AGSM MBA rises 19 places in the Financial Times 2026 Global MBA rankings
AGSM @ UNSW Business School ranks among the world’s top 50 MBA programs in the Financial Times 2026 Global rankings.
Published on the 16 February 2026
Class of 2026 AGSM @ UNSW Business Full-time MBA Cohort.
AGSM’s full-time MBA program has climbed 19 places to rank 48th in the Financial Times (FT) 2026 Global MBA Rankings, placing it among the world’s top 50 MBA programs.
AGSM is the only Australian MBA program in this year’s top 100. Since 2022, it has risen 50 places in the table, which is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious MBA rankings.
Professor Paul Andon, Interim Dean of UNSW Business School, said AGSM’s continued rise in the Financial Times Global MBA Rankings reflects the enduring nature of the program and its commitment to continual innovation.
Professor Paul Andon, Interim Dean, UNSW Business School.
“Our sustained momentum in the rankings affirms the strength of academic vision and our determination to keep raising our standards,” Professor Andon said. “We continually sharpen our curriculum and expand our industry partnerships to develop leaders who are globally attuned, future-focused, and prepared to make a lasting impact.”
“Ranking within the top 10 per cent globally across key measures, including ranking first in the world for Carbon Footprint and second for Sector Diversity, speaks to the distinctiveness and calibre of the AGSM experience.”
“Our continued improvement in Value for Money, and recognition for sustainability and diversity further reinforces AGSM’s standing as a premier graduate school, and that prepares capable leaders to lead with purpose.”
UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs said AGSM’s continued rise in the global MBA rankings reflected both the quality of its program and the ambition of its students.
“Our year-on-year success in the Financial Times Global MBA Rankings is a testament to the world-class quality of education at AGSM @ UNSW Business School and the drive of our students to lead with integrity and purpose,” Prof. Brungs said. “These results highlight UNSW’s role as a national asset, preparing strong business leaders who can respond to society’s most pressing challenges with capability and compassion, and advance progress for all.”
AGSM retained its number one global ranking for Carbon Footprint and moved up to second place for Sector Diversity, improving from fifth last year. The program also improved significantly for Value for Money, climbing from 26th in 2025 to 11th in this year’s rankings. This measure is calculated using current salaries, course length, tuition and other costs, including income forgone during the MBA, highlighting the enduring appeal of Australia as a postgraduate study destination.
Associate Professor Michele Roberts, Head of School, AGSM, and Associate Dean, Post-Experience, UNSW Business School, said retaining first place globally for Carbon Footprint demonstrated UNSW’s sustained and measurable commitment to sustainability.
“Maintaining the number one ranking for Carbon Footprint recognises the seriousness of UNSW’s net zero commitments and the transparency of our public carbon reporting, including across our broader value chain,” said A/Prof. Roberts.
“At AGSM, our focus on sustainability is embedded not only in how we operate as a School, but in how we prepare our students to lead. Responsible leadership is not an elective at AGSM; it is fundamental to how we teach strategy, finance, operations and transformation.”
AGSM’s rise to second globally for Sector Diversity highlights the breadth of experience students bring to the MBA. 53% women and 28 nationalities are represented in the full-time cohort.
“The diversity of industries represented in our cohort, from technology and finance to healthcare, resources, and the social sector, strengthens classroom dialogue and reflects the complexity of modern business,” A/Prof. Roberts said. “That cross-sector perspective equips our graduates to lead with agility and make informed decisions in rapidly evolving environments.”
For AGSM MBA alumna Hayley Bron (MBA 2022), whose cohort served as the basis for the FT 2026 ranking assessment, the program enabled a significant career pivot and broadened her leadership scope.
“The MBA fundamentally expanded the roles I could take on and gave me both the confidence and capability to move into a new sector,” she said.
After graduating, Hayley transitioned from a senior people and culture role into technology consulting. She is now Director of Transformation at Probe Group, where she uses digital tools and AI to redesign operating models and improve customer experiences.
“More broadly, the MBA trained me to think at a whole-of-business level, understanding how strategy, finance, technology, and culture interact, and how to make informed trade-offs about where value is created or lost,” she said.
“If you’re looking to pivot, broaden your leadership scope or move into complex, cross-disciplinary roles, AGSM equips you to lead with confidence in fast-changing environments.”
Hayley Bron (AGSM MBA 2022), Director of Transformation at Probe Group.
For more information and to view the full rankings results, click here.
For any related media enquiries, please contact Katie Carchrie, News and Content Coordinator for UNSW Business School, katie.carchrie@unsw.edu.au