--TODAY, 31 Jan 2012--
by Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE - Two Master of Business Administration (MBA) programmes here have been ranked among the world's top 35 by the Financial Times (FT).

The National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School's MBA programme retained its place at 23rd for the second year running. This is the highest ranking attained by a Singapore university.

According to the NUS, its school did well in several categories in the FT annual ranking of the top 100 MBA programmes around the world this year.

For example, post-MBA salaries of graduates increased by 185 per cent over pre-MBA salaries, it said.

The school remained ninth in the world for its graduates' international mobility. This, the school said, reflects the broad international demand from employers for its MBA graduates.

The Nanyang Technological University's Nanyang Business School (NBS), meanwhile, has been placed in 34th position in the FT annual ranking. It is the fourth straight year that NBS has been ranked among the world's top 35, although it held the 33rd position last year.

The NBS said its MBA graduates charted the highest salary level compared to other Singapore MBA graduates, with an average pay of US$102,350 (S$128,965) a year, three years after graduation.

The NBS MBA programme also ranks first in Singapore for the career progression opportunities and successful job placements offered to its graduates.

The Financial Times Global MBA Ranking is based upon data from business schools and their alumni. Three main areas are analysed: Alumni career progress, diversity of students and faculty, and ideas generation.

Rankings are heavily weighted on salary and salary increase three years after graduation, with both measures each accounting for 20 per cent of a school's rank.