Academics

McIntire’s Global 3 Rises on Both Financial Times’ List of Top Master’s in Management Programs and QS World University Rankings®

The Global 3 program gives students the opportunity to live and study on three continents, at three top business schools, with an international cohort of peers, preparing them for challenging positions at organizations that operate around the world.

students at graduation ceremony

The McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia recently earned a pair of exceptional rankings for the School’s Global 3 program.

The groundbreaking dual-degree program offered with two international partner institutions remains the highest recognized program with a U.S.-based campus for the second consecutive year on the Financial Times’ list of the world’s top master’s in management (MiM) programs; Global 3 ranked #11 overall, up from #14 in 2020.

In addition, QS World University Rankings released its 2022 rankings for business master’s programs, with Global 3 named the #9 MiM program in the world, a three-spot jump up on the list from last year.

Launched in 2016, the Global 3 program provides a 10-month, three-continent course of study conducted at UVA in Charlottesville, U.S., Lingnan (University) College in Guangzhou, China, and Esade Business School in Barcelona, Spain. The innovative program offers students the unparalleled opportunity to earn two master’s degrees and a certificate: an M.S. in Global Commerce from the McIntire School of Commerce, an M.Sc. in Global Strategic Management from Esade, and a certificate in International Business from Lingnan.

“It is exciting to see the Global 3 program continue to attract worldwide recognition for its strong academics and innovative format. This program gives students the unique opportunity to live and study on three continents, at three top business schools, with an international cohort of peers,” says McIntire Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Management Professor Amanda Cowen. “This approach develops students’ cultural capital and global business expertise, preparing them for challenging positions at organizations that operate around the world. Students also leave the program with a truly international network of colleagues who continue to support their personal and professional growth in the years to come.”

Detailed Rankings Results
In addition to its prominent standing among the 100 programs ranked by the Financial Times for 2021, McIntire’s Global 3 received high marks for salaries earned by alumni (an average of $90,755) and overall alumni satisfaction (a 9.31 rating out of a possible 10). Global 3 also placed #9 for facilitating students’ international mobility within the category of international opportunities.

“In a sign of the value placed by employers on students who take a degree split between different schools around the world, the Global 3 Masters in Management—a three-way partnership between Virginia: McIntire in the US, Lingnan in China and Esade in Spain—also ranked in the FT’s top tier,” wrote the Financial Times, which ranked the program highest among those with a U.S.-based campus, the only such program in the top 30.

For the QS rankings, 159 programs in 33 countries were considered, with 53,792 employers, 42,639 academics, and 27,831 alumni surveyed. The 2021 release shows the Global 3 program placing among the top 6% overall; the ranking is determined on the strength of the program’s showing in categories globally, including faculty thought leadership (top 2.8%), value for money (top 6.9%), employability (top 7.2%), and alumni outcomes (top 10.1%).

McIntire and its partner schools report favorable career outcomes for graduating classes of the Global 3, with graduated students accepting roles with many of the 450+ hiring companies in the three schools’ worldwide recruiting networks.

“The Global 3 program is focused on the acquisition of real-world business skills and competencies needed to thrive in a dynamic global business environment,” Cowen said. “Cross-cultural immersion and teamwork are the cornerstone of a rigorous curriculum that simultaneously builds students’ strategic, analytical, and leadership skills. Students gain invaluable experience strengthened by a network of classmates, business leaders, professors, and alumni representing areas and industries from around the world.”

See the complete rankings for each publication at the Financial Times and QS Top Universities.

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