Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore has again emerged as the highest-ranked Indian university in the QS Executive MBA Rankings for 2025, despite having seen its global ranking slide. Placed at 50 worldwide this year, IIM Bangalore has fallen from its last ranking of 41 in 2024. Nevertheless, it still stands as the top among Indian business schools for executive MBA offerings, bolstering its excellent academic reputation and increasing significance of executive education in India.

The QS Executive MBA Rankings rank 233 leading executive MBA programs worldwide. Of them, seven Indian schools have been featured on the list this year, which marks the growing presence of Indian business schools on the global executive education landscape. Three of the seven are Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), and four are private schools. IIM Bangalore leads the Indian pack again, while the Indian School of Business (ISB) ranks in the 111–120 rank band globally.

ISB’s performance for the current year confirms its role as a strong private player in India’s executive education domain. On its heels are IIM Kozhikode, which has made an upward move from last year’s 171–180 band to the 161–170 band, and IIM Indore, whose rank has stayed constant at the 181–190 band. The Institute of Management Technology (IMT) Ghaziabad occupies the same rank band as IIM Indore. Woxsen School of Business, Hyderabad, appears in the 191–200 group, and the Goa Institute of Management makes its first appearance in the 201+ group. This varied representation from both public and private schools reflects the increasing quality and international recognition of Indian executive MBA offerings.

At the global level, the University of Oxford’s Said Business School has held the number one position for the second year running. It is followed by HEC Paris, IESE Business School—which has operations in multiple cities such as Barcelona and New York—MIT Sloan School of Management, and the London Business School. These schools continue to set the standard in executive business education through innovative pedagogy, strong employer relationships, and international perspective.

IIM Bangalore’s Executive MBA program, the Post Graduate Programme in Enterprise Management (PGPEM), has not just received a top global ranking but also 10th position at the Asia-Pacific level. It is India’s top-ranked Executive MBA program offering, highlighting its quality and application. The PGPEM specifically caters to mid- and senior-level working professionals who do not want to suspend their careers but enhance their leadership and management skills. The program design permits working professionals to pursue weekend classes, thus allowing them to synchronize class learning with their regular work obligations.

The Career Outcomes score is one of the strongest indications of PGPEM’s performance in the QS ranking. It has a score of 87.1 out of 100 in this metric, significantly above the global average of 59.8. This score expresses the success of the graduates in attaining promotions and substantial pay hikes following completion of the program. This high rating is an indication of the usefulness of the program in career progress and making high-potential professionals.

PGPEM also scored 70.4 in Employer Reputation, compared with the global average of 49.2. This measure indicates how good the program is rated by employers globally and highlights the reputation that IIM Bangalore enjoys among corporates across the world. The Thought Leadership measure too was impressive at 54.9, higher than the global average of 45.0, indicating the research and academic excellence of the faculty and institution. These rankings are indicative of the programme’s well-rounded strengths in intellectual rigour, market orientation, and applicability to practice. 

QS also ranks programmes based on Executive Profile and Diversity, where PGPEM again takes a lead position. These categories take into account the prior work experience and seniority of entry students along with gender and global diversity, both of which serve to create an enhanced learning atmosphere.

PGPEM’s highly demanding course content and business-facing approach render it an influential means of professional advancement. The careful planning in it ensures not just theoretical education, but implementation as well, handling intricate business dilemmas from diverse industries. While organizations seek out leaders to address varied functions and cope with volatile challenges in rising numbers, there is a resultant increase in demand for well-defined executive MBA courses like the one offered. IIM Bangalore’s sustained leadership of the Indian list is a testament to the strength of its programme and its dedication to excellence in executive education.