can translate into a higher
likelihood of securing the job you want.

Can I do a pre-MBA internship?

You will only have student status once you have started the MBA Programme. CDC does occasionally
receive pre-internships from recruiters and these are posted on MBA Connect.

Is it worth approaching recruiting companies before starting the MBA programme?

Companies recruiting at INSEAD prefer that you wait and go through the process when on-campus. By
that time, you will have more information through company presentations, speaking with alumni who
work at these companies or in the industry, and through your classmates who may be able to give you
additional insights.

I want to change careers. Which intake would be better for me?

Our career opportunities are identical across both intakes. Whether you join in September or January, you
will begin working with the Career Development team early on to prepare for the next step in your career.
Those interested in a career in investment banking are strongly encouraged to consider the January intake,
as investment banks hire full-time positions primarily through their summer associate programmes.

What is the size of the INSEAD Alumni network?

The INSEAD Alumni network currently consists of more than 50,000 INSEAD Alumni - including MBA

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and Executive degree Alumni, living and working in over 170 countries. For more information, visit our
MBA Alumni pages.

How can I get in touch with INSEAD alumni to discuss their MBA experience?

Attending one of our events is a good way to meet and network with MBA Alumni. In addition, we
suggest tapping into your own networks (LinkedIn, Facebook etc.). You can also contact our National
Alumni Association network.

How can I check if my online application has been received?

You can find out whether the online components of your application have been received by visiting the
Dashboard of the online application centre. This page will indicate the status of your application. An
email notification will also be sent to you within one week of submitting your application. We will inform
you as to whether your file is complete or if any components of your application are missing. It is
therefore important that you check your e-mail account regularly after submitting your application. Due to
European Data Protection laws and our own confidentiality policy, our Admissions Office is regrettably
unable to give out any information over the phone about applications.

What should I do if I experience technical problems submitting my application?

If you encounter technical difficulties when completing your application form, please contact the IT
Support Team.

Can I print out the PDF version of the application and send in a hard copy, rather than submitting
it online?

We only accept applications submitted electronically. This allows us to process your application more
quickly. It also allows you to stay informed of the status of your application throughout the process by
checking it online.

Will you provide feedback on an unsuccessful application?

Due to the large number of applications we receive for each intake and the confidentiality of the
deliberations of the Admissions Committee, we are unable to provide individual detailed feedback on
rejected applications.

If my application has been unsuccessful, may I reapply in the next round?

Unsuccessful applicants may reapply for a later intake. Please exercise your own judgement in deciding if
you have any significant changes in your new profile since your first application that will make a
difference with the Admissions Committee. All re-applicants are requested to submit a new online
application, unless otherwise indicated.

I have been admitted, but my preferred home campus is already full. What happens now?

We will strive to accommodate your campus choice. However, if your preferred home campus is full, you
will be offered the choice of either a place on the other campus or a place on the wait-list for your
preferred campus. In such cases, we encourage you to start your MBA programme on the campus that was
not your initial preference, and then participate in the campus exchange to experience the other campus.

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Can I defer admission?

In the large majority of cases, no. You should apply for the intake in which you intend to enrol. In truly
exceptional circumstances, the Admissions Committee may grant a deferral. All requests should be made
in writing and will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

How strict are the application deadlines?

To be included in a specific round, applications must be complete and submitted by midnight

French Time on the day of deadline. A complete application includes the online form, GMAT test scores,
English test scores (if applicable), all supporting documents, two letters of reference, payment of the
application fees and video interviews*. For more details please visit Supporting Documentation, under
Application Checklist.

* Please complete your video interviews at your earliest convenience and no later than 48 hours after the
deadline to which you are applying.

Are any of the rounds more or less competitive than others?

Each round is equally competitive as the ratio of acceptance is the same for all rounds. We allocate more
places in round 1, 2 and 3 than in round 4, but we also receive more applications in round 1, 2 and 3 than
in round 4. When choosing a round in which to apply, the most important consideration is to dedicate
enough time and thought to your application so that it accurately represents your strengths and talents.
However, we encourage you to apply to round 1 or 2 if scholarships are a priority or if you need more
time to relocate to your starting campus.

Which intake is more competitive?

The September and January intakes are equal in size and composition and are equally competitive.

Can I postpone my application submission to the next round?

If you choose to delay submission of your application until the following round of the same intake, your
application form details will be saved automatically. Note that access to your form will be temporarily
disabled from Midnight French Time on the day of the deadline, as the system will shut down for about
four days. Access to your form will resume once the temporary shutdown period ends, so you can
continue editing it.

Can't find the answer to your question?

Post your question to us

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