Table of Contents
About Asia School of Business
Asia School of Business - in collaboration with MIT Sloan School of Management
The Asia School of Business (ASB Malaysia) is located in Kuala Lumpur and was established in 2015 by Bank Negara Malaysia in partnership with MIT Sloan School of Management (MIT Sloan). It merges the power of Asian ambition with the best in Western education to produce the world’s future change-makers, innovators, and entrepreneurs through an 12-month, full-time MBA programme.
The ASB MBA program delivers a curriculum deeply interconnected with management practices and integrated with the rigor and values embedded in the MIT Sloan School MBA program. The program fosters entrepreneurship, innovation, and hands-on-learning through an active interaction among industry, government, faculty, and students. Students will have the chance to master state-of-the-art management tools and obtain a deeper understanding of global business dynamics. At the same time, immense exposure to the fascinating reality and growing opportunities of Asia is provided. The courses at the Asia School of Business will be taught in the majority by MIT Sloan and MIT professors who will travel to Kuala Lumpur. The MIT faculty will be joined by ASB resident faculty, international industry experts, and government leaders to deliver an in-class outstanding experience. Next, to that, a 4-week on-campus visit to MIT will be part of your MBA program.The MBA program includes a three-week MIT Sloan Immersion and an optional Industry Trek, providing students with opportunities to gain international exposure, engage with industry leaders, and experience business practices across different markets.
Quick Facts: Asia School of Business
| Quick Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| University/School Name | Asia School of Business (ASB) |
| Location | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Established | 2015 |
| Established by | Bank Negara Malaysia |
| Academic Collaboration | MIT Sloan School of Management |
| Current MBA Duration | 12 months |
| MBA Format | Full-time |
| MBA Degree Awarded By | Asia School of Business |
| MIT Component | Up to 3-week MIT Sloan Immersion |
| MIT Location | Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA |
| Learning Approach | Action Learning, classroom learning, projects and case studies |
| MBA Cohort Size | Approximately 40–50 students |
| Accreditation | AACSB accredited; MQA accredited |
| Other Programmes | Executive MBA, Master in Central Banking, PhD in Management and executive/continuing education programmes |
History & Background
The Asia School of Business (ASB Malaysia) was established in 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, through a partnership between Bank Negara Malaysia and MIT Sloan School of Management. The school was founded to combine MIT Sloan’s global management expertise with a strong understanding of Asia’s business environment.
The mission of ASB Malaysia is to develop transformative, principled leaders who act and innovate to build a better future for the emerging world and beyond. Its vision focuses on shaping global knowledge from Asia through impactful research, industry engagement, and collaboration.
The school welcomed its first MBA cohort in 2016, with the inaugural class graduating in 2018. Since then, the Asia School of Business has expanded its academic portfolio to include an Executive MBA, Master in Central Banking, PhD in Management, executive education, and micro-credential programs.
A key feature of the MBA is its connection with MIT Sloan and emphasis on Action Learning, allowing students to apply classroom concepts to real-world business challenges. MBA students also participate in a three-week MIT Sloan Immersion in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Today, ASB Malaysia combines academic rigor, applied learning, research, and industry engagement, attracting students from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds.
Campus Environment & Facilities
ASB Malaysia is located in a modern urban setting in Kuala Lumpur, offering a professional and intellectually stimulating campus environment. While the campus is not fully residential, students benefit from access to high-quality accommodation options nearby.
The campus features advanced classrooms, collaborative learning spaces, innovation labs, and a business-focused library with extensive digital resources. Facilities are designed to encourage teamwork, discussion, and experiential learning.
Student support services include academic advising, leadership coaching, career development, and international student assistance. ASB Malaysia maintains an international-friendly environment where students feel supported academically, professionally, and socially throughout their studies.
Key Highlights
- Central Kuala Lumpur location: The Asia School of Business campus is located at 11, Jalan Dato’ Onn, Kuala Lumpur, in the heart of the city and adjacent to KTM Bank Negara.
- 22-acre campus: ASB’s campus comprises an Academic Block and Residential Block, providing an integrated environment for learning and student life.
- Modern academic facilities: The school describes its campus as a state-of-the-art facility with technologically equipped classrooms designed to support its teaching and learning environment.
- On-campus accommodation: ASB Residences (ASBR) provide optional housing for students. The residential facility includes a multipurpose hall, gymnasium, launderette, 24/7 co-working space, 24/7 study room, prayer room, and parking.
- Community-focused environment: ASB highlights small class sizes, study teams, and Action Learning teams as important elements of student interaction and its close-knit campus culture.
- Faculty accessibility: Students can interact with both MIT visiting faculty and resident ASB faculty beyond the classroom, including for career advice, project discussions, mentorship, and networking.
- Student life in Kuala Lumpur: The campus is surrounded by shopping areas, green spaces, gyms, cafés, restaurants, and public transportation options, giving students access to the wider city alongside their academic experience.
Faculties & Academic Programmes
Asia School of Business (ASB Malaysia) focuses on postgraduate business education, combining academic learning with experiential and action-based approaches. Its programmes are developed in collaboration with MIT Sloan and incorporate Asian business perspectives.
Academic Programmes at ASB Malaysia
| Programme / Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Master of Business Administration (MBA) | A 12-month full-time programme featuring Action Learning experiences across Asia and an MIT Sloan Immersion. |
| Executive MBA (EMBA) | A 16-month modular and hybrid weekend programme designed for experienced professionals, including immersive business practicums and an MIT Sloan Immersion. |
| Master in Central Banking (MCB) | A one-year residential programme designed primarily for central bankers, with a focus on central banking, financial stability, technology, leadership, and related areas. |
| PhD in Management | A research-focused programme preparing candidates for careers in academia, industry, and policymaking. |
| Executive Education & Micro-credentials | Shorter professional learning opportunities covering areas such as leadership, management, sustainability, technology, and corporate governance. |
ASB's faculty includes resident academics and visiting MIT faculty, with expertise spanning finance, economics, management, entrepreneurship, accounting, AI and analytics, and other business disciplines.
The school's teaching approach emphasizes Action Learning and practical application, enabling students to engage with real-world business and organizational challenges alongside rigorous academic study.
A World-Class MBA Program Designed for the Future
The Asia School of Business MBA Malaysia is a 12-month full-time programme that combines rigorous classroom learning with immersive Action Learning experiences across Asia. The curriculum brings together ASB and MIT Sloan faculty and is anchored in ASB’s Global Inquiry, Local Heart philosophy and MIT’s Mind and Hand approach.
Key Features of the Asia School of Business MBA Malaysia
- MIT Sloan collaboration: The MBA is taught by faculty from ASB and MIT Sloan, combining academic rigor with perspectives on Asia and the emerging world.
- Action Learning: Students work on real business challenges with organizations across Malaysia, Southeast Asia, and beyond, applying classroom frameworks to practical problems.
- Practicum experiences: Students participate in one-week, on-site Action Learning Practicums that address business and operational challenges in industry settings.
- Team-based projects: Student teams spend approximately three weeks working with host organizations in Southeast Asia, conducting fieldwork, engaging stakeholders, and developing practical solutions.
- MIT Sloan Immersion: The programme includes up to three weeks at MIT Sloan in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where students experience advanced academic learning and MIT’s innovation ecosystem.
- Mindset Lab: Students participate in Mindset Lab, which uses behavioral science, reflection, interactive workshops, and coaching to develop self-awareness, team understanding, and growth-oriented mindsets.
- Integrative Management Lab: The programme includes an Integrative Management Lab designed to help students develop cross-functional leadership skills and address complex business problems that extend across traditional business disciplines.
- Global perspective: Through classroom learning, Action Learning, and the MIT Sloan Immersion, students develop an understanding of business across Asia while gaining broader international exposure.
Overall Fee Structure
| Programme | Duration | Official Fee |
|---|---|---|
| MBA | 12 months | RM150,000 for the 2026/2027 academic year |
| Executive MBA (EMBA) | 16 months | RM180,000 for the 2027 intake |
| Master in Central Banking (MCB) | 12 months | RM335,000 for the 2026/2027 academic year |
- MBA: The RM150,000 fee includes tuition, course materials and textbooks, housing during the MIT Immersion, Practicum, Action Learning outside Kuala Lumpur/Malaysia, and optional Industry Trek, as well as airfare and bus transportation for the Practicum and Action Learning Project.
- EMBA: The official ASB fee is RM180,000 for the 2027 intake. The fee is subject to change for subsequent intakes and excludes the 6% service tax charged to international students.
- MCB: The RM335,000 programme fee includes tuition, MIT Immersion, standard accommodation in Kuala Lumpur and during the MIT Immersion, programme-related travel, visas, insurance, school supplies, and applicable taxes.
Note: Fees vary by programme and intake, so the figures above should be presented with their respective academic year/intake rather than as a single general Asia School of Business fees figure.
Scholarships & Financial Support
ASB Malaysia offers several scholarship, fellowship, and sponsorship opportunities to help eligible students finance their postgraduate education.
- Merit-Based Fellowships: Full-time MBA applicants may be considered for merit-based fellowships based on academic performance, professional experience, leadership impact, achievements, and global diversity. Early application is encouraged for priority consideration.
- MBA Scholarships: Current opportunities include the ASB-GMAT Merit Scholarship, ASB-GRE Merit Scholarship, and the Bangkok Bank MBA Scholarship, which offers full tuition coverage to selected eligible candidates.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Employees of ASB corporate partner organisations may be eligible for sponsorship opportunities through their employers.
- Financial Assistance: Malaysian citizens can explore options such as AFFIN Education Financing, while international students are advised to investigate financing options available in their home countries.
- MBA Fees: For the 2026/2027 academic year, ASB lists MBA tuition at RM150,000, including tuition, course materials, selected accommodation, and transportation associated with specified programme activities.
Student Life at the Asia School of Business
Life at the Asia School of Business Malaysia goes far beyond classrooms. Students experience a collaborative, multicultural environment where personal growth complements academic achievement.
- Student-led clubs: ASB has a growing range of student-led clubs that organize events, invite guest speakers, hold conferences, and participate in sports activities. Students can also propose and start new clubs.
- Close-knit community: ASB emphasizes a collaborative culture built around five values: Respect for People, Continuous Learning, Excellence, Well-Being, and Collaboration. Small cohorts and extensive study-team and Action Learning activities encourage close interaction among students.
- Experiential learning: Students work in teams on Action Learning projects with real companies, applying classroom concepts to practical business challenges across Malaysia, ASEAN, and other locations.
- International exposure: ASB's MBA community includes students from numerous countries, while the three-week MIT Sloan Immersion gives students opportunities to learn alongside an international student community and participate in MIT student life.
- Residential community: Students can choose to live at ASB Residences, which accommodates students and includes a multipurpose hall, gymnasium, 24/7 co-working space, study room, prayer room, launderette, and parking.
- Faculty interaction: Students have opportunities to interact with both resident ASB faculty and visiting MIT faculty outside the classroom, including for mentoring, career advice, and project discussions.
Why Choose the Asia School of Business (ASB) in Malaysia?
- MIT Sloan collaboration: ASB Malaysia was established through a partnership between Bank Negara Malaysia and MIT Sloan School of Management, combining global management expertise with an Asian perspective.
- Asia-focused learning: The Asia School of Business emphasizes understanding the business realities and opportunities of Asia and emerging markets.
- Action Learning: Students apply classroom concepts to real-world business challenges through Action Learning projects involving companies and organizations.
- International exposure: MBA students participate in a three-week MIT Sloan Immersion in Cambridge, Massachusetts, providing exposure to MIT Sloan’s academic environment.
- Leadership development: ASB focuses on developing transformative and principled leaders who can contribute to organizations and the wider emerging world.
- Diverse community: Students learn alongside peers from different professional and cultural backgrounds, supporting cross-cultural collaboration and networking.
- Kuala Lumpur location: Located in Malaysia’s capital, ASB provides students with access to a major Southeast Asian business and economic hub.
- Research and industry engagement: ASB combines academic research with industry engagement to develop knowledge relevant to businesses and organizations in Asia and beyond.
Admission Process for International Students
- Check eligibility: Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a recognized institution, with a minimum 2.5 CGPA on a 4.0 scale, or an APEL A (Level 7) certificate. MBA applicants must also have at least 2 years of post-graduation work experience.
- Meet the English requirement: Applicants whose native language is not English or who did not complete a university degree taught in English must provide proof of English proficiency. ASB accepts, among others, IELTS Academic with an overall 6.0, TOEFL iBT 60, PTE Academic 59, Cambridge English 169, MUET Band 4, or ELS CEIP Level 109. Test results must generally be taken within two years of the programme intake.
- Submit the online application: Applications are completed through ASB's online application portal. There is no application fee.
- Application evaluation: The ASB Admissions team reviews completed applications. ASB states that applications are assessed comprehensively and holistically, considering the information provided by each candidate.
- Interview: Shortlisted applicants are invited to an in-person or online interview with a member of the ASB Admissions team. Interviews are conducted by invitation only.
- Admission decision: The Admissions team makes the final decision, and all applicants are notified through the online application system, including those who are not invited for an interview.
- Apply early for visa processing: ASB advises international MBA applicants to apply no later than Round 4 because student visa processing requires additional time.
Career Prospects & Alumni
- Career Development Office: The Asia School of Business Career Development Office supports students and alumni through career education, workshops, group and one-to-one career advisory sessions, networking opportunities, and employer engagement.
- Career resources: Students receive support with career assessments, résumé and interview preparation, industry guides, job-search platforms, and career coaching.
- Employer network: ASB reports 200+ employer partners within its Career Development Office network, providing opportunities for corporate presentations, networking events, career treks, and other employer engagements.
- Employment outcomes: According to ASB's MBA Full-time Class of 2024 data, 92% received and accepted job offers within 90 days of graduation, while 51% changed careers across industry, function, location, or a combination of these.
- Global career opportunities: ASB reports that its graduates work across countries including Malaysia, India, the United States, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, China, and Germany, among others.
- Alumni network: The ASB alumni community spans 60+ countries and 22+ locations worldwide, connecting graduates across multinational organizations, startups, social enterprises, and other sectors.
- Alumni career support: Alumni can access career coaching, career advisory services, entrepreneurship mentor networks, lifelong learning opportunities, and selected professional and community events.
- Alumni employers: ASB's official alumni profiles feature graduates working with organizations including Amazon, Microsoft, Citi, McKinsey & Company, LEGO Education, and Kraft Heinz.
Living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Major business hub: Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia’s capital and a major commercial centre, offering students exposure to a diverse business and professional environment.
- ASB’s central location: The Asia School of Business campus is located at 11, Jalan Dato’ Onn, providing access to public transportation and key areas of Kuala Lumpur.
- Public transportation: Students can use Kuala Lumpur’s extensive public transport network, including MRT, LRT, monorail, KTM, and buses, to travel around the city.
- Accommodation: ASB offers ASB Residences, with facilities including a gymnasium, multipurpose hall, 24/7 co-working space, study room, prayer room, launderette, and parking.
- Food and lifestyle: Kuala Lumpur offers a multicultural environment with Malay, Chinese, Indian, and international food, along with shopping centres, cafés, restaurants, parks, and entertainment venues.
- International student environment: Malaysia’s multicultural population and Kuala Lumpur’s international character provide students with opportunities to interact with people from different cultural and professional backgrounds.
- Cost of living: Living expenses in Kuala Lumpur vary depending on accommodation, food, transportation, and personal lifestyle. Students should budget separately for living costs in addition to Asia School of Business fees.
Conclusion
Asia School of Business Malaysia stands out as a premier destination for students seeking globally relevant business education in Asia. With its strong academic foundation, innovative teaching approach, and competitive Asia School of Business fees, ASB Malaysia offers excellent value for international students.
Prospective students are encouraged to explore available programmes, review scholarship options, and apply early. Take the next step toward leadership excellence by studying at ASB Malaysia.
FAQs on ASB Malaysia
1. What makes the learning approach at ASB Malaysia different from a conventional MBA?
ASB Malaysia uses Action Learning alongside classroom teaching, allowing students to work on practical business challenges and apply management concepts in real organizational settings.
2. Does the Asia School of Business offer opportunities to work with real companies?
Yes. The Asia School of Business incorporates Action Learning projects involving corporations, institutions, and entrepreneurial enterprises, giving students opportunities to engage with real business situations.
3. Can ASB MBA students study subjects beyond traditional business disciplines?
Yes. The MBA integrates areas such as business analytics, leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, teamwork, and communication alongside core management concepts.
4. What type of international exposure is available during the ASB MBA?
Students can gain international exposure through the MIT Sloan Immersion and Action Learning activities conducted across different Asian locations. An optional Industry Trek may also provide additional exposure to international business environments.
5. How does ASB connect classroom learning with Asia’s emerging markets?
The programme combines management theory with practical projects and experiences in Asia, helping students examine business challenges within the region's diverse economic and cultural environments.
6. Is the ASB MBA suitable for students interested in entrepreneurship?
Yes. Entrepreneurship and innovation are integrated into the MBA, with the programme encouraging students to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and apply innovative approaches to business challenges.
7. What role does MIT Sloan faculty play in the ASB MBA?
MIT Sloan faculty contribute to teaching at ASB, working alongside ASB resident faculty and other experts. This gives students access to perspectives from both global management education and the Asian business environment.
8. What is the teaching language at the Asia School of Business?
The Asia School of Business conducts its MBA instruction in English, making the programme accessible to its diverse international student community.
9. What kind of peer learning can students expect at ASB Malaysia?
Students work closely in study teams and Action Learning teams, creating opportunities to learn from classmates with different professional, cultural, and international experiences.
10. How can prospective students stay updated about changes to Asia School of Business fees and programme requirements?
Applicants should check the official ASB website for the latest Asia School of Business fees, application requirements, programme dates, and other details because fees, deadlines, and programme arrangements can change between intakes.





