Master of Business Administration
Admission criteria
INSEAD MBA admissions do not list a portfolio or creative/technical work sample as a standard application requirement. Applicants may upload additional supporting documents such as awards or scholarships if they strengthen the application, but no portfolio is requested or described as an evaluation criterion.
This is a major part of the application. INSEAD says the job description questions are a key part of the application and that the motivation essays are a critical part of its evaluation process. The school looks for authentic, thoughtful writing about career path, reasons for pursuing the MBA, short- and long-term goals, self-awareness, leadership strengths and weaknesses, and lessons from stressful situations.
INSEAD explicitly evaluates academic capacity and wants strong analytical skills and proven ability to succeed in an intense programme. It requires transcripts and says there is no minimum GPA because grading systems differ globally; instead, it looks at courses taken, grades received in each course, and overall academic performance.
GMAT or GRE is mandatory for the MBA and cannot be waived, making test scores a significant input. INSEAD does not set a minimum overall score, but it evaluates section performance and publishes recommended percentiles. English test evidence is also required if applicable for application completeness, with TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE accepted unless prior study in English qualifies as proof.