Is EMBA the right choice for my professional career?

Often ambitious professionals choose to return to business school to advance their careers. But they are reluctant to do so because pursuing a traditional full-time MBA or online MBA course is a time-intensive plan. Apart from this, the standard MBA curriculum mostly covers only the fundamental skills and concepts which the candidate may already have learned from their work experience. An EMBA programme is an ideal programme for those professionals who wish to continue their work and pursue an MBA degree at the same time.

What is an EMBA programme?

Executive MBA (or EMBA) is an MBA degree programme mainly aimed at candidates who do not wish to take a career break. The main pivotal differences between a regular MBA and EMBA are the mode of delivery and the duration of the course.

EMBA students do not have to attend classes every day like MBA students physically. The programme is designed to allow candidates to accommodate their work schedules while pursuing an MBA. It is similar to pursuing an MBA online, except the EMBA programme has shorter and more intense classwork.

What is the eligibility criteria for EMBA?

Work experience is considered the eligibility criterion for admission into an EMBA programme. For most universities, the candidate must have at least 5 years of full-time managerial experience. However, some top schools follow a more difficult criterion requiring a minimum of 10 years of experience at the executive or managerial level.

Like any online MBA course, the candidate needs to have a bachelor's degree from a recognised university.

Many universities often do not require a GMAT, but top EMBA schools require standardised test results. It could also include the recently introduced Executive Assessment test. It is a test designed by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) and was developed for the time-sensitive executives as it is easy to schedule and requires moderate preparation.

Best online MBA schools worldwide for EMBA:

1. Booth School of Business.
2. University of Chicago.
3. Kellogg School of Management.
4. Northwestern University Wharton School.
5. University of Pennsylvania Columbia Business School.
6. Columbia University Stephen M. Ross School of Business.
7. University of Michigan Fuqua School of Business.
8. Duke University Haas School of Business.
9. University of California.

Why is EMBA a good choice for your professional career?

1. You don't have to take a career break: EMBA programmes are often designed for professionals who have been working for nearly 10-15 years. No one would feel comfortable taking a complete career break to pursue an MBA programme at this point in one's career. This is why EMBA is the best choice for those who want to accelerate their career's progress and boost their key knowledge and skills and develop better leadership skills within their field of expertise.
2. Get fresh updates on the latest developments in the business world: It is explicitly designed for executives looking to refresh their knowledge, hone their expertise, and deepen understanding of the modern-day business world. Additionally, the executives have an excellent opportunity to use the newly acquired knowledge in their daily work operations on a real-time basis.
3. You can pay your fees while earning: The part-time nature of the EMBA means that the candidate can fully fund their studies while still earning a full-time salary. It is also possible for an EMBA candidate to have a part or complete tuition fee covered by their employer. To receive this type of sponsorship from a company, the candidate may be required to work with the company for a few years.

Is EMBA the right choice for YOU?

Pursuing EMBA is not only a demanding course but also expensive compared to the traditional MBA, which is why you need to introspect about where you stand currently in your career timeline and where you wish to be. It all depends on whether you will be able to handle work and study side by side. EMBA is often an excellent choice to further your career in a specific industry. Even employers support the decision of their employees to pursue an EMBA for business expansion and employee specialisation.

Keeps you prepared: EMBA provides you with a new and advanced outlook on your career. This advanced degree can propel you to higher positions of management within your industry. Progressing in your career may also require making certain changes in it. Hence you need to be prepared for new challenges and opportunities when you successfully graduate this programme.

EMBA is not a feasible course, especially when it is self-funded. An approximate cost of an EMBA programme is USD 45,000 to USD 179,800. You need to ensure that this online MBA degree's return on investment is worth the costs incurred, both from a financially tangible and intangible point of view.

Lastly, you need to determine the type of course work that works for you. No one pursues an EMBA to add the degree to their resume. EMBA is about the course work, the faculty, and the knowledge you gain through the course. It is meant for those executives who genuinely wish to advance their managerial and leadership skills. Moreover, you need to coordinate your course timings with your work schedule and shifts.

Click here to read more about the characteristics of successful online MBA students.

About the author:

Sahil Raza is a writer and an educational counsellor in management studies. He has over eight years of rich experience in the education sector and is also Chief Education Officer at Talentedge. 

 

Note: The views expressed in this article are solely author’s own and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha