The Global Leadership and Strategy Master’s programme at ISM University of Management and Economics has been ranked among the world’s top 50, taking 47th place in the prestigious Financial Times Masters in Management ranking. The ISM Master’s programme is the first in the Baltics to enter the global Financial Times Masters in Management Top 100. This is the first time a Lithuanian university has received such recognition.
Strongest result in value for money
ISM ranked 7th worldwide among the programmes included in the ranking for value for money. This measure takes into account alumni salaries, tuition fees and other study-related costs.
According to the Financial Times, the salaries of ISM programme alumni who participated in the survey increased by an average of 53% in the three years following graduation. ISM ranks 17th on this measure in this year’s ranking. In terms of annual alumni salary, ISM ranks 38th overall.
ISM programme alumni rated their overall satisfaction with their studies at 9.04 out of 10.
“International rankings allow us to see where we stand in a global context. Ranking 47th shows that ISM study programmes are already competing with some of the strongest business schools in Europe and around the world. This result is important not only for the University. It also reflects the maturity of the Lithuanian economy: our professionals are increasingly becoming leaders in their industries, their salary levels are becoming comparable with those in global markets, and an education gained in Lithuania is becoming a foundation for an international career,” says Prof. Dr Dalius Misiūnas, Rector of ISM University of Management and Economics.
Focus on real outcomes
The annual Financial Times Masters in Management ranking stands out because it assesses not only academic quality, but also the real impact of studies on alumni careers – including career progression, salary growth and value for money.
The ranking is based on a comprehensive assessment of both the university and the programme. Universities provide detailed data on their study programmes, students, faculty, internationalisation, career services and other institutional performance indicators. Information provided directly by alumni also makes up a significant part of the final assessment.
The ranking considers alumni salaries and salary growth after graduation, career progression, return on investment in studies, achievement of professional goals, employment, internationalisation and other criteria. It also evaluates university sustainability indicators, faculty academic qualifications, and the programme’s focus on ethics, social and environmental issues.
“This ranking is particularly important to us because it evaluates not what a programme promises students, but what actually happens after graduation. Being among the world’s leaders in terms of value for money and seeing significant growth in our alumni’s careers and salaries is one of the strongest indicators of the programme’s quality,” says Prof. Dr Vita Akstinaitė, founder of the Global Leadership and Strategy programme and Vice-Rector of ISM.
The Financial Times ranking of the world’s leading programmes also includes internationally recognised business schools such as London Business School, INSEAD, IESE and others. This year, first place was awarded to the Master’s in Management programme at the University of St Gallen in Switzerland.
“With this programme, we aim to develop the ability to think globally and strategically. We provide not only knowledge, but also develop leadership skills and the ability to work in conditions of uncertainty. This recognition acknowledges not only what we teach, but also how we teach it. Most importantly, it recognises the impact that the competencies gained through the programme have on our students’ professional lives,” says Prof. Dr Inga Minelgaitė-Antanavičienė, Head of the Global Leadership and Strategy programme at ISM.
The result reflects ISM’s long-term strategy
Entering the Financial Times ranking also reflects ISM University’s long-term strategic direction – to strengthen its international visibility and position within the global academic community.
ISM is also the first university in the Baltics to receive international AACSB business school accreditation and the first in Lithuania to receive the highest Eduniversal rating – five Palmes of Excellence.
View the rankings here: Masters in Management 2026 – Business school rankings from the Financial Times – FT.com
