Top 10 Executive MBA Programs in Asia-Pacific 2020

For the third year in a row, The University of Chicago Booth School of Business has taken the top spot as the best business school for an executive MBA in the Asia-Pacific region in the QS EMBA Rankings by Region 2020.

Released today, the QS Global EMBA Rankings 2020 reveal the top executive MBA programs around the world and in specific regions, helping you find the perfect program near you.

Take a look at this year’s top 10 executive MBA programs in Asia-Pacific.

10) Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM)

Kicking off our top 10 is the MBA (Executive) program at AGSM at the University of New South Wales, which scored highly for diversity and thought leadership. Although based in Sydney, the university has campuses in Perth, Melbourne and the country’s capital Canberra.

Applicants can enter the program by having a strong undergraduate background and at managerial experience. Students can complete the EMBA in anywhere between two and a half and seven years.

The program costs AU$87,625 (US$60,630).

9) Indian Institute of Management (IIM) – Bangalore

Ninth in the table is IIMB’s Executive MBA, the Post Graduate Program in Enterprise Management (PGPEM). The two-year program received an especially high score for thought leadership.

IIMB’s EMBA is scheduled on weekends, allowing professionals to pursue executive studies without having to take a break from their careers.

Tuition fees amount to INR1.850m (US$24,444.73).

8) Melbourne Business School

Melbourne Business Schools’ Executive MBA program is eighth on our list and is the highest ranked program in Australia. Melbourne’s Executive MBA scored particularly highly for diversity.

The 18-month program is made up of 17 four-day residential modules every four weeks and one week-long international module (20 days away from the office in your first year and 19 days in your second).

Tuition fees cover tuition, class materials and textbooks, residential accommodation in Melbourne and overseas for the duration of the program, and meals on class days.

The program costs AU$13,500 (US$71,607.59).

7) Ivey Business School

Next up is the Executive MBA program at Western University's Ivey Business School, which achieved a high score for diversity.

Although Ivey’s primary campuses are based in Canada, participants can complete their EMBA at the school’s state of the art Hong Kong campus too. The 18-month program is comprised of two weekends a month, with a two-week residency to kick off the program and a one-week international trip to Silicon Valley.

There is one intake a year. Full tuition costs amount to CA$115,000 (US$84,810.25).

6) China Europe International Business School CEIBS

Sixth in the Asia-Pacific rankings, moving down one place since last year, is China Europe International Business School (CEIBS). The school scored highly for diversity, executive profile and employer reputation.

The 20-month program is based in Shanghai, but students have global study opportunities in cities including Barcelona and Zurich. The school has quite strict entry requirements, with applicants needing at least 10 years’ work experience; seven of which must be in managerial positions.

The program costs US$103,000.

5) Nanyang Business School

Halfway through our list is the Executive MBA program at Nanyang Business School, Singapore. The school achieved good scores across all ranking indicators, particularly for diversity and thought leadership.

The program takes roughly 14 months to complete. Nanyang offers students an international experience in collaboration with two world-leading US business schools – The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.

Nanyang’s LINC (Live Consultancy Project) allows students to apply skills learnt to real-life business problems, presenting findings and recommendations on how to make a business more efficient (or recommend a new business venture) to a real client.

The program costs SG$95,513 (US$68.780.17).

4) The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

Just missing out on a place in the top three EMBA programs in the Asia-Pacific region 2020 is the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Business School. CUHK achieved a perfect score for executive profile and a nearly perfect score for diversity.

The first EMBA degree offered in Hong Kong (in 1993), this two-year part-time program requires students to attend weekend classes once every two to three weeks as well as a residential week at the start.

All core courses are conducted in English with select electives available in Cantonese and Mandarin.

Full tuition fees amount to HK$640,000 (US$82,577.47).

3) NUS Business School

In the bronze medal position, retaining its spot from last year’s rankings, is the Executive MBA program at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School. NUS scored highly across all ranking indicators, particularly for executive profile and thought leadership.

With the busy executive in mind, the program is split into six intensive two-week sessions spanning 15 months. Although primarily based in Singapore, the program allows students to learn in numerous Asia-Pacific locations, including Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Delhi, Sydney and Tokyo.

Tuition fees are SG$105,000 (US$75.608.09).

2) INSEAD

Ranked second in the Asia-Pacific region is INSEAD, with its Global Executive MBA (GEMBA), which achieved a perfect score for employer reputation and high scores across all other indicators. The GEMBA takes place primarily at the Singapore campus, with 10 modules at the Asia campus, five modules in Abu Dhabi, and three modules at the European campus.

The program takes 17 months, with 57 days out of office if you begin studying in Singapore.

Tuition fees for the GEMBA amount to a total of SG$190,000 (US$141,139.50).

1) The University of Chicago Booth School of Business

Taking the top spot for the third year in a row is the Executive MBA program at the Chicago Booth School of Business. As well as ranking first for the Asia-Pacific region, Booth also ranked sixth globally.

Booth didn’t achieve a perfect score in our ranking indicators, but it secured its top spot by scoring highly across the board, particularly for thought leadership, career outcomes and employer reputation.

Booth’s EMBA program takes place over 21 months, primarily based in their Hong Kong campus with three residential weeks in Chicago and one week in London. Tuition fees amount to HK$1.355m, roughly US$174,833.