IE University, Top 10 Globally in the QS 2026 Ranking

QS places IE University’s International MBA, Master in Management, Global Online MBA, and Master in Strategic Marketing & Communication among the world’s best in its 2026 rankings.

IE University strengthens its position in the top tier worldwide in the latest QS Rankings, which places IE’s Global Online MBA in 2nd place worldwide, Master in Strategic Marketing & Communication in 5th place worldwide, Master in Management in 7th place worldwide, and the International MBA in 11th place worldwide. QS evaluates criteria such as graduate employability, professional growth, student and faculty profiles, and academic leadership, among other indicators. This ranking further consolidates IE University as a global reference in Higher Education.

IE University began the 2025–2026 academic year with over 10,000 Bachelor’s and Master’s students from 160 countries. The institution is expanding its academic offerings this year with four new programs: Bachelor in Political Science, Dual Degree in Business & Political Science, Master in Design, and Master in Technology & Global Affairs. These degrees strengthen IE’s portfolio in social sciences, technology, and design, while also broadening the institution’s strategic areas of teaching and research. Recognized as one of the world’s most innovative universities, IE University’s classrooms this year are comprised of 53% women and 90% international students, making it one of the most diverse institutions in the world. The countries with the largest presence on campus this academic year are Spain, the United States, France, Italy, Germany, Mexico, and India.

In addition, IE University has recently announced plans to double the size of its internal research faculty within the next five years, thereby strengthening of its research output and knowledge transfer. the roadmap foresees the hiring of more than 200 professors and an increase in resources dedicated to research. This initiative marks a milestone in the history of IE University and in European higher education.

IE University dedicates 16.7% of its total expenditure to research and development, with an annual growth rate of 8%. Its R&D intensity (1.4% of direct GDP) surpasses the average for higher education institutions in the EU (0.48%). Over the past three decades, IE University faculty and researchers have published more than 3,300 academic articles, cited over 55,000 times, reflecting the university’s contribution to global knowledge.