IMD
Lausanne, Switzerland - Founded 1990
IMD is a business school in Lausanne, Switzerland. Its MBA is a 12-month full-time program that runs from January to December. The Class of 2026 has 90 participants with an average age of 30, an average of 6 years of work experience, 34 nationalities, 34% women and an average GMAT Focus score of 615. IMD requires at least two years of full-time postgraduate work experience. Tuition and mandatory fees total CHF 97,500. For the Class of 2025, 70% of graduates accepted a job offer within three months of graduation. IMD ranks 30th (joint) in the FT Global MBA 2026 ranking and 1st in the Bloomberg Businessweek 2026-27 Europe and Middle East ranking.
Class size
90
Avg GMAT
615
- #30 (joint) FT Global MBA 2026
- #1 Bloomberg Businessweek Best B-Schools 2026-27 (Europe and Middle East)
Class profile
Applications
-
Avg GPA
-
GMAT range
-
Intl students
-
Women
34%
Avg work exp
6.0 yrs
Avg age
30
GRE accepted
Yes
Pre-MBA industries
Employment
Median base salary
-
Signing bonus
-
Placement (3 mo)
70%
Offers at grad
-
Changed industry
-
Changed function
-
| Industry | % of class |
|---|---|
| Consulting | 27% |
| Manufacturing | 18% |
| Technology | 16% |
| Financial Services | 11% |
| FMCG and Retail | 9% |
| Energy | 9% |
| Other sectors | 6% |
Programs
| Type | Program | Duration | Format | Tuition | Class size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time MBA | IMD MBA | 12 months | Full-time, on campus in Lausanne | CHF 97,500 (tuition CHF 80,000 plus mandatory fees CHF 17,500) | 90 |
| Executive MBA | IMD Executive MBA | 20 months | Part-time, modular (Lausanne, Singapore, international modules and online) | CHF 125,000 | - |
Admissions
| Round | Deadline | Decision by |
|---|---|---|
| Class of 2027 (January 2027 start) | Applications still open; IMD lists no closing date | Not published by IMD |
| Class of 2028, deadline 1 | 26 January 2027 | Not published by IMD |
| Class of 2028, deadline 2 | 16 March 2027 | Not published by IMD |
| Class of 2028, deadline 3 | 4 May 2027 | Not published by IMD |
| Class of 2028, deadline 4 | 13 July 2027 | Not published by IMD |
| Class of 2028, deadline 5 | 7 September 2027 | Not published by IMD |
| Class of 2028, deadline 6 | 12 October 2027 | Not published by IMD |
Application fee
-
Tuition
CHF 97,500 (tuition CHF 80,000 plus mandatory fees CHF 17,500)
Total cost
CHF 97,500 in tuition and fees, plus living expenses IMD estimates at CHF 30,000 to CHF 36,000 per year
Interview
Shortlisted applicants are invited to an assessment day, online or on campus, with individual and group tasks and an interview. Each assessment day is linked to an application deadline.
English test
Not required
Deferral
Not stated by IMD
FAQ
What GMAT score do I need for IMD?
IMD recommends a GMAT score of 555 or above, or an equivalent GRE or Executive Assessment score. The Class of 2026 average is 615 on the GMAT Focus scale.
How large is the IMD MBA class?
The Class of 2026 has 90 participants from 34 nationalities.
What is the IMD MBA tuition?
Tuition is CHF 80,000 plus mandatory fees of CHF 17,500, a total of CHF 97,500. IMD estimates living expenses in Lausanne at CHF 30,000 to CHF 36,000 per year.
What are IMD's employment outcomes?
For the Class of 2025, 78% of graduates received a job offer and 70% accepted one within three months of graduation. Average annualized total compensation was USD 136,940 (USD 176,719 PPP adjusted).
Sources
- 1IMD, Class profile
- 2IMD, Admissions
- 3IMD, Employment report (checked October 15, 2026)
Logo by Imdbs, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.