Esade admissions:
which test to take and what scores the class reports

Which Esade programs require which tests?

For these three Esade Business School programs in Barcelona, applications are submitted online through the school’s portal, and the admissions test is one component among others. Esade offers a third option alongside the GMAT and GRE: its own Esade Admission Test (TAE), for applicants who do not want to take either of the other tests.

Entry profiles differ. The Full-Time MBA requires an undergraduate degree and at least two years of full-time work experience after graduation; the published profile for the class of 2028 lists 177 participants, an average age of 30, and six years of experience. The MSc programs, including the MSc in International Management and MSc in Finance, are for graduates with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent that qualifies them for master’s studies in the country where it was awarded. No work experience is required; final-year applicants may apply, but must provide their degree and final transcript before enrollment. The “MiM or MBA” article helps you choose the degree level before selecting a test.

Graduates in any field may apply to the MSc in International Management, but applicants without a business or economics background may need to complete the Business Integration Path. The MSc in Finance targets graduates in business, economics, or a technical field; other degrees may be considered as exceptions. Applicants without a business or economics background, including those with a technical degree, must complete the Pre-Program in Finance.

GMAT, GRE, or Esade test: which should you choose?

The three tests are treated equally: the school requires one and the pages reviewed recommend none. Choose based on your schedule, your strengths, and your other target schools. If your list includes other international programs, GMAT or GRE scores may be reusable elsewhere, which is less certain for a school-specific test; the “GMAT or GRE” article outlines comparison criteria.

Esade accepts both GMAT editions: the current GMAT Focus and the previous edition. GMAT and GRE scores must be less than five years old for the MBA and MSc programs. Each admissions page lists the institution codes to use when sending scores from your GMAC or ETS account; check the page for your program.

The pages reviewed do not list the Executive Assessment for the Full-Time MBA or the TAGE MAGE. A TAGE MAGE score cannot replace the GMAT, GRE, or TAE at Esade.

Which English test, and what is the minimum?

The English test is in addition to the admissions test. The school publishes the same minimums for the MBA and both MSc programs: TOEFL iBT 100, IELTS Academic 7.0, Cambridge Advanced B+, Cambridge Proficiency C+, Pearson Academic “+68,” and Duolingo English Test “+130,” using the school’s published notation. TOEIC is not on the list.

The school publishes TOEFL iBT 100 on the 0–120 scale and 5.0 on the new 1–6 scale in use since 2026, with at least 4.5 in each section. Do not convert between them yourself; use the line corresponding to your score report. English tests are valid for two years for the MBA and MSc programs.

For the MBA, the page allows waivers for native English speakers and applicants whose bachelor’s degree of at least 120 ECTS or master’s degree of 60 ECTS was taught entirely in English, with university confirmation. For both MSc programs, waivers are listed for native English speakers and applicants with an English-taught bachelor’s degree covering at least three academic years and 120 ECTS, with documentation. Do not automatically apply the MBA’s master’s-degree waiver to the MSc programs.

What scores does Esade publish?

This table includes only figures published by the school itself, with their scope. Where no figure was found for a pathway, the table says so. Figures are never converted between scales or editions.

For the Full-Time MBA, the school says the class average tends to be about 615 on the current GMAT edition or about 660 on the previous edition, which it says corresponds to around the 75th percentile in both formats. For the GRE, it gives an average written as “160/162” without assigning the figures to sections. No class year is named; the school refers to recent years. This is an average, not a minimum, and the page gives no median or range. The two MSc pages repeat the same GMAT and GRE averages without saying whether they are calculated by program or across the school.

What happens after the test?

MSc applications are submitted online and include supporting documents reviewed manually, two recommendation letters, and an official interview in Barcelona, at an off-campus admissions event, or remotely. The committee usually decides within about a month. The school encourages early applications because places are limited and are generally allocated from October through June. The MBA application also includes a CV, essays, and two recommendations; shortlisted applicants must interview before the committee makes a decision.

Admissions use successive deadlines, shared by the MBA and MSc programs: nine dates from September 30, 2026 to June 30, 2027, including November 18, 2026, then January 13, February 17, March 17, April 21, May 12, and June 2, 2027. Check your program page for current dates. Plan backward from your target deadline to take the test and allow time for a possible retake; the “Retake the test or move ahead with your application” article can help you decide.