In a strong showing for India’s premier management institutes, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta have secured coveted spots in the QS International Trade Rankings 2026, released by QS Quacquarelli Symonds in partnership with the Hinrich Foundation.

IIM Calcutta broke into the global top 10, claiming the 8th position in the Executive MBA category, while IIM Ahmedabad ranked 32nd worldwide for its MBA and Master’s programmes. The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) also made the list, standing at 71st globally with its flagship Master’s in Global Management (MGM) programme.

Global leaders and key trends

The University of Cambridge claimed the top spot globally for its Executive MBA, followed by elite programmes from Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management, which led the Master’s and MBA rankings for its Master of Global Management (MGM). The National University of Singapore (NUS) and Durham University (UK) secured the second and third positions, respectively.

The 2026 edition of the rankings evaluated 106 programmes across 31 countries and included 30 Executive MBA offerings from 14 nations.

In the Master’s and MBA category, France’s INSEAD stood at 4th, followed by the UK’s Cranfield University at 5th. Switzerland’s IMD claimed 6th, and Australia’s University of Sydney ranked 7th for its Master of International Business. Sharing the 8th position were Spain’s Universitat Ramon Llull and the University of Cambridge for its Cambridge MBA.

India on the global map

India’s strong presence — led by IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta — underscores the country’s growing influence in global business education. IIM Calcutta’s entry into the top 10 marks a milestone, placing it alongside long-established global giants in executive education.

Meanwhile, IIM Ahmedabad’s 32nd rank and IIFT’s presence in the top 75 reaffirm the rising global competitiveness of Indian management programmes.

Regional highlights

The United States dominated the list with 12 business schools, three of which feature in the global top 20. The UK had multiple strong showings, including Durham University (3rd) and Cranfield University (5th). France’s INSEAD, Switzerland’s IMD, and Spain’s Universitat Ramon Llull also emerged as top European performers.

Among new entrants, Tufts University debuted at 12th for its Master of International Business, while Florida International University and Université de Montréal joined the rankings for the first time.

The rankings reaffirm the increasing globalization of business education, with Asia, particularly India and Singapore, emerging as powerful contenders in the field of international trade and management.