IMD MBA

01 · Class profile

Who is in the IMD MBA class

This is what IMD calls its 2026 class profile (average data). IMD's overview page and admissions FAQ give the average of 6 years of experience, with a typical range of 3 to 8 years. The class profile gives an average age of 30 at the start of the programme.

Where the class is from (share of students)

Share of students by region, as IMD groups them. The shares add to 101% as IMD prints them. IMD's class profile lists India among the 34 nationalities.

Functional background (share of students)

Share of students by functional background before the MBA, as IMD shows it in its class profile.

Industry background (share of students)

Share of students by industry before the MBA. 'Other' is IMD's own bucket and IMD does not say what it contains.

Test scores

IMD labels 615 the 'Average GMAT/GMAC score' on its overview page and does not say whether it is the GMAT Focus or the previous edition. It publishes no class figures for the GRE or the Executive Assessment, and no counts per test.

The programme

IMD says the MBA is 12 months, running January to December, and gives a student-to-faculty ratio of 1:2. It says nearly half of MBA candidates come with a partner.

IMD's class profile does not publish a split of the class by academic background.

02 · Placements

Where IMD MBA graduates go

From IMD's report headed 'Career statistics 2025', which counts 78 graduates (42% women). We call this the Class of 2025. IMD says the data was compiled from student-reported data and August 2026 exchange rates, with metrics calculated under MBA CSEA guidelines.

IMD calls the pay 'average annualised total compensation': US$136,940 in non-adjusted US dollars, and US$176,719 adjusted for purchasing power (PPP, international dollars). It is an average, not a median. The report gives no median and no highest salary.

IMD says 78% received an offer and 70% accepted an offer, both within 3 months of graduation. The report does not state the response rate or the number of students behind the percentages. It also says 31% are employed in Switzerland, with no base given.

IMD's pages differ: its career page shows '$176k median salary' and the overview page shows '$180k median salary' with 80% offers and no class year. The report calls the pay an average. This page uses the report.

IMD's career page also says 92% of MBA graduates switch role, industry and/or geography after the MBA. It does not give the base for that share or say which class it covers.

Where graduates work (share of graduates, by region)

Share of graduates by region of employment, as IMD's report shows it. The report does not state the base.

Functions (share of graduates)

Share of graduates by function, as IMD's report shows it. IMD's labels are 'Consulting (internal & external)' and 'Sales/Marketing/Product Management'. The report does not state the base.

Sectors (share of graduates)

Share of graduates by sector, as IMD's report shows it. The shares add to 96% as IMD prints them. The report does not state the base.

Pay by destination and by sector

Average annualised total compensation, as IMD's report gives it. IMD does not say how many graduates are in each group, and its destination groups overlap in name.

Employers

IMD's report shows 15 company logos under who hires IMD MBAs: ABB, Accenture, Almatis, Anglo American, Lilly, Ferrero, Hoffmann Group, Intersport, Kearney, Emerson, McKinsey & Company, Tata, Red Bull, BCG and EY. It does not say these are the largest employers or how many people each hired.

Career support

IMD says its Career Development Center coaches you from the moment you accept your place, in three phases: Explore, Prepare and Execute. It names one-to-one coaching, mock interviews, sector clubs and alumni mentoring, and personal support until you secure the right role.

IMD's career page describes Career Weeks as two weeks each year, hosted by the Career Development Center, with employer visits in September. IMD's class profile gives recruitment weeks of 31st Aug to 4th Sep and 12th to 16th Oct (it prints no year).

Internship

IMD's class profile describes an optional summer internship in July and August: 8 weeks, 6th Jul to 28th Aug (it prints no year).

03 · Fees and scholarships

What it costs, and how to pay less

IMD's overview page shows tuition fees of CHF 97,500. Its fees page splits that into tuition of CHF 80,000 and additional mandatory fees of CHF 17,500. IMD does not say which intake the figure is for. All fees exclude value-added or other indirect taxes.

What the mandatory fees cover

IMD lists a pre-programme course; travel and accommodation for all IMD-organised projects; leadership and career coaching, including 20 hours with a personal analyst; books, learning materials and business cards; MBA study rooms; lunch and coffee on on-campus days; clubs, committees and the gym; relocation and visa assistance.

Paying the fee

IMD does not give the year for these dates. It says scholarships are deducted from the 4th instalment first, then the 3rd, and cannot be deducted from the 1st or 2nd. IMD-affiliated loan providers can cover the 3rd and 4th instalments, with proof of pre-approval by 15th Dec.

Living costs

IMD's admissions FAQ says to budget CHF 30,000 to 36,000 a year, about CHF 3,000 a month in Lausanne. Its fees page gives an average of CHF 36,000 for a single person: CHF 20,335 apartment, CHF 599 Swiss authorities, CHF 930 insurances, CHF 14,136 other expenses.

Scholarships and bursaries

IMD says 48% of students received a scholarship from IMD, and that more than 50% of scholarships go to women. It does not label the class. IMD's admissions FAQ says about 48% of students receive scholarships or bursaries.

IMD's scholarship deadlines read 'Throughout 2026' and do not map to the Class of 2028 deadlines in section 04, so IMD may not have updated them. Check with IMD before you plan around them.

IMD says to complete the scholarship application in the Program section of the MBA application form, and that scholarships and bursaries are awarded to candidates who have applied and accepted an offer. It says nothing more on decision timing, beyond 'ongoing basis' for bursaries.

Loans

IMD lists external funding by region. For India it lists GradRight. Examples elsewhere include Deutsche Bildung AG for Germany and Austria, Lendwise for the UK and USA, and SallieMae for the USA. If nationality rules stop you getting a loan, IMD says to contact its Finance Committee.

04 · Rounds and deadlines

Which round, and by when

IMD's admissions page lists six application deadlines for the Class of 2028. IMD does not name its rounds, so the cards are numbered in date order.

For the Class of 2027, IMD says applications are still open and publishes no deadline or assessment-day dates. We suggest asking IMD's regional advisors whether a place or an assessment day is still available.

IMD says the assessment day is linked to the deadline round you choose. Each round has an online date and, except Round 6, an on-campus date. IMD's assessment-day table for Round 6 lists only the online date.

IMD says decisions are rolling by round: the earlier you apply, the sooner you receive your final decision. It does not publish decision dates, a waitlist process or an offer-acceptance deadline.

IMD says all documents must be submitted at the time of application, and that missing documents may mean your application moves to the next deadline. The application fee is CHF 150 and non-refundable.

05 · Clubs and activities

Life outside class

IMD does not publish a current list of MBA clubs and committees on the pages we read. Its campus-life page says clubs, career clusters and activities evolve each year to reflect the spirit of every class, and names no club count.

Clubs and committees

Learning outside class

IMD's overview page says 40% of the MBA happens outside the classroom, with live consulting projects for companies including Ferrari, the International Olympic Committee and UEFA.

Campus life

IMD describes a lakefront campus in Lausanne on Lake Geneva, with a library, recording booths, breakout rooms, a gym with showers, a restaurant, a cafe and a terrace. It lists skiing, biking, lakeside barbecues and national day celebrations, and says partners are welcome at events, lunch days and facilities.

06 · Process

From application to decision

1. Step 1: create your accountBefore you apply

   IMD's admissions page starts with creating your account.

2. Step 2: online applicationBy your round deadline

   Submit your diplomas and transcripts, your GMAT, GRE or Executive Assessment score, a one-page CV on IMD's template and one business-related recommender, and mark the scholarships you are interested in.

   IMD says all documents must be in at the time of application.

3. Step 3: assessment and interviewOn your round's assessment day

   IMD invites shortlisted applicants to a virtual or in-person assessment day, with a mix of individual and group tasks in addition to the interview.

   IMD does not state the interview length, who interviews or how many interviews there are.

4. Step 4: committee reviewAfter the assessment day

   IMD's admissions committee reviews your application and compares it with the applicant pool.

5. Step 5: final decisionRolling, by round

   IMD says the earlier you apply, the sooner you receive your decision. To secure your place you pay the non-refundable enrolment deposit.

   IMD's fees page says the 1st instalment of CHF 10,000 is due 2 to 4 weeks after you receive an offer.

07 · What you need

What goes into the application

1. Eligibility

A bachelor's degree or equivalent, and a minimum of two years of full-time post-graduate work experience. IMD's admissions FAQ gives the average in the class as 6 years and the typical range as 3 to 8 years.

2. Test score

IMD accepts the GMAT, the GRE or the Executive Assessment. It recommends aiming for 555 or above, or an equivalent GRE or Executive Assessment score. The score must be less than 5 years old. Upload a test-taker copy and order an official score report to IMD (GMAT code SKR-MM-13, GRE code 8490).

IMD does not say which GMAT edition 555 refers to, and does not publish a test waiver policy on the page we read.

3. English

The whole programme is taught in English. If English is not your native language, IMD assesses your proficiency on the assessment day. It lists no separate TOEFL or IELTS requirement on the page we read.

4. Application essays

IMD does not publish application essay questions, word limits or a video essay on its public admissions pages. Its checklist lists degrees and transcripts, test score, English proficiency, one recommender, a one-page CV and the fee. Any written questions sit inside the application form.

Essay for the MBA5 Scholarship (750 words)

IMD's scholarships page shows this prompt for the MBA5 Scholarship only. It is the only written prompt IMD publishes.

5. One recommender

One business-related recommender who knows you well and has worked directly with you. IMD's form, completed online, asks them to highlight professional achievements, interpersonal skills, teamwork and leadership. Enter their contact details at least two weeks before the application deadline. IMD accepts only professional email addresses, not Hotmail, Gmail and the like. IMD does not publish the form's questions or word limits on the page we read.

6. CV and transcripts

A one-page CV in English on IMD's CV template. IMD says other formats will not be accepted. Send diplomas and transcripts with the grading scale for all university degrees, with official translations to English or French for every document.

7. Fee

The application fee is CHF 150 and non-refundable.

08 · What IMD wants

How IMD reads your file

IMD says it is looking for applicants who are smart and ambitious, with solid previous experience and demonstrated achievements, and the drive and vision to make an impact and shape the future of our world. It publishes no weighting for any of the areas below.

IMD says it wants to know what you will contribute to the learning experience of your classmates and to the future of business and society.

09 · Interview questions

What IMD asks in its application

IMD does not publish its application essay questions or its interview questions on the pages we read, and we hold no candidate accounts of the IMD MBA interview. So this page lists no interview questions. The rows show what IMD publishes about what it asks you for.

These are IMD's published application items, not questions from the assessment day. We do not show how likely any topic is, because we have no accounts to base it on.

10 · Interview experience

What IMD says the interview is like

What IMD says

What candidates report

We hold no candidate accounts of the IMD MBA assessment day or interview, so this page reports none. Treat the table above, from IMD's own admissions page, as what IMD has published so far.

11 · FAQs

Questions students ask about IMD MBA