Compiling the Financial Times 2008 ranking of fullt ime MBA programmes began in July 2007. A total of 156 business schools that met the criteria for participation have been included.

To be eligible to participate, a business school must be internationally accredited by a body such as the AACSB, Amba or Equis; it must have a full-time MBA programme that has been running for at least five years; and it must have graduated its first class at least three years ago.