The latest report from the Financial Times into the performance of business schools around the world questions whether British and Irish business schools are failing to measure up.

In its annual ranking of business schools offering full-time MBA programmes, the FT places just 15 UK and Irish schools in its top 100, and states that greater competition appears to be putting pressure on these schools, in particular where alumni salaries and research are concerned.

Apparently a third of those who attended UK business schools were commanding average salaries of $100,000 three years later, while a half of those who attended US business schools were receiving this level of salary, although other factors also needed to be taken into account.

On the research side, only one UK school, the London Business School, was ranked as producing research on a level with those in the US. The survey looked at the number of articles published in 35 journals by each business school between 1999 and 2001, and found that 254 papers had been authored or co-authored by UK and Ireland school faculty in total, while Wharton School in the US had produced 196 itself.

With London Business School the only 'premiere league' school rated within the UK and Ireland, the report concludes that British and Irish business schools will have to improve their performance in research and overall salaries if they wish to climb up the ratings.