FAQS

About the BBI

What are the objectives of the BBI's MBA Programmes?

Our complementary MBA programmes in Biotechnology and in Life Sciences enable scientists to enter this growing industrial sector each year. We help our students develop a clear vision of their career progression into future leadership roles. By using the new skills and practical experiences from our courses, our alumni go on to join the some of the most notable institutions, companies and national healthcare systems with international reputations.
What diploma or degree will I received after I have finished my programme at the BBI Business School?

After successfully passing the all the required evaluations and approval of the final Thesis, Dissertation or Business Plan, which is evaluated by a panel of industry experts, the minimum requirements for the qualification will have been achieved. Under the current academic European standards, based on the required number of credits according to the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), students will receive a certificate awarded by the Biotechnology Business Institute, which is an independent privately owned Business School focused on the education in biotechnology. The diploma or degree will depend on the specific course undertaken.
What is different about the BBI Business School?

The Biotechnology Business Institute (BBI) is an international business school focused on training a new generation of scientific managers and executives to prepare for their future careers. The BBI facilitates early-stage business development activities in partnership with the many stakeholders in the biotechnology sector and the pharmaceutical industry worldwide. A core focus is on new drug development to treat unmet medical need but also with broadening interests across the Life Sciences sector.

The Biotechnology Business Institute was founded to develop the next generation of talent in the international Life Sciences sector for scientists seeking to advance their careers in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. We are committed to becoming a leading international academic institution in the management of Life Sciences, through enabling the career development of a new wave of global business leaders driving disruptive change throughout the ecosystem.
What is the BBI Panel of lecturer’s professional experience?

The BBI Business School has over 140 academics and industry experts, coming from more than 20 countries, who cover the key management topics in the Life Sciences industry: corporate finance; market access and healthcare economics, preclinical and clinical regulatory requirements, medical technologies, technology transfer and entrepreneurship, organisational behaviour and an understanding of the global strategy for new drug approvals.
Where are the BBI Campuses?

With a presence in two of the main innovation centres in Europe, Barcelona, and Cambridge, and the second largest market in the pharmaceutical industry in Latin America our students can choose which campus will best meet their needs.

As the International BBI headquarters, the Barcelona Campus is focused on drug discovery, built on a track record since 2013 delivering management programmes for scientists wanting to develop their careers in the global pharma & biotechnology industry.

The European headquarters, our Cambridge Campus, has a broader remit across the entire Life Science sector. At Cambridge, UK, our students can realise their objective of establishing a global network of contacts in the broader spectrum of commercial opportunities in Life Sciences.

BBI Mexico connects the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry in Latin America with the major innovation hubs in Europe and the United States. It is the educational centre of reference in healthcare contributing to the development of national talent and the growth of national innovation promoting global transactions.

Know more about our campuses

BBI Barcelona - BBI Cambridge - BBI Mexico

The BBI Experience

What is a typical day for a BBI student like?

Every day is different throughout the year. During the first stage, when students take their common modules, apart from the evening classes from Monday to Thursday, the students also develop their career impact programmes. These programmes have their project meetings at various research centres and participate in extra-curriculum activities.

For the final semester in Barcelona, each student develops their own academic internship programme depending on their chosen career itinerary chosen. All programmes have the same number of assignments and group work to complete. Typically, the second semester is focused increasing the time spent on students’ career-related activities.
What is the practical patent study case method?

Thanks to our unique educational agreement with three of the main research centres in Barcelona our model, based on a practical patent filings, that allows our students to have an intensive full-time experience to achieve a global understanding of commercial decision-making processes.

Discussions with principal researchers and innovation managers who are planning on developing new drugs make this experience very interactive and with the academic co-ordination and the board of lectures further discussion are continued during the practical classes. The case study case is a real example, reflecting today’s global business ecosystem in biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry.

BBI Community

What is the BBI network?

The BBI network is formed by our alumni, the academic staff, lecturers, partner companies and the technology transfer offices who collaborate with us. Over the years, we have developed a community over 700 people globally in direct contact every year.

For more information, visit our BBI community Report

The Lectures

Does the BBI have a grade non-disclosure policy?

The BBI has a grade non-disclosure policy. Our admission process application only allows candidates who have a relevant proven track record of academic and professional achievements, as well as worldwide awareness and a global management potential. For this reason, company recruiters are not allowed to ask students about grades during an interview.
How will I be graded at the BBI?

Final course grades for most programmes depend on a mix of class participation, the quality of the thesis and the final term exams. To graduate, participants must maintain a mean grade of 6.0 out of 10 in the first and second term module exams.
What is the average age of the class?

BBI MBA students have an average age of 24, although a few students may be slightly older. In some cases, other BBI programmes such our Executive Education courses are recommended as they may be a better fit for some specific professional goals. However, there is no upper age limit and all ages are encouraged to apply.

Career Development

Can I do a pre-MBA internship?

Only when the MBA programme has started will you have the student status required. Sometimes our career development centre receives pre-internship applications from companies, and these are communicated to the students with the pre-registration fee deposited.
How can I make a career change after the BBI programmes?

In our employment report you will find detailed information about the prospects that our students could have within companies from the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. Depending on their different backgrounds, previous experiences or language skills the suggested changes might vary and some can be more easily achieved than others. Our recommendation is always based on the initial goals set at the beginning of the programmes with our career development team in order to help you work towards your professional objectives.
I want to start my career in industry although I would like further assessment to choose my career path and the related job opportunities, is that possible?

Our career opportunities are similar for whatever career path you may choose, nevertheless, the differing itineraries may take you along different career paths. Before deciding what itinerary you may choose, you may need to have during the admission process a career pre-assessment evaluation. In addition, when you start an MBA course in October you will be working with our Career Specialists team to enable your next career step from the beginning of the academic year.

Full Time MBA

How does BBI’s full-time MBA in Biotechnology differ from the Executive Programmes?

The BBI students during the MBA programme reside full-time in Barcelona, attending classes Monday through Thursday, and a different variety of networking activities and conferences take place during the year.

MBA students tend to be at an earlier stage in their careers and have less professional experience than participants in the Executive Programmes. The majority of participants in the Executive Programmes are already working industry and continue to work while they carry out the programme in parallel.
How is the BBI’s MBA different from other MBAs?

The BBI’s MBA is a full-time 10-month programme that has a specific management focus with a strong emphasis on global drug discovery processes and applied Life Sciences research in a commercial setting. The programmes are offered at BBI’s world leading campuses in Barcelona and Cambridge.

The programme stands out for its unique international board of lecturers, who are all from the Life Sciences sector and reflect the different nationalities and students from more than 20 countries. BBI students accepted into the programme typically have experience from the laboratory but not in the business area as yet but are seeking to develop their careers in global business or to start their own companies in a near future.
Is it suitable for me to do the MBA after my PhD?

Yes, studying for an International MBA is a key step forwards in your more commercial career progression in industry after your PhD. The transition from the research laboratory into new management positions requires an understanding of many additional business aspects for the effective commercialisation of scientific research. For example, developing new products and treatments requires an in-depth understanding of how the pharmaceutical industry, as well as biotechnology, medial devices and digital health companies, operate commercially.
Is work experience required?

Work experience is not required. The average class has students, who have completed a BSc, MSc, PhD or equivalent degree. Also, students with one- or two-years’ work experience are welcomed. If you are finishing your bachelor’s degree and want to apply to the BBI’s MBA programme, contact us to receive career assessment solutions for you.
What are the benefits of the one-year format?

The BBI MBA syllabus or curriculum is prepared to deliver a one-year more intensive approach to a professional development in international business administration specifically relevant for the biotechnology sector and the pharmaceutical industry. The return on your investment after completing the MBA is relatively rapid due to our career impact programme and the development of your personal skills to manage your time and make decisions more efficiently.

Applying to this MBA programme will challenge your leadership business skills and develop them to the highest level in a specific sector. Unlike other MBAs, we focus only on one industrial sector and do not dilute your time by teaching on other less relevant sectors to you career.
What are the major areas of focus in BBI’s MBA programme?

The MBA has a general management focus with the objective of preparing leaders to take on global roles in organisations or start their own companies a near future. In addition, students can concentrate on a particular area by taking different itineraries, which are offered during the second semester.

Admissions Requirements

Do I require a recommendation letter?

Yes, we prefer that the applicants have a recommendation letter from your current employer or your former employer or from a university or other educational establishment. If you do no yet have experience in the industry, the recommendation letter can be from you thesis supervisor or you laboratory director from where you have completed your thesis will also be considered.

For applicants with PhDs, a letter from your thesis supervisor will be also required. This letter should reflect on your capabilities in the work environment and your interpersonal skills. If you have not completed a thesis or research project, a letter from your director of studies or equivalent lecturer will suffice.
How many years of work experience do I need to be admitted?

In average our students have experience in the laboratory nationally or internationally, such as through an Erasmus programme (or equivalent) or are competing their final bachelor’s thesis but no significant work experience in the business aspects of Life Sciences. Your profile and future trajectory will be evaluated during your interview but no work experience in company is required.

For the executive programmes, it is mandatory to have minimum two years of relevant work experience. Those with less experience could be considered, according to their qualifications and the professional goals that they would like to achieve.
I don't have a business background. Will this impact my chances for admission?

We understand the initial step that scientists need to make to develop their future professional development in business, it will not impact your chances of acceptance if you do not have experience in- company as yet. At the BBI we value students driven by their commercial objectives and with a clear mindset in terms of personal and future professional development.

We welcome all applications and we receive many different types of applications. We expect the same from all candidates, which is a strong willingness to develop their management skills towards making a difference the global industry and to demonstrate their leadership potential. Business acumen can be developed but the motivation needs to come from the student.
What are the admissions requirements to apply?

To proceed with the application for the BBI’s MBA in Biotechnology, you will need to:

- Have completed a life sciences bachelor’s degree or equivalent

- Submit the application form detailed on our website and when in your candidate area on the site upload the required documentation: curriculum vitae or resumé, university transcript copy (title and academic record etc), passport scan and your recommendation letter.

Due to our educational model being based on sometimes working with patents to protect the intellectual property of others and working with technology transfer offices, it is required that students have a scientific background for such activities. Once we have received your application, the admission board will either reject your application or invite you to proceed with the personal interview.

Due to the volume of applications received, we will only conduct personal interviews for those candidates who have been pre-selected for the interview by the admissions board. We will evaluate all applications for a final decision after the entire process is completed and will get back to the candidate with the final decision on their application.

Admissions Process

Do I need to submit a recommendation letter?

Recommendation letters are typically required for MBA applications and they are always well received by the board of admissions during the candidate evaluation process. On the same note, cover letters showing the reasons why the student wants to participate in their course and how the candidate would add value to their group during the academic year as student are well received as well.

You will need to submit your recommendation letter through the online application system once you have started your application process along with the rest of the required documentation. Recommendation letters need to be submitted in English (British or American).

For any further information about the application process please email us at info@bbibarcelona.com and/or info@bbicabridge.com, depending on the campus that you are most interested in joining.
Is an interview required for admission?

Yes. All applications go through a first process of selection where the candidate will be interviewed to assess the application, review the programme objectives and understand the potential of the BBI career impact programme on their careers. After this first stage, only those selected from the interview will continue with the application process. Interviews can be via videoconference, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What is the typical BBI student profile?

We cannot define a typical profile of a student at the BBI. We have a very diverse set of students every year in terms of age, professional experience, education and culture. Review the latest alumni report for further information.
What is the typical BBI student profile?

We cannot define a typical profile of a student at the BBI. We have a very diverse set of students every year in terms of age, professional experience, education and culture. Review the latest alumni report for further information.