#59 St. Gallen MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Zwanet van Lubek
“Switzerland is known for many MNCs that have their headquarters here which gives us a very good corporate network for potential careers for our students. We put a lot of emphasis on building these relationships with corporates… these companies are a great jumping board for global positions afterwards.”
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About Our Guest
Zwanet Van Lubek is Vice Director and Head of Marketing and Recruiting, Careers and Corporates, St. Gallen MBA Program. She formerly held positions at Rabobank, KPMG Consulting and the Information Management Group/S&T.
What is relatively unique about the St Gallen MBA? What are its key advantages?
- The University of St. Gallen became a fully fledged business school in 1911 and was the first university in the German-speaking area to offer an international MBA program in 2005; its focus has always been on teaching business managers and leaders
- Boutique 1-year MBA with 40-50 students from around 30 countries
- Strong reputation in Switzerland (and German-speaking world), host to many well-known MNCs.
- Well-known for strategy, finance, and business management
- Idyllic setting – St. Gallen overlooks Lake Constance on the German/Austrian border
Potentially a Good Fit if:
- You’re looking for a high-touch, international program with more experienced classmates – St. Gallen recommends applicants to have 4-8 years of work experience
- You want to work for top MNCs in finance, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), and luxury industries in Switzerland or the EU
- You want to benefit from higher quality of living and opportunity in one of the world’s most competitive economies
Listen on for the insider’s scoop…
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Touch MBA’s St. Gallen MBA Fast Facts
Program Highlights (3:22)
- The University of St. Gallen was founded in 1898 and became a fully fledged business school in 1911; St. Gallen was the first university in the German-speaking area to offer an international MBA program in 2005
- 1 intake / year in Sep
- Length: 12 months
- Campus in St. Gallen, a picturesque Swiss city, overlooking Lake Konstanz on the German / Austria border, and an hour away from Zurich, the financial heart of Switzerland
- 40-50 participants/intake
- ~28 nationalities/intake, class is ~90-95% international (50% from Europe)
- Structure: 9 core courses, 4 integration courses, 6 electives (out of 20), MBA corporate project
- Students rated Finance, Accounting, Economics and Int’l Business Highest
- Mandatory German classes for non-German speakers
- Partnership with 2 exchange schools: Nanyang (Singapore) and Waseda (Japan)
- Rankings: #88 Financial Times 2014, #52 Economist 2013
- Accredited by AACSB and EQUIS
Admissions (13:37)
- 5 deadlines in Oct 1, Dec 1, Feb 1, Apr 1, Jun 1; apply by Dec 1 for early enrollment discount (5,000 CHF) and Apr 1 for early payment discount (5% on any tuition paid by May 1)
- 5 applicants per full-time place
- Avg GMAT: 643, GRE accepted
- Avg age: 30, Avg work experience: 6, 2 years min work experience (4-8 years recommended)
- Min TOEFL: NA, IELTS: NA
- Interviews done by Admissions team members who have seen your entire application; first part of interview focuses on your personality and experiences, the second part on a “business dilemma”
- Looking for intelligent and employable candidates with willingness to change, engaging personalities
Financing (24:12)
- Full-time MBA Tuition: 56,500 CHF, roughly $61,500 USD
- Recommended budget: 22,700 CHF, roughly $24,700 USD
- Scholarship amounts range from 5,000 to 10,000 CHF, are merit-based, and require separate applications. Scholarships available include Women in Business, Next 11 (Emerging Market), and those for Outstanding Students
- Loans (up to full-tuition) also available to students who demonstrate financial need
Career (26:57)
- St. Gallen MBA – Full-time placement report (Class of 2013)
- 93% of graduates had jobs within 3 months of graduation
- Average Salary (Bonus): 100,000 CHF (20,000 CHF)
- Graduates in 2013 experienced 68% increase in salary
- 48% of graduates made a “triple transformation” across geography, function and industry
- Top 5 regions graduates worked in: Switzerland (62%), EU Countries (27%), Other (11%)
- Top 5 industries: Banking (24%), Pharmaceuticals/Health Care (16%), FMCG (12%), Consulting (7%), Manufacturing (7%)
- 20,000 alumni worldwide
- Most students can apply to extend their visas for 6 months to aid employment search
Get in Touch
- Get a resume assessment from St Gallen MBA admissions
- Connect with St. Gallen MBA students through the admissions office
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