Committed to Doing an Executive MBA? Here’s What Schools Have Planned for Next Year

If you’ve been looking into doing an Executive MBA (EMBA), chances are you’re ready to take the next steps to move into your senior career.

However, much like MBA programmes, every business school will take a different approach to its EMBA offerings.

Depending on your individual needs and preferences, you might choose to apply to a specific programme over the other – especially after the COVID-19 outbreak, where some programmes were moved entirely online.

Here’s what top business schools that consistently rank highly in the QS Global Executive MBA Rankings have planned for upcoming cohorts.

Europe

Saïd Business School

Saïd Business School offers applicants two yearly intakes in September and January.

The September intake is taught in one-week modules spanning over 24 months, while the January intake is taught in one-week modules over the course of 22 months. Both intakes include the same class materials and assessments, which take place at the end of each module.

The school has committed to resuming in-person teaching as soon as permitted. Each module starts on a Monday morning and ends on a Friday evening, taking place in Oxford.

INSEAD

INSEAD’s Global EMBA (GEMBA) is an intensive all-round programme that includes 12 core courses, four elective courses, three key management challenges, and a leadership programme.

You can expect to spend 60 to 65 days out of the office, depending on which electives you choose, for a total of 12 weeks of classes on campus. At INSEAD’s European campus, the programme is split into three two-week modules and one one-week module.

IESE Business School

IESE offers an EMBA programme across four different locations: Barcelona, Madrid, Munich, and Sao Paulo.

Unlike other business schools, IESE gives you the option to choose between two formats, accommodating your schedule and professional requirements:

• Biweekly:  This format includes six intensive weeks at the Barcelona or Madrid campus. Classes start on Friday morning and end on Saturday morning.
• Weekly: This format also includes six intensive weeks, but teaching takes place from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning.

HEC Paris

HEC Paris offers its EMBA in five different part-time tracks, allowing you to select the option that most fits with your lifestyle and career. The programme includes core courses, custom courses, and a Capstone Project. About 12 percent of the EMBA is delivered online.

Depending on your chosen track, you will spend about 55 days out of the office, and you’ll be able to complete the programme in 15 or 18 months at the school’s Paris or Doha campus.

North America

MIT Sloan School of Management

The Executive MBA from MIT Sloan is a rigorous 20-month programme that’ll allow you to develop your skills within one of the world’s top business schools for innovation and leadership.

The EMBA schedule includes:

• 26 weekends with classes on campus delivered every two to three weeks on Fridays and Saturdays
• Four one-week modules, taking place every six months
• One week-long international project trip

While the MIT Sloan EMBA might seem less flexible than other programmes, it’s one of the shortest in North America, allowing you to upskill fast.

The Wharton School

The Wharton EMBA takes place on the school’s campuses in both Philadelphia and San Francisco, allowing you to get a feel for how business is done on both coasts.

The programme takes two years to complete – with three terms per year – and includes:

• An initial week-long meeting in Philadelphia to immerse yourself in classes and network with your classmates
• Classes on Friday and Saturday, every other week, with some additional three-day weekends
• A Global Business Week abroad in September in your second year

Booth School of Business

The Booth EMBA is delivered at the Chicago, London, and Hong Kong campuses. Regardless of which one you choose, the programme takes 21 months to complete and starts in August.

The programme’s structure includes:

• Two to three courses per quarter, with a total of 18 in the core curriculum
• Week-long international session weeks, depending on location

If you decide to undertake your EMBA at the Chicago campus, it will feature:

• 16 weeks of in-person teaching over 21 months, from Monday morning to Saturday afternoon
• Three international session weeks