Many English-taught business schools in Europe teach some courses in English, while fewer teach whole degrees in it. UIBS teaches all its programs in English, across 9 city-center campuses and an Online campus. This guide shows what to check, from accreditation to degree recognition, and how we answer each question.


At a glance

  • Check that the whole degree is taught in English, not only some courses
  • Tell institutional accreditation apart from programmatic accreditation
  • Ask how the degree is recognized where you want to work or study next
  • Compare start dates, campus mobility and study formats

Which business schools in Europe teach fully in English?

Many do, but check each program, not the school’s homepage. UIBS teaches all its programs in English, across 9 city-center campuses and online.

A school can call itself international and still teach part of a degree in the local language. So when you shortlist English-taught business schools in Europe, ask for the language of every course in your program. That includes electives and final projects.

At UIBS the answer is simple. Our programs are English-taught and American-inspired, and we communicate with students in American English. Our community brings together more than 100 nationalities, so English is also the shared language outside class.


How do I check a business school’s accreditation in Europe?

First ask who accredits the institution, then who accredits your program. An accredited business school should answer both questions clearly.

Accreditation is where English-taught business schools in Europe differ most. Institutional accreditation reviews the whole institution. Programmatic accreditation reviews named programs. Then check the agency itself. In Europe, agencies listed in the European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR) have shown that they substantially comply with the European Standards and Guidelines for quality assurance.

Our own accreditation, in the approved wording: “United Institute is institutionally-accredited by the EQAR-listed British Accreditation Council (BAC). Its main constituent school, UIBS, further holds programmatic accreditation from the EQAR-listed ‘Fundación para el Conocimiento Madri+d’ for its Professional Master’s programs, and from the CHEA-recognized Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) for several of its Bachelor’s and Master’s programs.”

Our quality page lists every body and its scope.


Will my degree be recognized in other countries?

That depends on the country and on why you need recognition. So ask each school whether its degree is state-recognized or private.

Recognition for further study or for a job can follow different rules, even between English-taught business schools in Europe. The ENIC-NARIC network of national information centers advises on recognizing foreign qualifications, and it is a good place to check your target country.

We say plainly what our degrees are. Our qualifications are private, awarded by the school’s headquarters in Switzerland. “Our institution also does not hold US-regional accreditation, and the qualifications awarded by the school’s HQ are not regulated under the Swiss Higher Education Act of September 2011.” As a result, they “may therefore not provide access to government employment, regulated professions, or further studies at other or public institutions.”

State-recognized routes exist alongside them. For example, our top-up BA (Hons) in Global Business is validated by Coventry University, whose degrees are state-recognized in the UK. Our Bachelor programs page explains the options.


What else should I compare between English-taught business schools in Europe?

After language, accreditation and recognition, compare how flexible the study model is. These four points shape your daily study life the most.

Ask English-taught business schools in Europe about each of these:

Start dates

Can you start more than once a year? UIBS offers up to 8 start dates a year.

Campus mobility

Can you move cities without starting again? UIBS students can transfer between campuses each quarter.

Formats

Can you study on campus, online or both? UIBS runs an Online campus next to its 9 city campuses.

Credits

Are credits in ECTS? Ours are, and 60 ECTS credits equal a full year of study.

You can read more about our calendar in our guide to business schools with multiple start dates in Europe.

Good to knowAfter a campus move, not every course is guaranteed to run face to face. Check the next term’s schedule with an advisor first.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to speak the local language to study at UIBS?

No. UIBS teaches its programs in English on every campus, so you can study in Barcelona, Zurich or Tokyo without the local language.

Do I need an English test to study at UIBS?

Your English level decides your support. English lessons are optional from IELTS 6.5 or CEFR C1, and recommended or mandatory below that.

Which schools does United Institute include?

United Institute teaches through its constituent schools. UIBS is the main one, alongside the School for Liberal Studies and others.

Is UIBS accredited?

United Institute holds institutional accreditation from the British Accreditation Council, and UIBS holds programmatic accreditation from ACBSP and Madri+d for named programs.


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