Image credit : https://www.metromba.com/2020/01/scandinavia-business-schools/

In November, I had the opportunity to visit three business schools across Scandinavia, and returned genuinely impressed. These hidden gems deserve attention, and I’m excited to share what I discovered with our Bangkok Patana community. 

When students talk about studying business overseas, the spotlight usually swings toward the US, UK, or Australia. Yet quietly, very quietly, in that efficient, Nordic way, Denmark, Sweden and Norway are running three of the most interesting business schools on the planet: Copenhagen Business School (CBS), Stockholm School of Economics (SSE), and the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH).

Each offers world-class teaching, international student communities, and strong career outcomes. But they couldn’t feel more different. CBS is huge and urban. SSE is small and elite. NHH is friendly and residential.

COPENHAGEN BUSINESS SCHOOL (CBS)

Big. International. Urban.

Walk through Frederiksberg in Copenhagen and CBS feels like part of the city, students cycling in, grabbing pastries, jumping between modern buildings and speaking every language imaginable.

But what makes CBS special is its combination of size and internationality. With over 20,000 students, it’s one of the largest business schools in Europe, yet it manages to stay academically rigorous and globally competitive.

CBS offers wide degree choices, a modern campus, and a strong reputation for innovation and sustainability. Students who like choice, flexibility, and the buzz of a big campus will find a natural home here.

STOCKHOLM SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS (SSE)

Small. Elite. Intense.

SSE sits in the heart of Stockholm, but you won’t blend in here, you’ll be known. With only about 2,000 students total, SSE feels more like a selective college than a university. Classes are tight, professors know students by name, and expectations are high.

This is Sweden’s most prestigious business school, famous for producing CEOs, economists, and leaders across Scandinavia. The environment is academically demanding but deeply supportive. Students often say they feel they “grew up professionally” at SSE.

And the perks?
A tight community, small cohorts, strong industry recruiting, and a campus where you could bump into alumni running Sweden’s major companies. SSE alumni often talk about the “SSE network effect.” You join once, and it follows you everywhere.

NORWEGIAN SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS (NHH)

Cozy. Community-based. Norway-nice.

If CBS is the metropolis and SSE the elite institute, NHH is the village, in the best possible way. Located in the beautiful, leafy outskirts of Bergen, NHH is known for its community spirit, collaborative culture, and warm environment.

Students study hard, hike harder, and somehow still find time for a full student-run nightclub, the second biggest in Berge, in the basement of the main building. 

NHH is Norway’s leading business school and extremely strong in economics, finance, and accounting. With a mid-sized student population and a compact campus, students build close friendships and strong support networks.

WHAT MAKES EACH SCHOOL DISTINCT?

Uniqueness

• CBS – Breadth and scale: massive program choice, highly international, urban vibe.
• SSE – Prestige and selectivity: tiny cohorts, elite network, academic intensity.
• NHH – Community and culture: collaborative environment, cohesive campus life.

Size

• CBS: 20,000 students
• SSE: 2,000 students 
• NHH: 3,400 students 

Curriculum

• CBS – Wide variety: business + language tracks, interdisciplinary degrees.
• SSE – Focused: Economics, Finance, Business & Management; strong quantitative core.
• NHH – Structured: solid economic foundation with space for specialization later.

Location

• CBS: Copenhagen, modern, bicycle-friendly, global.
• SSE: Stockholm, innovative, financial hub, design capital.
• NHH: Bergen, nature, fjords, tight-knit campus.

Cost

• CBS: Free for EU/EEA; Non-EU/EEA/Swiss students: 100,000 DKK per year
• SSE: Free for EU/EEA; Non-EU/EEA/Swiss students: SEK 120,000 per year for 
• NHH: Free for EU/EEA; Non-EU/EEA/Swiss students: 136,000 NOK / year

Admissions Expectations 

• Strong mathematics for all three.
• Higher-level mathematics strongly recommended for SSE and NHH.
• CBS tolerant of multiple pathways into business programmes.

WHO THRIVES WHERE?

Choose CBS if you want:

• Big bustling environment
• International classmates
• More degree choice
• Life in a major European capital

Choose SSE if you want:

• Small, selective cohorts
• Very strong economics or finance
• Direct career pipelines into elite firms
• A high-intensity academic environment

Choose NHH if you want:

• Community-oriented campus life
• A balanced academic + social environment
• A safe, nature-filled setting
• Strong economics and business foundations

FINAL WORD: THREE SCHOOLS, THREE PERSONALITIES

CBS is the cosmopolitan giant.
SSE is the elite boutique.
NHH is the friendly, fjord-side community.

Together, they represent the best of Nordic business education: high quality, low tuition and incredibly strong outcomes, all wrapped in environments that feel safe, modern and student-centered.

If you’re considering a future in business, economics, or finance, these three schools are well worth a serious look, whether you want the energy of Copenhagen, the prestige of Stockholm, or the closeness of Bergen.