Global Business-School Applications Fall 10%; Indian Students Show Greater Interest in Europe
Applications to graduate business programmes worldwide fell 10% for the 2026–27 academic year, reversing two years of growth, according to the Graduate Management Admission Council’s (GMAC) 2026 Application Trends Survey. MBA applications declined 13%. The overall fall did not affect every region equally: programmes in Europe outside the United Kingdom and in East and Southeast Asia reported application growth.
For Indian applicants, the shift toward Europe is also visible in destination-preference data. GMAC’s separate 2026 Prospective Students Survey found that the share of Indian candidates who preferred Western Europe rose from 24% in 2024 to 30% in 2025. This measures stated preferences, while the Application Trends Survey measures applications reported by business schools; the two figures describe related but different trends.
Key findings and dates
| Measure | Finding | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Global graduate-management applications | Down 10% | 2026–27 academic year |
| Global MBA applications | Down 13% | 2026–27 academic year |
| Applications to US programmes | Down 25%; three-quarters of US programmes reported declines | 2026 survey cycle |
| Regional application growth | Europe excluding the UK, and East and Southeast Asia | 2026 survey cycle |
| Indian candidates preferring Western Europe | 30%, up from 24% in 2024 | 2025 preference data |
| 2026 Application Trends Survey released | October 27, 2026 | Survey covered 2026–27 |
The Application Trends Survey collected responses from 1,162 programmes at 314 business schools in 39 countries. Responses were gathered from June to August 2026. GMAC reported that schools in Europe outside the UK and in East and Southeast Asia grew their application volumes, supported substantially by international demand. The United States, United Kingdom and Canada saw declines. GMAC also reported that business master’s programmes performed better overall than MBA programmes.
What the figures mean for Indian applicants
The results point to a wider range of destinations being considered, rather than a single replacement for the United States. GMAC’s preference data still showed the US as the leading choice among candidates globally, while Western Europe gained ground, particularly among candidates from Central and South Asia. Indian applicants comparing programmes should therefore assess each option on its own merits, including total tuition, living costs, scholarships, visa rules, work permissions and post-study career outcomes.
Application growth in a region does not guarantee admission, employment or a particular return on investment. Candidates should compare programme curriculum, accreditation, internships, employer links and graduate outcomes using current information from each school. Visa and work rules can also change, so check the relevant government’s official immigration website before making plans.
For schools, the survey suggests that international recruitment patterns and candidate priorities are changing. GMAC noted that applicants are weighing cost and return more carefully, while schools are responding with clearer information about financial support and AI-related learning. These are useful considerations for Indian candidates evaluating MBA and specialised business-master’s options for upcoming intakes.
Official links
GMAC 2026 Application Trends Survey: https://www.gmac.com/market-intelligence-and-research/research-library/admissions-and-application-trends/2026-application-trends-survey-report
GMAC 2026 Application Trends Survey announcement: https://www.gmac.com/why-gmac/gmac-news/gmac-press-releases/graduate-business-programs-hold-steady-on-quality-and-selectivity
GMAC 2026 Prospective Students Survey: https://www.gmac.com/market-intelligence-and-research/research-library/admissions-and-application-trends/2026-gmac-prospective-students-survey-report
