Monash University's Master of Business Administration (MBA) has topped some of the world's best business schools in the Economist Intelligence Unit's 2005 MBA rankings.

Monash's MBA program was ranked sixth in the world in the category for personal development and educational experience, ahead of Yale, London and Chicago universities.

Other universities, in the top 10 for this category included: Stanford, Northwestern (Kellogg), Dartmouth (Tuck), New York (Stern) and INSEAD universities.

Overall, Monash was the highest ranked Australian school in 59 th place, and the second highest in Asia, with the University of Hong Kong in 45 th place. The Economist rankings identify the top 100 full-time MBA programs across the world.

MBA Director, Associate Professor Peter Reed said this consolidates Monash's position as a world-leader in the MBA market.

“Monash has performed consistently in recent MBA rankings, leaving no question about the quality of our program,” he said.

The Economist ranking builds on the program's success in the Australian Financial Review BOSS Magazine's MBA rankings for 2005 announced earlier this month.

Monash's MBA was classed in the top band, of a possible four bands, with the Melbourne Business School , the University of Queensland , the Australian Graduate School of Management and Queensland University of Technology.

Monash also received five star rankings in the Good Universities Guide to MBAs and Executive Short Courses 2006 for: corporate links, academic qualifications of staff, assessment of the program by the GMA (national association of MBA graduates).

“These rankings demonstrate the strength of Monash's reputation and the advantages of studying at Monash,” Associate Professor Reed said.