Score-Sending Patterns Indicate Increasing Interest in Specialized Master's Programmes From Younger GMAT Test Takers
RESTON, VA--(Marketwire - Feb 23, 2012) - The number of GMAT scores being sent to business schools in Europe increased 65 percent from five years ago, according to a new report that offers insights into score sending patterns of GMAT test takers from the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). Also, more Europeans are choosing to study in the region as the share of scores they sent to schools in Europe increased to 63 percent in 2011, from 48 percent in 2007.
The annual European Geographic Trend Report for GMAT Examinees also highlights the highly international prospective-student pipeline to European schools. Of the 85,319 scores received by programmes located in Europe, a majority (62%) came from non-Europeans. The leading sources of foreign talent sending scores to Europe came from India, China, the United States, and Canada.
"The globalisation of management education is no more visible than in the GMAT trends we are witnessing in Europe," said Dave Wilson, president and chief executive officer at GMAC. "And as the full effects of the Bologna Accord are beginning to be felt in the region, prospective students have more choices in the type of programmes and where they want to study."
In addition to potential talent flows for business schools, the report also sheds light on the increasing popularity of specialized master's programmes in areas such as accounting, finance and management. Although the MBA remains the preferred programme of choice for European GMAT test takers, the proportion of score reports sent to specialized programmes worldwide doubled, from 21 percent in 2007 to 43 percent in 2011.
Increased interest in specialized master's programmes is being driven by a younger group of GMAT test takers. More than half (51%) of European citizens who took the GMAT exam in 2011 were younger than 25 years old, compared to only 38 percent in 2007. Notably, GMAT test takers from France were among the youngest while examinees from Spain were among the oldest.
View the report at www.gmac.com/geographictrends. Go to www.gmac.com to see other GMAT data and survey research from the Graduate Management Admission Council.
About GMAC and the GMAT exam
The Graduate Management Admission Council (www.gmac.com) is a nonprofit education organization of leading graduate business schools and owner of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT® exam), used by almost 5,300 graduate business and management programs worldwide. GMAC is based in Reston, Virginia, and has regional offices in London, New Delhi and Hong Kong. The GMAT exam -- the only standardized test designed expressly for graduate business and management programs worldwide -- is continuously available at more than 550 test centers in over 110 countries. More information about the GMAT is available at www.mba.com.