Henley Business School Achieves Record Global EMBA Ranking
- BY ELLE NKOSI
- Oct 14
- 2 min read
Henley Business School has soared to its highest-ever position in the Financial Times Executive MBA (EMBA) 2025 rankings, claiming 33rd place worldwide. This represents a remarkable leap of 19 positions from the previous year, cementing Henley as a standout institution on the global executive education stage.
The Financial Times evaluated 129 EMBA programs globally, ultimately ranking 100 schools. Henley is the only South African institution to feature, a milestone that highlights the school’s expanding influence in Africa and its reputation for delivering a world-class executive education experience.
Henley’s rise in the rankings reflects its strategic emphasis on global perspectives, rigorous research, and executive career development. Metrics used by the Financial Times include post-graduation salary gains, career progress, diversity of faculty and students, and the quality of research output. Henley scored particularly high for international course experience, ranking 7th globally, a tetsement to its commitment to equipping leaders with the skills to navigate complex, multinational business environments.
Top 10 Executive MBA Programs – Financial Times 2025 Ranking:
Washington University: Olin (USA/China)
CEIBS (China)
ESCP Business School (France)
Kellogg-HKUST Business School (USA/Hong Kong)
Skema Business School (France)
Trium: HEC Paris/LSE/NYU: Stern (France/UK/USA)
INSEAD (France/Singapore)
Fudan University School of Management (China)
Arizona State University: WP Carey (USA)
Guanghua-Kellogg (China/USA)
Henley’s multi-campus model, with bases in the UK, Finland, and South Africa, allows it to offer a truly international curriculum. Its South African Executive MBA, launched in 2024, provides local executives with access to a global standard of business education while fostering cross-continental networking opportunities.
Maximizing career outcomes is central to Henley’s strategy. Graduates report significant career progression and salary growth, supported by a curriculum that blends leadership development, strategy, and innovation. This approach has positioned Henley as a regional leader, and as a school that competes with the world’s top EMBA programs.
Henley Business School’s achievement also strengthens its appeal to corporate partners and recruiters seeking graduates with cross-border expertise, strategic thinking, and leadership readiness.
