Henley Business School MBA Ranks First in South Africa
The institution's Global Executive MBA secures 32nd place in the latest Financial Times executive education rankings.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Scholarships
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The Henley Business School Global Executive MBA has achieved a 32nd place global ranking in the 2026 Financial Times assessment. This result marks the program as the top-rated executive MBA in South Africa and third across the continent.
Why it matters
The school has introduced new scholarships targeting the leadership, sustainability, and creative sectors to improve access to the program. These financial supports aim to broaden participation following the school's significant rise in global rankings over the last two years.
The programme achieved an average participant satisfaction score of 9.42 out of 10. It also holds 6th place globally for work experience and 7th for international course experience.
The players
Henley Business School
This institution is a triple-accredited business school that maintains campuses and learning centres across the globe.
Financial Times
This international news organisation produces influential annual rankings for business education programmes based on rigorous performance metrics.
The details
The 24-month degree programme includes five international residential visits and carries dual accreditation in the UK and South Africa. Henley remains one of only two business schools in South Africa to meet the specific criteria required for the Financial Times ranking.
Timeline
2024: The Global Executive MBA launched in Africa.
2025: The programme rose 19 places in global rankings.
2026: The school ranked 32nd globally and 1st in South Africa.
March 2027: Applications for the next scholarship intake open.
October 2027: The next Global Executive MBA programme intake commences.
Culture Shift
This ranking reflects a broader trend of African business schools gaining international recognition through specialised, globalised curricula. By integrating local and international residential experiences, the school is capitalising on a demand for cross-border leadership training.
Students and working professionals can use these new scholarships to offset the costs of a programme that maintains a 9.42 satisfaction rating. The curriculum requires 24 months of commitment, including international travel, which will necessitate significant schedule planning for successful applicants.
The takeaway
Prospective students should begin preparing their applications early to take advantage of the newly announced scholarship funds. Balancing professional obligations with international coursework remains the primary challenge for those aiming to enter the October 2027 intake.
What happens next
Applications for the upcoming scholarship programme will open to interested candidates in March 2027, followed by the next full MBA intake in October 2027.
Further reading
For more information on educational funding opportunities, visit our Scholarships section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Maverick.
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