Triple accreditation: Business schools in Europe with the “Triple Crown”

Triple accreditation, or the “Triple Crown”: Only a select few of the best business schools in Europe have the privilege of being accredited by the three most important accreditation organisations AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. But what does triple accreditation mean, and why should you care about it?

What is accreditation? Why are accreditations important?

Accreditation is a quality assurance process in which an independent organisation assesses the educational quality of a specific study programme or educational institution. When a business school is accredited by an organisation, it means that the school meets a set of quality standards, ensuring that students in their business and MBA degrees receive high-quality education.

Accreditation is usually provided for specific study programmes, or for a specific time (e.g. for 5 years). After that time, or when there are substantial changes, the university has to request accreditation once more.

What if a business school is not accredited?

Accreditation is usually requested by the business school, and it requires a financial and organisational effort. Some business schools may simply choose not to pursue certain accreditations, especially if they hold accreditations from one or two other organisations. But if you are looking for an MBA in Europe, you should make sure that your business school is accredited by at least one respectable organisation.

Who provides accreditation?

Business school accreditations are conducted by independent organisations, each of which have developed their own set of standards. The three largest international business school accreditation associations are:

• AACSB - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (based in Tampa, Florida, USA)
• AMBA - The Association of MBAs (based in London, United Kingdom)
• EQUIS - European Quality Improvement System (based in Brussels, Belgium)

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Business schools in Europe with triple accreditation

In October 2018, there are 60 business schools in Europe with the “Triple Crown”:

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Number of triple-accredited business schools by country

Most triple-accredited business schools are located in the UK, followed closely by France.

This article was last updated on 17 October 2018.