This prestigious triple accreditation is only held by less than one hundred business school’s globally – fewer than one per cent – placing Exeter among the very best worldwide.

Business School accredited by prestigious international body

The University of Exeter Business School has joined an elite group of international institutions to achieve the coveted “triple crown” accreditation status.

Following a rigorous assessment process, the Business School has gained accreditation from The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), based in the United States.

Having already gained accreditations from EQUIS and AMBA, the Business School has now officially gained triple accreditation - also known as Triple Crown accreditation - granted by the three largest and most influential business school accreditation organisations worldwide.

This prestigious triple accreditation is only held by less than one hundred business schools globally – fewer than one per cent – placing Exeter among the very best worldwide.

Welcoming the accreditation, Professor David Bruce Allen, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of the Business School said: “At the University of Exeter Business School, our mission is to deliver outstanding and innovative business education and research that address the major challenges confronting businesses and society”.

“Gaining AACSB accreditation demonstrates our commitment to continuous improvement within all that we do, and highlights the high-quality and hard work of our academics and professional staff and the positive impact this has on our students and partners.”

AACSB is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools, and the largest business education network connecting students, educators, and businesses worldwide.

Synonymous with the highest standards of quality, AACSB accreditation inspires new ways of thinking within business education globally and, as a result, has been earned by only 5 percent of the world's schools offering business degrees at the bachelor level or higher.

Stephanie M. Bryant, Executive Vice President and Chief Accreditation Officer of AACSB International said “We congratulate the University of Exeter and Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean David Allen on earning accreditation, and applaud the entire Exeter team—including the administration, faculty, staff, and students—for their roles in earning this respected honour.”

“The University of Exeter’s commitment to earning accreditation is a true reflection of their dedication—not only to their students, alumni network, and greater business community, but to the higher education industry as a whole.”

The Business School was granted accreditation by EQUIS in 2013, which was renewed in 2016 for 5 years. The accreditation makes a comprehensive and holistic assessment of the business school, looking not only at the degree programmes offered but also at the activities of the institution—from teaching, research, and business connections, to executive education provision, community outreach, alumni relations, student opinion, and administration resources.

The School is also accredited by the Association of Masters in Business Administration (AMBA), the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Institute for Fiscal Studies, Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, Chartered Institute of Professional Development (CIPD), Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

The University of Exeter Business School, based in Exeter and Penryn in Cornwall, has approximately 3,900 students, studying courses in Management, Economics, Accounting and Finance and teaches the world leading Exeter MBA. Students represent more than 150 countries worldwide.

In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework 73 per cent of published work by academics was ranked as world-leading or internationally excellent. In the past five years academics have attracted more than £6m of research grant funding.

Date: 26 April 2019