insead vs nus

INSEAD vs National University of Singapore (NUS)

Strength in Subject & World Rankings (2025/2026)

INSEAD is one of the top business schools globally, ranked consistently among the very best for MBA, Executive MBA, and Business Education. In the 2025 Financial Times Global MBA Ranking, INSEAD is #2 globally, with its programmes frequently placed in the worldwide top 5. Yet, it does not feature in wider QS or THE university rankings as it is a specialist institution. NUS, on the contrary, is a comprehensive research university rated as one of Asia's best. In QS World University Rankings 2026, NUS is ranked 8th in the world, and in THE World University Rankings 2025 it is at 19th position. Not only is NUS top in Business and Management, but also in Engineering, Computer Science, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences, making it more widely recognized academically.

General Information

INSEAD began in 1957 and has operations in France (Fontainebleau), Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and San Francisco, positioning it as a global business education leader. Its Singapore campus provides it with strong Asian market ties. INSEAD is a relatively small school with approximately 1,500 MBA and Executive MBA students every year, predominantly international, drawn from more than 90 countries. NUS, which was founded in 1905, is Singapore's oldest and largest university, with a student body of approximately 40,000 comprising a large percentage of international students. Whereas INSEAD is very specialized, NUS provides the entire range of disciplines.

Acceptance Rate & Admission

INSEAD is very selective, with an acceptance rate of around 20–25%, looking for individuals with strong professional experience, leadership potential, and international exposure. The mean GMAT for admitted MBA students is in the range of 710, and the applicants typically have 5–7 years of work experience. NUS is also quite selective, with an undergraduate acceptance rate of 5–7% for international students. The graduate programs like the NUS MBA demand GMAT/GRE scores with average GMATs in the range of 670–700, and usually 2–6 years of work experience for the MBA applicants.

Research Impact & Facilities

INSEAD has a main focus on research in business, strategy, organisational behaviour, finance, and international markets, publishing extensively in leading management journals. Its research faculty centers across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East further enhance its international outlook. NUS, having the classification as a research university of R1 quality, has much wider research reach. It is a world leader in science, technology, medicine, sustainability, and social policy, and its world-class research institutions such as the NUS Enterprise Innovation Centre and School of Computing's AI labs make it one of the most innovative universities in the world.

Cost & Financial Aid

The INSEAD MBA program is around €99,500 (approximately SGD 145,000 or INR 89 lakh) for the 10-month program. Living costs vary on the campus, with Singapore being marginally cheaper than Paris. Limited scholarships covering partial tuition are offered by INSEAD. NUS is cheaper, where the MBA would cost around SGD 87,000 (approximately INR 53 lakh), while international student undergraduate fees would be around SGD 31,000 a year. NUS provides both merit and need-based scholarships, along with Singapore government scholarships that can cut expenses for foreign students who agree to work in Singapore upon graduation.

Graduate Studies & Alumni Outcomes

INSEAD alumni are well positioned in consulting, investment banking, entrepreneurship, and leadership positions within multinational companies. INSEAD MBA graduates' median salaries are approximately $115,000–$120,000 (INR 95–99 lakh) three years after graduation. NUS alumni are robust in various areas, ranging from technology, finance, engineering, and law to public service, with NUS MBA graduates commanding average salaries of approximately SGD 90,000–100,000 (INR 55–61 lakh). INSEAD's network of alumni is very international, with global business leaders, while NUS's alumni are particularly powerful across Asia-Pacific business and government.