London Business School is a private business school located in London, United Kingdom, within the London metropolitan area. The admissions are highly competitive and London Business School has an acceptance rate of around 20–25%. It is a medium-sized school with an MBA class size of around 400 students. MBA, Masters in Finance, Executive MBA, and MSc in Management are some of the most well-received programs at LBS. LBS graduates are well-placed in their careers with an employment rate of approximately 91–96%, and the starting salary is approximately INR 91,00,000–1,10,00,000 or USD 110,000–133,000 ten years after graduation.
HEC Paris is a private grande école business school located in Jouy-en-Josas, France, within the Paris metropolitan area. Admissions are extremely selective, with HEC Paris's MBA acceptance rate around 17–18%, and its Grande École (MiM) program as low as 6–7%. It is also a medium-sized school with an MBA class size of roughly 260–274 students. Best-selling programs are MBA, Master in Management, MSc in International Finance, and EMBA. HEC Paris alumni have very good placements with approximately 93% placed within 3 months, and a median salary at the beginning of around INR 92,00,000–99,00,000 or USD 112,200–120,700 ten years from graduation.
| London Business School | HEC Paris | |
|---|---|---|
| ranking (overall) | # 7 Financial Times 2025 # 857 Center for World University Rankings 2025 # 894 US News 2024 | # 9 Financial Times 2025 # 334 Center for World University Rankings 2025 # 252 Center for World University Rankings 2022 |
| Programs | PG Programs -7 Doctorate Programs -7 | PG Programs -9 Doctorate Programs -3 |
| Acceptance Rate | 25.0 % | 8.0 % |
| Exam Score | GMAT-600 GRE-304 IELTS-6.5 TOEFL-100 | GMAT-700 IELTS-6.5 TOEFL-90 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 144950 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 64847 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 36480 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 670 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Highest paying degrees: Executive Masters (152,000 USD); Executive MBA (148,000 USD); BBA (142,000 USD); MBA (133,000 USD); Masters in Finance (123,000 USD). | Almost 100% of the students ind employment after graduation. The average salary of Masters in International finance is around $78,000 and is $165,000 after three years on an average. The MBA program students have an average salary of around $128,628 and the joining bonus is around $18,000 on an average. |
| application requirements | Standardized test scores (GRE, GMAT, etc.); Proof of English language proficiency; Application Essay; 2 references; Resume; Academic transcripts; Application Fee (200 GBP); Work experience (for executive programs) | Submit official transcripts Submit recommendation letters Submit entrance exam scores Submit english langugae proficiency scores |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 6.9/10 Read 2 reviews | 8.7/10 Read 3 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| exam scores | Duolingo - 135/160GMAT - 600/800IELTS - 7.0/9TOEFL - 100/120 | Duolingo - 135/160GMAT - 690/800IELTS - 7.0/9PTE - 72/90TOEFL - 100/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -144950 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) - |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Nov 13, 2025 (Application Deadline For Round 1 Intake) Mar 12, 2026 (Application Deadline For Round 2 Intake) Jun 11, 2026 (Application Deadline For Round 3 Intake) | Oct 2, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline For September 2026 Intake) Dec 16, 2025 (Round 2 Application Deadline For September 2026 Intake) Feb 19, 2026 (Round 3 Application Deadline For September 2026 Intake) Apr 9, 2026 (Round 4 Application Deadline For September 2026 Intake) May 28, 2026 (Round 5 Application Deadline For September 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | London Business School | HEC Paris |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | School | School |
| Established | 1964 | 1881 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | :1 |
| Male:Female | 72% Male, 28% Female | 0% Male, 0% Female |
| Location Facts | Campuses in London (main campus) & Dubai; Main campus in Sussex Place in London; Overlooking Regents Park; Three main buildings on-campus- London Business School, Taunton Center, Sammy Ofer Center. | HEC is located on a 110-hectare woodland campus in Jouy-en-Josas, 16 km. (10 miles) southwest of central Paris, close to Versailles. |
| Library | LBS Library houses books, journals and e-books ranging from business titles and fiction to language and travel guides. | The HEC library (Learning Center) is packed full of +60 000 books, articles, databases, videos and other learning tools, many of which are fully accessible online. Nevertheless, it stays open 7 days a week from 9am top 6pm, providing a positive study space for single and group work. The library is located in Building U, above the Hall of Honor. It is accessible only for HEC Students, professors and staff members. |
| Campus Life | Over 75 student clubs; 1,000+ club events every year; Campus events include- Tattoo, Sundowners, etc.; facilities such as sports center, restaurant, 3 cafes, private run pub- The Windsor Castle, LBS Hub (Alumni Online Club), etc. | There are around 130 clubs or "associations" on campus. The HEC Student Council (Bureau des Élèves in French, or BDE) is in charge of the social entertainment on campus. It is also in charge of coordinating all club activities and representing the students in front of the campus administration. The BDE organizes weekly events such as POWs ("Parties of the Week"), lunches and dinners, speakers, and sports events. HEC parties, which usually are organised every Thursday, are some of the most recognized ones among all French schools and universities. The BDE is composed of a 40-student team that is elected each year in April and for which the competition among students creates the well-known Student Office Campaign. The HEC MBA Council is in charge of all social activities related to the MBA student body. It manages the MBA students' Piano Bar in the Expansiel Building (Building A), coordinates and sometimes funds all MBA club activities (speaker events, sports events, dinners, etc.), works to expand the HEC MBA brand, develops campus and alumni relations, sets up the new MBA students' integration week, and generally relays student concerns and needs to the administration. Elections for the MBA Council are bi-annual to accommodate both January and September MBA intakes |
| Hostel | #Shared Room - $16562 #Studio Flat Room - $23243 #Private Room with shared bathroom - $25042 | #Residence Room - $670 |
| Famous Alumni | Kaveh Alamouti (CEO of Citadel LLC Asset Management Europe); Ashley Almanza (CEO of G4S); Sir David Arculus (Chairman O2); Kumar Birla (Chairman, Aditya Birla Group); Ronald Boire – Former President and CEO of Brookstone); Sir Richard Greenbury (Former Chairman & CEO, Marks & Spencer); Cyrus Pallonji Mistry (Former Chairman & CEO of the Tata Group). | Francisco Madero, President of Mexico Georges Schwob d'Héricourt (class of 1882), President of the SFCO |
| City Life | London ranks 1st in QS News Best Student Cities for 2019; the capital city of England; known for Palace of Westminster, Tower of London, London Eye, Arts Galleries, Museum of London, Science Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, and various other cultural attractions. The UK parliament and PM’s home is located in London. The city has BBC headquarters. | Located in the heart of the Upper Bièvre Valley and in the southeast of the Versailles Grand Parc agglomeration community, Jouy-en-Josas has the privilege of being close to Paris (15 km) and Versailles (5 km). The city is fortunate to have a town with a remarkable natural, historical and cultural heritage. The Bièvre, a river that rises in Guyancourt and flows into the Seine in Paris, the forests and the rolling hillsides that adorns the city are a rich natural heritage, just like the Upper Bièvre Valley. |
London Business School vs HEC Paris
Subject Strength & World Rankings (2025/2026)
London Business School (LBS) is a leading graduate business school in the world, ranked consistently amongst the top business schools for MBA and executive education. LBS ranks among the top 10 globally in the Financial Times Global MBA Rankings 2025, ranked for its areas of strength in Finance, Management, and International Business. HEC Paris is just as renowned in Europe, being the #1 ranked school in Europe by the Financial Times for its Master in Management and also globally top 10-ranked for its MBA. LBS is especially renowned in Finance, Consulting, and Entrepreneurship, while HEC Paris is renowned for Strategy, Marketing, and Luxury Management. Both schools are extremely international, but LBS tends to stay slightly ahead in global recognition, particularly in the UK, U.S., and Asian markets.
General Information
London Business School, established in 1964 and a member of the University of London, is situated at the center of London and provides students with unrivaled access to global financial markets, multinational companies, and start-up environments. Its student population is extremely international, with over 90% of MBA students being international students from outside the UK. HEC Paris, established in 1881, is in Jouy-en-Josas in the vicinity of Paris, France, and is affiliated with Université Paris-Saclay. It has around 4,500 students with strong connections to French and European business networks. While LBS feeds on its urban, global city setting, HEC Paris integrates a classic campus experience with proximity to European corporate centers.
Acceptance Rate & Admission
Both LBS and HEC Paris are extremely selective. LBS has an MBA acceptance rate of approximately 20% and accepts applicants with good professional experience (average of 5–6 years) and competitive GMAT/GRE test scores with an average GMAT of about 710. HEC Paris is more selective for its top-ranked Master in Management program with a less than 10% acceptance rate, drawing on the world's best undergraduate students. Its MBA is slightly less competitive, with an acceptance rate of about 15–20% and a mean GMAT of 690–700. Professional achievement, leadership potential, and global exposure are the key values of both schools.
Research Impact & Facilities
London Business School has a strong emphasis on applied business research in the fields of finance, economics, strategy, and organizational behavior. It boasts leading research centers, such as the AQR Asset Management Institute and the Leadership Institute. HEC Paris is also impressive, with leadership in research in strategy, innovation, and entrepreneurship, backed by such facilities as the HEC Incubator at Station F, Europe's biggest start-up campus. While LBS draws on direct access to the UK's financial industry, HEC Paris draws on its Parisian and European connections, particularly in consulting, luxury, and international management.
Cost & Financial Aid
LBS is amongst the most costly business schools in Europe, charging MBA fees of approximately £115,000 (or €134,000). It provides few scholarships, with most merit-based or linked to corporate sponsorship. HEC Paris is comparatively less costly, with MBA fees of about €98,000, and its Master in Management being much cheaper at about €55,000. HEC Paris also provides a wider number of scholarships, including need-based, making it a bit more affordable than LBS.
Graduate Studies & Research
Graduates of both schools have excellent career opportunities. LBS alumni are well positioned in technology, consulting, and finance careers, with numerous placements in London's financial center or in international companies. HEC Paris graduates control the consulting market, as well as markets for luxury management, international business, and entrepreneurship, with a very solid footing in European markets. LBS graduates have an average salary of approximately £110,000 (INR 1.15 crore) at the three-year mark, and HEC Paris MBA respondents claim average salaries of €120,000 (INR 1.07 crore). Both institutions possess powerful alumni networks: LBS is unusually international, whereas HEC Paris enjoys leadership within European corporate and political realms.
