10 Things to Know About B-Schools Outside the U.S.

Plan for an international business career.

If you're an MBA applicant who has spent most of your life in the U.S. but your goal is to become an executive in a global corporation, it's important to choose a business school that will broaden your horizons, MBA admissions experts say. This may mean pursuing a B-school overseas. "One of the most important aspects for MBA admissions, especially in Europe, is if the degree is going to provide a useful network in an area and a sector that the applicant wishes to work," Kevin Newton, founder of An Education Abroad admissions consulting firm, said via email. Here are 10 things experts say you need to know about MBA programs abroad.

A foreign MBA is usually cheaper.

Experts say top-tier MBA programs outside the U.S. often have a much lower sticker price than similarly prestigious U.S. programs, but one key caveat is that these programs tend to give less financial aid to low-income students. Jordan Hendricks, a U.S. citizen who earned her MBA at Northern Ireland's Queen's University Belfast, told U.S. News via email that her MBA degree cost approximately $20,000, and she estimates that the degree would cost double or triple that amount if it came from a U.S. school.

Foreign MBAs may last only a year.

One key difference between U.S. and non-U.S. MBA programs, experts say, is that international programs are usually shorter, lasting only a year. "This can mean more time earning a salary rather than paying tuition," Newton said. Experts note that B-schools outside the U.S. may run year-round, which reduces the amount of time available for gaining work experience and making professional connections during the program. However, both the tuition and fees and the opportunity costs associated with pursuing a one-year MBA degree are far less than that of a two-year MBA. Thus, the financial payoff of a one-year MBA program tends to be more immediate than the return on investment for a two-year program, though either can dramatically increase someone's earning potential.

One-year MBAs can be overwhelming.

Earning an MBA in a single year is very hard, though, experts warn. Alex Min, corporate adviser and admissions consultant at The MBA Exchange admissions consulting firm, said via email that although an accelerated MBA program costs less in terms of both time and money than a traditional MBA program, the downside is a demanding schedule that doesn't allow for as many networking opportunities. Another disadvantage of this type of MBA program, he says, is the lack of a summer break that can be used for an internship.

U.S. jobs may be harder to secure.

Experts note that foreign MBA programs often have less name recognition inside the U.S. than domestic MBA programs. One important exception to this rule, experts say, is when foreign MBA programs are based at well-known global universities with stellar academic reputations. Min said one significant disadvantage of attending an international B-school is that it reduces the opportunity to network with U.S. business professionals and explore U.S. companies.

These programs can increase international job options.

U.S. residents who earn MBA degrees in another nation typically have an easier time breaking into that nation's job market, experts suggest. "If your professional aspirations include globe-trotting and working in international locations, it makes sense to either study in the region where you hope to one day work or among an ultra-diverse cohort of students who can help you land that coveted position in Paris, Hong Kong or Dubai," admissions consultant and former U.S. News contributor Stacy Blackman wrote in a blog post.

U.S. applicants are eagerly accepted.

Experts say that because prestigious international business schools want to enroll more Americans than they currently have on campus, U.S. applicants often get into elite MBA programs at global universities more easily than at similarly prestigious U.S. programs. Kaneisha Grayson, founder and CEO of The Art of Applying admissions consulting firm, told U.S. News that American MBA applicants often have an easier time selling themselves to international schools than domestic schools, since the admissions process at U.S. B-schools is so fiercely competitive.

Foreign B-schools favor work experience.

Experts say international MBA programs tend to prefer MBA applicants who are already established in their career. "Students at business schools outside of the U.S. tend to be in their late 20s or early 30s," Blackman wrote. Rachel Beck, managing director at the mbaMission admissions consulting firm, told U.S. News that European business schools tend to be especially welcoming of older applicants with a significant amount of work experience.

Adjusting to a new country can be difficult.

Min, of The MBA Exchange, says U.S. residents who attend foreign business schools may find it difficult to adjust to their host nation. "US MBA students attending non-US b-schools will experience some degree of culture shock from being, possibly for the first time in their lives, part of an under-represented minority," Min said via email.

You can build an international network.

Because MBA programs at global universities tend to include students of diverse nationalities, experts say that these programs are a great choice for U.S. residents who want international business contacts. "That's very attractive to people," Matt Symonds, co-founder and director of the Fortuna Admissions consulting group, told U.S. News. "That gives them a network from all over the world."

You can develop cross-cultural leadership skills.

Experts say one advantage of attending business school on foreign soil is that it forces you out of your comfort zone. "It gives the students a much broader perspective in terms of cross-cultural management and understanding how different cultures face problems in different ways," Itziar de Ros Raventós, director of corporate marketing and communications with IESE Business School at the University of Navarra in Spain, told U.S. News via email. "Learning a new language is also an advantage which not only enriches them professionally but personally."

Case studies may be presented differently.

Though MBA programs in and outside the U.S. will both offer analysis of business case studies, those studies could be explored differently at a B-school that isn't based in the U.S. than it would be in a U.S. context. "While case studies are prevalent in MBA programs domestically, they tend to be a counterpoint to the theory, rather than allowing the case to illuminate the theory," Christopher Smithmyer, vice president of international affairs at the Br?v Online Conflict Management educational company, wrote in an email. "In the Australian style, we read the case study then the theory was presented as an affirmation of the case, rather than the case as an affirmation of the theory," adds Smithmyer, who has multiple graduate degrees, including an MBA.

Foreign MBA students often interact with students in other programs.

While students at certain U.S. business schools may primarily associate with fellow business students, that isn't the case at many international schools, where interdisciplinary discussion and socialization is common, Smithmyer says. "Business schools in the U.S. tend to be stand-offish," he contends, adding that students at certain U.S. B-schools may rarely interact with students in other academic disciplines at the same university.

Bolster admission chances at top MBA programs.

Learn how to identify global universities that excel in teaching economics and business, and learn why international work experience is a plus for MBA applicants. For more guidance on the MBA admissions process, follow U.S. News Education on Twitter and Facebook.

Tips for U.S. MBA hopefuls who may go to B-school abroad

-- A foreign MBA is usually cheaper.

-- Foreign MBAs may last only a year.

-- One-year MBAs can be overwhelming.

-- U.S. jobs may be harder to secure.

-- These programs can increase international job options.

-- U.S. applicants are eagerly accepted.

-- Foreign B-schools favor work experience.

-- Adjusting to a new country can be difficult.

-- You can build an international network.

-- You can develop cross-cultural leadership skills.

-- Case studies may be presented differently.

-- Foreign MBA students often interact with students in other programs.