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01/04/2025

Let's find out what makes the Global Online MBA different.

4 min read

Want the flexibility of online learning without sacrificing meaningful connections? IE Business School’s Global Online MBA combines immersive residential periods in Madrid with online flexibility, transforming digital classmates into lifelong friends and collaborators. That’s why it’s considered one of the best hybrid master’s programs in the world.

How to choose between hybrid master’s programs?

Have you ever wondered how an online MBA can deliver the same networking opportunities as a traditional program? IE Business School—home to the world’s #1 Global Online MBA according to the Financial Times—has mastered this balance through its innovative residential periods, creating a truly transformative experience that fits into your busy professional life.

The program’s blended format includes three immersive face-to-face weeks at IE University’s vibrant Madrid location, complemented by online learning that adapts to your schedule. This unique program structure allows you to advance your career without putting it on hold.

That gives you the freedom to study from anywhere while still forming meaningful connections.

“Given the online format of the program, the residential periods were really helpful for leveraging the network and building the network. We had a lot of interaction from the first residential period on,” says Grant Godfrey, Regional Human Resource Manager at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories.

Creating community beyond the screen

What happens during these residential weeks that makes them so valuable? For starters, they transform digital interactions into genuine relationships that last well beyond graduation.

“The majority of people came to those residential weeks. It was a great chance to get to know everyone in the program, not just in your section,” explains Grant.

Viktoriia Safronova, Digital Solutions Director at Visa, adds: “It helped us to create a community, find friends, get closer to each other and to create bonds for the future.”

These in-person periods are packed with workshops, team-building activities, negotiation practice and specialized conferences. All will strengthen your leadership skills while nurturing connections that extend far beyond the classroom. The residential weeks become the foundation for a global network that supports your career for years to come.

Finding your perfect balance

One of the biggest concerns for professionals considering an MBA is balancing studies with work and personal commitments. The Global Online MBA’s structure addresses this challenge head-on.

“I found that right balance to do my job, to do my study and have even some time for my private life,” says Viktoriia.

This flexibility is further enhanced by options to customize your experience. You can complete the program in 18 or 24 months, participating in some or all activities remotely if necessary. The program adapts to your life, not the other way around.

A transformative experience

Beyond practical skills and networking, the Global Online MBA delivers on its promise of personal transformation. The program encourages deep reflection on your career trajectory and life goals within a global context.

“The influence of the program on my personal goals is that IE University really delivers what they promise and it is the Next Best You,” says Matej Knežević, Head of Pharma at Zaunergroup. “The program allows you to reflect on all aspects of your life, your current career and if it is still the thing you want or how you can elevate it further. The global context brought this in my perspective to a completely different level.”

With professors from diverse industries bringing real-world experience, you’ll develop both professionally and personally throughout your journey.

As tech consultant Jerry Kizilos puts it, “I believe the experiences of my professors here at IE University have immensely contributed to my professional growth and personal growth… They provided us with authentic and real value in order for us to apply them in our real everyday life.”

Your next chapter awaits

The residential periods of IE Business School’s Global Online MBA aren’t just a supplement to the online learning—they’re an essential component of what makes this program exceptional. They create the community, provide face-to-face interaction and build the relationships that will support you throughout your studies and beyond.

As Viktoriia explains, “I could have chosen not to go for this program, but I wouldn’t have had this experience. I wouldn’t have met all these people that I met and this is actually something great. This is something that contributes to my personal journey, to my career aspirations—and you have this feeling that you’ve done something great for your future.”

Are you ready to experience a truly global MBA that adapts to your life while expanding your horizons? Watch the full video below to hear more about these transformative residential experiences and discover how this innovative program could be the perfect fit for your career ambitions.