MBA Eligibility Criteria: Degree, Experience, Tests and English
Updated 27 October 2026
MBA eligibility rules are set by each school, but most international programmes look at the same five things: degree, work experience, test scores, English and personal fit (essays and interviews).
Typical MBA eligibility criteria
| Criterion | Full-time MBA | Executive / online MBA |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | Usually required (any discipline) | Usually required; some accept experience instead |
| Work experience | Often a minimum of a few years | Often higher |
| GMAT/GRE | Often required or strongly recommended | Often waived |
| English test | If your degree was not taught in English | Same, with experience-based waivers |
Examples from providers' pages
- One Singapore university lists a bachelor's degree, at least 2 years of post-degree work experience and a GMAT or GRE score, with the Executive Assessment accepted for some part-time applicants (source, accessed 27 Oct 2026).
- One Australian university lists an undergraduate degree and at least 2 years of full-time professional work experience (source, accessed 27 Oct 2026).
- One London school lists a minimum of 3 years' experience and a GMAT or GRE score for its full-time MBA (source, accessed 27 Oct 2026).
Eligibility by background
- BCA, BSc, BCom, BBA and engineering graduates: a bachelor's in any discipline is usually acceptable for an international MBA. Three-year degrees are accepted by many schools, but confirm with each.
- No work experience: consider a master's in management or an MSc instead — see masters in UK.
- No degree: a few programmes accept professional qualifications plus long experience.
Next steps
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