As you might guess from its name, the Brandeis International Business School focuses on global economics, business and finance. The international leanings are clear for MBA students: as part of their degree requirements, MBA candidates must have international experience through working or living outside the U.S. and have basic knowledge of a foreign language. If you're not interested in an MBA, the school also administers both MA and PhD degrees in international economics and finance.

The MBA curriculum follows the standard business school model of a core-intensive first year and a second year open to specialization, but all classes have a strong global markets bent to them. Students can concentrate in international business (the default option), international economic policy or international finance. In Vault's Buzz Book surveys, students consider the finance concentration the strongest and the most popular curricular choice.

Recruiters come from Boston and New York to hire MBA grads, but Brandeis focuses particularly on its international placements, pushing to build a global alumni network. Housing on campus is available, but is mostly reserved for international students. Others spread around Boston and its suburbs, concentrating in Cambridge. Boston's cultural and social activities are within 15 to 20 minutes of campus, so students venture out for entertainment once the week is over.