The Executive MBA (EMBA) is a highly flexible program designed for top-level working executives – managers, business leaders and entrepreneurs. The Executive MBA programs offered in India are extremely popular for senior professionals as these programs groom them to meet challenges emerging out of changing scenarios of global businesses.
Specific Features
- Typical applicant tool: Senior professionals looking to develop a more generalised approach towards management or a highly specialised understanding of their own fields of work, or perhaps seeking a change of domain
- Regular MBA vs. EMBA:
Format:
| Parameters | Regular MBA | Executive MBA |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 1-2 years | 1-3 years |
| Eligibility/Work Experience | 0-5 years | 5-10 years |
| Cost | Varies from school to school | Costlier than the regular MBA |
| Coursework | Focus on fundamentals initially and a wide array of electives offered in later semesters | Mostly general management or specializations in any one field such as Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, Hospitality Management, IT Systems, etc |
| Career opportunities | Career counseling and placement interviews are arranged on campus | Placements are generally not provided |
| Tests required | GMAT/GRE, CAT (mostly) | Some of them require GMAT |
Types of Executive MBA Programs
- Part-time – a two or three-year course offered by schools such as IIM – Kozhikode, ISB, and IIM – Indore
- Correspondence – This program of variable durations is offered by schools such as IIM – Kozhikode and IGNOU
- Online– A few institutes such as IIM-Lucknow, XLRI, Symbiosis, and NIPM (National Institute of Personnel Management) offer this course where classes are conducted through virtual classrooms
Pedagogy
- Case studies
- Pre-course reading materials and projects
- Classroom sessions
- Online modules
- Interactions with industry experts
- Real-life simulations
- Capstone experiences
- Carry home assignments
- Conferences/seminars/guest lectures
- International immersions (in top schools)
- Group work to improve team-building, leadership, strategizing and communication skills
Eligibility Criteria
- proven managerial and leadership experiences required — 5-10 years of experience in the mid-managerial level
- An undergraduate degree or its equivalent
- An upper or lower age limit is set for applicants in some schools
- Documentation may include bachelor’s degree transcripts and certificate, transcripts of additional qualifications, business card, essays, letters of recommendation, resume, proof of income, passport, and photograph
- Some schools require candidates to get a formal approval from their employers to pursue the program and/or a guarantee that they will not leave the job while pursuing the program (for company sponsored candidates)
- Performance in interview is a major criterion for selection
Top B-schools in India offering Executive MBA
| Indian School of Business | Indian Institutes of Management | IGNOU | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program | Post Graduate Programme in Management for Senior Executives (PGPMAX)
The International Immersion is a special feature of the PGPMAX that involves one or two visits to top schools such as Wharton, Kellogg, and others |
IIMA – PGPX; IIMB – EPGP; IIMC – PGPEX; IIML-IPMX; IIM S | Executive MBA program |
| Admission requirements | A bachelor’s degree, minimum ten years of full-time work experience, and a letter of consent from the current employer is required to pursue the program
GMAT score |
IIMA, IIMB and IIMC – minimum 5 years; IIML-minimum 6 years
GMAT score |
Bachelor’s degree in the discipline with minimum 50% marks about three years of work experience minimum, qualification in entrance test |
| Course duration | Course duration is 15 months online modules, industrial visits, and simulations with classes held every sixth week for seven consecutive days, full time |
One year full-time residential program | Course duration varies from one year to three years Some study material is delivered through mail, some online modules are conducted over the weekends through NIIT centers using synchronous learning technology or through a website, and face-to-face interactions are organized at FHRAI (for the HR specialization) |
| Cost of education ( approximate) | Admission and tuition fees cost INR 3,000,000 plus service tax at 12.36% | IIMA- 24 lacs IIMB- 23 lacs IIMC – 18 lacs IIM L – 20 lacs |
Cost varies from INR 1,80,000 to INR 2,58,826 depending on the specialization |
EMBAs have become very popular in India owing to their increasing recognition by employers and convenience of approach. There is one executive MBA program to suit every professional’s need!
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