Universidade Nova de Lisboa / Universidade Católica Portuguesa - The Lisbon MBA International

The Program

The Lisbon MBA International is a joint effort from the two top Portuguese business schools - Católica and Nova - and the MIT Sloan School of Management.

This partnership with MIT is reflected in the design of the program, in the global perspective given to the curriculum and in the period spent in Boston, attending classes on MIT's campus.

The design of the program includes an immersion period at MIT, in the United States, allowing participants to study across two continents and turning this program into a truly diversified learning experience.

Besides this international exposure, students of The Lisbon MBA International will have the opportunity to work and exchange experiences with colleagues and faculty members, from different nationalities and cultures, on what will be the international atmosphere of everyday life on the program.

The international perspective is present in all aspects of the curriculum, as The Lisbon MBA was designed with the objective of training business leaders ready to be effective in an increasingly multicultural world. This international atmosphere and experience will also help you build an international network of contacts that will remain with you for the rest of your life, wherever in the world you choose to do business.

The Lisbon MBA’s focus on interpersonal and leadership skills is at the heart of our approach to management.

At The Lisbon MBA, we believe that technical ability to model outcomes won’t give you an edge over your competitor. We know that cost-cutting is not necessarily the quickest path to efficiency. New paradigms and solutions to business challenges become apparent when you bring the right and left sides of the brain together.

The Lisbon MBA’s Friday Forum will unlock the potential lying between your ‘two brains’ through out-of-the-box exercises and activities led by specialized coaches.

Over twenty-five Friday sessions, you’ll strengthen interpersonal skills which can often determine a manager’s success or failure.

We focus on the following core competences of today’s manager:
• Creativity
• Leadership
• Integrating Knowledge and Experience
• Resilience
• Career Management

The Faculty

The Lisbon MBA International faculty will not only be a source of information to you, but also a source of inspiration.

The success of any MBA program obviously rests, for the most part, on the quality of its professors. Being a joint program, we can offer a group of selected faculty from the three schools, offering both solid academic background and significant professional experience, ensuring that classroom content is relevant and up-to-date with the latest practices.

Our faculty is international, academically recognized and with a practical approach. They are experts in their area of knowledge, but also passionate about passing on their knowledge.

In addition to professors from Católica, Nova and MIT, visiting faculty from all over the world will bring specialized knowledge and industry experience into the classroom.

Entry Requirements

Admission to The Lisbon MBA International depends on a very rigorous process, conducted by dedicated professionals, with the objective of choosing suitable candidates for the program but also to ensure that all expectations that the candidates have are met by the MBA.

1) Academic foundation - applicants must hold a first degree, in any area. Your school's reputation, the area of studies and your academic performance will be considered in the assessment process.

2) Professional Experience and development potential - we recommend that our applicants have a minimum of three years professional experience. You should be career-focused, demonstrate clear leadership potential and a desire for intellectual growth.

3) Ability to contribute to the group - we look for candidates who will contribute pro-actively and share their experiences. We believe that a substantial part of your experience will be based on interaction with other participants and class participation.

4) Strong interpersonal skills - with a substantial amount of work undertaken in groups, your innate qualities are as vital as your track record. Cross cultural sensitivity - we prepare our students to work anywhere in the world, so you must have an international outlook.

5) Proficiency in English - as all classes and study materials are in English, all applicants must have a good level of written and spoken English. If English is not your mother tongue you will be required to take a standardized English Language test (TOEFL, IELTS or CPE).

6) GMAT scores - the GMAT is an essential part of the application process and a good score is appreciated, so we strongly recommend that you take the time to prepare for the exam in advance.

Documents required:

- Complete on-line application form (have a look to a sample/specimen of application form )

- Application fee of €150 (non refundable - please send us proof of payment)

- Official University Transcripts with final grade

- GMAT results (www.mba.com, www.gmac.com)

- English language test results (TOEFL, IELTS, CPE) (www.toefl.org, www.ielts.org )

- Two essays - themes provided

- Two letters of recommendation (template provided through online application)

- One photograph

Application Procedure

For the class of 2010

Admission Period 1
Applications submitted: 15 February - 30 April 2009
Admissions communications: 31 May 2009

Admission Period 2
Applications submitted: 1 May - 15 June 2009
Admissions communications: 15 July 2009

Admission Period 3
Applications submitted: 16 June - 14 September 2009
Admissions communications: 15 October 2009

Admission Period 4
Applications submitted: 15 September - 31 October 2009
Admissions communications: 31 November 2009

Tuition and Fees

The fee for the 2010 program is 31,250 € payable in several installments.

This fee includes the complete course, cases and other support materials, and also travel to and accommodation at MIT during the MIT immersion period.

It does not include text books and living expenses.

The cost of living in Lisbon is generally lower than other major European cities.

Although we do not offer on-campus accommodation, our team will be happy to give you contacts to find lodging in Lisbon.

Financial Aid

Financing:

Obtaining the MBA is an investment decision that requires financial planning.

Major banks all over the world offer special loans to cover fees and living expenses - look for the best options in your home country or click here to learn about The Lisbon MBA Loan.

Students can also be supported through their studies by their employer, not only giving you the time to attend the program and offering you opportunities to implement your learning after the MBA, but also financially, helping you pay your tuition fees.

For an employer there are several benefits of this support, as you will not only be more effective at work, applying new knowledge and generating new ideas, but you are also more likely to embrace new challenges within the company after graduation. Our team will be happy to present further details on the program and its contents to your employer, if you want us to.

Scholarships:

There are also a number of scholarships available for the program, awarded to students with an outstanding academic record, excellent professional experience and personal merit, and also considering the diversity objectives for each class.

Scholarship applications should be submitted after the admission into the program.

Location

Lisbon:

Old and new. Cool and traditional.

Vibrant and soothing. Distinct and cosmopolitan.

State-of-the-art architecture and turn-of-the-century trams.

Walking winding lanes by day and bar-hopping at night.

Fairytale palaces and sandy beaches nearby.

All this is Lisbon. A truly captivating city.

Lisbon lies on the north bank of the Tagus Estuary and is the westernmost city in continental Europe. Inhabited by about 2 million people, Lisbon retains its personal touch while showing all the signs of openness to the world. Its mild winters and long summers cooled by the Atlantic breeze provide the perfect conditions to enjoy all that is on offer.

In Lisbon, you will find true diversity and seamless integration in all the monuments, beaches, countryside, mountains and areas of historical interest, all within a few kilometers from the city centre. The beauty of Lisbon can be felt rather than just observed, through the kindness of its people, the luminosity of its colors and the warmth of its welcome.

We truly believe that this is the ideal setting in which to engage all your senses in a complete learning experience at The Lisbon MBA.

Student Life

This MBA will provide you with a top level, world-class education program that extends far beyond the classroom.

You can expect a rigorous and demanding program as well as a powerful and challenging intellectual environment.

Academic life aside, there are other things you can experience. You have access to a series of formal and informal events designed to develop your managerial, leadership, communication and teamwork skills while having some real fun. Outdoor and teambuilding activities, a sponsored company case competition, and access to MBA alumni events are just some of the examples of the activities offered.

Being part of a strong community, you will work and interact with a dynamic group. As your colleagues possess a unique set of interests, opinions, backgrounds and motivations you will be encouraged to pursue personal excellence.

Our commitment is to provide a challenging environment that allows you to grow both on a personal and professional level, take advantage of a valuable network and develop long-lasting relationships.

This MBA will be a life-changing experience!