CIMBA Italy

Master of Business Administration (MBA)
MBA degree from the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business

Earn an MBA in Italy in Less Than a Year

The CIMBA Full-time MBA Program allows you to study in Italy and the United States while you earn an international MBA degree in 11 months. This dynamic and accelerated program is known for high-quality courses backed by accreditation from the top-ranked University of Iowa Tippie College of Business. Courses are taught in English by top U.S. and European professors, and, upon completion, you’ll earn an internationally recognized degree from the University of Iowa.

As a full-time MBA student, you’ll begin your studies on our Pieve del Grappa campus in northern Italy. While you’re here, you’ll take classes and network with our part-time MBA students (most of who live and work in Italy and Europe). You’ll also apply what you learn in the classroom to the real world of management through group activities, guest speakers, company tours, and more.

The Full-time MBA Program runs from September through July. During the final month, you’ll travel to the University of Iowa in the U.S. to complete a real-world business simulation course that incorporates all aspects of your MBA studies. While you’re there, you’ll get an inside look at American companies, participate in a formal graduation ceremony, and receive your degree from the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business.


Study and Network with Students from Around the World

Each year, we accept about 15 students into our Full-Time MBA Program. Some seek to build managerial and leadership skills, while others want to delve into the science behind CIMBA’s cutting-edge work in neuroscience. Over the years, CIMBA has attracted students from more than 50 countries. Those who enter our program have job experiences that range from entry-level to managers, directors, and owners. The majority are between 25 and 30 years old and have a minimum of 2 years work experience (average: 5 years).


Participate in Real-World Projects

As a full-time MBA student, you’ll work on consulting projects for the second half of the time in Italy, working with real companies to solve real problems. This hands-on experience is an opportunity to put into practice skills, concepts, and theories students are learning in the classes. MBA teams, under the direct supervision of our professors and leadership development coaches, have completed more than 50 projects on three continents.


Career Development

While you’re at CIMBA, you can also take part in career development seminars designed to help you decide which career path, company, and managerial responsibility to pursue. We also offer professional assistance in writing resumes, conducting research to assess specific companies, interviewing, and negotiating salaries and benefits.


Financing Your Degree

CIMBA offers a range of merit-based and need-based MBA scholarships to reduce tuition costs. The scholarships are assigned on a competitive basis to the best students only after an offer of admission has been made.


Full-time MBA Curriculum

The CIMBA Full-time MBA curriculum focuses on the practice of business management and includes a foundation of core courses in key functional areas of business. The MBA program not only prepares you with technical business skills but also includes leadership development seminars, team building activities, and one-on-one coaching. You will also have extensive interaction with CIMBA’s unique leadership technology system. You will also complete a consulting project which allows you to apply what you are learning in your courses and the leadership development program to a real issue.

Half of your courses will be taken with the part-time MBA students on the weekends. During the week, you will complete the other courses and engage in the leadership development program through seminars and coaching. Most of the courses meet for four full days and require both pre- and post-work. The final course of the program is an integrative strategy course and is completed during a four-week session at the University of Iowa. This course uses an online business simulation in which you compete in teams to become the highest-performing company. In total, you will complete 20 required courses (58 credit hours).

The course work includes the following classes and is part of the knowledge pillar of the educational philosophy.


Full-time MBA Courses

Statistical Analysis: Business Analytics Advanced Analytics	Managerial Accounting: Corporate Financial Reporting Strategic Cost Analysis
Economics: International Economics Environment of the Firm Managerial Economics	Operations Management: Operations and Supply Chain Managing the Supply Chain
Financial Management: Managerial Finance Corporate Investments and Finance Decisions	Marketing: Marketing Management Brand Management
Leadership and Management: Management in Organizations Leadership and Personal Development	New Venture Development: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ethics and Law
Information Systems: Introduction to Information Systems	Final session in Iowa: Business Integration

Seminars and Workshops

In addition to the academic courses, you will also participate in other seminars and workshops that enforce the CIMBA education pillars of process and behavior.

LIFE Leadership Training
Coaching Sessions
Mindfulness Training
Leadership Development Seminars
Kepner-Tregoe Problem Solving and Decision Making
Kepner-Tregoe Project Management
Effective Presentation Skills
Personal Career Strategy
Negotiation Strategies


Leading the Way in Global Business Education

CIMBA’s story is one of entrepreneurship and adventure.

Nearly 25 years ago, CIMBA President and Founder Al H. Ringleb had a vision for creating a unique international MBA program that would open new opportunities abroad for students and faculty.

CIMBA offers dynamic, personal, and affordable study abroad, MBA, and executive programs in Pieve del Grappa at the base of the Italian Alps in Northern Italy—just an hour north of Venice. For two decades, CIMBA has educated students from 50-plus countries and is proud to have more than 10,000 alumni living and working around the world. At CIMBA, students immerse themselves in a wide range of rigorous courses, including innovative leadership and development programming, while living amidst the Venetian countryside in one of the most popular travel and study destinations in the world.

The region, with its major cities of Venice, Padua, Vicenza, Verona and Treviso, features prominent Italian-borne corporations which have become major exporters, including Benetton, Diesel, Geox, Tecnica, and more. CIMBA’s location and long-standing connection to the region gives our students the opportunity to visit these international businesses through company tours.


Small and Personal by Design

Our study abroad courses have a 25:1 student-faculty ratio, and the rest of our programs have fewer than 18 students per class. Our study abroad and MBA programs are backed by the top-ranked, AACSB-accredited University of Iowa Tippie College of Business. All of our courses are taught by English-speaking professors from top universities throughout the United States and Europe.