EMBA — for executives

Immer mehr Führungskräfte drücken neben ihrer Berufstätigkeit die Schulbank, um den EMBA zu erwerben — einen Abschluss, der neue Perspektiven eröffnet. Carol Scheunemann berichtet.

An EMBA — Executive Master of Business Administration — is a degree designed specifically for managers (“executives”) or mid-level employees. It offers them a way to broaden their business skills and advance their careers. And most EMBA programs are part-time, so executives can continue working in their jobs. To help you decide whether an EMBA is right for you, here is a closer look at this education program.

Who studies for an EMBA?

In general, EMBA programs require students to have five to ten years of work experience. This means that EMBA students tend to be older and in higher-level jobs than those on other MBA programs. According to a BusinessWeek survey, the typical EMBA student is 37, married, and has at least one child. He or she is already in a management position, earning about €100,000 a year. For people with this level of responsibility and income, taking one or two years off for full-time study, as regular MBA programs require, is rarely possible.

The EMBA qualification is identical to an MBA, but the organization of the program is very different. Because students continue to work, classes take place in the evenings, on weekends, or during short on-campus “modules.” More than half of all EMBA students are sponsored by their companies. Internships, a popular way to help finance MBAs, are not part of the executive program, because EMBA students are already employed. Also, because the classroom is full of experienced businesspeople, discussions are usually more practical than theoretical. “That’s one thing I really value in this course,” says Neil van Heerden, a bid manager for MCI WorldCom, who is currently studying for an EMBA at London Business School. “They don’t spend long on theoretical lectures without looking at how a concept applies.” The network of managers from other companies and industries gives EMBA students a new perspective on problems and provides valuable international business contacts.

How do you apply for and finance an EMBA?

The requirements for EMBA programs are much the same as for MBA programs: many schools require the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for non-native speakers of English, because nearly all program courses are entirely in English. Some schools require only one test or the other. As part of your application, you will have to write essays, provide letters of recommendation, and be interviewed by school representatives. Some schools have fixed deadlines; others accept applications throughout the year. The application process is likely to take several months, so start well before your planned studies.

For more information:

• Which MBA?
  

• Karriere.de
  

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

• Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)