Archive · 5 Dec 2025
India's B-Schools Aim for Global Recognition
India has many good business schools, but they don't have many foreign students.
Schools like Harvard and INSEAD have lots of international students and teachers, which makes them more famous worldwide.
Indian schools need to do better to attract foreign students.
They can start by inviting foreign teachers for short courses and working with other schools on research.
The Indian government should also make it easier for foreign students to stay and work in India after their studies.
If Indian schools can do these things, they can become more popular around the world and have more students from different countries.
India's top B-schools aim to attract more foreign students to position themselves as global destinations.
Currently, only 2-3% of students in top Indian B-schools are foreign, compared to 35-95% in global peers like Harvard and INSEAD.
Gaps in policy, perception, and positioning hinder the internationalization of Indian B-schools.
Indian B-schools are taking steps like opening international campuses, creating supernumerary seats, and offering dual-degree programs.
To boost foreign enrolments, India needs to introduce post-study work visas, accelerate international hiring, and improve global branding.
- Who
- Indian B-schools and their leadership, including Abhishek Agrawal, Executive Director, MDRA
- What
- The need for Indian B-schools to position themselves as global destinations and attract more foreign students
- When
- The transformation is ongoing, with recent initiatives and a target to increase foreign student ratio within five years
- Where
- India, with a focus on top B-schools like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, Indian School of Business, and IIM Calcutta
- Why
- To enhance global standing, build international alumni networks, and transform classrooms through increased diversity
- Current Foreign Student Percentage
- 2-3%
- Global MBA Application Growth (2024)
- 12%
- Asia's Growth in MBA Applications
- Fastest-growing region
- Indian B-Schools with Triple Crown Accreditations
- Fewer than three dozen
- Proposed Post-Study Work Visa Duration
- 2-3 years
- Target Foreign Student Percentage
- 10-15% within five years
