CEIBS MBA Application Guide

CEIBS seeks MBA candidates who demonstrate strong academic achievement, relevant work experience, leadership potential, and a genuine interest in the program and its focus on China and global business. They look for individuals who are mature, self-aware, and have the initiative to succeed in a challenging and rewarding MBA environment.

A bachelor’s degree or above:

• Copies of all transcripts will need to be uploaded
• All application documents, such as transcripts and letters of recommendation, must be provided in English or translated into English by a certified translation agency

GMAT/GRE score or CEIBS Admission Test score

• 80% of CEIBS MBA students have a total score of between 640 and 740 (old version) for the Quantitative and Verbal Sections
• CEIBS offers the CEIBS Admission Test as an alternative to the GMAT for prospective students. This test resembles the GMAT in format but excludes the Integrated Reasoning (IR) and Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) sections. Applicants are allowed to take the CEIBS Admission Test at no cost

Proficiency in English: TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test are all recommended but not required

Full-time work experience of two years or longer: Applicants will need to submit a copy of their business card

The CEIBS Admission Committee requests two professional recommendation letters, ideally with one from the applicant’s current supervisor. Recommendations from individuals who can directly address the applicant’s skills and achievements in management are highly favored. Therefore, recommendations related to work experience hold greater significance than those from an academic background.

The CEIBS MBA application requires two essays and holds space for one optional essay.

Essay 1: What are your short-term and long-term post-MBA career aspirations? Discuss how your prior experience has prepared you for these goals and explain how the CEIBS MBA Program will help you achieve them. (500 words)

• This essay on career aspirations invites candidates to express their goals after completing their MBA and the strategies they will employ to reach them. Begin by outlining your long-term vision for the next 5-10 years, focusing not only on your desired roles and locations but also on the motivations driving your ambitions – particularly the influence you wish to have on an organization, industry, or community
• Next, clearly outline your immediate post-MBA plans, including the specific role you aspire to and the 1-2 companies you intend to target. Ensure that your short-term goals logically connect to your long-term aspirations, particularly in relation to the growth of the Chinese economy, which aligns well with the CEIBS MBA program
• To illustrate how you will achieve these goals, briefly discuss your current work experience and the skills you have acquired. This will highlight the areas where an MBA can enhance your capabilities. Make sure to link the skills you wish to develop during your MBA—both in and out of the classroom—to your future goals, demonstrating to the admissions committee that you understand how the program will equip you for success

Essay 2: Share an accomplishment you are most proud of and a situation where you faced failure. Explain why you felt proud of your accomplishment and how you have dealt with the failure. How have these experiences shaped your relationships with others and your overall growth? (500 words)

• This prompt invites candidates to share (1) their most significant achievement, (2) a failure that may seem unrelated, (3) how these experiences influenced their relationships with others, and (4) the insights gained from each. Applicants must navigate these topics within a 500-word limit, ensuring they provide enough context for the reader to grasp the situation, its importance, and the results
• Thoughtful organization is key for this essay. If using distinct examples, consider dedicating two 200-word sections to thoroughly explore both the achievement and the failure. Alternatively, if both experiences occurred within the same project, a chronological approach might flow more naturally
• Candidates can choose examples from either their personal or professional lives, allowing for flexibility in their selections. It’s essential to strategically pick examples that will enhance the application. Highlighting a notable workplace success could be particularly effective. Reflect on how these experiences contributed to your personal growth, such as developing empathy, inspiring others, or fostering teamwork, and consider concluding with a brief illustration of how you applied these lessons in a later situation

Optional Essay: As we review your application, what else would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the CEIBS MBA Programme? (300 words)

• This space is ideal for clarifying any aspects of your application that may require more insight, such as your choice of recommenders or anticipated promotions. Applicants are encouraged to exercise sound judgment when determining whether to respond to this prompt. It’s important to avoid repeating information already included in other parts of your application or that could have been addressed in the previous essays

Admission to the CEIBS MBA program requires an interview. Once the MBA Admissions Office receives a complete application package, they will evaluate the submitted information and create a shortlist of candidates for interviews. Applicants have the flexibility to select their interview location, with exceptions made in certain circumstances. The interview panel typically consists of CEIBS faculty members, department heads, alumni, and admissions staff. Generally, each applicant will meet with two interviewers, and the interview lasts about 30-40 minutes, conducted in English.

For applicants currently living in mainland China, an in-person interview is mandatory. Those who are studying or working outside of mainland China may have the option to conduct their interviews via alternative methods, such as videoconferencing or phone calls.