UPF-BSM enters the Financial Times global ‘Masters in Finance 2026’ ranking for the first time

UPF Barcelona School of Management (UPF-BSM) has entered the Financial Times Masters in Finance Ranking 2026 for the first time in its history. This ranking is widely regarded as the most prestigious and demanding global benchmark in higher education for finance programs. This year’s ranking includes only 70 finance master’s programs from around the world.

The school’s ranked programs are the Master of Science in Finance and Banking, directed by Professor Albert Banal, and the Master’s Degree in Finance and Banking, directed by Professors Xavier Brun, Oscar Elvira, and Xavier Freixas.

The top five institutions in the 2026 edition are ESCP Business School, Skema Business School, Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management, Essec Business School, and Edhec Business School. Alongside UPF-BSM, internationally renowned schools such as MIT Sloan School of Management and Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School have also entered the ranking for the first time.

“This recognition is a major milestone for us, as it places us in the global conversation alongside internationally renowned academic institutions and reinforces our commitment to a model that combines management education, research, knowledge generation, and impact,” said José M. Martínez-Sierra, General Director of UPF-BSM.

This year, the Finance Masters ranking includes four Spanish business schools: UPF-BSM, IE Business School, Esade, and EADA. Among these four institutions, UPF-BSM is the only one affiliated with a public university.

The Financial Times Masters in Finance Ranking annually evaluates programs offered by institutions accredited by international bodies such as AACSB and EQUIS, two of the three most prestigious academic accreditations and quality seals in higher education. “Being included in such an important international ranking demonstrates that public universities can and should occupy leading positions in global benchmarks such as international rankings,” added José M. Martínez-Sierra. “In a context of sector-wide transformation driven by artificial intelligence, knowledge generation, and applied research, our connection to a public university is a key strategic advantage that we will continue to strengthen.”

In its first appearance in the ranking, UPF-BSM achieved 70th place worldwide. Regarding the methodology used, among the wide range of indicators assessed by the Financial Times, UPF-BSM performs particularly strongly in Value for Money, ranking among the world’s top 34 institutions. This metric evaluates the return on investment students receive, taking into account the program’s quality, design, faculty, learning experience, and educational resources in relation to its cost. UPF-BSM also performs strongly in Aims Achieved (87% satisfaction), which measures whether the program fulfills the professional objectives for which it was designed and delivers real value to students’ professional development.

View the full ranking results at this link