Do I need the GMAT for European MiM programs?

It depends on the school. HEC Paris and LBS still recommend it strongly. ESCP and ESSEC have become more test-optional. Bocconi accepts the GMAT or GRE. Check each program's current requirements before assuming.

What is a good GMAT score for European MiM programs?

A score of 700 or above is considered strong for most programs. Top programs like LBS and HEC see averages of 720–730. Below 650 is a headwind at competitive programs, though not disqualifying.

Is the GRE accepted instead of GMAT?

Most European MiM programs now accept the GRE as an equivalent alternative. The choice between them should come down to which test better suits your strengths — the GRE's verbal section rewards reading comprehension; the GMAT's quant section is more focused.

On the GMAT in 2026: still required, sometimes optional, often a waste.

The GMAT has had a complicated five years. The test went online during the pandemic, the GMAT Focus Edition launched in 2023 with a restructured format, and a wave of European schools quietly moved to test-optional policies they have not moved back from.

Here is the current picture, as of the 2026–27 cycle.

Schools Where the GMAT Still Matters

London Business School has not moved to test-optional and does not appear to be headed that way. The average GMAT for admitted students is approximately 720–740. If you are applying to LBS, you need a score.

HEC Paris officially accepts applications without a GMAT but continues to report GMAT averages for its intake, which signals that the test is still playing a role in selection decisions. Anecdotally, candidates who submit strong GMAT scores (700+) report better outcomes in the admissions process than those who waive.

University of St. Gallen has maintained a quantitative threshold in its admissions process that effectively requires competitive test scores.

Schools Where Test-Optional Is Genuine

ESCP and ESSEC have both extended their test-optional policies from pandemic-era exceptions to genuine policy. Candidates with strong academic records from recognised institutions are regularly admitted without scores.

Bocconi accepts the GMAT, GRE, or TOLC as an alternative — and the TOLC is a shorter, cheaper Italian-language alternative that many students overlook.

The Decision Framework

If you are going to sit the GMAT, sit it once, prepare properly, and aim for 700+. A score below 650 is rarely worth submitting at a top-5 program — it raises questions rather than resolving them.

If a school is genuinely test-optional and your academic record is strong (3.5+ GPA from a recognised institution with rigorous coursework), do not sit the GMAT just to have something to submit. An average score adds nothing to an otherwise strong application.

The GMAT is most useful when your academic record needs reinforcing — a 3.2 GPA from a less-recognised university, or a non-business undergraduate with limited quantitative coursework. In that case, a strong GMAT score (720+) makes the admissions committee’s job easier and is worth the investment.