Executive MBA: Programmes, Formats, Fees and How to Choose
Updated 27 October 2026
An executive MBA (EMBA) is an MBA designed for experienced professionals who keep working while they study. Classes are compressed into weekends, evening blocks or residential weeks, and the cohort is usually older and more senior than on a full-time MBA.
What makes an MBA "executive"?
The degree awarded is normally an MBA, the same award title as the full-time programme. What changes is the student profile and the delivery:
- Experience: schools typically ask for many more years of work experience than for a full-time MBA, often with management responsibility. See our EMBA eligibility guide.
- Schedule: study is fitted around a full-time job, usually over about 18–24 months.
- Funding: many students are partly or fully sponsored by their employer, which may come with a commitment to stay.
- Content: core subjects are similar to any MBA (strategy, finance, leadership, operations), with more emphasis on applying them to your current role.
Not sure whether you need an EMBA or a regular MBA? Read executive MBA vs MBA.
Common EMBA formats
| Format | How it works | Works best if… |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend / alternate weekends | Classes on Fridays and Saturdays, a few times a month | You live within commuting distance of the campus |
| Modular / residential | Intensive blocks of a week or more, several times a year, sometimes in different countries | You can take block leave and want an international cohort |
| Evening | Several weekday evenings per week | Your job has predictable hours and you are local |
| Online or blended | Mostly online with some in-person weeks | You travel a lot or live far from a campus — see online executive MBA |
Published executive MBA fees
Executive MBAs are usually among the most expensive formats a school offers. These are fees we read on providers' own pages:
| Programme (provider's name) | Format | Published fee | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive MBA Hult International Business School | Part-time, London or Dubai | 2027–28 programme fee £49,900 (London) / AED 276,000 incl. VAT (Dubai) | Cited Provider page, accessed 27 Oct 2026 |
| Executive MBA Imperial College Business School | Part-time, 23 months, London | £84,500 (2027 entry) | Cited Provider page, accessed 27 Oct 2026 |
| Executive MBA Middlesex University Dubai | Evenings; 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time | AED 117,548 incl. VAT (September 2026 intake) | Cited Provider page, accessed 27 Oct 2026 |
| Executive MBA (Warwick) Warwick Business School | Part-time, Warwick campus, March 2027 start | £58,220 total | Cited Provider page, accessed 27 Oct 2026 |
| Other executive MBAs | — | Pending verification | Pending |
Listed alphabetically by provider; order is not a ranking. Fees change every intake and exclude living costs unless stated. Confirm on the provider's own page before applying. No school has paid to appear.
How to choose an executive MBA
- Can you physically attend? Map every on-campus date for two years against your work calendar and leave allowance.
- Who is in the cohort? Ask for the class profile: average experience, industries, seniority and nationalities. Your peers are half the value.
- What does the fee include? Residential accommodation, international trips, books and meals are sometimes included and sometimes extra.
- Employer sponsorship terms: check any repayment clause if you leave within a set period.
- Recognition: confirm who awards the degree and that the award is recognised where you work.
Estimate the payback with your own salary figures:
MBA ROI & payback calculator
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Frequently asked questions
Is an executive MBA a real MBA?
In most cases the award is an MBA, the same degree title as the school's full-time programme. Check the programme regulations or degree certificate wording on the school's site.
How long is an executive MBA?
Many run for roughly 18–24 months part-time, but formats range from about one to three years. Check each programme's published timetable.
Can I do an executive MBA without the GMAT?
Many EMBAs do not require the GMAT or accept the Executive Assessment instead, relying on experience and interviews. Requirements differ — see our eligibility guide.