2016-2017 EDITION

GUIDE
Global Publication for MBA & EMBA Students

The M to A of MBA The Canadian Dream

Riding the Cyber Wave The 10 Best Ways to Prepare for the GMAT
Europreneurship My Cosmic Journey Through the MBA

EDITORIAL
Managers should lead from the front
W ith a multitude of crises
financial, social and political
gripping the world, now,
more than ever, leaders have to cope with
change. And it is my belief that leadership
is about managing change.
Be it to stay on course or change direction,
its about steering the ship on the path
that you deem right. The MBA degree
teaches leadership because it understands
that management alone is simply not
enough. What good is a decent manager
if they cant be a great leader?
Long gone are the days of the assembly
line supervisor who meets production
quotas with intimidation and the fear of
unemployment. We now live in an age of
information and intellectual labour, and
we need leaders who can lead from the
front, rather than the throne.
At the 2015 World Economic Forum, Jack
Ma, the founder of Alibaba, said his job
was to make his team happy, Because
2
Out with
the Old, in with
the New
if my team is happy, they can make my
customers happy. The year before, his
company had generated 14.3 billion USD
in gross merchandise volume in one day.
In 2016, Alibaba is claiming 15.69 billion
USD in revenue, and Ma said that he
wants Alibaba to become equal to the
worlds fifth-richest country by 2020.
But if Jack Ma believes in leading his
company to unprecedented financial
success, I would argue that leadership
is also about ideas. Elon Musk wants
to terraform Mars and to establish a
permanent colony for mankind there.
He is worth 12.7 billion USD, and yet his
salary at Tesla Motors is 1 dollar. Why?
Because he understands that your dreams
and your vision are worth more than
gold.
However, there is something intricately
similar between these two different
leaders. They both understand that in
order to manage change successfully,
they have to empower others. And thats
what leadership truly is: a path of constant
change management that is impossible
without teamwork, because leaders are
defined by those who follow them.
Spartacus would have been just another
slave in the Roman quarries if it hadnt
been for the thousands of other slaves
who followed him into his rebellion. Jack
Ma would have been a ten-times Harvard
rejectee and Elon Musk would have been
a marginal engineer. And yet, they are not,
because they have empowered others on
their path to coping with change.
The MBA can teach such knowledge, not
least because it is one of the very few
pillars of wisdom that rise above the trivial
to teach that leadership is more important
than management.
Christophe Coutat
Founder and CEO
Advent Group
Christophe@advent-group.net
 Guide T able o f C ontent S

MBA Overview
Ten Essential Things You Should Know About the MBA 4 Highly Recommended 77
Enterprising Volatility 9 Acing the MBA Interview 80
Of Wealth and Men 12 MBA Careers
May I Have the Bill Please? 16 Old-Timers & Golden Classics 82
A Marriage Made in Heaven 20 Start Your Engines! 86
MBA Selection My Cosmic Journey Through the MBA 88
The M to A of MBA 24 Global MBA Features
Stripes of Fame 26 School Profiles & Interviews 91
Apples and Oranges (OP-ED) 28 MBA Listings
For Inquisitive Managers Only 30 Tables of Top Full-time MBA Programmes 138
Riding the Cyber Wave 32
Two Sides of the Same Grit 36
The Canadian Dream 38 EMBA Guide
The British Legacy 42
The Asian Giant 46 EMBA Overview
MBA Spotlight Kings and Queens 144
From Bogota to L.A. 50 Fortune Favours the Prepared 148
Hippocratic Business 54 EMBA Format
Transatlantic Origins: History of the European MBA 58 Switching Gears with a GEMBA 150
Terra Scandinavia 61 EMBA Admission
MBA Teaching A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed 152
What the MBA Taught me About Leadership (OP-ED) 64 Executive Examination 154
#Europreneurship 66 EMBA Careers
No Time for Full-Time 68 Its All About Confidence 158
MBA Admission Global EMBA Features
GRE or GMAT? 70 School Profiles & Interviews 159
The 10 Best Ways to Prepare for the GMAT 72 EMBA Listing
What do B-schools Want to Know About You? 74 Tables of Top EMBA Programmes 177

Chief Editor: Christophe Coutat

Editor: Anton Zhelev

Concept: Advent Group

Graphic Design: Mariya Stankova

Graphic Design Assistant: Anastasia Zhivaeva

Disclaimer:
Writers: Anton Zhelev Advent Group accept no legal responsibility for the accuracy
Dimitar Ganev or otherwise of individual submissions. The editorial team
Elitsa Videnova has endeavoured to ensure that all contributions are
Evelina Ivanova correct at the time of publication.
Iliana Bobova
Copyright 2016-2017 The content of this publication is
Iva Doneva- Sirakova protected by copyright. All rights reserved. No part of this
publication may be copied or reproduced, in any form or
Proofreading: Parisofia by any means, without the prior consent of the publisher.

Printer: Gunyfal

Publishing: Atendia

ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 3

 MBA OVERVIEW
Ten Essential Things
You Should Know
About the MBA
Acquaint yourself with
the most important facts
about the MBA
W
hats the first thing that
comes to mind when
hearing MBA? The
image of a smiling CEO from the
front cover of Forbes magazine?
A world financial centre with
skyscrapers and bustling white-
collar workers speaking on their
IPhones? Harvard? The saying
that an MBA diploma is the most
expensive piece of paper? Indeed,
all these are true. But is it only
this? What is an MBA all about?
1. What is an MBA?
An MBA or Master in Business
Administration is an internationally
recognised degree designed to develop
skills required for careers in business
and management. The degree is widely
considered as a must for those targeting
top C-level management posts. An MBA
opens the doors to vast alumni networks,
top-tier internships and the very best jobs.
Or, it could be the trigger needed by those
striving for their own business venture.
The degree originated in the United States
in the early 20th century when the country
industrialised and companies sought
scientific approaches to management. Half
a century later, the first MBA programme
emerged on the Old Continent and over
the past decade MBA programmes have
become very popular in the Middle East
and Asia.
Now the number of MBA programmes is
growing constantly. In February 2016, the
number of accredited business schools,
according to the oldest accreditation
agency, the US-based Association to
Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
(AACSB) International, had reached 755
in 51 countries and territories worldwide.
In September 2015, 73 business schools
around the world, of which 68.2% were
from Europe, held the triple crown
accreditation from the most sought after
international accreditations: AACSB, AMBA
and EQUIS.
Currently the number of member
campuses, according to the US-based
accreditation agency Accreditation Council
for Business School & Programs (ACSBP,) is
1,220, two hundred thirty-three of which
are located outside the US. Of those
campuses, 962 have achieved accreditation
and 160 are in candidacy for accreditation.
2. General management
All in all, an MBA is about general
management. The degree is a Masters
degree in business management theory and
practice. It is a broad study of all the main
aspects of management. The curriculum
comprises courses in core studies such
as accounting, finance, marketing,
human resources, general management,
operations, strategy, leadership and
negotiations and elective courses that build
on the fundamentals, allowing students to
deepen their knowledge and skills in areas
relevant to their personal career goals and
ambitions.
After doing four years of technology
consulting I started getting interested An MBA opens the
more and more in strategic business doors to vast alumni
questions that I could touch a little bit
but not really dive deep into. I found that networks, top-tier in-
doing an MBA was the best way for me to
get that learning, to get those skills that I ternships and the very
needed. The two-year programme worked best jobs. Or, it could be
better for me for several reasons. The first
one is having an engineering background, the trigger needed by
I needed to learn the core - the core of
marketing, of finance, of strategy [] those striving for their
I also wanted to explore different careers,
own business venture.
says Otman El Manser, who studied the
two-year full-time MBA of Kellogg School
of Management.
3. Specialised MBAs
Specialised MBA programmes have
been gaining popularity in recent years.
Unlike general MBAs or non-specialised
programmes, specialised MBAs offer
special knowledge in one particular
area, enabling attendees to deepen their
expertise in a particular business area or
a branch of the science. The specialised
MBA programme is an MBA with focus on a
particular business area such as real estate,
marketing, supply chain management,
healthcare, investment management, etc.
These programmes prepare competent,
ready-for-the-job professionals with
knowledge and skills tailored to the needs
of a particular industry.
The specialised programme is great, as
long as everyone is clear what the career
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 5
trajectory is, says consultant and coach
Jackie Wilbur, a former director of career
development at MITs Sloan School.

4. Hard skills vs. Soft skills

An MBA is the only course that provides the
perfect balance in teaching both hard and
soft skills. There are three key differences
between hard and soft skills, notes Lei Han,
a Wharton MBA with 15+ years of business
experience, in her article Hard skills vs.
soft skills difference and importance.
The first is about where you can learn
those skills hard skills can be learned in
school and from books, whilst there is no
simple path to learning soft skills as most
soft skills are not taught well in school and
have to be learned on the job by trial and
error. To be good at hard skills usually takes
smarts or IQ, also known as your left brain
or the logical centre. To be good at soft
skills usually takes emotional intelligence
or EI, also known as your right brain or the
emotional centre. The third difference is
that hard skills are skills where the rules stay
the same, regardless of which company,
circumstances or people you work with. In
contrast, soft skills are skills where the rules
change depending on the company culture
and the people you work with.
5. Format
The original MBA format is a two-year
course, including summer internship
between years one and two. However, in
recent years, business schools have started
to adapt their programmes to the needs of
changing economic realities requiring faster
learning. Schools have started delivering
MBAs in shorter, 12 to 18 month, courses.
Part-time programmes have become
particularly preferred for those who dont
have the luxury to dedicate 100% of their
time and attend a full-time course. More
flexible formats like online, modular and
blended MBAs have also emerged making
the choice of which format to select easier,
allowing attendees to pick the format best
fitting to their personal needs, career stage,
needs and goals.
In the US, where the MBA originated, the
two-year format is more common, while
in Europe and Asia shorter MBAs are more
popular.
6. Networking
A key asset of each MBA programme
is the network opportunities it opens
up to its students. MBA classes attract
students from diverse nationalities with
a wide variety of interests ranging from
general management to doing business in
sectors like food and beverage, defence,
healthcare, etc. There is no other place
where so many different personalities can
meet and build a multicultural environment
together. B-schools, students and alumni
are dedicated to building vast networks
where people from different places on Earth
can meet, share their ideas, opinions, goals
and even raise funds for their ventures.
My experience was further enhanced by
my daily interactions with international
classmates from all over the world. []
All the best memories are from activities
done with my colourful classmates like
the tough group projects, the adventurous
trips around the region and the fun events
organised in school. Although we had many
differences, the bonds and friendship we
had built in this MBA journey will last me
a lifetime, says Masana Takahashi, MBA
from the National University of Singapore.
Using social networks such as Facebook,
Twitter, LinkedIn or b-schools own
platforms is the easiest way students
and alumni can build their own network.
Schools career services are particularly
active in organising various type of
networking events such as corporate visits,
one-day fairs on campus, conferences,
etc. mediating the link between first-year
and second-year students, alumni and
potential employers. Alumni are also highly
committed to developing vast networks
through different alumni events where
students can be introduced, through
professors, events, alumni speakers and
the schools career services. Alumni
networks are promoted as catalysts for
career opportunities. Alumni often act as
role models, mentoring and supporting
would-be MBAs in their career adventure.
Our mission is to promote an everlasting
relationship among the members of the IE
community, facilitating a common platform
of business, career development and lifelong
learning opportunities, with the objective
of propelling personal and professional
development of IE students and alumni, in
accordance with the principles and values
of IE, IE Business School says.
7. Careers corporate vs.
entrepreneurial
An MBA is widely considered as a career
accelerator. It could help you, climb the
corporate ladder within your current
organisation or open doors to a new
corporation and develop your career. It
could bring you higher pay, a higher post
and certainly more responsibilities as a
professional. Or, it could be the trigger
you need to start a journey of your own,
starting up your own business. An MBA is
invaluable for those who embark on their
own adventures, mainly due to the skills it
teaches to its students - strategic planning,

6
global thinking, leadership and the ability
to manage people.
Figures speak best. According to the latest
available statistics, which Financial Times
(FT) released as part of its research for its
2015 rankings, 22% of 7,800 MBA graduates
from the worlds top 100 business schools
had launched a start-up while studying for
the qualification or shortly after completing
their course. Three years after graduation,
the average annual income among these
fledgling entrepreneurs was 134,000 USD,
compared with 132,000 USD for all those
interviewed for the research.
those that quit corporate careers to
create a start-up quickly make up any
shortfall and are in fact earning more on
average than their salaried peers just three
years after completing their business school
studies, reads The Financial Times article
Start-up costs for MBA graduates pay off.
A study of over 30,000 Wharton graduates
shows that the number of recent MBA grads
who choose their own business adventure
rather than going to traditional corporate
jobs in finance and management will
continue growing,. MBA students are good
at seeking where the opportunities are. []
When banking is hot, more students go into
banking; when consulting is hot, they go
into consulting; and when entrepreneurship
is hot, they go into entrepreneurship, says
Ethan Mollick, entrepreneurship professor
at Wharton and co-author of the study, as
quoted by Business Insider.
8. Post MBA-salaries
High pay is certainly one of the biggest
benefits one gains getting an MBA. The
statement that getting an MBA degree is a
long-term investment which pays off each
cent is true.
Starting salaries for MBA degree holders
are so high, compared to those of other
graduates, that sometimes there is no
sense in comparing them. And there is even
better news salaries for MBAs continue
rising years after graduation. Figures from
FTs Global MBA Ranking 2016 show that
the lowest weighted salary of an MBA
holder from the top 10 b-schools in the
ranking, three years after graduation, is
154,150 USD, which is a 100% increase
when compared to salaries before taking
an MBA. The single highest weighted salary
is 185,939 USD, which is an 87% rise.
The median starting salary expected in
2015 for recent MBA graduates in the
United States was 100,000 USD, according
to the last 2015 Corporate Recruiters
Survey from the General Management
Admission Council (GMAC). This represents
an increase of 5,000 USD over 2014
salaries and is nearly double the expected
starting salary of 55,000 USD for Bachelor
candidates in 2015. Globally, more than half
of employers planned to increase starting
salaries for new MBA hires in 2015, either
at the rate of inflation or higher.
9. Job market prospects
Most MBAs have no trouble landing jobs.
Three months after graduating, more than
80% of MBAs usually find a job. Surveys
show that in 2016, as with previous years,
the job prospects for MBA graduates will
continue the upward trend.
Coming off of a solid year of hiring in
2015, employer demand for graduate
management talent is projected to
increase in 2016. According to the 2015
year end poll of employers, by the General
Management Admission Council (GMAC),
three in four employers expect to hire MBA
graduates in 2016, up four percent from
2015 actual hiring results. Of this group
of employers, 85% plan to hire as many
or more of these candidates than they
did in 2015. Regional analysis reveals that
employers located in the United States are
more likely to hire MBA graduates (82%
of companies) compared with employers
located in Europe (63% of companies).
When employers see a candidate with an
MBA, they assume that person has been
trained to think critically about business
in a financial context, as well as having
been trained to solve business problems,
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 7
and in business, thats an advantage, says
Tracy Cote, senior vice president of human
resources with US-based OmniChannel
customer experience and Contact Centre
Solutions provider Genesys.
Nearly all employers who responded to the
poll (96%) say that hiring recent business
school graduates creates value for their
companies, while 69% of employers agreed
that recruiting graduates of MBA and
specialised business Masters programmes
is a priority in their companys hiring plans
for 2016.
Findings from another GMAC survey show
that, with regards to job market prospects
by industry, job level and job function,
a graduate business degree unlocks
employment opportunities in all industries,
job functions, job levels, organisational
sizes, and work locations. According to
data from the 2016 Alumni Perspectives
Survey, products and services, finance
and accounting, and technology are the
most common industries of employment
for business school alumni. The majority
of alumni (63%) fill job functions in three
areas: finance and accounting (24% of
respondents), marketing and sales (21%),
and general management (19%). Viewed
by graduation year, recent alumni are more
likely to be employed in products and
services and technology related industries,
whereas those who graduated earlier are
more likely to hold jobs in government and
in non-profit organisations.
10. How much does it cost?
The last question is - how much does an
MBA actually cost? Costs vary depending
on several factors - the length of the
programme, additional spending for
accommodation, health insurance, food,
travel, attending various networking
events, books and materials. In general,
in the US, the birthplace of the programme
where the two-year format is still the most
popular, the average tuition exceeds 60,000
USD. At a top 10 business school in the US
8
tuition fees can reach as much as 100,000
USD. Of course, there are many schools that
charge considerably less and in the US, it is
possible to get a two-year MBA education
for less than 20,000 USD.
At Harvard, the tuition fee for the 2017
MBA class is 61,225 USD. When health
fees and insurance, programme support
fees, including books, web-based course
materials, other materials, room and
utilities and personal spending are added,
the sum increases to anything up to 98,400
USD.
Fees for MBA programmes in European
business schools, where the established
format is the one-year type, are similar.
Additional costs are lower because of the
length of the programme. In the London
Business School, which was Europes top
b-school for 2014 according to FT Ranking,
tuition fees for the MBA starting in August
2016 were 70,800 GBP.
In Asias most popular business school,
NUS Business School of the National
University of Singapore, the tuition fee
for its 17-month MBA programme is 62,000
SGD, which converted into US dollars is What is an MBA?
44,000 USD.
An internationally recognised
The price of an online MBA degree is very degree designed to develop skills
similar to that of a campus-based degree. required for careers in business and
Tuition costs range from 7,000 USD to more management
than 120,000 USD. Top business schools
are typically on the higher end of the scale, A broad study of all the main
but non-ranked schools can also charge aspects of business management
exorbitant fees.
Offers the opportunity to deepen
In the end, what is an MBA? Indeed, it knowledge and expertise in a
is a costly investment. It costs money, particular business area or a branch
time, energy and commitment. But it is of science
an investment and it pays off. An MBA
is a once-in-a-lifetime transformational Provides perfect balance in
experience that opens up new perspectives, mastering hard skills and soft skills
brings you to wider horizons and enables
you to reach unexpected professional and Flexible in format being available
personal heights. In a few words an MBA in full-time, part-time, modular,
is worth it every part of it. I.D-S. online or blended formats
Gives access to vast alumni
networks
A career accelerator it helps
you to, climb the corporate ladder
within your current organisation,
open doors to a new corporation,
or build your own business venture
High pay is one of its biggest
benefits
 MBA OVERVIEW
Enterprising Volatility
The MBA helps transform uncertainty into opportunity

W
e live in uncertain times
with crises caused by
doubtful government
policies, wars, bad financial
management and continuous
volatility in the commodity
and stock exchange markets.
Uncertainty is stressful. It
invokes fear and drags people
and corporations outside their
comfort zones. In many cases, it is
classified as a negative life event,
either personal or business. But as
with everything, there is another
side to the coin. Uncertainty
may be both a challenge and an
opportunity.
Better decisions in uncertain times. In School of Management, in her essay Yes,
Uncertainty and mystery are energies fact, companies cant predict the future, the world needs more MBAs.
of life. Dont let them scare you unduly, but they can build organisations that will
for they keep boredom at bay and spark survive and flourish in just about any According to Blount, the world needs
creativity, is one of the most famous possible circumstances. leaders who understand markets deeply,
quotes from R. I. Fitzhenry. their connection to the public sector,
This is why, in todays uncertain times, and the philosophical, cultural and social
Businesses which consider uncertainty businesses need those leaders and implications of global business growth.
as an opportunity, know how to predict, managers whose mind-sets are tuned to We need leaders who fully grasp that
cope with and seize it. When they finally see uncertainty as an opportunity rather markets, while highly efficient, are not fair,
emerge they do so as market leaders with than a risk. An MBA graduate is exactly kind, or wise. [] We need leaders who
their new products, strategies or policies. that person. are ready to confront the challenges of
Uncertainty may, of course, lead to major growing income inequality, unemployment,
breakthroughs, confidence boosts and Clearly you can have a rewarding life and environmental impact, and cultural
growth. career without an MBA. You can certainly homogenisation that current business
become rich and powerful without one, practices do not yet adequately address.
The economic shock of 2008 and the as Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson,
Great Recession that followed, didnt and Amancio Ortega can testify. But when Why an MBA is so
just create profound uncertainty over the youre creating the next Google, Tencent, or important in uncertain
direction of the global economy, but also Apple, youre going to need people with the
shook the confidence of many business training, skills, and networks that business times?
leaders in their ability to see the future well education is uniquely good at providing. An MBA teaches you to think strategically
enough to take bold action, Lowell Bryan, Theres a reason all of those companies hire about your field or industry within the
a director of McKinsey New York office people with MBAs, writes Sally E. Blount, context of the larger business world.
says in his article Dynamic management: dean of Northwestern Universitys Kellogg Financial accounting, managerial

ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 9

economics, strategy, marketing
management and financial marketing
coursework underpin your new capabilities.
Studying for an MBA teaches you to speak
the language of business. It helps you face
problems that emerge in the real business
world without running away from them.
As the saying goes, A problem well
defined is half solved. This exemplifies
the importance of the conceptualisation
steps in any problem-solving methodology.
Therefore, it is essential to provide MBA
graduates with at least some of the basic
fundamentals of how to conceptualise and
attack difficult problems.
This is why, apart from hard and soft skills,
MBA courses are invaluable for the focus
they put on teaching various problem-
solving techniques, providing attendees
with a rich toolkit with different approaches
that one can use when facing a problem.
The problem-solving methodology taught
in the degree enables graduates to view a
particular issue from different angles and
consider it in its complexity.
The problems that we face in business
nowadays are multifaceted. To really
solve a problem, you need to understand
10
all of its aspects and everything around
it, emphasises Daniel Kiryakov, an MBA
from Yale School of Managements. Daniel,
who has worked as a venture capital
investment analyst, thinks that an MBA
graduate is armed with the toolkit for deep-
dive research and analysis of prospective
investments. The MBA programme
provided me with the basic skills that I
needed in order to perform this analysis,
but also with the framework and mind-set
to analyse such complex problems. At the
end of the day you want to know if this
company is a good investment, and thats
a simple yes or no answer; but to get there,
you need to go through multiple levels of
examination, Daniel adds.
Bryan thinks that the knowledge, skill,
and experience of these leaders make
them better suited than anyone else to
act decisively when the time is right. Such
executives are also well placed to build
the organisational capabilities needed to
expose critical issues early, and then use
the extra lead time to gather intelligence,
to conduct the needed analyses, and to
debate their implications.
Companies cant control the weather,
but they can design and build a ship, and
equip it with a leadership team, that can
navigate the ocean under all weather
conditions. Organisations that become
more flexible and skilful at making critical
decisions when the timing is right have
enormous opportunities to capture markets
and profits from companies that persist
in managing as if the future business
environment is reasonably predictable,
Bryan writes.
According to Blount, intelligent, highly
driven individuals will reinvent markets,
fuel growth, and work across sectors to
build strong, transformative organisations.
But markets or governments wont do this
on their own; the incentives just arent
there. Thats why the world needs more,
not less, business education. It depends
on it, Blount concludes.
A business degree remains one of the most
predictable paths to success and financial
stability and can provide the proverbial
leg-up from relative poverty to great
accomplishment and wealth. In uncertain
times, such as we have had since 2008, it
tends to draw more students who make
this connection, says Sri Zaheer, dean of
the Carlson School of Management at the
University of Minnesota. I.D-S.
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 MBA OVERVIEW
Of Wealth and Men
The MBAs return on investment is
decidedly positive, but human capital
is the MBAs most precious asset
A
n investment in education
is an investment in ones
future. Anyone can tell you
that. But arent all investments
supposed to net a gain in the
future? Put away a certain amount
of money now and grab a larger
sum later. Its a no-brainer.
However, to truly understand
how an MBA can impact ones
financial wellbeing, it is crucial to
look beyond the numbers, and into
the immaterial realm of soft skills,
networking, and most importantly
human capital.
Money talks
Before moving onto the more abstract
nuances of the MBAs value, it is worth
taking a look at some numbers. A simple
question must be answered. What is the
MBAs return on investment (ROI)? The
formula is simple enough. ROI equals the
gains minus the costs divided by the costs
again, and multiplied by 100 (in order to
get the percentage).
According to a report by the Graduate
Management Admissions Council (GMAC)
from 2016, the median MBA ROI within
the first three years after graduation is
37%. It climbs to 132% in five years, and a
staggering 445% within a decade. But how
do they come up with these numbers?
Lets take INSEAD, the number one school
in the Financial Times (FT) Global MBA
rankings for 2016. Its full-time MBA
programme costs 87,436 EUR. The average
salary of INSEAD alumni three years after
graduation is 166,168 EUR. Crunching the
numbers gives us an ROI of 90%.
However, this does not include a couple
of crucial parameters living expenses
and opportunity costs. The former can be
rather varied a man can live with very
little, or like a king. It depends mainly
on fiscal prowess, but also on personal
preference and lifestyle. The latter refers
to the amount of money a full-time MBA
student will lose over the course of their
studies by virtue of not working and its
rather easy to calculate.
For the sake of the argument, lets
assume that a year at INSEADs campus in
Fontainebleau, southeast of Paris, will cost
an average of 1,500 EUR per month. This
is calculated by taking numbers from the
crowdsourcing website numbeo.com, so
its a pretty good indicator of a moderate
to average lifestyle outside of the capital.
Living expenses for one year total 18,000
EUR.
Moving on to opportunity costs, lets take The median MBA ROI
the current average salary of an INSEAD within the first three years
alumnus (166,168 EUR) once more and
divide it by the salary increase (96%, after graduation is 37%.
according to the FT) to find out what the
average INSEAD graduates salary was prior It climbs to 132% in five
to joining the programme. Its 84,779 EUR. years, and a staggering
Now lets add these numbers to the 445% within a decade.
programme fee in order to get a more
grounded picture of what the cost in the
ROI equation will be. The total cost of the
investment comes out at 190,242 EUR.
So with a 166,168 EUR annual salary today,
which is an 81,389 EUR increase over the
pre-MBA salary, an MBA graduate would
be able to refund the entire cost in two
years and four months. This means that
the ROI is 35% in the two years and four
months of repaying the investment, and
96% (pre-post salary differential) every
year after that.
Of course, this is only one school, and only
one set of numbers, and it is imperative
that every individual makes this kind of
calculation on their own, depending on
their personal choice of school and the
statistics, widely available on the Internet.
But, just to be sure that the numbers will
always be on the side of the MBA graduate,
it is also imperative to keep in mind that the
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 13
 Deliberate average salary increase following an MBA
degree from one of the top 100 b-schools
communication, business in the world is 97%. This means that once
the debt is repaid, as any George R. R.
leadership, processes Martins Lannister family member would
awareness, strategic say, the net gain of an MBA degree would
always be twofold.
vision, a results-focused
Speak softly and carry
paradigm and empathetic
a calculated smile
attitude: all of these
skills are invaluable to While the MBAs ROI is a simple
mathematical computation, the true
managers, and together power of the MBA lies in its many intangible
they shape the MBAs rewards.
intangible ROI. One of these benefits is networking. The
UKs Independent is categorical in its
assessment of networking, claiming that
what business schools do so well is to put
students in front of powerful contacts:
Schools encourage students to invite
alumni for coffee chats, attend industry
specific events and capitalise on contacts
through projects and internships.
Its about positioning yourself to be at
your most interesting and finding people
who will be interesting to you, says Cana
Witt, MBA careers advisor at Lancaster
University Management School.
14
The importance of networking is well-
understood by prospective MBA students.
According to GMACs 2016 Prospective
Students Survey, the enhanced networking
possibilities are one of the prime
motivations for MBA candidates to enrol in
graduate school, along with career change
and entrepreneurship.
Crucially, none of this is possible without
soft skills another critical advantage
of the MBA. In fact, soft skills are the
centrepiece of graduate business
education, since they incorporate the
managerial expertise that has come to be
expected of the MBA degree. Deliberate
communication, business leadership,
processes awareness, strategic vision, a
results-focused paradigm and empathetic
attitude: all of these skills are invaluable to
managers, and together they shape the
MBAs intangible ROI.
Its not just experience and technical
expertise employers seek. They also
look for professionals with outstanding
non-technical or soft skills, says
Bill Driscoll, a regional president at
Robert Half International, as quoted by
BusinessBecause.
Companies need staff who are leaders,
excellent communicators, and [are] able
to align their business units goals with the
firms big-picture objectives, according to
Driscoll.

Human capital

There is another term for this collection

of abilities human capital and along
with the new term, come new dimensions
of ROI. Few would expect to be able to
put something that sounds as abstract as
human capital to quantitative scrutiny, but
it is possible.

First, let us agree on a definition of human

capital. Gary Becker, an economist and
founder of the concept, describes it as
the sum of knowledge, habits, social and
personality attributes, which allows an
individual to produce economic value
through their labour. Simply put, human
capital is the collection of soft and hard
skills and attributes, which makes an
individual an economic asset, both in and
of themselves, and collectively as part of
the economic unit that they belong to,
whether that is a company, or a nation.
income, or lifetime earning power, says education, they increase their human
Essentially, human capital is a resource Fisher, Over the course of your career, capital immensely, which allows them to
that every individual possesses, and as you effectively convert human capital net an exponentially larger profit over a
such, it can be evaluated. Gregg Fisher, an into financial capital [] Thus, the young lifetime. Financial investments at this point
investment adviser and Forbes contributor, accumulator is rich in human capital but of life might seem overwhelming, but in
refers to a model, which suggests that probably less so in financial capital. truth, they are rather inconsequential, as
people exhaust human capital in order to the lack of overall fiscal capacity means
earn financial capital. Professionals of 29-31 years of age that the basis is too low to be of significant
contemplating doing an MBA are at risk. However, a refusal to invest in human
We can define human capital as the the genesis of their lifetimes earning capital will mean that the financial capital
present value of your future labour potential. By investing in graduate business accumulated over a lifetime will be
markedly smaller, because the lack of
human capital will not allow for greater
earnings.

An MBA degree is unique among its peers

in its ability to deliver human capital
by incorporating every bit of Beckers
definition. Knowledge, habits, social and
personality attributes come together
to generate a resource, which can be
absorbed, transformed and constantly
reinvested to earn more. And while the
financial ROI is undoubtedly favourable,
it is this lifetime supply of exponentially
higher earning potential that makes an
MBA a truly intelligent investment.
A.Z.
Credit: Forbes
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 15

MBA OVERVIEW
F
acing the question of how
to finance your desired MBA
might make you feel as though
youve reached a deadlock. It might
seem like mission impossible, as
most people dont have the option
of going to the bank to order a
bank transaction for thousands
of dollars to pay for the course.
Indeed, finding money to pay for all
the expenses that go with an MBA
tuition fees, health insurance, living and
travel expenses, and costs of books and
educational materials is one of the
biggest challenges facing many MBA
students. However, as with everything,
there is also good news. Funding your
MBA is possible! It is important to be well
informed about the numerous options
available and finding the best one depends
on the personal efforts of every would-be
MBA. Thats why a thorough research of
all available funding resources is a must.
16
May I Have
the Bill Please?
Funding your MBA is a mission possible;
you just have to know your options
Savings
Naturally, at the start of your research,
the first question would be: how much do
you have in your personal bank accounts?
Can you rely on your parents to support
you or would their savings go on a new
house or a series of cruise trips for the
next 10-20 years?
As a matter of fact, its the exception rather
than the rule to pay for the whole MBA bill
from your own and your parents financial
resources. However, if not paying for all
MBA costs, many students use savings to
contribute to part of them.
The luxury of having the cash in a bank
account is a privilege for only a few. The
rest rely on the other funding options
available on the market.
Scholarship
Most of the business schools have
institutionalised scholarship programmes
providing scholarships to a limited
number of students who meet certain
criteria. Schools criteria range is very
wide merit, experience, nationality,
entrepreneurship, gender, financial need,
etc. In general, scholarships are awarded
to exceptionally able, talented and high-
potential candidates.
Some schools extend scholarships to a
limited number of students three to ten,
while at others their number is bigger.
At some schools, the number of MBA
students receiving scholarships can reach
up to 80% of all students. There are fixed-
amount scholarships, full scholarships
or partial scholarships that cover between
10% and 90% of the tuition fees. Apart
from the fees, some schools provide even
for the costs of living.
According to findings of the Financial Times
in its 2016 Global MBA Ranking, about 45%
of students have received scholarships, at
around 32,000 USD. More than half of
students (56%) in North America receive
a scholarship worth around 37,000 USD
compared with a third of students in Europe
who receive only around 20,000 USD,
reads FT in its MBA by numbers: inside
the $200,000 cost article.

Grants and fellowships

Governments, private foundations and
other types of NGOs are also a significant
source of funding. Like schools and their
scholarship programmes, they have
developed various educational grant
schemes, awarding grants to a limited
range of students - to students of a certain
religion, ethnicity, nationality, or academic
interest. The common thing about all
grants and scholarships is that they are
awarded to students demonstrating an
exceptional academic and professional
record and showing potential for future
success.

The list of grant and scholarship awarding

organisations is long as each country with
a developed business education sector
usually has such bodies. But to name a few,
the list includes the US-based Fulbright
Commission, the British Council, British
Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the
German Academic Exchange Service
(DAAD), the Netherlands Fellowship
Programme (NFP) and MENA Scholarship
Programme (MSP), also in the Netherlands,
the European Unions Erasmus+
programme, the Ford Foundation
International, the Aga Khan Foundation,
the American Association of University
Women and many others.

Sponsorships
Those who work can explore another
resource corporate sponsorship.
According to Todd Rhoad, co-author of
books for MBA aspirants The industries
that would offer greater opportunity would
be the industries that strive to hire top-tier
MBAs, such as consulting, private equity,
technology (Google and Amazon) and
investment firms.

Those companies have institutionalised

tuition assistance programmes under
which they provide financing for
employees MBA study while, in return,
the employee commits to the organisation.
Each company determines the level of
commitment and the return that it wants
through a formal retention mechanism.

ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 17

The list of companies that offer tuition
reimbursement programmes as part of
their customary benefit structure, including
high-profile nationals and internationals,
include also ADP, Deloitte, UPS, Raytheon,
Lockheed Martin, AT&T, Intel and Disney.
Apart from this, some corporate
sponsorships are extended under special
deals between business schools and their
corporate sponsors which provide a limited
number of scholarships to students.
As a matter of fact, getting a sponsorship
is not the easiest way to finance your MBA
and a Financial Times survey proves it:
Though sponsorship can cover the whole
cost of the MBA, only a minority of students
receive this, reads the Financial Times in
its MBA by numbers: inside the $200,000
cost article. About 10% of those students
that responded to the FT survey [for 2016
Global MBA Ranking] received sponsorship,
at an average level of 70,000 USD.
Loans
The final option is borrowing money for
your MBA. Many banks have special loan
programmes for students providing special
soft-term student loans. Banks know your
credit history and they can best assess your
creditworthiness. Loans with competitive
interest rates, grace periods and long
repayment periods are also available due to
collaboration between schools and banks.
Chase, Citibank and Sallie Mae are known
for their student loans.
Apart from banks, non-banking financial
institutions and private organisations
offer funding options for prospective MBA
students. London-based Prodigy Finance is
one of the best-known programmes. It is a
platform for alumni and other community
stakeholders to offer funding to students
while earning a commercial rate of return.
Some loan programmes are subsidised by
the government if one can demonstrate
financial need or eligibility for government
assistance. The Stafford Loans in the US and
the Career Development Loans in the UK
are good examples. Similar loan schemes
can be accessed in other countries around
the world but finding the best loan depends
on personal research.
You will be surprised how many options
there are on the market at the end of
your research. Finding the best way to
finance the MBA requires a sound plan,
demanding a thorough investigation of all
available options. I.D-S.

Q&A with a Prodigy Finance

student borrower
Emma Buckland graduated from the Craneld School of Management MBA programme in 2013,
where she was the years Class President. Following graduation, Emma secured a job as the
EMEA Operations Director at FICO a position she still holds today.

Now that youre back in the work force, what was the most Given the skills you gained through your MBA, what do you
important thing you learned from your MBA? want to achieve in your career in the next several years?

There are genuinely so many aspects, which I draw
on regularly - just today at work I have used learnings from
macroeconomics, nance, accounting and strategy! However,
if I had to pick one thing, I think it would be an enhanced
self-awareness and understanding how to shape my
interactions to get the best from others.
As much as I can! I would like to continue to contribute and
progress professionally, and ultimately I would like to train as
an executive coach.
What would you like to say to the alumni investors who
funded your studies?

How did you come to choose Prodigy for your loan and were
there other options? If so, why Prodigy?
I chose Prodigy because of the close connection with the school,
and I also loved the idea of prior MBA students being able to
invest and get a return whilst giving students like me the chance to
do something which, speaking personally, I would not have been
able to fund any other way. Post-MBA, I would now describe that
as a virtuous circle!
A massive thank you to everybody who's helped me fund my
studies. It's genuinely not an exaggeration to say that if it
weren't for the Prodigy scheme I wouldn't have been able to do
the Craneld MBA programme. It has been transforming for me.
Schemes like this give people like me opportunities to really
full our ambitions and hopefully go out to do great things in
the world. So a big thank you.

Prodigy Finance Ltd is incorporated in the United Kingdom (Company Number 05912562) and registered with the Oce of the
Information Commissioner (Reg. No. Z9851854). Prodigy Finance Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct
Authority, and entered on the Financial Services Register under rm registration number 612713. Prodigy's registered address is
Palladium House 1-4 Argyll Street, London, W1F 7LD

18
It's not just a student loan.
It's a community.
With Prodigy Finance, the people funding our postgraduate loans
are the same as the people using them (give or take a few years).
And with our alumni funding model, you know exactly where the money
is coming from. And youre not just taking a loan; youre joining a
community of graduate students and alumni from around the world.

150 Nationalities are eligible* to date over

Loan amounts are based on your future aordability $140M

DISBURSED
No co-signer or guarantor required
funding over
Competitive interest rates
Conditional approval, with interest rate, in 5 business days 4000
STUDENTS

from
Prodigy Finance loans are made under UK law
*Exclusions are 1) Domestic borrowers (except UK)
2) Select countries (See Prodigy Finance website)
116
COUNTRIES

Apply today at prodigynance.com

Prodigy Finance Ltd is incorporated in the United Kingdom (Company Number 05912562) and
registered with the Oce of the Information Commissioner (Reg. No. Z9851854). Prodigy Finance
Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and entered on the Financial
Services Register under rm registration number 612713. Prodigy's registered address is
Palladium House 1-4 Argyll Street, London, W1F 7LD

MBA OVERVIEW
Corporate sponsorship of your MBA must be a mutually
beneficial deal between you and your employer
Y
ouve come to a point when
the question is not whether
to go for an MBA but how to
do it. Getting the degree is a costly
endeavour - even the cheapest
degree would cost you thousands
of dollars or euros. Naturally, the
financial question will come up
and then the question of how to
find the money will echo through
your mind.
You search through your personal
savings, parents bank accounts, loan
and scholarship options to find the best
way possible to finance your MBA. While
doing this, and if you are already part of the
active workforce, dont forget the option
to seek sponsorship from your employer.
Searching through the corporate policies
of your organisation is then the first thing
to do.
Many companies, particularly those in
the financial, consultancy, private equity,
technology and investment sectors,
have institutionalised tuition assistance
programmes in their corporate policies.
Companies such as Deloitte, Intel, Google,
Amazon, Disney and Lockheed Martin are
known for their commitment to finance the
MBA classes of worthy employees.
Organisations typically support MBA
pursuits for two reasons - employee
development and succession planning.
In the first case, companies support the
cost of MBA programmes as part of their
commitment to employee training and
development, says Todd Rhoad, who
20
A Marriage
Made in Heaven
is the managing director of Atlantas
BT Consulting and co-author of several
guidebooks for aspiring MBAs and recent
graduates.
The common case is that the employer
provides part of the financing while
the employee should commit in return.
Each company determines the level of
commitment and the return that it wants
through a formal retention mechanism.
Some corporate sponsorships are available
under special deals between business
schools and their corporate sponsors which
provide a limited number of scholarships
to students. These scholarships are partial
and normally cover 25% to 50% of the
tuition fee.
Three factors are critical when seeking
corporate sponsorship. First, become
thoroughly familiar with the benefits
policies as written, particularly with regard
to what is explicitly excluded. Second,
get a good under standing of the degree
of flexibility written into the policy to
accommodate a variety of programmes
and circumstances. Third, the most critical
factor, stay sensitive to the personalities
of those managers from whom you need
support and approval.
And even if your company doesnt have
such a programme, this shouldnt stop you
from trying to get the financing.
Then comes the big question - how to make
your employer see the mutual benefit in
your continued education with an MBA?
In general, getting financial support for
your MBA from your employer depends
on the match between your career plans
and those of your organisation.
[Making] a proposal [to your employer
to finance your MBA] should address the
benefit to the company, Rhoad says,
[including] areas where the company
could improve and how you will help them,
a review of the courses to be taken and
how they will provide knowledge that can
help improve the companys performance.
We take a very long-term view when
were making a decision to sponsor
somebody, says Mel Wolfgang, who is
part of Boston Consulting Groups North
American management team, where he
is responsible for all consultant human
resources and development.
Getting the sponsorship
comes with a contract
No employer, unless its your parent, will pay
for your MBA just like that. Every employer
would need to be sure that money given
will pay off. Corporate sponsorship is a
long-term business arrangement requiring
significant commitments from both you
and your employer as well as yielding
significant returns for both parties.
Thats why it usually goes hand-in-hand
with a sponsorship contract. Your employer
will bind you with a contract according to
which you would be obliged to stay with the
company for a certain period of time after
you get the MBA or pay back the money.
Organisations typically
support MBA pursuits for
two reasons - employee
development and succession
planning. In the first case,
companies support the cost of
MBA programmes as part of
their commitment to employee
training and development.

ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 21

Outline your goals, It is also possible that your employer will
add other types of stipulations to protect
career path and future himself in case you dont perform well
at exams, dont complete the degree or
plans in the company violate the agreement later on.
and most importantly,
Other points to consider prior to signing
define your commitment the sponsorship contract are whether the
sponsor will limit where you can work in
to the company after the summer between years one and two
of the programme; whether you will return
graduation as part to the sponsor at your pre-MBA level and
of their return on salary or at a higher level and salary; how
many years of work post-MBA are required
investment. for your sponsor to annul the cost of the
sponsorship or sponsored loan.
Thats why before saying yes to the
sponsorship contract, be sure that
you understand everything about the
repayment terms required by your
sponsor, especially what the options are
for repayment if you choose not to return
to the sponsor after graduation, Harvard
advises. Student loans are not available to
refinance or buyout sponsorships.
Relationship of trust
You might be brilliant as a professional but
this might not to be enough when securing
a corporate sponsorship. There might be
other brilliant employees who are also
striving for a sponsorship. Its up to you
to convince your boss that you are the
one who deserves the corporate support.
Getting corporate sponsorship depends
very much on the relationship of trust
youve built at your company. You should
have proven your loyalty to the company
before making the financing proposal
22
to your boss. Building a relationship
of trust starts with your entry in the
company through your daily duties at
work, collaboration with other staff
members, building a network including
your colleagues, supervisor and ultimately
those decision makers who will take the
decision whether or not to award corporate
funding. Needless to say, the support of
your colleagues and direct supervisor will
be invaluable in this situation.
A clever move when negotiating your
sponsorship is to offer to your boss to
pay some of the additional costs of the
programme such as travel expenses and
accommodation. This could also be used as
means to convince your employer that you
are serious about the degree and this kind
of gesture may further help you build trust.
Make a sponsorship
proposal
The next step is to make a sponsorship
proposal. In a few words, the proposal
must be specific, concrete and profes-
sional, made in the right moment to the
right people.
In general, the proposal should present in
details your motivation to do the MBA and
how this will help the companys future
development and interests. It is of key
importance to show how you doing an
MBA will develop the companys business.
Clearly show the benefits of the MBA and
how it will add value to the company in the
longer run. Spell out how each aspect of
the courses and skills you acquire would
bring positive development to each aspect
of the companys business. Show how the
degree will further strengthen your soft
skills, build up on your strategic thinking,
ability to manage people and leadership
potential.
To summarise, when speaking to your
employer about the sponsorship you
should be ready to answer the following
questions:
How much of the tuition and related
costs are you asking the company to pay?
Are you prepared to personally contribute
to financing your MBA and if so, how much?
How much time will you need off work
for classes and educational travel?
How will furthering your education bring
value to the organisation?
How quickly can what you learn can be
applied at work?
Which class projects will tie into your
professional work?
What is the curriculums specific relevance
to your work?
What are your career plans after you
graduate?
What are your thoughts about a post-
MBA long-term employment contract?
Can you expect a rise or promotion after
completing the programme?
Outline your goals, career path and future
plans in the company, Rhoad says, and
most importantly, define your commitment
to the company after graduation as part of
their return on investment.
Good timing is critical for your proposals
success. If your company has enjoyed
positive financial results over the past
quarters and has growth prospects, that
might be the opening you need.
Sell your MBA to the company as an
investment. They will pay for the degree,
so show them how it will pay off. Promote
yourself in the best way possible. Spell out
your vision of the companys development
in the next couple of years, how you
see yourself from this development
perspective, and how you will contribute to
these goals and add value. So considering
the sponsorship proposal as a business plan
is a good idea to start with.
I.D-S.
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 23
MBA SELECTION

The M to A of MBA
Full-time, part-time, one-year or two-year: A comprehensive
study into the merits of the various MBA formats

T
he development of technology
and the demand for more
flexible business degrees
have brought about changes in
the MBA landscape. The classic
two-year full-time degree and
the European one-year full-time
degree have indeed met strong
competition from online and
part-time business programmes.
However, it would be a serious
mistake to assume the classical
MBA forms are anywhere near to
being eclipsed or dethroned.

Part-time, online and flexible MBAs may

seem more suitable for candidates above
a certain age and working experience.
And, of course, there is no great divide
between the different MBA degrees the
content of part-time and full-time degrees
may overlap. There are, however, some
specifics that equip the full-time option
with the best tools for the acquirement
of management skills and competences.
The advantages of the immersion in the
study process of a good school during
a full-time programme can hardly be
beaten by the advantages of the flexible
degrees. Education forms a certain way of
thinking and discipline. This effect can be
lessened by combining it with something
else that requires serious attention, such
as working, be it part-time or not.
The full-time format provides the most
ample learning experience (for candidates
whose circumstances allow it), compared
to the part-time and online alternatives.
The MBA will also have distinct flairs
depending on the whereabouts of the
school. Business education should provide
a global perspective but the experience
itself is coloured by its location.
The European MBA is considered to be
the most culturally diverse, quick (most
often lasting for one year,) and effective.
Schools on the Old Continent are the most
internationalised and often surpass their
US and Asian peers in this regard. The
American MBA is traditionally a two-year
programme characterised by academic
depth and hands-on immersion in the
discipline of management. It also gives
good opportunities for students to find
internships that will help them kick-start
their post-MBA careers. However, it is
worth mentioning that some American
employers may still prefer US MBA
degrees to comparable European ones.
Finally, Asia is as fascinating as are its
booming economic opportunities. In some
Asian countries with more conservative
management styles, it is easier to find a
job if your diploma hails from a local
institution.
What do the numbers say
The preferences of students attest to who
holds the crown in the MBA family the
full-time or the part-time degrees. In 2015,
the majority of two-year full-time MBA
programmes (57%) worldwide reported
receiving more applications than in the
previous year. The long-term picture, as
shown in the surveys of the Graduate
Management Admission Council, confirms
a steady upward trend of interest in full-
time programmes - 60% of the two-year
degrees received higher application
volumes in 2015 than in 2005.
The one-year full-time programmes repeat
this pattern. In 2015, 51% of these obtained
more applications than in the previous
year. And 53% also saw an increase in the
number of applications compared with 10
years ago. More candidates in both the

24
United States and Europe wish to study
an MBA, according to the available data.
The most impressive percentage growth in
was experienced by European schools for
their one-year full-time programme - 67%
of them reported a boost.
The long-term perspectives for part-
time MBAs remain strong, even if things
may not look that rosy at the moment.
In comparison to 2005, 54% of part-time
lockstep MBA programmes received fewer
applications, as well as 39% of part-time
self-paced MBA programmes. Still, 2015
presented positive news, with 55% of part-
time lockstep MBA programmes and 37%
of part-time self-paced MBA programmes
witnessing an increase in application
volumes on a yearly basis.
Statistics tell us what is already intuitively
known - it is generally easier for candidates
to enrol on a part-time programme than
on a full-time course. The two-year degree
remains the most competitive worldwide,
with a median of 4.5 applications sent per
place. For the one-year full-time MBA, this
number is 2.7, while the part-time lockstep
MBA programme received 1.1 applications
per place and the part-time self-paced MBA
1.3.
The part-time MBA programmes usually
last two to three years in Europe and
three to four years in the US. Their biggest
advantage - the possibility to combine
study and work - in some cases could turn
out to be a drawback. It is important not
to overestimate the ability to juggle and
have it all - work, study and a personal
life. Ambitious candidates have to keep in
mind that, at certain times, balancing may
be tough, and they may have to choose
between priorities.
Popularity and quality
A recent GMAC poll confirmed that most
prospective business school students
prefer the full-time MBA to its alternatives.
Nearly 60% of them go for it. The two-year
full-time MBA is the most preferred MBA
programme by the majority of candidates
worldwide (32%). Not surprisingly, the
second most popular choice is the one-
year full-time MBA (27%). These two
options are followed by the part-time MBA
(15%), flexible MBA (7%), online MBA (6%),
executive MBA (6%), and the joint degree
programme with MBA (3%).
A very interesting generational GMAC
survey shows that, paradoxical as it may
seem at first glance, younger people,
who are supposedly more technologically
advanced, prefer the traditional full-time
MBA variant. The one and two-year full-time
courses are considered most frequently
by millennials (41% for each of them)
and generation X (27% for the one-year
full-time MBA and 30% for the two-year
full-time degree). This is understandable
due to the level of their experience, age
and family obligations. So, it is hardly a
surprise that the largest share of the older
generation- the baby boomers- favour part-
time MBAs (42%) and online MBAs (40%).
In comparison, just 15% and 20% of them
respectively consider the one and the two-
year full-time options.
Geographically speaking
A detailed geographical study into
candidates preferences discloses that the
two-year full-time option is most popular in
Central and South Asia, Latin America, the
Middle East and the United States (in that
order). The regions that favour the one-
year full-time option the most are Central
and South Asia, Latin America, Canada and
the Middle East (also in that order). The
places with the highest preferences for
part -time MBAs differ. This is the biggest
priority for candidates from the US, Canada,
Africa and the Middle East.
The American traditions in business
education and the appeal of the US are
also important factors for applicants. Of
all the prospective students polled in 2014,
66% said that the United States was their
preferred destination. This represented a
decrease of 7% in comparison to 2010, but
the countrys leadership is still undisputed.
The other most favoured destinations are
the UK, Canada, France, India, Hong Kong,
Germany, Singapore, the Netherlands and
Australia.
Internships are a great way of landing a job
and employers worldwide look for suitable
MBA students or graduates. A different
GMAC survey of 179 employers from 31
regions/countries shows that more than
four fifths (82%) of the companies polled
offer internship opportunities. Among
them, 73% offer work placements to MBAs.
And they do value the degree - 66% intend
to maintain the quantity of internships,
while 26% plan to increase them in 2016.
The survey reveals that the favourite
industries for part-time/flexible MBA
students are products/services (26%),
consulting (17%), finance/accounting
(14%) and technology (14%). Surprisingly,
healthcare (13%) is also a preferred field
for them, unlike for the full-time MBAs. The
top three industries for full-time students
cover the same areas in a different order.
For students of the one-year course, these
are finance/accounting (26%), products/
services (23%) and consulting (19%). And
the interest of the two-year full-time
students focuses on finance/accounting
(24%), consulting (22%) and products/
services (19%).
Both part-time and full-time MBA
programmes increase employment
perspectives. According to the GMAC 2015
Global Management Education Graduate
Survey, however, they were higher for the
part-time/flexible jobseekers from the
Class of 2015. An impressive 68% of them
received an offer from an employer before
graduation. The figure for the two-year
full-time students was comparable - 63%,
while the one-year full-time programme
lagged behind at 36%. D.G.
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 25
MBA SELECTION

Stripes of Fame
Rankings are a measurement of business schools
performance, but accreditations are the real factor of quality

F
rom a purely academic tool to
a mass media opinion-making
machine, MBA rankings have
changed dramatically since 1977
when they were first invented. In
the beginning it was the Carter
Report, whose criteria were
limited to the publications of
faculties in academic journals.
The Ladd & Lipset Survey,
which started in the same year,
examined how faculties ranked
schools, and deans voted for the
best programmes in the MBA
Magazine, now defunct. But it
wasnt until 1988 when Business
Week published its first ranking
that the whole game of assessing,
criticising, and wooing between
business schools and big media
really began. most interesting aspects for prospec- of Business and the National University
tive students - the change of salary after of Singapore Business School respectively.
Just like ROI, rankings are a helpful tool graduation. For this purpose, we shall The way the first places are determined
if used properly, as they contain a lot rely on the Financial Times data. It is depends on the schools providing good
of valuable information for applicants. no surprise that the schools from the education at reasonable prices and on
But being critical is useful in this case. developing world are leaders when it graduates receiving attractive salaries.
The drawback of rankings is inherent comes to biggest percentage increase. Asia, mainly due to the lower income
in their huge influence, as they tend to For the last two years the Chinese level of countries such as China, also
overshadow more important factors. Shanghai Jiao Tong University: Antai is reflects a higher ratio of prior to post MBA
Such as, for example, whether a school the champion. In 2015 its graduates saw salaries. This rule is valid, as a whole, for
is really suitable for a candidate, whether a 160% boost to their income, compared the booming developing countries and
it fits his/her career goals, and whether to their pre-MBA days to 93,690 USD explains the high pay percentage boost
is recognised by the applicants preferred and in 2014 the rise was 166% to 84,890 we observe. But this is also proof that
industry. Rankings also contribute to the USD. Chinese schools dominate, and in the industry acknowledges the quality of
culture of shallow evaluation of business 2013 all the positions in the top five were the good business schools and pays their
schools. They cannot give all the answers, from China. China preserved its first four alumni well. Undoubtedly, the influx of
no matter how exhaustive and detailed places in 2014, and the fifth was taken investments into Asia over the last two
they seem to be. by the National University of Singapore decades has made it a vibrant place for
Business School. In 2015 the first, Shanghai studying MBA. However, there are some
Salary after graduation Jiao Tong University: Antai, is followed by geographical specifics one should be aware
the Chinese Fudan University School of of. For example, the top Chinese business
To demonstrate some of the benefits Management and CEIBS. The fourth and schools may be relatively internationalised
of rankings, we will review one of the fifth positions are for the Indian School but the same cannot be said about the

26
situation in the job market in mainland
China. In contrast, in Singapore there are
more career opportunities for expatriates,
especially in line with the scope of the job
market.
If we look down this ranking, the last two
places are taken by the University of St
Gallen in Switzerland and University of
Baath School of Management in the UK.
The firsts mean salary is 104,891 USD
and reports 58% increase in pay, and the
second has a salary of 96,846 USD which
represents a 55% increase. These are
still more than decent numbers and they
indicate that one shouldnt be mesmerised
by the huge percentage boost in Asia.
And if we really want to find out who
gets the highest pay, we have to go west.
According to the 2015 figures for weighted
salary, the best paid alumni three years
after graduation were those of the usual
suspects. Disciples of Harvard received
almost 180,000 USD, followed closely
by the graduates of Stanford, Wharton,
and Columbia. Logically, this list is more
sustainable than the one for the salary
percentage increase. The top five in 2014
reflects the same participants except that
Stanford is the leader, Harvard is second,
and Kellogg third. Stanford also took first
position in 2013 with an average pay of
close to 195,000 USD, Harvard was second
again, and the rest of the positions were
the same as in 2015.
At the bottom of the ranking for weighted
salary are Fudan University School of
Management in China with about 91,000
USD and McGill University: Desautels in
Canada with close to 90,000 USD. It is
paradoxical that Fudan was second for
salary increase with 148%: in this ranking
it is also second - but from the bottom.
A great illustration of the combination of
impressive development and imbalances
so typical for China.
Good old Europe lags behind America
significantly in terms of weighted salary
three years after graduation. The highest
salary (approximately 155,000 USD) went
to graduates of INSEAD which ranked 10th,
followed by London Business School (about
154,000 USD) at 12th place, IE Business
School at 14th place, IMD at 16th, and
Cambridge Judge Business School at 18th
place with 147,000 USD. One of the reasons
for this balance of power is that Americans
simply pay more for MBAs. Better handling
of the financial and economic problems of
the US does not weigh here so much. And
should the trend in the currency markets
of weak euro and strong dollar prove
sustainable, this distinction could deepen
even further. However, applicants must
take into account that generally the ROI in
Europe should be higher than in America,
mainly because the degree is shorter. The
Old Continents other big advantages are
that the MBA is more internationalised
and that there are greater chances for
realisation in the job market.
Rankings methodology
The rankings of the Financial Times,
Forbes magazine, The Economist, Business
Week, The Wall Street Journal, and US
News & World Report have gained global
recognition over the years. However
reputable they are, it would be wise to
look not only at the publications, but Yet, when choosing
also at the methodology they are based
upon to understand whether they fit with a business school,
your own preferences. Forbes magazines
biennial ranking takes into account only accreditations reflect the
the return of investment in the five years quality of education more
after graduation. The Financial Times
formula includes the weighted salary of adequately, as rankings
MBA graduates (20%); salary increase
(another 20%) in the last three years; may be compiled from
number of articles by faculty members incomplete facts and
in academic journals (10%); international
mobility (6%); doctoral rank (5%) and figures.
faculty with doctorates (5%). Business
Weeks methodology relies mainly on the
opinion poll of students and corporate
recruiters - 45% each. The remaining 10%
apply a scholarly criterion- publications in
academic journals.
Yet, when choosing a business school,
accreditations reflect the quality of
education more adequately, as rankings
may be compiled from incomplete facts
and figures. The main accreditation
bodies - EQUIS, managed by the European
Foundation for Management Development
(EFMD), the Association to Advance
Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB),
and the Association of MBAs (AMBA) -
certify institutions after a careful review
of their academic standards. When a
school receives an accreditation it has the
obligation to preserve the criteria it was
accredited for. This is a more relevant proof
of merit than a place in a Top 20 that may
simply not exist the following year. D.G.
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 27
 Apples and
MBA SELECTION
Oranges (OP-ED)
Choose by school or by programme: A personal
take on the age-old dilemma
H
ow to reach the right decisions
when choosing an MBA? How do
schools compare to programmes?
What are the merits of focusing on the
school as opposed to the programme
and vice versa? Finally, can there be a
balanced decision?
When my brother and I were on the
verge of going to college, we held just
that discussion. What kind of school do
you prefer: more modern and high-tech
or old and classic? I asked. Of course Ill
go for the modern, are you crazy? was
his response, and thats where he went.
I was for the old and classic, and thats
where I went.
That was at the end of the 90s. Guess
what? A lot has changed. New vs. old,
modern vs. classic, local vs. international,
large vs. small, expensive vs. affordable.
There is so much, too much, to consider in
terms of MBA selection these days.
It has probably already dawned on you
that your future MBA will be one of the
greatest investments of your life in terms of
money, effort and time. Therefore, finding
the right school is not just about looking
at rankings, or choosing one considered
as prestigious. The key to making the
right choice is figuring out why you want
to take an MBA, and what you expect it to
do for you.
The truth is, you can stop reading this article
right at the end of this sentence as it will
sum up the best and most straightforward
advice: Go to the best school you can get into.
That said, lets see what the inherent
strengths of the two arguments are.
28
Even if you wish to be an entrepreneur,
Elitsa has a Bachelors and a Masters
degree in English from Sofia University.
She has specialised at the University
of Surrey Roehampton, London, as a
Shakespeare scholar. Elitsa has worked
as Admissions Councillor (EMBA) at the
American University in Bulgaria.
School strengths
Building a network of contacts
Having the opportunity to develop and
strengthen an excellent network of contacts
of like-thinking peers from all over the
world is the one thing that all MBA alumni
consider to be a schools best asset. If you
are able to appreciate that, then you need
to aim for a high-ranking school with an
international profile.
There is more to higher education, be
it under or post-graduate, than your
immediate programme. Harvard Business
School is part of greater Harvard, so you
will get access to everything an incredible
institution like that has to offer: classes
taught by the brightest minds in their
field, state-of-the-art technology and
equipment, a unique atmosphere of
esteem, achievement and competition,
and a sea of knowledge to dive into.
Develop international experience
If you want to go international and take
your business or expertise to new markets,
then you should aim at a school that boasts
a truly international class, and often faculty.
instead of working in the corporate world,
businesses these days may skyrocket into
new markets with the speed of light. In
order to be prepared for that, you may
wish to use your two-year residency to
get to know new markets and cultures
from the people around you, and from
the international internship or project
development opportunities provided by
your school.
Location
For whatever purpose you wish to use your
degree, the schools location could turn
out to be the best friend of your business
or career. If you are in IT, then a school
in an IT prolific area such as California
or the UK would provide you with the
contacts, clients, partners and high-quality
employees to facilitate your future growth.
It is, therefore, no wonder that the schools
in Chicago, Boston and London have a
greater focus on finance.
You might also consider which languages
would be of use to you in the future. Almost
all top programmes are taught in English,
but simply living in France, Germany or
Hong Kong for a year could equip you
with a level of fluency that could be highly
valuable in the future.
School strengths
Climb the career ladder
If your end goal is to climb the corporate
ladder, choose by programme. It is the
programmes specific curriculum that
provides the necessary mix of soft
skills, knowledge, class interaction and
discussions with the professors, to make
you challenge your own beliefs. Gone are
the times when adding three letters after
your name was a sure ticket to a spacious
office and a six-figure starting salary, but
equipped with the skills acquired during
your studies, you can achieve this on your
own.
By the way, that is also true if you are set
on a total overhaul of your career. It is what
you learn in life (or school, in our case)
that makes you confident and capable
enough to undertake a complete change
of direction.
Set up your own business
With the start-up boom and the almost
desperate demand for innovation,
entrepreneurship is the new mode. Almost
all reputable schools have it, more so in
some parts of the world than in others.
But it is the programmes concrete
curriculum rather than the schools abstract
reputation that will actually teach you
entrepreneurship. It would not be fair
to say that if you go to an established
institution such as Wharton or LSE, you will
immediately become the next Elon Musk.
Even the crme de la crme of business
schools would not be able to turn you
into an entrepreneur if you dont have it
in you. However, you are more likely to
become one by meticulously absorbing
the programmes substance.
HEC Paris MBA entrepreneurship
specialisation track is especially well known
for that. Of course it teaches a balanced
view of entrepreneurship, but most
importantly it is able to assess whether
entrepreneurship is indeed right for you.
Specific issues are covered for high-tech
startups, execution, business modelling,
governance, how to network, and how to
enter markets. If, when youve completed
this course, you still have doubts, then
nothing is going to alleviate them.
Specialisation
MBA students around the world are seeking
to use their newly acquired business
degrees to advance in niche businesses
of their own or in newer industries. That
has broadened the horizon for new, non-
branded schools to enter the stage and
expand the best programmes ranks to the
top 100 rather than the top 20, mainly due
to their specialisation.
Beyond the generalist nature of the MBA
degree, schools have become known
for certain areas of expertise such as
marketing, entrepreneurship, finance,
non-profit, real estate, IT management,
health care, etc. The schools not only work
hand-in-hand with the related industry, but
also have faculties which have developed
an area of expertise. They might have an
incubator to attract venture capital for
entrepreneurial business plans, or offer
work-study programmes that give students
hands-on experience of working with
NGOs. You can find information on the
various schools particular strengths on
their websites, in alumni forums and in
various rankings.
A specialised degree does not mean a
smaller school. Top schools are winners
here too, as most of them seem to be
known for something: Kellogg for
Marketing, Stanford for IT, Stern for
Banking, Wharton for Finance, etc. And yet
there is so much more that those schools
do. The truth is each one of the top schools
will prepare you for whatever you wish to
do with your MBA degree post-graduation.
Considering the magnitude of a decision
such as enrolling in an MBA programme,
everyone wants to get the most out of
their investment. So, as stated earlier in
this article, the perfect option is to aim
for the best school you can get into. If for
some reason thats not possible, think of
which elements of the experience matter
to you the most. Almost certainly, your
first questions will be Where?, What
programme? and How long? Your
balanced decision will be found at the
crossing point of the answers to these
questions. E.V.
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 29

MBA SELECTION
The Specialised MBAs added value is the provision
A
Specialised MBA degree must
be specific to a certain sector
within the wider economic
context. The course curriculums
main focus is acquisition of
specialist knowledge in a
particular field, which could range
from aerospace to hospitality.
The market value of this kind
of postgraduate education is
not to be underestimated. The
type of sector-specific, in-depth
knowledge that a specialised MBA
confers on students, is necessary
for career growth in certain niche
sectors, such as luxury, or even
information technology.
30
For Inquisitive
Managers Only
of in-depth industry knowledge
A quick overview
In a general sense, specialised MBAs
are mostly designed for those managers
who wish to gather more knowledge in a
particular field of business, while retaining
the classic benefit of an MBA, that of
general management. Thus, managers
who have undertaken an MBA, can be
divided into two broad categories: general
managers, with previous technical and
professional experience in a given subject
area, who make up the majority of those
drawn to the MBA, and managers, who
aim to acquire a Specialised MBA degree in
order to gain the technical or professional
expertise, along with the management
skills. Taking the broader financial services
industry as an example (Brunel, 2006, p.
339), it could be argued that specialised
MBA managers have proven to be more
efficient in the context of sector-specific
activities, such as wealth management
and risk control.
When questioning just how specialised
a specialised MBA programme is, one
should consider the different choices
available. According to the educational
consultancy Aringo Consultants (2016),
a specialised MBA may provide in-
depth knowledge in any one topic such
as marketing, information systems (IT),
accounting, human resources, supply chain
management, etc. Imagine that a male IT
engineer wants to become a manager. He
takes a classic MBA programme because he
already has hard programming skills, but he
lacks managerial skills. On the other hand,
suppose that a female graduate student
from a commercial field wishes to pursue
a career in payroll management and staff
training. If she has already managed to get
a job, then she may opt for a specialised
MBA degree in human resource (HR)
management. This specialist qualification
will enable the female graduate to apply
for better opportunities, supported by a
background of initial work experience, in
HR management roles.
The specialised MBAs true
nature
In reality, the specialised MBA has
found a niche in the market for sector-
specific knowledge, rather than in the
more general business topics, such as
marketing, HR and finance. Globalisation
and outsourcing of business processes
have increased the demand for managers
with narrow professional backgrounds.
This is particularly true in multinational
firms. Even though most MBA students
pick up a specialisation area once their
required classes are over, specialised
MBA programmes provide students with
an opportunity to concentrate on their
selected field from the very beginning of the
academic term. For example, the Bordeaux
Management School (France) offers an
MBA degree specialised in marketing wine.
An MBA in the specific field of gas and
petroleum management is available at
the Robert Gordon University (UK).
These examples define specialised MBAs
and illustrate how different institutions
are attempting to prepare their students
for diverse kinds of managerial and socio-
technical roles. Multinational companies
aim to fill a niche for managers with deep
understanding of their industry. Unlike
a general manager, such a manager is
supposed to have more departmental
expertise and in-depth knowledge of the
economic, political and social powers that
drive their business. Industry-specific
knowledge remains the cornerstone of
specialised MBAs.
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017
The value of a generalist
MBA
The opposite example would be a technical
or process manager who fails to get
promotion due to a lack of managerial
expertise to motivate their subordinates
and boost revenue, as required by
their employer. The importance of a
conventional MBA degree is undeniable.
Modern business leaders must become
accustomed to a wide range of legal,
managerial, operational, financial and
HR issues. Specialist knowledge alone
often proves insufficient when dealing
with business management functions as
a whole.
Therefore, even a specialised MBA degree
programme must have an exhaustive
course curriculum that is able to confer
both specialist and generalist knowledge.
The specialised MBA is thus suitable for
candidates who are already managers, but
who lack specific knowledge about their
industry, or for newcomers, who want to
make a complete switch of careers, with
no prior experience or expertise.
31
MBA SELECTION
Riding the Cyber Wave
The Online MBA has risen in popularity due to its
increasing flexibility, recognition and quality
T
he proliferation of Online
MBAs is a modern-day
phenomenon, linked to
both the development of the
Internet and the need for more
flexible business education to suit
practising professionals. This is
why it may sound surprising to
some that their history pre-dates
that of the Internet itself. It is
believed that the first online MBA
was offered by Aspen University in
1987 - hardly a period in which the
World Wide Web was widespread.
Europe followed the US route but
it was not until 13 years later - in
2000 - that the online MBA arrived
in the Old Continent, with IE
Business School being the first to
launch one.
Online MBAs offer experienced
professionals a convenient opportunity
to combine work and study. Short and
long-term statistics reflect the changes in
preferences of business school candidates,
from other professional and flexible MBA
degrees to online MBAs. While in 2015
half of all flexible MBA programmes
reported a boost in application volume
in comparison to 2005, the share of
online MBA programmes reporting an
increase was even higher 67%. For
comparison, the trend in applications for
executive MBA degrees and part-time
MBA programmes has dwindled by 52%
and 49% respectively. In the US, the rise
of interest in online MBA programmes
is palpable - in 2015, half of the schools
received more applications than in 2014,
and in 2014, 43% of programmes reported
a boost in applications vis-a-vis 2013.
32
This information was circulated by the
Graduate Management Admission Council
in its 2015 Application Trends Survey.
Though the online MBA data is primarily
US-centric, the study is global with the
participation of 641 graduate business
programmes in 306 universities from 35
countries, 42 US states and the District
of Columbia.
Employment and Online
MBAs
But how does the online MBA fare in the
eyes of employers? GMAC sheds some
valuable light on this question: in 2015,
only 16% of part-time MBA and 11% of
executive MBA programmes expected the
majority of applicants to have the financial
backing of their employer. On the other
hand, 35% of online MBA programmes
anticipated candidates to be financially
supported by their companies.
And theres a good reason for this.
Online MBAs are the most likely group
amongst business education alumni to
keep their current employer, according to
the 2015 Global Management Education
Graduate Survey Report. Of all online
MBA respondents, 88% report plans to
maintain their current job. The majority of
the other professional MBAs - part time/
flexible and executive students - are of the
same disposition. The difference is that
their rate is a bit lower than that of the
online MBAs 77% and 75% respectively.
Its no surprise that the contrast with other
business programme graduates is stark.
Just 15% of one-year and two-year MBA
graduates plan to stay with their company.
This is further confirmation that, statistically,
the majority of online MBA students are
already well into their professional road
when enrolling on the programme. For
this demographic, the online MBA is a
more suitable way of studying business
than the full-time option, in view of a
stable career and the reluctance to give
up work and remuneration. Another cause
for favouring online over full-time study is
that many quality schools offer relatively
the same quality in both programmes, with
the same, or at least no less accomplished,
academic staff and lecturers.
The online degree should not be a
compromise or of lower quality. Indeed,
the candidates themselves need to make
sure that it isnt. Good research into their
selected programmes is crucial. In addition,
alongside the learning process, the online
experience should provide as equal as
possible opportunities for networking
too. Of course, proactiveness is the key
here. It is mandatory for a school offering
the online MBA to also boast high-level
technological facilities. An interesting
trend in online MBAs that has been gaining
momentum in recent years is the blended
option. This means that online classes and
lectures are followed by offline face-to-
face sessions - e.g. 70% online time, 30%
face-to-face time.
Robert Bruner, dean of the University of
Virginias Darden School of Business, puts
the emphasis on the importance of the
hybrid form of learning. Id say that the
comparison of online education today to
the old distance-learning, closed-circuit TV
systems is not just a comparison of apples
with oranges, its almost a comparison
of rocks versus diamonds, he says in an
interview for Poets and Quants. Bruner,
whose school has online courses in its
executive programme, is a believer that
online education will continue to improve.
For experienced individuals
In 2015, online MBA students were some
of the most satisfied with their education
experience. Almost 90% (89% to be exact)
would recommend their programme,
with the value rating standing at 94%,
second only to executive MBAs (95%).
The methods of instruction used in the
classroom demonstrate once again that the
programme is tailor-made for professionals.
Compared to other postgraduate business
students, those taking the online MBA
used the team projects method above
all, followed by lecture/discussions, case
studies and pure lectures. Theory gives way
to practice as the most suitable method
for experienced people to accumulate
hard and soft skills, know-how and other
valuable competences.
Other than this, there are some different
specifics. Richard McNeal, a recent MBA
graduate in Management from Marylhurst
University shared his perspective in an
interview for onlinembatoday.com: The
online experience is distinctly different from
the classroom setting in many ways. For
example, the online classroom tends to
favour those students who possess above
average writing skills because, essentially,
all communications, not to mention
assignments, are written. Also, online
programmes require more developed time
management and organisation skills you
have to be disciplined to be successful.
The rise in interest in online MBAs in the
US in 2015 came from both domestic
and international candidates. Forty-three
percent of the programmes reported
that they received more applications
from domestic students and 24% noted
a decrease in these candidates. The
attractiveness of the online degree was also
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 33
 acknowledged by international applicants,
Although it may depend albeit maintaining a relatively limited share
on the programme - just 8% of the overall pool. Thirty-five
percent of the programmes reported that
itself, online MBAs are they had more international candidates
then in the previous year and 25% said
generally easier to get they had fewer.
in to, compared to the
Although it may depend on the programme
full-time option. itself, online MBAs are generally easier
to get in to, compared to the full-time
option. The acceptance rate for Carnegie
Mellons MBA, for example, is 60% for
online applicants and 31% for the two-year
full-time MBA. The median GMAT score for
the former is 45 points lower than that of
the full-time option.
Online degree rankings and
accreditation
With online degrees gaining steam, some
media have started making their own
online MBA rankings. Unlike the undisputed
traditional clout of the full-time rankings,
online rankings are yet to assert their
power to influence public opinion. They
are interesting, as their criteria differ from
the criteria for full-time and executive
programmes.
One of the most prestigious of these
is published by the Financial Times.
In order to feature, a school should be
internationally accredited, the programme
must have existed for at least the last four
years and a minimum of 70% of the course
must be conducted online. The FT also
stipulates that students should go through
a selection process before admission and an
examination before they finish the course.
Two online surveys are conducted - one
examining the schools and one examining
the alumni. The responses of the graduates
account for 65% of the rankings weight and
form six ranking criteria: salary today,
aims achieved, programme delivery,
34
online interaction, salary increase and
value for money. The schools responses
make up the remaining 35% of the weight
and form 10 criteria, such as doctoral
rank and others.
Whereas the FT ranking is global, the US
News & World Report ranks only American-
based programmes. Student engagement
carries the highest weight (28%). Admission
selectivity and survey of academic officials
at MBA programmes both carry 25% and
faculty credentials and training, along with
student services and technology account
for 11% each.
Finally, it should be noted that, while
online MBA rankings came to be because
of market demand, scoring high in classic,
well-established rankings such as the FT
Global MBA rankings and Bloombergs
Businessweek rankings is a good indication
of the schools overall quality.
If the school is ranked high by the Financial
Times, its probably a good bet is a proven
axiom that applies as much to the choice
of an online MBA as to full-time MBA
programmes.
And yet, rankings should always be
taken with a pinch of salt. They provide
useful information, often interesting
statistics and, above all, valuable data
concentrated in one place. However,
their overall credibility is not to be taken
for granted. Instead, candidates should
pay equal, if not even more, attention
to accreditation. Just as in all other
programmes, online MBA degrees have
good apples and some not-so-good ones.
Differentiating between them depends on
applicants themselves, but research is of
the essence. Accreditations are the most
reliable hallmarks not just for the quality
of online MBAs but for business education
degrees in general. D.G.
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 Two Sides of
MBA INTERVIEW

the Same Grit

Career perseverance and an insatiable hunger for
knowledge meet in the Part-time MBA

Why did you decide to pursue The financial benefits of not putting a hold
an MBA degree at McGill? on your earnings are also worth noting.
My choice to pursue an MBA degree was the Beyond the MBA expenses, there is a major
result of a fateful discussion with a mentor opportunity cost related to pushing the
who recommended I continue building my pause button on your career. The part-
CV. Once I committed to that decision, I time option greatly diminishes the financial
approached it as any major investment. pressure of returning to school, which
I looked beyond the financial terms, and makes it one of the more accessible routes
into the time and energy required to gain for aspiring MBAs.
the most from it. That perspective put a
premium on attending a top-tier school, In hindsight, there are many other
making the McGill Desautels MBA a clear advantages related to pursuing a
frontrunner. part-time MBA, including honing my
time management skills and building
Getting an MBA was also the best way to relationships with like-minded, driven
address knowledge gaps I had exposed as people from a wide range of industries.
my career got underway. Although I held a
Patrick Brayley
Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) degree at Do you feel satisfied with
McGill Desautels
the time, I quickly ran into areas of business your choice of a part-time
Part-time MBA Graduate,
that I needed to strengthen in order to add programme?
Class of 2016
value in more senior roles. Absolutely. The beauty of McGills PMBA
programme is that it offers the breadth
Patrick Brayley hails from Canada.
McGills Part-time MBA programme was and depth of a full-time programme.
Having worked in the entertainment
perfectly suited to my needs, allowing me This includes pursuing a concentration,
industry for nearly a decade, Patrick
to benefit from a rich curriculum without which was critical to me as I entered the
has accumulated a wealth of experience
skipping a beat in the workplace. I was programme with a business background
in major event development, mergers
ultimately able to fill in many of the gaps and little interest in covering areas which
and acquisitions, as well as request-
I had identified and picked up a great I had already explored.
for-proposal bidding. His noteworthy
number of unexpected returns.
milestones include a winning bid for
The greatest source of satisfaction came
the 20-year management rights to a
What were the factors that from being able to learn something in a
200M USD, 10,000-seat arena. He has
made you choose a part- classroom on a Tuesday evening and then
also participated in the development
time MBA instead of another applying it in a meeting with my team the
or acquisition of several world-
format? morning after. I cannot overstate how
renowned festivals, including Osheaga
The most critical factor was not taking critical a role this played in crystalsing
and the Montreal International Jazz
a break from work. I did not want to my learnings. The workplace became the
Festival. Patrick holds a B.Com from
run the risk of losing the momentum I perfect complement to the classroom, with
Concordia University. He graduated
had established in my career to date. the two worlds playing off of each other to
from McGills Desautels Professional
Fortunately, I was even able to accelerate create more and more value. I cannot see
MBA programme in April 2016 to join
my professional development over the how I would have retained as much of the
a top-tier management consulting firm
three-year programme, which turned out to material had I not been applying it daily
shortly thereafter.
be a big win-win situation for me. over the past three years.

36
Another highlight which I cannot overlook
was our ten-day study trip in Singapore
last spring. Both streams, part-time and
full-time, were invited to participate in this
unforgettable experience, giving us the
opportunity to see first-hand how business
is conducted elsewhere. That trip was
incredibly inspiring and made me realise
that I wanted to have a career which would
take me around the world.
How would you describe the
learning environment and
subjects in the PT MBA course?
The programme offers a very dynamic
learning environment, with a balanced
combination of case-work and theory.
The fact that it allows students to select
courses based on their interests was a
major advantage, and provided a degree
of flexibility which is not found in every
part-time MBA.
The classroom was always particularly
exciting when the material was related
to the work experience of one or several
classmates, which was actually a frequent
occurrence given their diverse backgrounds.
Being able to see the practical merits of
material and gleaning industry-specific
insights from expert peers was invaluable.
How hard was it for you to
combine work and study
during that time?
My honest answer is that the first few
months were very challenging. It took me
some time to get back into the rhythm of
school while working a demanding job.
The good news is that I saw for myself how
being put in situations where you need to
stretch is exactly how you grow. My peers
and I quickly adapted and became a living
proof of Parkinsons Law work expands to
fill the available time. It is amazing what you
can do in a short period of time when you
put yourself in a must-perform situation!
You also learn to establish a strong support
network, starting with your fellow part-time
students. The shared challenges become
a bonding agent, laying a foundation for
incredible relationships. The resultant
camaraderie that we share is something
I will value for the rest of my life.
What has the Part-time MBA
degree given you, career-wise?
The PT MBA yielded major benefits both
during and after the program. As I moved
through the curriculum I gained confidence
in my abilities and, more importantly, a
newfound awareness of the subtleties of
business. I came to appreciate and refine
the soft skills needed to be more effective
in the workplace.
More tangibly, I entered the programme
as an analyst and, by applying what
I was learning, rose to a director-level
role within 18 months. Entering my final
year, I found myself being presented with
opportunities I had not even considered
before starting my MBA. As a result, today
I am gearing up to start an exciting new
career working for a top-tier management
consulting firm.
The whole experience has been nothing
short of a transformation of my entire
life. I will always look back at my decision
to pursue a Part-time MBA at McGill
as a major turning point one I am
tremendously thankful for. A.Z.
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 37
 MBA SELECTION
The Canadian Dream
Canada is a welcoming country and a solid
MBA destination
C
overing vast expanses of land
in the northernmost part
of North America, Canada
is one of the most successful
Western countries in terms of
raw GDP (ranking in the top 15,
according to various sources),
ease of doing business (top 15,
according to the World Bank) and
general education performance
(top 10, according to the UN). It
comes as no surprise, then, that
Canada is also a prime location
for doing an MBA.
A smart place for an MBA
According to Admit Master, a Canadian
MBA Admissions Consultancy, many
international candidates choose to apply
to Canadian MBA programmes because
of Canadas friendly visa and immigration
policies. The Canadian economy is
welcoming to newcomers as long as
they are qualified. More than 250,000
workers immigrate to Canada every year,
which means that businesses are used
to employing people who have worked
in other parts of the world. Naturally,
finding employment in Canada is much
easier for candidates who hold a Canadian
degree. This is why international students
graduating from Canadian business schools
usually face little or no trouble finding
employment in Canadian companies.
Proof of this can be found in the marginal
levels of disparity between post-MBA
levels of employment for Canadian versus
international students.
A 2015 report by the Halifax Partnership
claims that immigrant workers made up
22% of the Canadian labour force [in 2011,
-ed.] and had accounted for 41% of growth
in the Canadian labour force since 2006.
Relating to the MBA sector, one could
argue that these numbers can be explained
by the inclination of Canadian business
schools to admit candidates who they
see as employable in Canada. Combined
with the fact that everyone completing an
MBA programme in the country is likely to
receive a work visa for up to three years
after graduation, this means that work is
anything but deficient in Her Majestys
subarctic realm.
And with powerful sectors, such as
Finance, Pharmaceuticals and Oil and Gas
at the forefront of the economy, there is
little difference between the life an MBA
graduate can expect in Canada compared
to cities like Chicago or Los Angeles (minus
the subtropical climate).
Speaking of cities, Canadas golden top
10 includes pearls such as Vancouver, More than 250,000
Calgary, Ottawa and Edmonton, which
represent a diverse mix of businesses, with workers immigrate to
a geography and environment that are
overshadowed only by the likes of Toronto
Canada every year, which
and Montreal. The former hosts the famed means that businesses are
Bay Street, which is considered to be the
equivalent of New Yorks Wall Street, and used to employing people
the latter is the worlds second largest
French-speaking city, which provides
who have worked in other
indirect access to French business across parts of the world.
the Atlantic.
Montreal is a cosmopolitan city, a melting
pot where it is not uncommon to meet
people from three different continents at
the same party, says Mathieu Renou, an
HEC Montreal alumnus.
Part of my decision [when I was deciding
where to get my MBA] was job availability
in the city and how many students get
jobs [in Toronto ed.], adds Adedoyin
Adesemowo, an MBA graduate from
Ryerson University, Toronto.
Respectable schools
But how good are Canadian universities?
They usually do well in global MBA
rankings, such as The Economists MBA
Rankings and Bloombergs Businessweek
MBA rankings. University of Toronto and
McGill have been placed in at least one
rankings top 25 every year for the past
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 39
decade, with many more claiming a spot
in the top 100. Ivey has been Bloomberg
Businessweeks number one international
school (outside of the US) for two years
running.
However, when it comes to the Financial
Times Global MBA rankings, it is more
difficult for Canadian schools to score
as high as in other rankings, since its
methodology is based on post-MBA salaries
and salary growth, claims Advent Groups
North America Director Jonathan Khayat.
Canada has a good economy but income
disparities lead to schools in Canada being
outscored by institutions based in cities
such as New York, London and Singapore,
Khayat explains.
University of Toronto: Rotman is ranked
60 in the FT 2016 Global MBA Rankings,
with McGill and Ivey placing in the 80s,
and Queens University: Smith and UBC:
Sauder claiming spots in the 90s.
Accreditation-wise, Canadian schools are
well-adapted to international standards,
with all schools claiming at least one
certificate and many sporting two. The two
so-called triple-accredited schools (holding
AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS certificates) in
Canada are HEC Montreal and Telfer School
of Management.
CAD for most programmes. Rotman offers
one of the more premium-priced MBAs with
a fee of 105,000 USD, while some schools
in Quebec charge considerably less (HEC
Montreal and Concordia). As with almost
all higher education degrees around the
world, tuition fees become much steeper
depending on nationality, with preference
given to home students. Sometimes that
difference can add up to 25,000 USD more
for international students. Still, especially
with the exchange rate of the Canadian
dollar, an MBA in Canada is a much,
much cheaper deal than one in the US.
For example, an MBA at McGill, a highly
respected school in its own right, will cost
around 60,000 USD over two years, which
is approximately 40,000 USD less than a
school of the same calibre in the US.
Despite a disappointing 2013 and
2014, which saw oil prices plummet to
unprecedented lows, Canada maintains
a powerful economy, levitating around
the worlds number 10 spot in terms of
nominal GDP and GDP per capita. Canadas
immediate proximity to its dominant
neighbour to the south makes it the USAs
largest trading partner. Thats no small feat
in itself. But as the weak Canadian dollar
supports even stronger export growth, the
national economy is expected to expand
by 2% in 2016-2018, according to The
Economists Intelligence Unit.
Being cheaper both in terms of tuition
fees and living expenses, and with an
easily obtainable work permit, Canada
has a lot of promise. The MBA opens the
door to a three-year work permit, and
after gaining some work experience in
the country, a graduate could easily apply
for permanent residence and ultimately
get Canadian citizenship within 4-6
years of graduation. This should not be
underestimated.
And yet, after all is said and done, a
decision to study abroad should not be
based solely on cold-blooded calculations.
Crucially, Canada should not be viewed
as a cheaper alternative to the US, but
as a meaningful destination with its own
unique culture, business opportunities
and bold career paths.
A mari usque ad mare, Canada is a
welcoming nation that will test your
ambition and reward you for your
perseverance. A.Z.

US and Canada
Unsurprisingly, Canadian MBA programmes
carry many similarities to their neighbours
to the south.

Canadian MBA curricula are identical to

US programmes in terms of duration (two
years), electives and emphasis on doing
an internship. There are some exceptions,
such as Queens and Ivey, which offer a one-
year programme, and UBC: Sauder, which
has created an American-European hybrid
that lasts for 16 months. Internships are
a key component, and an option to study
abroad is often introduced at a later stage
during the programme. The first semester is
usually introductory and general in nature,
while the second semester allows students
to pick electives. As expected, most of
the programmes kick off in August and
September, with the noticeable exceptions
being Queens and Schulich (January) and
Ivey (March).

Cost-wise, tuition fees vary from province to

province, with an average of roughly 80,000

40
MBA SELECTION
The British Legacy
The UKs traditions in business and finance
make it a prime location for MBA
W
hats the first thing you
imagine when hearing
the word UK? London?
Big Ben? Five oclock tea with
the Queen or with Benedict
Cumberbatch? Hamlet? Indeed,
the UK has many faces. And one
of its most recognisable worldwide
is the silhouette of the Gherkin as
the symbol of the City of London,
which has been the worlds
primary business centre since the
19th century.
This fame, plus the fact that English is the
most widely spoken language worldwide
and that the UKs strategic location and
politics make it a gateway between
Europe and America, has led to a tight
concentration of businesses from all kinds
of industries. All these, in turn, have helped
the positioning of the UK in general, and
London in particular, to become a primary
educational destination at the top of the
list for leaders in business education for
many decades.
Many UK schools offer top quality, world-
renowned MBA programmes. And proof
of that is the fact that UK-based business
schools are usually among the top 100 in
rankings of respectable business magazines
such as the Financial Times, the Economist
and Bloomberg Businessweek.
According to the latest data from UK-based
accreditation agency, the Association of
MBAs (AMBA), 43 UK schools have been
accredited by the agency. And, as of
September 2015, 20 UK-based schools
have received a triple accreditation from
42
the most sought-after international
accreditations: AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS.
According to the Financial Times Global
MBA Ranking for 2016, two UK-based
schools are among the first 10 b-schools
worldwide with London Business School
(LBS) taking the third place and University
of Cambridges Judge School of Business
occupying the 10th place in the ranking.
As a matter of fact, UK business schools
prove the saying that an MBA at a top
business school is synonymous with a
costly MBA. LBS MBA, which takes 15-21
months costs 70,800 GBP in 2016. And if
you want to go for a shorter, 12-month
programme this year, from Oxford or
Cambridge, be ready to splash out 50,200
GBP or 49,000 GBP, respectively.
The high cost is a major concern for many
MBA aspirants. And those coming from
countries outside the EU face additional
difficulties such as visa requirements and
regulations stipulating that they need to
leave the country within three months of
graduation if they dont find a job.
The good news is that most MBA graduates
dont have problems landing a job and it
usually happens within three months of
getting their diploma, especially in the
City of London. Thats why the high cost
of the programme shouldnt be a concern
as, in fact, MBA salaries easily pay for the
expensive degree.
And the figures, especially for the most
expensive degrees, clearly prove this fact.
According to the latest Financial Times
MBA Ranking survey for 2016, 93% of
Many UK schools offer top
quality, world-renowned
MBA programmes. And
proof of that is the fact
that UK-based business
schools are usually among
the top 100 in rankings
of respectable business
magazines.

ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 43

London Business School MBAs graduates
found a job three months after graduation
and their average weighted salary three
years after graduation was 154,150 USD.
Eighty-two percent of graduates from
the University of Oxfords Said Business
School found a post within three months
of graduating and their average weighted
salary three years later was 136,959 USD.
Figures also show that 89% from University
of Cambridge Judge Business School found
a job three months after completing the
degree and their average weighted salary
three years after was 156,323 USD.
Is a top school the only
choice?
However, the question remains as to
whether getting an MBA diploma in the
UK has to be expensive. The good news is
that its not only LBS, Oxford or Cambridge
where you can get an MBA.
There is a wide variety of small and private
colleges, especially around London,
44
which offer low-cost MBA programmes
to international students and many of
these colleges have university affiliated
MBA degree programmes. Tuition fees at
these schools are 10,000- 15,000 GBP on
average. The programmes are cheaper,
shorter in length at 12 - 18 months; students
can work up to 20 hours per week during
their studies to support themselves; and
the MBA is obtained in globally respected
universities. The list of b-schools offering
relatively inexpensive MBAs include
Anglia Ruskin University, University of East
London, Coventry University, Leeds Beckett
University and many others.
An MBA course from one of the above
schools is affordable and a good choice,
particularly because of their proximity
to London. Why is being in London
so important? Because of the citys
uniqueness. London is a cosmopolitan,
multicultural city bringing people and
businesses together across different
nationalities, regions, religions and cultures
from all over the globe. LBS expresses it
well: London is a cultural and financial
hub, with 99% of the Earths business
activity. Every leading financial institution
on the planet is there, as are a third of the
worlds largest companies, and a quarter of
businesses based there are foreign-owned.
The city is a shining beacon for the creative,
technology, media and telecoms industries
where new, flexible organisations can make
an immediate impact. London motivates,
entertains and surprises. It has culture old
and new, sport, nightlife, exciting cuisine,
festivals and parks. On every level, London
delivers.
Brexit
However, it would be unfair not to mention
the implications of the vote of the British
public to leave the EU in what is now
known as Brexit. Especially since London
has voted to remain. The consequences
of the referendum will be felt for months
and perhaps years to come, and many
would feel wary of committing to the UK,
especially if they hold an EU passport.
 London is a cultural and
financial hub, with 99%
of the Earths business Sterlings devaluation. As long as Britains
activity. Every leading
financial institution on the
planet is there, as are a
third of the worlds largest adjustment to the tuition fees to make
companies, and a quarter
of businesses based there
are foreign-owned.
For the rest, things will not change much,
since all the old rules would apply equally.
In the short term, education in the UK will
become more accessible in the wake of the
month and it represents 37% of the global
currency is down, tuition fees for non-
British students will be smaller. However,
nothing can be certain in the long run, or
even in the medium. When and how will
the Sterling rebound? Will there be an
up for the weak currency? And what will
happen once the Pound stabilises, and the
UK leaves the EU? Wouldnt that mean that
students from the EU who had previously
been considered home applicants, would
now have to pay higher tuition fees, the
way that students from outside the EU do?
At least the last question has a sensible
answer. Unlike universities which offer
classic Masters degrees, business schools
do not differentiate between home and
away students. This means that tuition
fees are the same for a British, EU and
non-EU students. That should serve as a
consolation at least for now.
The value of the British
MBA
But back to London. Of course, the capital
is important, but even more so is the City
of London. The City, which many future
business professionals dream of, has
been a world primary business centre for
centuries, attracting businesses from all
over the globe. Seventy-five percent of
the top 500 global companies are based
there; 100% of leading financial institutions
and 264 foreign banks have offices there;
1,000+ tech start-ups are formed every
foreign exchange market and 80% of
worlds metal trading.
Naturally, recruiters demand for
professionals with top-quality education
has always been high. The list of recruiters
in the hunt for MBAs in the City of London
is very long and it includes companies
from various business sectors, ranging
from banking, accounting and financial
services to hedge funds and private
equity, investment services and all
type of consultancies. To name a few
HSBC, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey & Co,
British American Tobacco, KPMG, Ernst
& Young, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu,
PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deutsche Bank,
etc.
An MBA from a UK school isnt only the
key to a career in the City, of course. An
MBA from a UK school opens doors to a
career around the world, especially within
businesses with a global outreach and
international exposure, whether Silicon
Valley start-ups or other businesses striving
for fast growth. Ranked highly for its quality,
due to the strong traditions in the British
business education sector, a UK-based MBA
is a game changer. The success rate of
British MBA graduates over the decades is
a testament to that. I.D-S.
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 45
THE EDGE YOU NEED
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MBA SELECTION
The Asian Giant
China has established itself as the MBA
hub of East Asia
C
hoosing a Chinese MBA
means following an
accredited curriculum,
taught by experienced professors
from all around the world; there
are even six Chinese universities
that are triple-accredited from the
three largest and most influential
accreditation associations
AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS.
The rapid growth in global trade and
investment, and the interchange of
products, ideas and cultures have changed
the world for good and have opened a
whole new range of possibilities for
development and growth. The Far East,
previously known as a mysterious and
exotic place, has transitioned and with
a bang! to what is now collectively
known as East Asia, a hustling and bustling
whirlwind of manufacturing, commerce
and trade; the place you need to be if you
want to be global and reach new markets.
Long gone are the days where Made
in China signalled cheap goods of poor
quality. As the second largest economy
in the world, China attracts an increasing
number of professional visitors every year
and worldwide businesses are increasingly
recognising people with capabilities
and experience on the Asian market.
Understanding Asian culture provides an
undeniable and much-needed edge in a
highly competitive job environment.
The Chinese MBA USP
It comes as no surprise that Chinese MBA
programmes are also on the rise. Usually
pursued for their quality of education
and development of critical business and
46
leadership skills, MBA programmes also
give you the ability to meet like-minded
business professionals from various
backgrounds and form and nourish
valuable connections, forming better
insight into cultural specifics which is
what makes MBA degrees offered by
Chinese business schools so special. They
make the MBA relevant to the region,
and place knowledge and future career
development in the context of Greater
China, while still following world-class
accredited business curricula.
Despite being relatively new on the
market, the quality of the education
offered by schools in China has become
widely recognised. In the Financial Times
2016 business schools ranking, China has
seven schools in the top 100, with three
of them - Hong Kong University of Science
and Technology Business School (HKUST),
Ceibs and The Chinese University of Hong
Kong Business School (CUHK) - in the top
30. HKUST ranks as high as number 15.
Chinese universities have well-established
connections around the world and also
offer dual or triple degrees Ceibs,
for example, collaborates with Cardiff
University, and HKUST has exchange
partners in Canada, the US, Australia, Latin
America, Africa and Europe, allowing you
to spend one semester of their 16-month
programme abroad.
Crunching the numbers
Students can also choose an accelerated
MBA degree, obtained in 12 months,
which will still allow you to benefit from
interacting with the foreign exchange
students, but will minimise opportunity
As the second largest
economy in the world, China
attracts an increasing number
of professional visitors
every year and worldwide
businesses are increasingly
recognising people with
capabilities and experience
on the Asian market.

ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 47

costs and time away from work, a critical
aspect in the hectic Asian lifestyle. But
rest assured, there will be international
collaboration 50% to 90% of the students
in MBA programmes come from outside
of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and
on average they represent around 30
nationalities.
To be admitted, a student needs at least
two years of professional experience and a
Bachelors degree, as well as a satisfactory
GMAT score and English proficiency. Tuition
fees range between 50,000 USD and 70,000
USD on average and, depending on the
schools location, your expected budget
should include up to 30,000 USD more
to cover accommodation, expenses and
field trips.
Chinese business schools teach the most
advanced and renowned international
business theories, but do place great
importance on their practical application
48
in China itself and they ensure that
graduates are well equipped to handle the
most challenging aspects of the Chinese
marketplace. Only about 30% of classroom
time is dedicated to lecturing, while most
of the learning occurs from working
on business case analyses, seminars,
discussions and presentations. Cases used
in lectures come from top universities, such
as Harvard, but are also developed based
on specific local challenges, which gives
students a greater insight into how business
is being done in the region.
Curriculum and careers
While all material is taught in English,
some schools, such as Ceibs, require a
basic knowledge of Chinese, offering a
mandatory module before the MBA studies
begin. Others, such as HKUST, offer basic
Mandarin training free of charge for the first
portion of studies, as well as total language
immersion programmes throughout.
Specifically designed modules on Chinese
history and culture allow students to
analyse and discuss the past and current
status of Chinas trade and international
relations. Field trips and organised sessions
with local business representatives further
improve students understanding of the
culture and provide a valuable opportunity
for networking and building connections.
MBA graduates develop a distinctive edge in
the unique Chinese business environment
a good understanding of both Western
management principles, as well as
local Chinese culture and social issues.
Employers are willing to pay a premium
for such talent. In the 2015 FT MBA ranking,
Chinese schools outperformed all others in
terms of pay increase, with their graduates
reaching an average of between 140%
and 160%.
It is not just the acquisition of specific
knowledge but, more importantly,

getting a true taste of life in China that
helps graduates thrive after completing
their studies. Understanding the Chinese
business environment and interacting with
locals, and experiencing the complexities
of Chinese culture, the peoples thought
processes, outlook- and problem-solving
methods allow MBA graduates to be
successful in their careers, both in China
and back home. Around 80% of graduates
remain in the region after completing their
degree, and the majority of graduates who
return home remain deeply connected with
Asia as overseas representatives of Chinese
companies and conglomerates.
A challenge worth taking
There are several bustling cities where you
can start your MBA search, to make sure
you are in the centre of everything that
is happening. Shanghai, the financial and
commercial centre of mainland China, is
one of the fastest developing cities in the
world. Apart from also being a financial
centre, Hong Kong is the international
business hub for Asian companies, not only
from China, but also from Korea and Japan.
There is rapid growth
in many sectors, such
as finance, healthcare
and consumer goods, as
well as many emerging
industries in great need
of managerial talent.
While the job market is highly competitive,
MBA studies equip you with great flexibility
to target different jobs, as well as with the
ability to apply for various internships and
traineeships, not to mention building the
personal connections and relationships
that can help you get your foot in the door.
There is rapid growth in many sectors, such
as finance, healthcare and consumer goods,
as well as many emerging industries in
great need of managerial talent. For many
of these fields, Mandarin is not required,
but a level of command as well as strong
cultural sensitivity and understanding are
definitely a plus.
If you are genuinely interested in Chinese
culture, trade and business, and moving to
East Asia to pursue a career sounds exciting
and promising, a Chinese-offered MBA is
just what you need but be prepared to be
equal parts amazed and frustrated. There
are many challenges the language barrier
and cultural specifics, to name just two. If
you are set on overcoming these, however,
it could be the experience of a lifetime,
which will open a whole new world of
possibilities for you. E.V
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 49
 From
MBA INTERVIEW
Bogota to L.A.
One brave womans story of triumph against the odds
How did you decide to study at
UCLA Anderson?
It was a joint decision with my husband
as we both completed the MBA program
together. Because it was such a big
investment for us, we were looking to
experience the best two years of our lives
at a top university. UCLA Anderson offered
everything we were looking for.
First, I was looking for a school with excellent
career services and close relationships
with top companies. I wanted access to
resources that would help place me at
my dream company. The Parker Career
Management Center at UCLA Anderson is
one of the top five career centers in the US,
and I was very excited to take advantage
of their services during my two years
of study. In addition, I was looking for a
collaborative, yet competitive culture.
Before even stepping foot on campus, I
felt a sense of community and fit; this did
not happen with other universities that I
had initially expressed interest in. I wanted
to be happy and surrounded by a strong
network and goodhearted people. At
UCLA Anderson, I found a second family.
Finally, I wanted to experience life in Los
Angeles. LA not only has perfect weather
and serves as the entertainment capital of
the world, but its position to Silicon Valley
and emerging tech scene in Santa Monica
enabled me to expand my network with
various companies.
As an international student, the language
barrier and cultural difference can often be
a challenge. I thought I spoke English very
well until I started the program and began
to prepare for interviews. It was difficult
50
Daniela Castillo
Contreras
UCLA Anderson, Full-time
MBA Graduate, Class of 2016
Daniela Castillo Contreras is from
Bogot, Colombia. She completed her
undergraduate studies at Columbus
State University where she received a
full scholarship to compete on their
Division II tennis team. Prior to her
MBA, Daniela served as a marketing
analyst at a top retail bank in her
home country. After graduating from
UCLA Anderson, she joined Visa as a
Client Consulting Manager in their San
Francisco, CA office.
to compete with others in the recruiting
process as I struggled to convey my message
in a different language. However, with UCLA
Andersons collaborative culture, Anderson
Career Teams (ACT) and Interview Prep
Teams (IPT), I was able to receive help from
my peers and together, we successfully
completed the recruiting process.
How do you believe that the
MBA has helped/will help you
achieve your career goals?
The MBA has been extremely helpful in
reaching my career aspirations. Not only
did it help me pivot from a marketing to
consulting role, but it accelerated my career
and opened doors that I could have never
had access to otherwise. Academically,
the MBA provided a well-rounded general
management foundation that allowed
me to learn different areas of business
while developing my managerial skills.
For example, I took strong data analytics
courses that helped me better analyze and
present to senior managers and executives.
In todays workplace, these very skills are
sought after by companies regardless of
industry. Because of the MBA and the
schools corporate relations, I was able to
secure my dream job at my dream company.
I would have never been able to transition
industries and functional areas without the
MBA or the network that it provided me. I
am thankful to have successfully reached
my goals, and I am convinced that the MBA
marks the beginning of a new and exciting
career journey.
Did you have a chance to apply
some of the things you learned
in the classroom during your
internship at Visa?
Absolutely! Coming from a marketing
background, I had no prior experience
in the world of consulting, and it felt
Coming from a marketing
background, I had no
prior experience in the
world of consulting, and
it felt intimidating at first.
However, many of the core
classes and elective options
prepared me well for this
new venture at Visa.

ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 51

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intimidating at first. However, many of the
core classes and elective options prepared
me well for this new venture at Visa. The
strategy course was particularly helpful. I
learned how to apply different frameworks
to challenging cases and problems that
many companies face. While analyzing
cases with my classmates, I absorbed the
concept of whiteboard and assumptions.
This was exactly part of my responsibilities
while at Visa, and I was confident to express
my ideas without fear. Another course
that was extremely helpful, especially as
an international student, was business
communications. This course pushed me
outside my comfort zone and required
me to present on various business ideas
to classmates and faculty. It was a bit
scary at first, but the class helped me gain
confidence with public speaking in English.
Another takeaway was building skills of
persuasion, which were applied throughout
my internship experience at Visa.
You were involved in several
extracurricular activities. How
did that help enhance your
MBA experience?
The MBA experience would have not been
as meaningful and memorable without
my involvement in student organizations.
My time as an MBA student consisted of
balancing academics, recruiting, clubs
and extracurricular activities. Managing
it all was difficult at first, but I quickly
learned how to prioritize and decide which
opportunities were best for me. I served
in several leadership roles such as the
Director of International Students for the
High Tech Business Association (HTBA),
the VP of Career Development for the
Womens Business Connection (WBC), and
President for the Anderson Tennis Club. I
loved getting to know different students,
working in teams and organizing events
on campus. For example, in my role with
the WBC, I worked with a team of six first-
year students to spearhead specific events
geared towards women at UCLA Anderson.
With our busy schedules, it was difficult to
manage, but we were able to lead several
successful events throughout the year. My
favorite event was a Career Mixer where
Anderson women were able to network
with top companies on campus. Seeing
my fellow classmates obtain jobs through
this event was a rewarding experience.
The schools culture of shared success
resonated strongly with my own beliefs
and as an alumna, I plan to remain engaged
and help the UCLA Anderson community
thrive in the workplace.
Do you feel satisfied with your
investment in the MBA degree?
Yes! The Daniela who came from Colombia
two years ago is so different from who I am
today. I grew as a woman, personally and
professionally during my time in the MBA
program. This experience was by far the
best two years of my life and my return on
investment has been extremely positive
thus far. I gained business knowledge from a
top-tier institution, secured a great job and
made everlasting friendships. To pursue
the MBA at UCLA Anderson was the best
decision I could have made and I would
not change this experience for anything!
What would your advice to
future students be? In your
opinion, how important is it
to graduate from a prestigious
school?
You are going to love the MBA experience.
Prepare, work hard, and select a university
and program that fits your personality and
career interests. My advice to you is not to
worry about the high cost of an MBA because
it is an investment. There are opportunities
for potential merit fellowships, research/
teaching assistantships and loan options.
If students loans are needed, dont worry,
you will be able to pay them off with your
post-MBA job!
The MBA experience will certainly vary
depending on the institution you choose
to attend, and in my opinion, a prestigious
university can enrich your overall
experience. You will have access to top
faculty, a quality education, strong career
services and exposure to worlds best
companies. However, dont only consider
rankings. Before accepting an offer, visit the
school, get to know their culture, interact
with current students and alumni because
fit is just as important. A.Z.
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 53
 MBA SPOTLIGHT
Hippocratic Business
Can business education give birth to a new
generation of ethical managers?
W
hen times get rough, the
topic of ethics resurfaces.
Not too many people
questioned the moral behaviour
of financiers until the economy
collapsed in 2008. In the wake of
the crisis, however, the questions
kept pouring out. Can markets be
rational and efficient? Is it wise for
business to be a moral-free zone?
How do we combine short-term
individual or company interest
with long-term social well-being?
Do managers need to take into
account not just shareholders
interests, but also stakeholders?
And how is this reflected in
business education itself?
It needed the economy to hit an iceberg for
these questions to be voiced loudly. And
since they are philosophical ones, and the
MBA belongs to the economic sciences,
it didnt exactly have the proper tools to
deal with them when they emerged. In
fact, this all started many decades ago,
when academic subjects became more
specialised and the economic sciences
slowly started to become divorced from
the humanities.
It wasnt until the dire consequences of the
crisis were felt that some of the downfalls
of the breakup became painfully apparent.
Speaking of ethics in business, when the
economy and markets seemed to work just
fine, looked a bit nave, if not heretical.
After all, the markets could take care of it
all, right? Wrong!
In 2008, when the financial system was
rescued largely by public funding, it
became clear that there was something
fundamentally incorrect in this
understanding of how the world worked.
So, for the MBA, it was an appropriate time
to emphasise the importance of ethics and
to reintroduce history of the economy,
psychology and behavioural economics
into the business schools curricula. It
could have been different if the MBA
hadnt been viewed by the gatekeepers
of Wall Street and the City of London as an
ultimate pass to the league of the masters
of the world. But, in fact, it was. The MBA
suffered a reputational blow despite the
fact that crises of comparable magnitudes
had happened in the past - even when the
world of finance was full of people with
literature and history degrees.
A hunger for change
A survey by AMBA and Durham Business
School from December 2009 asked 500
graduates about ethical aspects and the
MBA. It found out that, according to 80%
of the interviewees, ethics and corporate
social responsibility needed to play a more
significant role in business education. As a business leader,
And an overwhelming majority of the
100 business schools polled said that the I recognise my role in
actions of organisations had to be based
on corporate social responsibility. society. My purpose is to
lead people and manage
One of the most notable expressions of
the expected change in business education resources to create value
was the so-called MBA oath. Started as
an initiative of Harvard Business Schools that no single individual
students from the Class of 2009, the can create alone.
managers equivalent of the Hippocratic
Oath quickly gained support among
reputable business schools. It was an
acknowledgement that the actions of
managers affect society way beyond the
companies they are running. It was also
an attempt to introduce ethical standards
in the profession. The MBA oath makes
an interesting read as a testimony of the
times. What it shows is an idealism highly
atypical of periods in which business is
going on as usual:
As a business leader, I recognise my role
in society. My purpose is to lead people
and manage resources to create value
that no single individual can create
alone. My decisions affect the well-
being of individuals inside and outside
my enterprise, today and tomorrow.
Therefore, I promise that: I will manage
my enterprise with loyalty and care, and
will not advance my personal interests at
the expense of my enterprise or society.
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 55

I will understand and uphold, in letter and
spirit, the laws and contracts governing my
conduct and that of my enterprise. I will
refrain from corruption, unfair competition,
or business practices harmful to society. I
will protect the human rights and dignity of
all people affected by my enterprise, and I
will oppose discrimination and exploitation.
I will protect the right of future generations
to advance their standard of living and
enjoy a healthy planet. I will report the
performance and risks of my enterprise
accurately and honestly. I will invest in
developing myself and others, helping
the management profession continue
to advance and create sustainable and
inclusive prosperity.
In exercising my professional duties
according to these principles, I recognise
that my behaviour must set an example of
integrity, eliciting trust and esteem from
those I serve. I will remain accountable to
56
my peers and to society for my actions and
for upholding these standards. This oath I
make freely, and upon my honour.
Does the rising tide lift all
boats?
Other initiatives in this spirit, such as the
think tank Institute for New Economic
Thinking and International Student
Initiative for Pluralist Economics, have
also created ripples on the once calm
business education surface. However,
especially after the success of the Thomas
Picketty book Capital in the 21st century,
many observers feel that the change in
the economic sciences has not gone deep
enough.
The two renowned Cambridge academics
Ha-Joon Chang and Jonathan Aldred
explain the resistance to change with the
specific reality mainstream economists
had constructed over the years. In an
article for the Guardian, they describe it
as a Kafkaesque world in which proposed
reforms are rejected because they are
redundant, as economics already has
tools to analyse everything. At the
same time, if reforms involve issues that
the existing theories cannot explain well,
they are rejected because they would
take the curriculum outside the domain
of economics. Challenged, for example, to
introduce to the economics syllabus the
study of the actual behaviour of traders in
financial markets, academics defending the
status quo reply that, first, their models can
already capture the behaviour of rational
traders, and second, the descriptive study of
the actual behaviour of traders is a subject
for sociologists, historians or psychologists.
To illustrate the discrepancy between the
academic and the real world, Ha-Joon
Chang and Jonathan Aldred gave as an
example the answer of professors to their
students in Norway, who asked them to
study real economies: Our task is to give
you an analytical framework; you have the
rest of your lives to learn about current
affairs.
More open to other
disciplines
It is exactly the need for the MBA to
become more holistic, to ask more
questions and to include more psychology,
history, even philosophy, that presents the
big challenge in preparing the business
leaders of tomorrow. The financial crisis
was just one of the aspects of the need for
transformation. Climate change was also a
huge deal-breaker. The world is changing
and so should we change our knowledge
and the approach to managing resources -
be they natural, financial, human, or other.
And even if there is little debate that ethical
content should be reinforced in the MBA
curriculum, opinions still differ on how
exactly this should be done: Business
schools are starting to recognise that
ethics cant be cordoned off from the rest
of a business students education, wrote
Ray Fisman from Boston University and
Adam Galinsky from the Kellog School of
Management in a 2012 article for Slate.
The most promising approach, in our
view, doesnt even try to give students a
deeper personal sense of mission or social
purpose its likely that no amount of
indoctrination could have kept Jeff Skilling
from blowing up Enron. Instead, it helps
students to appreciate the unconscious
ethical lapses that we commit every day
without even realising it and to think about
how to minimise them.
Strengthening the ethical aspects of
business education is clearly needed, as
the MBA gets criticised too often when a
scandal in the business world breaks out.
The last example was the Volkswagen
emissions. I dont want to blame business
schools for the reality; I just think that they
play a role in exacerbating it when they
could perhaps play a much better role in
minimising it, the Emory University ethicist
Edward Queen explained for Poets and
Quants at the end of 2015. Joint research
by two professors from Copenhagen
Business School and the University of
Hamburg showed that, between 2005 and
2009, accredited B-schools doubled the
number of ethics-related courses. However,
the website informs us that 75% of these
were electives.
PR move. What good business schools did
How being ethical can coexist with the
sometimes harsh realities of the business
world is a question with an open ending. It
is exactly in combining the contradictions
between creating value and creating a
sustainable economy that the secret of good
leadership lies. Finding the right balance is
needed to streamline and facilitate the
change from the shareholders perspective
to the stakeholders perspective. A much
needed change that has already been
embraced by many CEOs and companies.
It is a reform in the substance, not just a
is to foresee this coming trend, rather than
just to follow suit from the industry. D.G.
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 57
MBA SPOTLIGHT
Transatlantic Origins:
History of the European MBA
Europe has quickly picked up on an American trend
and has developed an MBA trademark of its own
I
t is common knowledge that
MBAs came into existence in one
of Americas most prestigious
universities. The MBA programme
was established at the Harvard
University Graduate School of
Administration in 1908. At that
time, the now grand institution,
had only 15 faculty members and
a regular class of 33 students.
The Graduate School of Business
Administration required
students to complete four
years of undergraduate studies
before applying to the business
programme. Other universities
soon began to adopt that policy.
Harvard was the trendsetter
and a champion of business
administration an example
worth emulating, and one that
became the foundation of the
European MBA.
History of the MBA
The concept of placing business
management on the same level as
medicine or law wasnt well received in
the early 20th century. But as corporations
grew, there became a need for skilled
management professionals, and colleges
and universities started their own
business schools. Educators realised
that business schools had to provide
formal education to prepare students
for leadership positions. Core courses
included accounting, business strategy,
economics, finance, manufacturing and
production and were designed to provide
students with basic concepts of business
58
which must be mastered before delving
into specialisations. However, at the dawn
of the MBA era, programmes were lacking
in vigour as they failed to train students
in the essential knack of successfully
managing a business and communicating
properly and to the benefit of the company.
Indeed, two damning reports appeared
in 1959, condemning American graduate
management education as little more than
vocational colleges filled with second-
rate students taught by second-rate
professors who did not understand their
fields, did little research and were out of
touch with business. Thus at the end of
the 1950s US colleges and universities
restructured their business programmes
to be more comprehensive, and to provide
programmes somewhat similar to those
of todays B-schools. This resulted in the
creation of the classic American MBA
model: a first year of required core courses
to provide the basics of management
and a second year of electives to allow
specialisation or deeper study.
Europe enters the MBA
game
It was at this time that interest in
management education appeared in
Europe. The first genuinely European MBA
programme that took the American idea
of setting up a B-school, but was not an
exact replica, was founded in France, at
INSEAD. In 1957, the Fontainebleau-based
institution launched an MBA programme
which offered comprehensive training in
all of the necessary hard skills, but was
also geared towards business conditions
in Europe and the need for apt company
management. One curious fact is that the
founder of the INSEAD MBA Programme
was a Harvard professor Georges Frederic
Doriot. But his case was not exactly one of
leaking information to the enemy. Doriot
was an expatriate, originally born and raised
in Paris, France. He had immigrated to the
US to gain his MBA degree from the only
institution that offered it at the time. He
decided to stay on, becoming a professor
at the Harvard Business School in 1926 and
gaining US citizenship in 1940. Seventeen
years after his US residence was made
official, Doriot, who had also gained the title
of father of venture capitalism, returned to
his home country and founded the INSEAD
MBA programme. From its very launch the
programme boasted academic excellence
and a curriculum that provided effective
education that secured a competitive edge
for its graduates. The first class graduated in
1960 and consisted of a total of 60 students
from 14 different countries.
INSEAD was not in a league of its own in
Europe. IMD in Switzerland, the Henley
Business School at the University of Reading
and Ashridge Business School were all
started by groups of companies to provide
training and were dedicated to the idea of
creating managers with more diverse skills.
Whilst European business schools cant
boast the lengthy history of their American
counterparts, their popularity and prestige
is certainly rising, and some are undoubtedly
amongst the best in the world, such as the
London Business School (LBS), IMD, INSEAD,
IESE and IE.
Dissecting the differences
It is not a question of which MBA, American
or European, is better or worse. Its a matter
of making an educated choice. But with
nearly 500 MBA programmes in Europe and
over 700 in the United States, the choice of
which side of the Atlantic to go to, has never One major asset that
been so multi-layered.
the European degree
One major asset that the European degree
has flaunted from its very inception is that has flaunted from its
it offers fast-track training squeezed into very inception is that it
10-12 months compared to the same volume
American institutions would teach in two offers fast-track training
years. Time has always been a factor with
business people, hence a shorter programme squeezed in to 10-12
can appeal to those who want to go back to months compared to the
their real-life career as quickly as possible.
same volume American
Ten months is an adequate amount of
time to get hard skills and leadership skills institutions would teach
without having to necessarily completely in two years.
rethink your career trajectory, says 28-year-
old Belinda Navi, an MBA graduate from
INSEAD. Ms. Navi plans to return to the
videogame industry after the business
schools 10-month programme, and hopes
to vault from a business-development role
into management.
Another important difference is that
European schools have a significantly higher
percentage of non-national students and
faculty members than their American
counterparts. At the top business schools
in the United States - Wharton, Columbia and
Harvard - roughly 33% to 45% of students
come from abroad. That figure is close to
90% at some of Europes top-ranked business
schools, such as LBS and INSEAD. A survey of
the proportion of overseas faculty members
at those schools reveals a similar trend.
Moreover, European B-schools are becoming
increasingly globalised, with most of the
top European MBA programmes offering
studies at one of their campuses abroad
for example, HEC Paris boasts a Qatar
programme while INSEAD has gained an
even greater popularity with its two-campus
structure one in Europe (Paris) and another
in Asia (Singapore).
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 59
Though the MBA is one of the degrees with
a proven ROI, money can be an issue as
the investment is substantial. Tuition and
fees for elite American MBA programmes
can top 200,000 USD; selective European
programmes typically cost half as much.
And there have been considerable price
reductions in recent years, too. At London
Business School, for example, the tuition
cost for a student starting a two-year MBA
programme this August totals 67,750 GBP,
or 103,895 USD. A year ago, it would have
cost about 10,000USD more, or 113,892
USD, and 10 years ago, the same tuition
would have been 123,603 USD.
Reasonable tuition costs about 30,000
USD helped Patrick Lowry, a 26-year-old
60
University of Delaware graduate, decide
on the 15-month MBA programme at the
Frankfurt School of Finance & Management.
Thats less than half of anything I would
pay for a respectable programme in the
US, he says.
Besides, studying abroad and choosing
from one of a multitude of European
MBA programmes, will offer immersion in
a completely different culture and pave the
way for the development of additional soft
skills, such as adaptability and flexibility,
that could be a considerable advantage in
the business world. Furthermore, doing an
MBA abroad is arguably the best-possible
introduction to the business landscape in
that country. And most would agree that
taking up the challenge of studying abroad
can be not only financially rewarding, but
personally rewarding too.
Of course, the idea of Europe, with its
rich cultural and historic background, its
intricately interconnected economies and
governments, and its diverging liberal
models on social and economic issues,
can offer much more than just business
education. Europe embodies diversity in
all of its forms. Especially now that the
continent faces so many challenges. And
that is perhaps the European MBAs most
intriguing premise. Europeans are aware
of this. But for someone outside the Old
Continent, the European Ideal must be
experienced to be understood. E.I.

Terra Scandinavia
Exploring the uniqueness of Scandinavian
business education
S
ustainability, a high standard
of life and high-tech society
influence the way MBA
programmes are taught in
Scandinavian countries.
With income inequality and economic
inequity becoming increasingly acute
problems throughout the developed
world, the success of the Scandinavian
economies is extremely topical. The Nobel
Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz believes that
American policy makers must use their
model to achieve more balanced growth.
The US presidential candidate Bernie
Sanders talks in even more straightforward
terms: We should look to countries like
Denmark, like Sweden and Norway, and
learn from what they have accomplished
for their working people.
The economy in a mirror
So, what is the secret of these countries
triumph? Not everybody sees the role
of the state as the main reason for their
success. Nima Sanandaji, a research
fellow at the Centre for Policy Studies, for
example, suggests for Fortune magazine
that it is their culture, rather than wealth
redistribution, that has contributed the
most. Sanandaji comments that from 1870
through 1936, Sweden was the fastest
growing economy worldwide. Then, she
adds, after 1975 - when the state began
expanding - it fell from the 4th richest
country in the world to the 14th by the
middle of the 90s.
However controversial this opinion may
sound, the way Scandinavians do business
MBA SPOTLIGHT
is worth examining. Of course, the business
atmosphere can hardly be separated from
the social and other stimuli provided by the
state, the overall business-friendly climate
and the excellent social infrastructure.
In a 2013 article, The Economist painted a
thorough picture: Governments are forced
to operate in the harsh light of day: Sweden
gives everyone access to official records.
Politicians are vilified if they get off their
bicycles and into official limousines. The
home of Skype and Spotify is also a leader
in e-government: you can pay your taxes
with an SMS message.
And the economic magazine continued:
This may sound like enhanced Thatcherism,
but the Nordics also offer something for
the progressive left by proving that it is
possible to combine competitive capitalism
with a large state: they employ 30% of
their workforce in the public sector,
compared with an OECD average of 15%.
They are stout free-traders who resist the
temptation to intervene even to protect
iconic companies: Sweden let Saab go
bankrupt and Volvo is now owned by Chinas
Geely. But they also focus on the long term
- most obviously through Norways $600
billion USD sovereign-wealth fund - and
they look for ways to temper capitalisms
harsher effects. Denmark, for instance, has
a system of flexicurity that makes it easier
for employers to sack people but provides
support and training for the unemployed,
and Finland organises venture-capital
networks.
All these thriving, sometimes contradictory
dynamics have created some of the most
competitive and innovative economies
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 61
in the world. The citizens enjoy a high
standard of living, pay notoriously high
taxes, but also get a lot in return from
the state, and the social, educational and
healthcare systems. The corporate taxes
are kept at reasonable levels to keep capital
from flowing abroad. Being a business
pioneer in the globalised world and yet
providing the necessary protective social
nets for the population is a combination
few countries have mastered more skilfully
than the Scandinavians. And the results
stand out. Especially in the last years of
anaemic growth throughout most of the
developed world.
The three Scandinavian states - Sweden,
Norway and Denmark - are respectively
the 9th, 11th and 12th most competitive
countries in the world, according to the
2015-2016 Global Competitiveness Report.
The data is compiled by the World Economic
Forum at Davos. The survey claims that, in
Sweden and Norway, the most problematic
factor for doing business is the restrictive
labour regulations, whereas in Denmark it is
the tax rates. Conversely, these features, if
functioning correctly, most probably make
the labour unions reasonably content
and the social policies efficient, albeit
expensive.
Business education
skillset and encourage me to think about
the big picture instead of just focusing on
my day-to-day work responsibilities.
For Gerard de Bourbon Ponce de Leon,
Global Accounts Manager at Verizon
Enterprise Solutions and a graduate of the
Stockholm School of Economics, it is the
more cooperative form of learning in his
Swedish MBA that made the difference:
The SSE MBA was very different from, for
example, my studies at Harvard, which was
very competitive and where people only
cared about themselves. The SSE MBA was
an altogether different experience with a
more collaborative group dynamic. There
is no doubt that an MBA is a degree about
global business, but this is the special
hallmark of Scandinavian culture on the
degree. Cooperation and solidarity are so
much more than theoretical ideals. They
can also be ways of doing business.
Gerard de Bourbon Ponce de Leon decided
to study an MBA despite also being at a
stage where he had already achieved a lot.
For him, life-long learning is more than an
abstract concept: I have a degree in physics
and mathematics, and a successful career
in the financial and IT/telecoms industries.
Still, I believe you should revisit learning
every five years or so throughout your life.
You need to reopen your mind, which gets
closed up as you get stuck doing things in
a certain way and addressing challenges
in the same fashion as you have always
done. We develop a certain format in how
we process things and solve problems. An
MBA at SSE opens your mind, he says.
Another student who has an interesting
story to share is Katti Hoflin, director of the
Dunkers Cultural Centre at Helsingborg.
She also had a versatile career when she
started her MBA at the Stockholm School of
Economics. At the time, prior to going back
to school, she was a television host and
manager at the Stockholm Cultural Centre.
What were her motives for doing her MBA?
Having studied literature, theatre and
philosophy, I felt that my lack of a formal
academic degree posed an obstacle on
my way to new positions and challenges.
Her experience indicates that an MBA
could be more than just a nexus between
different professional fields - it could also
link different skills: I enjoy the cultural
sector but after the SSE MBA I have become
more open to working within a completely
different sphere in the future. The business
world, for example, has a lot to learn from
the arts sector when it comes to creativity
and innovation. Cultural and creative

It is logical that such strong economies

would host reputable business schools.
But what makes the Scandinavian MBA a
distinctive and special case?

The triple accredited Copenhagen Business

School launched its Executive MBA in 1994,
and its standard full-time MBA made its
dbut in 2004. We were latecomers to the
MBA market, as we already had a successful
product in our HD programmes, which were
in high demand nationally, declared the
former president of CBS, Finn Junge, and
former director of CBS Executive MBA, Claus
Valentiner, in a joint speech. With an MBA,
we wanted to establish ourselves on the
international scene by offering a globally
recognised degree.

What many alumni value, apart from the

education itself, are the networking events
the school organises in an effort to keep
former students in touch. What I really
appreciate about being part of the CBS MBA
network is the back-to-classroom events,
comments the American Ada Stein, who
received his MBA degree in 2007. They
allow me to constantly refresh my MBA

62
enterprises make up a growing chunk of
the economy in a post-modern world.
Katti has learned to benefit from mixing
the specifics of the different professional
fields from her background. This is one
of the most interesting but sometimes
challenging things, as it rarely appears
in the textbooks: If there is one sector
that needs more rational and analytical
thinking, it is the non-profit cultural sector,
where decisions are too often based on
subjective opinion rather than objective
analysis. Public sector operations in the field
of culture face a sometimes bewildering
array of qualitative objectives, as well as
the economic restraint that comes from
the desire to reduce public expenses. I have
found that a strict operations framework
often frees up more creativity.
Not just about the degree
The MBA experience cannot be divorced
from the country and the region within
which it is based. All three Scandinavian
capitals make the top 30 in the Mercers
2016 Quality of Living Rankings.
Copenhagen is in 9th place, Stockholm
20th and Oslo 30th. The cultural allure,
quality of life and innovative business
landscape make Scandinavia a suitable
place for attending business school. It may
not be as popular an MBA destination as
the Anglo-Saxon countries, but it is more
than competitive, to say the least.
So it is hardly a surprise that the interest
in Scandinavian schools is high. Take BI
Norwegian Business School in Oslo,
Norway, for instance. It is one of the
largest European business schools, with
almost 20,000 students and 340 permanent
faculty. Established in 1943, it has three
additional campuses outside of Oslo -
Bergen, Trondheim and Stavanger. On top of
this, its research faculty has 8 departments,
with 26 research centres dedicated to
business administration, marketing,
nance and general management. The
What makes Sweden,
school is considered to have made a huge Denmark and Norway
contribution to Norways economy. It has
educated over 200,000 graduates since so popular today is
1983.
their special blend of a
While we can admire Scandinavian strong welfare state and
businesses, way of life and innovativeness,
it would be wrong to think that these a model of capitalism
were constructed overnight. In fact some
say that Sweden, Norway and Denmark
that is both flexible and
discovered the key ingredient - the social sustainable.
state - relatively late. As Nathan Heller
wrote in an article for the New Yorker:
Mary Wollstonecraft, visiting in the late
eighteenth century, lamented how far the
Swedes are from having a just conception
of rational equality, and this continued
to be a valid complaint for several years
thereafter. Denmark only began offering a
state benefits programme for elderly people
in 1891. Norway launched insurance for
industrial accidents a few years later.
Similar schemes proliferated in the early
twentieth century, and by the postwar
years the modern Nordic welfare state had
its distinctive form. The model, crucially,
interprets welfare to mean not just
financial capacity but well-being. It might
take into account that a woman forced
to defer dreams of motherhood because
of work, or vice versa, is hostage to her
circumstances even if shes able to pay her
bills. And, rather than simply catch people
on their way down, it aspires to minimise
the causes of inequality - more climbing
web than safety net.
What makes Sweden, Denmark and
Norway so popular today is their special
blend of a strong welfare state and a
model of capitalism that is both flexible
and sustainable. What this entails is more
pragmatism and less ideology. It is precisely
here that modern-day education steps in.
D.G.
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 63
MBA TEACHING
What the MBA Taught me
About Leadership (OP-ED)
True leaders are distinguished by the intricate
combination of key factors
I
t is quite common these days to
stumble upon a statement saying that
we live in a world that is increasingly
becoming globalised. Its of no surprise to
anyone that alongside this globalisation
we have some quite dramatic changes
happening in the leadership perspectives
as well. MBA programmes being the
primary driver of fresh minds which are
infused into the corporate world align
themselves with this dynamic in order
to achieve their primary aim, namely to
provide the necessary skills and abilities
to become a successful leader. Oddly
enough we are still in a situation where
we have yet to specifically answer one
question What is leadership?
The academic answer
The scope of leadership can vary
dramatically from social through political
to business leadership and it is that diversity
that has made the phenomenon so popular
and the reason it gets so much attention.
Coming back to business schools, it is fully
within expectation that they spend so much
effort building their programmes and
curricula around leadership and leadership
subtopics.
Academic literature is kind enough
to provide us with glimpses of many
perspectives on leadership. The variety
is abundant in those perspectives, but
we should start with a rather simple one
by Grint, who puts a fundament on what
leadership could be perceived to be. He
says that leadership could be seen as any
given situation which provides grounds for
having followers. This is acceptably true
64
Stefan Kirilov is a young profe-
ssional with 6 years of working
experience. Currently, he is working
as change manager at a multi-
national enterprise after taking
a break from working life for a
little over a year when he went to
study an MBA degree in Sweden.
While studying at Jnkping Inter-
national Business School, Stefan
was awarded a creativity award.
He is enthusiastic about profe-
ssional development and is usually
involved in a variety of extra acti-
vities besides his main job. Stefan is
interested in environmental protection
and human rights.
for any practice of leadership and is by no
means limited to leading a business venture
specifically. In other words leadership could
be understood as the art of inspiring and
involving people the art of creating the
wish for dedication in others.
In 2010, Chatman and Kennedy concluded
in their paper Psychological Perspectives
on Leadership in a similar way that one
can see leadership as the process of
motivating people to complete tasks by
collaborating in order to accomplish great
results. Whatever anyone ever had to say
about leadership, the one thing we are
sure of as of today is what Grint suggested
no questions regarding the definitions of
leadership can be answered in full outside
of a particular context.
Looking at the theory of leadership, and
assessing the lessons learned by many
leaders along the way in their careers, allows
us to juggle a little with the necessary traits
which a leader should possess in order to
be successful. Still, a boiled-down version
would sit comfortably between three main
aspects: Personal Traits, Interpersonal
Relationships and Strategic Behaviour.
Personal traits
Individual characteristics are the roots of
any given leadership style and they have
a great impact on the decision-making
capabilities of the person. They also play
a significant role in outlining Who is the
true leader? Coming back to what Grint
said regarding the particular context where
leadership is taking place, we discover
that other authors have also made similar
observations. For instance, when writing
about soft and hard skills, Nye points out
that contextual intelligence is an important
leaders trait to utilise both soft and hard
power in leadership by smartly choosing the
course of action depending on the context
of the situation. Two good examples of
using hard and soft power in practice are
General Electricss Jack Welch and his
huge transformation of the corporation
during very hard times, and the reinvention
achieved once by Jan Carlzon, the CEO of
Scandinavian Airlines, both examples based
on changing the core values of the people
who embodied those companies.
Looking at these traits in isolation, however,
is not the solution to the leadership
dilemma. Other authors add to what
has been started by their predecessors
for example, an open mind and being
forthright in interactions seem to be traits
praised by quite a few authors, including
Schoemaker, Krupp and Howland, and
Ireland and Hitt. The general idea they
support is that those traits are important
for leaders to be successful in leading the
way, while staying open to the adoption
of new practices and the consideration of
uncommon factors in their decision making.
Leaders are expected to have a very well
developed self-awareness and capacity
of knowledge and experience, in order to
improvise in times of uncertainty and be
resilient.
Interpersonal relationships
Undoubtedly, when we speak of capacity
we need to involve the person-to-person
factor, as it is crucial for the leadership
means. Leaders need to interact with
their surroundings, which means that
interpersonal relationships are crucial to
maintaining the success of a leader. As
noted earlier, the leaders goal is influencing
others and having followers, so then the
only way leaders can connect to people
is through the relationship they build
with them, through communication and
gaining trust. In order to create grounds for
trust, leaders must be aware of their own
emotions and must be able to overcome
their own emotional bias, as this is the
way to get in touch with the emotions of
others. In other words, a leader is expected
to be emotionally intelligent. Going back
to the example of the CEO of Scandinavian
Airlines, we see the marks of emotional
intelligence in the way Carlzon was
encouraging employees to be self-driven
and comfortable in their surroundings, in
order to stimulate their dedication to the
company.
Strategic behaviour
The personal traits and the interpersonal
relationships set out above are primary to
support the structure of what could be
seen as successful leadership behaviour.
However in order for this fundament to be
considered complete, the leader needs to
have a more specific strategy on how to
execute their plans. In 2013, Schoemaker,
Krupp and Howland explained strategic
leadership as the skill of the leader to
create advantage through their own
abilities to anticipate, challenge, interpret,
decide, align and learn. This represents
a meaningful distribution of the aspects
involved in strategic decision making.
Leaders are defined by their ability to
foresee and understand upcoming events,
to challenge their own assumptions and
those of others, to capture the essence
of problems and to recognise patterns, to
make decisions based on the short- and
long-term goals, to find common ground
with others and to develop themselves
on the basis of experience and mistakes.
In conclusion, leaders are expected to
inspire commitment in the organisations
community in order to encourage
employees to develop and make use of
their new knowledge. This is done through
the application of both hard and soft
power. The individuals ability to anticipate,
envision, remain flexible, think strategically
and work with others to initiate changes
capable of creating a viable future for the
organisation is the essence of strategic
leadership. By skilfully balancing the three
aspects (personal traits, interpersonal
relationships and strategic behaviour) the
chances of becoming a successful leader
grow significantly and thus they could be
considered key elements in defining what
leadership is.
Of course, this is just the academic view
on leadership, but I sincerely believe it is
the foundation of any good leader. This is
what the MBA taught me, and I promised
myself to always follow it. S.K.
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 65
MBA TEACHING
#Europreneurship
Exploring the ways entrepreneurship is taught
T
he United States, a land of
opportunity that favours
the brave, has long been
perceived as the place to be if
you want to start something
on your own. It comes as no
surprise then that it also takes
the lead in entrepreneurship
education. But Europe, despite
being considered slower in risk-
taking, is surprisingly not lagging
behind when it comes to studying
entrepreneurship.
The European premise
With three schools in the Financial Times
(FT) Top 10, entrepreneurial education in
Europe is steadily on the rise, and teaching
entrepreneurship is now part of many
business schools curricula. Many schools
and universities, such as ESADE or IESE,
have developed programmes to support
students and alumni who are starting their
own businesses.
66
in European MBA programmes
Even if you are not one of Europes rising
numbers of independent professionals,
companies are now placing even more
emphasis on employees entrepreneurial
skills and appreciate talent for seeking
and developing fresh sources of revenue
in tough economic times. That is why
European entrepreneurship MBAs focus
a great deal, not only on starting a business
and obtaining capital and financing, but also
on general management skills, business
planning, strategy and innovation, and
entrepreneurship within large companies,
skills that alumni can apply not only as
entrepreneurs, but also as intrapreneurs,
managers in large corporations that still
focus on turning ideas into profitable
finished products.
Due to its unique composition of numerous
independent markets that are both relatively
small yet powerful and interconnected,
entrepreneurship education in Europe
is not only focused on local markets,
but also enables global thinking and the
pursuit of global opportunities. Many
universities offer joint programmes, for
example the French Emlyon Business
School offers its Global Entrepreneurship
Programme in partnership with the US
Purdue University and Zejiang University
in China. It is therefore useful that most
entrepreneurship programmes in Europe
encourage you to learn another foreign
language to support your efforts, and will
allow you the opportunity to fully immerse
in another countrys environment for a
project or specialisation.
It is not just the schools in Europe that
are focused on nourishing and developing
entrepreneurial talent. Building and
developing entrepreneurial spirit is even
part of the European Commissions 2020
strategy and is on the agenda of local
governments in an effort to transform
Europe into an innovation hub and
encourage business creation. One of the
main goals of European entrepreneurial
education is not simply to provide
entrepreneurial know-how, but also to offer
reasons why. A number of programmes
across Europe begin entrepreneurship
studies with entrepreneurship backbone.
HEC Paris is especially well known for
that. It comprises a balanced view of
entrepreneurship, and the topics assess
whether entrepreneurship is indeed
for you. Specific issues are covered for
high-tech startups, execution, business
modelling, governance, how to network,
intellectual property strategy, and entry
strategy for new firms.
The skillset
How do you, as a business owner, remove
yourself from the day-to-day minutiae
of your company to focus on growth
strategies? How do you grow from one
man in a room to a global player? How
do you attract capital and maintain stable
relationships with creditors over time?
What is the psychology of managing
people and businesses? And that of venture
capitalists? Wherever you are in the world,
you will need both soft and hard skills
to achieve long-lasting entrepreneurial
success.
An MBA focused on entrepreneurship will
help you explore growth stage startups and
experience the difficulties they are facing
scaling up. It will teach you networking,
team working, leadership skills, creativity
and flexibility in decision making.
Given that youll have to take care of
all aspects of business, you will have to
understand strategy, finance, marketing,
analytics and much more. You will be
looking at things like managing growth,
how to secure finance, social impact,
market research and monetising
innovation. Courses will be taught from
the entrepreneurs perspective and will
be targeted to help students understand
how value can be maximised for the
entrepreneur. You will also come to
understand, by necessity, the perspective
of those who invest in new ventures: angel
investors, venture capital and private
equity.
Practice and leadership
Programmes will provide different tools
to put learning into practice immediately.
Business incubators, practical consulting
projects, internship opportunities, real-
life case solving contests, networking
opportunities, venture projects,
management practice courses and
leadership seminars. And thats where
being in Europe makes a difference.
wish to become immersed in all things
Europe offers the unique economic
environment of a prosperous yet diverse
market base with a global reach and
a wealth of experience to build upon.
Schools on the Old Continent have begun
offering a host of solutions to allow future
business makers to test their skills, ideas
and approaches in a safe environment
where failing is not so painful.
Here are just a few examples of how
different European business schools have
been teaching entrepreneurship:
At HEC Paris, teams of four to five
participants come together to create high-
quality ventures in the context of the HEC
eLab, an exclusive entrepreneurship lab
equipped with state-of-the-art interactive
technologies that stimulate creativity
and communication. The venture moves
forward from inception to business plan
completion through hands-on exercises
and challenges integrated into course work,
as well as through tasks and deliverables,
scheduled outside of regular courses.
ESADE in Barcelona offers both an E-garage,
a dedicated space for entrepreneurial
students, providing them with resources
and environment to start new ideas, and a
business angels network, ESADEBAN, which
is run by alumni.
Rotterdam School of Business has an
annual MBA Startup boot camp, so that
teams can develop their initial ideas into
credible business proposals.
Oxford Sad, as well as many other
business schools, organises regular forums
to support budding entrepreneurs who
entrepreneurial, from pursuing startup
ideas to starting and scaling a business,
and showcasing ideas to business angels
and venture capitalists.
Cambridge Judge School of Business (CJSB)
offers the Cambridge Venture Project (CVP)
which offers projects, providing consultancy
for real clients, based locally in Cambridge
or the rest of the UK.
And then there is Spain, a whole country,
which has been working hard to reinvent
itself as the European hi-tech powerhouse,
with the help of the countrys numerous
business schools. The weGrow initiative
from the IESE Entrepreneurship and
Innovation Center, Passion>IE; the
collaboration between IE Business
School and Accenture; Spain Startup Co-
investment Fund and local administrative
support such as the Business Plan Contest,
Global Entrepreneurship Competition and
the Growth Potential Business award,
organised by Barcelona City Hall - the
Spanish startup scene is more professional
and ambitious than ever.
With its diverse markets and strong support
coming from governments and universities,
Europe can be a great place to pursue an
entrepreneurial MBA, with business schools
seamlessly blending the traditionally strong
academic education with practical, hands-
on experience in nourishing ideas and
transforming them into profitable ventures,
capitalising on strong alumni support to
minimise risks. E.V.
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 67
MBA TEACHING

No Time for Full-Time

Flexible learning MBA formats give you freedom

F
or many contemporary
managers the hectic nature of
todays corporate life means
they often do not know where
they are going to be from week
to week. Geographical boundaries
rarely exist as within just 24 hours
managers often need to be on
different continents managing
their international businesses.
Those who want to constantly
upgrade their knowledge need an
MBA programme allowing them to
follow their own studies without
facing the dilemma to work or
to study. The response to this
challenge is an MBA delivered in
a flexible learning format.
Understanding the term
In few words, flexible learning focuses on
offering students choices about when,
where and how they learn. Flexible
learning is accessing education in a way
that is responsive in pace, place and/or
mode of delivery. Flexible learning meets
the needs of a diverse range of students,
enables part-time study that could be
attractive for sponsors, allows students
to combine work, study and family and
enables students to develop skills and
attributes to successfully adapt to change.
Flexible learning formats include remote
or online study, work-based learning, part-
time, or blended learning.
In recent years, flexible learning
formats have gained popularity. Many
business schools have started to adapt
their programmes to the needs of
busy professionals, developing virtual
learning courses and adapting their
teaching methods to cater to the busy
schedules of contemporary managers.
MBA programmes have become more
and more flexible. The list of business
schools that answered to the changing
reality and started offering flexible learning
MBAs, include IE Business School, Warwick
Business School, Manchester Business
School, and more.
Delivering MBAs in a flexible format
made b-schools very innovative regarding
developing new teaching methods.
Unlike traditional programmes where
face-to-face classes and interaction is a
key teaching method, virtual teaching is
available through such a big variety of
online resources video conferencing,
online classes, live HD quality video
lectures, webinars, live chat sessions
with tutors, mentors and classmates,
online presentations, videos and reading
materials, online libraries and e-journals,
forums for networking and sharing
ideas and experiences, special platforms
developed by schools particularly for the
programmes, etc.
Online MBA
Online MBAs are a form of a flexible
learning for MBAs where classes are
exclusively held online. Online MBAs
allow attendees to keep their full-time
jobs and flexibility to balance their study,
job and family responsibilities. The format
requires exceptional dedication and self-
motivation, because of the lack of physical
commitment. This can be problematic
considering the many other responsibilities
and activities that can distract you. At
the same time, online MBAs are arguably
the most flexible MBA format out there,
since they can be done at any time, at
any location.
Online learning provides immediate
benefits for your personal development;
you are able to apply your learning to
your workplace straight away. [] Your
employer will also be able to see immediate

68
business improvement as they benefit
from the application of the skills you are
developing, says UKs Newcastle University
Business School.
Blended MBA
MBA programmes offered in blended
formats are an ideal choice for those
who cant quit their jobs and dedicate
a year or two to their studies. Blended
learning MBAs are the best for combining
the advantages of online and on-campus
learning. They are delivered in an innovative
format combining online classes, face-
to-face sessions at school campuses and
virtual collaboration allowing students
to make the most of their time, learning,
networks and investment. This, combined
with the fact that most of the key exams
and presentations are delivered face-to-
face, including in-person assessments to
measure how much students have learned.
Studying for a full-time MBA was out of
the question due to the cost implication of
not having a job, says Romina Oxborough,
a Warwick Business School (WBS) distance
learning MBA. But I did not want to miss
out on the face-to-face interaction with a
faculty, and the chance to build a network.
WBS offered the possibility of doing both.
Spains IE Business School is one of the
worlds leaders in distance blended learning
MBAs. It offers multiple MBAs in a blended
format combining online classes with
short, face-to-face periods. The schools
15-month Global MBA combines interactive
online teaching via video conferences and
debate forums with several options of
short, face-to-face periods at the schools
campus in Madrid.
The blended format has been able to offer
the same quality of a classroom programme
but without the hassle of having to travel
weekly to school, or change jobs or city,
says IE Global MBA graduate Leila Pinto.
We know that circumstances sometimes
change: weddings, babies, or promotion
can knock you off track. Sometimes taking
longer to complete your studies might be
the best way to get what you want in
the long term and were here to help you
achieve your aims, WBS adds.
The Flexible Learning MBA from Strathclyde
Business School is a similar case. Students,
on joining the course, are provided with
a recommended study timetable, which
schedules the programme completion over
three years. Being flexible, this timetable is
not set in stone, the school says. Therefore,
should the student wish to fast-track and
complete the MBA course in less than
three years, the school can suggest an
alternative study schedule. Alternatively,
should the student wish to take a bit longer
to complete the MBA, the school allows
for studies up to a maximum of six years.
Part-time MBA
Part-time MBA programmes are ideal for
students who are physically close to the
university campus, and yet do not have the
time or resources to dedicate a full year
of their lives to studying. MBA candidates
residing in big cities and capitals have
the luxury of choosing part-time MBA
programmes from among the established
institutions in their immediate area.
Proximity is considered a prerequisite for
part-time studies, as the focus of part-time
MBAs is on fitting in with the schedules of
busy managers without sacrificing time
spent in face-to-face contact. Usually,
part-time programmes are offered in two
formats - a regular part-time MBA, and
a modular MBA. The latter has evolved
into the Blended MBA, offering a mix of
on-campus classes and online learning.
The regular format consists of one or two
evening sessions per week in addition to
roughly 15 hours a week of independent
study, preparation and group work.
Executive MBA
The Executive MBA (EMBA) is in a league
of its own. It caters to would-be executives
with 10+ years of managerial experience.
It must be inherently flexible, because it
makes the assumption that no manager
can afford to dedicate a year of their life
outside work at this stage of their career.
Executive MBA programmes are modular
in nature, closely resembling the blended
format by combining online study with
physical lectures. They can last anywhere
from 12 months to over two years.
The most appealing format is the Global
EMBA, where participants travel to various
international locations in order to get a
taste of how business is carried out around
the world. Naturally, this requires a bigger
commitment, but executives often find
it more rewarding in terms of learning.
This is also where group-learning comes
into effect. EMBA programmes generally
have a strong focus on team-based
learning and participants learning from
each other. Case studies are employed in
such a way that they become a platform
for discussion.
So should you choose a flexible learning
MBA and why? If you dont have the
time for full-time education, the answer
is a resounding yes. You will be able to
experience the MBA at your own pace, at
a location of your choosing, and still get
a degree that can catapult you to new
career heights. I.D-S.
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 69
MBA ADMISSION
GRE or GMAT?
A guide to choosing between GRE and GMAT
according to your strengths and weaknesses
O
ver 800 business schools
in 70 countries across the
globe now accept the GRE
test as an alternative to the GMAT
for MBA admissions. How to decide
which test to take for your MBA
application?
The GMAT Graduate Management
Admission Test - has traditionally been the
exam required by international business
schools for admission to MBA programmes.
It was created with the purpose of
evaluating the skills of prospective
applicants to post-graduate programmes
in business and management. GMAT is
owned by the Graduate Management
Admission Council.
However, recently the GRE Graduate
Record Examination revised General Test
(GRE also has several subject tests) - has
been gaining ground as an alternative for
MBA admission. Reputable schools such
as LBS, Oxford and Cambridge (UK), ESADE
(Spain), INSEAD (France), Harvard, MIT,
Columbia (USA), CUHK (Hong Kong) are
paving the way. The GRE is also already
taken into consideration in MBA ranking
methodologies, such as the US News and
World Reports 2016 Best Business Schools
Rankings.
The number of business studies applicants
selecting the GRE test nearly doubled in
the last three years. GRE test takers from
India increased by 12%, which is above
the average 10% growth of hopeful
business school applicants using GRE
scores, according to ETS GRE owner
report Aspiring Business School Applicants
Increasingly Using GRE Scores. There has
been a heated debate about how well the
GRE predicts success in business school,
as well as how to compare the abilities of
70
applicants who took these two different
tests the GRE or the GMAT. But lets
leave the debate to b-school admissions
professionals. Most business schools which
accept both tests give them equal weight,
so applicants are the decision makers.
Lets look at how an MBA applicant can find
solid ground to make a choice about which
of the tests to take. Both tests require
quite an investment of time and budget
in order to prepare adequately and achieve
a competitive score.
How to choose between
GRE and GMAT?
Schools preferences
If you plan to apply to schools which
accept both exams GRE and GMAT
find out whether they have a preference
for either of them. If the school clearly
states that both are accepted and there
is no indication that one will give more
weight to your application than the other,
then the choice is yours.
If you are not really sure how the school
treats the two tests for admission or
for scholarship application, contact the
admissions office for details.
An excellent illustration about considering
GMAT and GRE on equal terms is the
EDHEC Business School Global MBA. GRE
is accepted not only for admission, but
also for merit-based scholarships, such
as the EDHEC Excellence Scholarships
covering 50% of the tuition fees for
candidates with a GMAT or GRE equivalent
of 720 or over.
If you use the more pragmatic strategy
tests first and then school selection based

on your test scores - then it is best to opt
for the GMAT, as it is still more popular for
MBA admission. Here are three reasons
why:
First, experts share the view that the
GMAT is still the exam that business
schools are more familiar with, making
it easier for them to evaluate candidates
abilities. Additionally, Its also difficult
to fairly compare a GMAT score with a
GRE score, between applicants, says
for US News JoAnne Goldberg, a former
assistant director of admissions at the
Stanford University business school and
an MBA graduate of the school.
Second, business schools still perceive
the GMAT as a commitment to MBA
studies.
Finally, a long-term incentive in support
of the GMAT is that plenty of employers
in the business sector consider GMAT
scores in job applications.
Different formats
The GRE is provided in two formats a
pen-and-paper and a computer-based
test - while the GMAT is only delivered
on a computer. If you have a preference
for either of these two options, you can
choose the one in which you expect
to perform better depending on the
availability in your location.
Applying to MBA and
a Masters
Another good reason to choose the GRE
is if you consider applying to MBA and
Masters programmes. If you havent
decided yet between pursuing an MBA
and another graduate degree youll have
a greater chance of killing two birds with
one stone if you take the GRE note experts
of The Economist GMAT Tutor in the article
Which test should you take? GMAT
vs. GRE. GRE is generally accepted for
admission to Masters degree programmes.
Then you can still select b-schools for your
MBA amongst those 800+ institutions that
accept GRE for MBA admission.
Already taken the GRE
It is possible that you have already scored
well on the GRE in order to attend a
Masters degree programme directly after
you got your Bachelors degree. The score
of the GRE is valid for five years, so it is
very likely that you can still use it. In this
case, you do not need to take the GMAT for
your MBA application if you select business
schools which accept both the GRE and
the GMAT.
Struggling with the GMAT
There are arguments about which test
is easier. Of course this is very individual
depending on many factors including the
particular strengths of your skillset. The
GRE isnt easier, but its different. If youre
struggling with the way the GMAT asks
questions, you might find the GRE to be
a more straightforward way of assessing
your abilities. This can be an advantage
to some applicants based on their unique
thought process and learning style, but it
shouldnt be seen as a panacea for all test-
takers. advises Travis Morgan, Director of
Admissions Consulting for Veritas Prep.
Magoosh test prep experts analyse the
difference between the two tests. Some
of their highlights are that the GRE Verbal
section is focused on vocabulary, while the
GMAT is based on grammar. They also
claim that maths in the GRE is easier than
that in the GMAT. Moreover, test-takers
can use a calculator on the GRE maths, but
not on the GMAT quantitative section. The
overall duration (with breaks) of the GRE
is a bit longer 3 hrs 45 min, than that of
the GMAT 3 hrs 30 min.
Looking deeper into the content, the GMAT
has two subsections - Data Sufficiency
in the Quantitative section, and Critical
Reasoning in the Verbal, which are
usually quite challenging. They test not
just knowledge of maths, vocabulary and
grammar, but higher order thinking, as
Veritas Prep instructors phrase it.
Take advantage of your
strengths
Are you better at Quant or Verbal? If
youre naturally inclined to do better
in one test over another why not stick
with your strengths? suggest test
preparation experts of The Economist
GMAT Tutor. They explain that the GMAT
is considered tougher in the maths part
primarily due to its data sufficiency
questions, while the GRE Verbal sections
emphasis on vocabulary can make it
tougher for non-native speakers and
those who dont regularly read complex
literature.
The bottom line is that the two tests are
just different. GMAT is still considered to
be the test focused on assessing skills for
b-school studies, while the GRE is better
suited for Masters degree admission.
However, a winning strategy is to opt
for the test in which you will perform
better if your selected schools accept
both GRE and GMAT. There are a number
of good reasons to prefer the GRE over
the GMAT. I.B.
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 71
MBA ADMISSION
The 10 Best
Ways to Prepare
for the GMAT
I. Learn from your mistakes
The GMAT is a challenging test: its mission is
to differentiate between college graduates
who are pursuing even-higher education,
so it has to be challenging to get large
portions of that group to struggle with
each question. Even if you were a standout
scholar with great grades and test scores,
prepare to make mistakes and to learn
from them. Every mistake you make in
practice offers a lesson to help you avoid
a similar mistake in the exam.
II. Ask why you made those
mistakes
Most examinees will try to learn at least
something from each mistake, but an
alarming number of those test-takers
will do so inefficiently (if not just plain
incorrectly)! Lets say, for example, that
you fail a Data Sufficiency problem because
you forgot to consider the possibility of
negative numbers. Many students will
label that problem based on its content
area, such as exponents. But you didnt
get a DS problem wrong because you
dont understand exponents; you failed
because you made a mistake that could
damage you on lots of other problems.
So make sure that you put thought into
the way that you categorise, label, and
return to your mistakes so that your study
sessions directly address your areas for
improvement.
72
By Veritas Prep
III. Focus on what you should
do, not just on what you
should know
A common refrain among those who fail
to achieve their target score is I knew
everything cold, but then everything
looked different on test day. Their
mistake? The GMAT is a test of how well
you APPLY knowledge to unique situations,
not about how well you REMEMBER that
knowledge. So study with verbs in mind:
what do you DO when you see a certain
type of problem so that you can put that
knowledge to work? For example, with
exponent problems, you should look to 1)
FIND common bases; 2) FACTOR addition/
subtraction into multiplication; and 3) TEST
small numbers to find a pattern. When
problems dont seem to have an easy plug-
and-chug method, remember those verbs
you learned so that you know what to do
to make the problems solvable.
IV. Think before you read
the solution
Arguably the most common frustration
that GMAT students have is that the written
solutions to problems regardless of the
source are convoluted, confusing, and
hard to follow. So dont rely on them
unless you have to! Even a well-written
solution is less effective than is your own
trial and error as you try to connect the
dots between problem and solution,
largely because you need the solution to
make sense to you, not to the graduate
student intern who wrote the problem.
So use written solutions as a last resort;
before you go to them, check the correct
answer and see if you can connect the
dots yourself.
V. Never mistake activity
for achievement
GMAT students often measure their
progress in terms of the number of hours
theyve studied or the number of problems
theyve completed. But while those
numbers may be correlated with success,
theyre not as causal as you might think.
Make sure that the time you spend and the
problems you do are time and effort well
spent. Before each session, have a plan
for what you want to address and why,
and afterwards take short notes (mental
or written is fine) on what you learned
that you can apply to future problems or
tests. It has been said that 90% of success
is just showing up; the GMAT requires that
extra 10%.
VI. Study reputable
material, particularly for
Verbal
Official GMAT problems cost thousands
of dollars EACH to produce and
validate. So when a new company or app
launches with thousands of realistic GMAT
problems! theyre either too optimistic, or
theyre just lying. Even some of the official
testmakers oldest material is out of line
with the current test (which changed item
writers from ETS to ACT back in 2006), so
studying old, official material or new, not-
all-that-reputable material can lead you
astray as far as what to study and how to
improve.
VII. Save the stopwatch for
later
Yes, the GMAT is a timed test. But you
shouldnt start using the stopwatch
until youve mastered core content and
strategy; otherwise youll just make the
same mistakesfaster, and more often.
Focusing on time also means that youll
learn more problems by reading the written
solutions and not by forcing yourself to
form connections and build skills; the latter
options are much more permanent. Allow
yourself a Learning phase in which you
take as long as you need to solve problems
before your Practice phase when youll
need to add that timed element to make
sure that you can perform on test day.
VIII. Prepare for mental
stamina
The GMAT is a 3 hour and 30 minute test
and thats before you add in breaks and
the check-in process. Studying during
lunchtime and practising on your phone
is helpful, but youll need to plan to have
some longer study sessions (and full-length
practice tests) so that youre ready for
staying focused and thinking clearly when
your brain is spinning from several hours
of tough problems.
IX. Address your
weaknesses
Studying for the GMAT isnt often fun,
so people will often sweeten the pot by
working on the problems that they enjoy
the most. But a small gain on your strong
suit can only help your score so much
and schools are interested in a balanced
applicant, so going from a 48 quant score
to a 49 wont help your admissions chances
much if your verbal score is still below
average. Make sure to take your medicine
and eat your vegetables, so to speak; if
youre going to study, put that time toward
the parts of the test that will increase your
score the mostand thats going to be
your weakness.
X...But dont ignore your
strengths
At the same time, you should spend at least
20% of your time keeping your stronger
skills fresh. Its not at all uncommon
for engineers to score higher on verbal
than quant and for poets to score higher
on quant than verbal, often to their
dismay as they cant believe that they
underperformed on their strength. Dont
let those hard-earned skills atrophy and
dont take your initial practice test prowess
for granted. Devote a little bit of time each
week to staying fresh overall so that your
gains on your weak areas are balanced with
strong performances overall.
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 73
 What do B-schools
MBA ADMISSION

Want to Know About You?

A look at some of the worlds most respected
schools admission essay requirements

M
BA admissions essays are
the part of your application
package about which
admissions committees are most
curious. Although essays have
strict topics and volume limits,
they are still your best opportunity
to be genuine, personal, creative
and unique. Thats clear enough.
But what do prestigious schools,
in particular, want to know about
you?

What b-schools expect

Business schools usually give clear and
friendly instructions about what they
expect to read in your essays. Here is
what the Wharton MBA recommends:
The Admissions Committee wants to get
to know you on both a professional and
personal level. We encourage you to be
introspective, candid, and succinct. Most
importantly, we suggest you be yourself.
On average, b-schools require two or
three essays of about 500 words each. For
example, the EDHEC Global MBA has two
questions of 300 words each. However,
ESMT expects eight essays of between
150 and 800 words. The total number of
words in one schools essays can range
between 600 and 2450.
The value of admission
essays
The key advantage of the essay is that
it allows you to present yourself and
persuade the admissions committee that
you are the right fit for your selected
programme. What you should aim to
achieve when writing your essays is to:
Show that you have clear career goals
Show that you are aware of how the
chosen programme can help you achieve
those goals
Illustrate your unique skills, experience
and values that will contribute to the
learning environment of the MBA class
and the mission of the b-school
Stay coherent. Essays are just one
element of the application package,
but all documents, facts, figures and
feedback should be linked, supporting
and complementing each other to convey
what you can bring to the b-school and
how you will benefit.
Types of essay questions
These key points are reflected in the
actual essay questions. So, it is best that
you look into some examples and get into
the shoes of MBA applicants. Typical
essay questions, no matter how they are
actually worded, are:
Career goals and programme fit
These questions are very straightforward
and are the essence of the application.
They aim to reveal your motivation for
MBA studies and for choosing a particular
programme.
Here is an example: Please explain
why you are applying for an MBA at
ESMT. What are your career plans upon
completion of your MBA? Please provide
some insights into your short-term
(immediately after your MBA) and long-
term objectives. (800 words)
Your contribution
Each business school evaluates
your potential contribution to their

74
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and leading companies dedicated to the
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programme. Convey in your essay what
you are good at, what your values are,
what you are passionate about, what is
unique about you and how it can benefit
your peers, professors and the learning
environment.
LBS ask the question in this way: What
specific areas of London Business School
life are you most excited about getting
involved in and where will you add value?
(300 words). However, such questions do
not limit your response to extracurricular
activities.
Leadership aspirations
MBA programmes cultivate business
leaders. You often come across essay
questions about a notable person or a
leader whom you would like to meet or
whom you admire.
HEC Paris Full-time MBA application
asks: What figure do you most admire
76
and why? You may choose from any
field (arts, literature, politics, business,
etc.). Questions of this type give you
the opportunity to elaborate on the
difference you would like to make in the
world, the leadership style you aspire to,
the values you share.
Failure, achievement, values
Achievement seems easy to talk about,
but failure not so much. However,
analysing mistakes and learning from
failure is a valuable experience that
admissions officers want to hear about.
IMD requests: Describe a time in your
life where you faced a significant failure.
How did it affect you and what were
your greatest lessons? (Maximum 300
words) and Describe a situation when
your personal values where challenged.
Present yourself
Business schools often simply require
you to give a presentation of yourself.
This is certainly not an easy task. It helps
to think about what makes you unique in
comparison to others of your academic
and professional background, gender,
nationality, etc.
Duke Fuqua says: Share with us 25
random things about yourself. Some
points may be only a few words, while
others may be longer. IMD: Describe
yourself in two hundred words or fewer.
In the end, it all boils down to helping
admissions committees get to know you
better as a person and a professional;
inspiring them to support you in whatever
difference you would like to make in the
world; convincing them that you are an
indispensable asset for the next MBA
class that they are putting together.
The admissions essays are your best
opportunity to talk to the MBA admission
decision makers. I.B.
Highly
Recommended
Practical tips for great letters for recommendation
S
ome business school
admissions committee
members have revealed
that they consider the letters
of recommendation in the MBA
application incredibly important
to their decision-making process
possibly the most important
aspect. This surprises many
applicants who dont take the
recommendation letters seriously
because they do not personally
complete them. These applicants
fail to see one of the key
reasons why recommendations
are extremely important.
Recommendations can provide a
glimpse into your management
skills. If you cannot ensure that
your letter of recommendation is
appropriate, professional and on
time, what does that say about
your managerial potential?
Selecting the right people to draft your
letters of recommendation is essential.
The admissions committee can learn a
lot about you just by observing who you
select to write a letter on your behalf.
When selecting someone to write your
letter, choose people with whom you
work closely and who know you well. The
persons job title is not as important as
how well they know you, and the single
best person to ask for your initial letter of
recommendation is the manager to whom
you report directly.
In fact, many schools actually require
you to ask your direct supervisor to write
your primary letter of recommendation.
Choose people who like you, and who
think you are good at what you do. If
MBA ADMISSION
a potential reference seems less than
enthusiastic in any way, keep looking. That
persons ambivalence is likely to come
through in the letter.
In some cases, however, choosing your
current supervisor is not possible. Go back
to the pool of options and select the next
best person. You may choose someone
from a prior job, or someone with whom
you have worked closely but do not report
to. If you select two references from the
same company, make sure that they can
provide different perspectives on you. For
example, one can be your manager, and
the other can be someone with whom
you worked cross functionally.
By
I often hear questions regarding the
benefit of selecting MBAs to write your
letters or, even better, alumni of your
target schools. All things being equal, it
is helpful if your recommender has an
MBA. It means that they understand the
process and it may also validate them in
the eyes of your target school. Consider
this a nice to have but dont select an
MBA at the expense of the number-one
rule: selecting someone who knows you
well.
A note specifically for those applying
directly from college: You may think that
your former Economics professor is a
great person to write a letter because
they think highly of your academic ability.
However, a professor usually cannot
answer questions about interacting with
peers, leadership abilities, career goals,
areas needing improvement, and more.
Its truly essential that the people writing
your reference have clear insight into the
information that the business schools
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 77
seek. In these cases, it is better to find
a recommender from an extra-curricular
setting, such as one of your volunteer
commitments.
Once you have selected your
recommender, ask for their feedback
to get a feel for whether the person is
supportive of the MBA degree in general
before asking for his or her help. Begin
these discussions well in advance of
applying, so that there are no surprises.
When you are ready to actually ask the
individual to write a letter on your behalf,
request a brief meeting to discuss your
own MBA plans privately. Ask if the referee
feels he or she could write a positive and
supportive letter on your behalf.
Next, you should outline all logistics
and deadlines for your recommender.
Make sure that he or she is fully aware
of the time commitment and schedule
required. You should give referees at
least 1-2 months notice. Supply your
recommender with a two-page document
that contains only the most essential
information. Then let them know that
you can provide any other materials that
they might find helpful. Preparing your
recommender document will also
help you with your own essays, so it is a
valuable exercise in and of itself.
Decide on four or five key characteristics
you would like your recommender to
78
emphasise throughout the letter, such as
leadership, teamwork, creative thinking,
determination, focus, intelligence,
charisma, or integrity. Then, provide at
least one concrete anecdote that you feel
illustrates each characteristic.
For example: Initiative Last year, when
I learned that international sales were
declining, I took it upon myself to research
the competitive landscape and learned
of two recent market entrants. I then
offered to lead a team to analyse these
new competitors and develop a strategy
for regaining our market share. Our team
of five analysts proposed a solution after
one week of work. The solution was
implemented and within six months, we
had regained 50% of lost market share.
Once you hand over the package and
instructions to your recommender, you
only need to stay on top of the process
and make sure that your referees do not
miss the deadline.
Finally, you will want to express your
thanks when someone does you a
favour. Once everything is settled, write
your referee a thank-you note, or send a
bottle of wine or other small gift. Nothing
elaborate is needed; just be sure to show
your appreciation that they found time
in their busy schedule to recommend
you and support your plans to pursue an
MBA. S.B.
Do not prepare a common letter
for all schools. Recommendations
should be school-specific, answering
each individual question on the form
in detail.
Referees may be tempted to ask the
candidate to write their own letters.
In addition to being unethical, this
is not a good idea as schools can
recognise that the letters are in the
same style as the essays.
If there is a grid that asks the referee
to rank the candidate on a number
of dimensions, it is not necessary
to indicate that the candidate is in
the top group in every category.
It is important that the ratings be
credible.
Most schools request some
background information about the
recommender in order to establish
a context. Information about the
recommender may build credibility.
An honest assessment of the
candidates weaknesses is as
important as a review of strengths.
Indicating where the candidate can
improve will build legitimacy for the
rest of the recommendation.
Unless claims are backed up by
specific examples, they are not
convincing. Give strong examples
that reinforce the traits you are
describing.
Recommendations should highlight
how the applicant is different from
others with similar CVs/rsums.
Recommendations should discuss
personal attributes that are not easily
described in essays, such as integrity,
respect, or sense of humour.
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MBA INTERVIEW
Acing the
MBA Interview
Top tips from a top expert
Youve worked hard on your MBA
application, aced the GMAT, told
a great story through your CV
and essays, had your application
package reviewed by a professional
MBA Admissions consultant,
obtained glowing references, and
submitted your application on
time. Now what?
The next crucial step in your application is
the MBA admission interview. If you have
been invited for one congratulations!
This means that the Admissions Committee
at your dream business school considers
you an interesting candidate and would
like to meet you to further assess your
qualifications and your personality.
Some candidates believe, mistakenly, that
the interview is just a formality. If you were
applying for a job, would you think that an
interview was only a formality? Getting an
interview simply means youre still in the
game, so take the interview seriously!
Remember, there are many applicants vying
for limited seats in the MBA programme,
and your job is to sell yourself to the
Admissions Committee. Be sure to know
what the school is looking for in candidates
and highlight your achievements that are
most relevant to that particular business
school.
A common question that many candidates
ask is: How do I know what the school is
looking for? Chances are, this is the first
time youll be applying to an MBA
80
Sergey Kouk
Managing Director
Admit Master, Canada
Sergey Kouk has an MBA and a
Masters in Applied Mathematics.
Having scored 750 on the GMAT,
he has been preparing students for
the GMAT and assisting them with
the MBA application process for a
number of years. He is currently
the managing director at Admit
Master, a Canadian MBA Admissions
Consultancy.
programme, and you may simply not
know what you dont know. The easiest
and most straightforward approach is to
hire an MBA Admissions consultant with
lots of experience in the industry. After
all, you only do your MBA once, so getting
into the best possible school that fits your
profile and your career aspirations may
mean the difference between living your
dream career or getting stuck in the jobs
you dont like for another 30-40 years of
your professional life.
How do I prepare?
Remember that the interview is the
culmination of your entire application. It
is a chance to clarify and elaborate on the
story you told through your application,
and make a good impression that will likely
result in an offer of admission.
For this reason, your interview prep should
begin well before youre invited for one!
When youre putting together your story,
be sure to highlight three main areas:
1. Where you came from: your background,
education, work experience, and
community involvement.
2. Where youre going: your career
objectives, your dream job after the MBA,
where you see yourself in the next two, five
and ten years.
3. How this business school can help you
get there: why the school is the perfect fit
for you, how you would benefit from the
MBA, and how you would contribute to
the success of others.
If getting professional help with your MBA
application is not practical, be sure to do
extensive research on your own: read the
comments and profiles of other candidates
who were successfully admitted to the same
school; visit the school campus and talk
with current students; search your LinkedIn
network and connect with students and
alumni from that school; ask for advice; and
definitely have someone, ideally a friend
or a colleague who successfully applied
to the same or a similar business school,
run mock interviews with you and give you
honest feedback.
How should I present myself
at the interview?
Make a good first impression from the
moment you walk into the reception area.
Shake hands, maintain good eye contact
and keep a positive attitude. Be humble
but confident. Be well-rested and well-
dressed. Be prepared, but dont sound
like youre reading from a prompter. Most
importantly, relax and be yourself. After all,
you want the business school to admit you
for who you really are!
Should I simply answer
questions?
While its important to answer your
interviewers questions, your job is to tell
your story and further strengthen your
application. Be sure to tailor your answers
and highlight unique personal stories that
make you different.
Let the interviewer guide you through the
first steps, but then gently take control
of the conversation. Be polite; never cut
off the interviewer when he or she asks
questions or makes comments. Start your
answer by repeating the question; this will
help you stay focused. Avoid one-word
answers.
Most importantly, prepare two or three
compelling questions, answers to which
you cant easily find on the Internet. Asking
interesting and unique questions will make
you more memorable and could tip the
scales in your favour even more!
Finally, remember to follow up no later
than one day after the interview, and
ideally the same day if your interview is in
the morning. Thank the interviewer(s) for
their time and reiterate your interest in the
programme. Good luck!
Sergey Kouk at sk@admitmaster.com
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 81
 MBA CAREERS
Old-Timers &
Golden Classics
Finance and consulting remain
the linchpins of an MBA career
I
f you have decided that you
need an MBA, you must have
asked yourself some of these
questions: Which sectors are most
favourable to MBA graduates?
How do their professional
prospects differ geographically?
Where do alumni debut in the
corporate hierarchy? These are
some important unknowns for
candidates that we will try to
tackle.
So, lets say a whole class of soon-to-be
MBAs will finish their degree in a couple
of months. What are the prospects of
landing a position in one of their preferred
business sectors? The 2016 Alumni
Perspectives Survey Report of the Graduate
Management Admission Council outlines
the global industries that hire business
school graduates. The first two sectors with
the highest need for employing MBAs are
traditional - products and services, and
finance and accounting (19% for each of
them). These are pretty broad areas that
may include very versatile firms. The third
sector that comes close with 17% is more
concrete - technology.
The future will show how sustainable the
technological boom is, but the need for
talented leaders indicates the rapid pace
of this areas devolvement. Both analysts
and businessmen are talking about the
third industrial revolution (mechanical
manufacturing and the moving assembly
line in the 18th and 20th century being the
first two). It seems, at least for the moment,
that the assumption that technology holds
the key to the future may hold true.
The abovementioned GMAC survey sounds
representative enough. It was conducted
in October and November 2015, and its
findings were derived from 14,279 alumni
from 70 business schools worldwide. It
also shows that 63% of alumni work in
three fields: 24% of them - in finance and
accounting, 21% in marketing and sales
and 19% in general management.
Sectors preferred by MBA
students
Before we dissect the most popular
industries among MBA graduates, lets
take a brief look at internships, as the
readiness to hire MBA interns denotes
the value of the programme to employers.
GMAC surveyed 179 employers from 31
regions/countries and found that 73% of
them offered internship opportunities to
MBA students. Why is this important? The future will show
Sometimes an internship may lead to a
job within the company or tilt the balance how sustainable the
for being hired at another company later. technological boom is,
An MBA degree increases the chances but the need for talented
of employment. The GMAC 2015 Global
Management Education Graduate Survey leaders indicates the
reveals that 68% of the part-time/flexible rapid pace of this areas
MBA jobseekers from 2015 received job
offers before finishing their degrees, as did devolvement.
63% of the two-year full-time and 36% of
the one-year full-time students.
The top three favourite industries for full-
time MBA students vary slightly, depending
on the length of the programme. For the
one-year MBA, finance/accounting (26%)
is the most preferred field, followed by
products/services (23%) and consulting
(19%). The two-year full-time students
favourite spheres are finance/accounting
(24%), consulting (22%) and products/
services (19%). The discrepancy is very
slim and may fall within the statistical
margin of error. The part-time/flexible MBA
students prefer products/services (26%),
consulting (17%), finance/accounting
(14%), technology (14%) and health care
(13%).
As we already said, the IT boom also
increased the demand for employees
with business education in the technology
sector - 93% of tech firms said they wanted
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 83
to hire MBA graduates. Many business
schools realise that increasing technology
within businesses is more than a temporary
phase the modern-day economy is going
through. On the contrary - it is a direct
reflection of what companies will look like
and how business will be carried out in
the future. Douglas M. Stayman, Associate
Dean for MBA programmes at Cornell
University, explains about the Johnson
Cornell Tech MBA: Primarily, this is an MBA
about the digital economy. The campus
is about the digital economy and how
the digital technology and informational
revolution is changing the way business
is being done. The traditional MBA, like
the traditional engineering college, was
built for a certain kind of economy and a
certain kind of corporation and a certain
way of doing business. And Cornell Tech
was developed because the way products
are developed, the way they are tested, the
84
way they are brought to market, the way
they are managed, is changing.
Energy and utilities, and the technology
sectors show the highest preference for
hiring MBAs, followed by products/services
(86%) and finance and accounting (84%).
Moreover, 81% of consulting companies,
81% of manufacturing companies and
75% of health care and pharmaceutical
companies also say they need MBA alumni.
Business education and
international careers
One of the focal points in taking the decision
to go to business school is the possibility
tof using the degree as a passport for an
international career. But which world region
is likely to be most open to expatriate
job candidates? In 2015, the Asia-Pacific
companies were most inclined (43%) to hire
international students. They were followed
by 28% of employers in the US and 23%
of recruiters in Europe. Behind the dry
numbers, one must take into account the
strength of the concrete national economy
and the overall entrepreneurial culture
and spirit that make the life and hiring
of expatriates easier. On a more micro
level, the individual profile of companies
also matters - due to their workings
with worldwide businesses, finance and
accounting (38%) and consulting (36%)
firms were most welcoming to international
candidates.
Another interesting topic is relocation. In
principle, international education gives you
a chance to transfer your career - 69% of
the candidates hired outside their home
country had an international graduate
business degree, the GMAC data shows.
But, at the same time, almost nine-tenths

(88%) of MBAs in the world remain in their
home country. This means that relocation
still remains an exception.
The US seems most conservative in this
respect. Just 3% of Americans with an MBA
work abroad. Of course, this may also mean
that the conditions for MBAs in the US
are exceptional. In comparison, 29% of
Europeans go to a different country. Of
course, given the specifics of the common
European market, it is understandable - an
alumnus from Sweden may relocate to
Denmark, or one from France to the UK.
The GMAC polls show that most alumni
from Central and South Asia (55%) prefer
to move, albeit within their own region.
Positions, size of companies
and entrepreneurship The self-employed are a very special group
It is common for MBA graduates to perceive
their education as a career accelerator.
Almost three quarters (73%) of them
believe that taking the degree led to
faster career advancement. In addition 8
out of 10 claim that it prepared them for
leadership posts. An important question is
where, on the corporate ladder, do MBAs
start after graduation? Globally, most of
the graduates begin at mid-level (46%) or
senior-level (31%) positions. The exceptions
are the ones who skyrocket to executives
(13%), and the C-suite (3%) - CEOs, CFOs,
etc. Fewest of all (7%) start work in entry-
level positions. According to GMAC, 23%
Globally, most of the
graduates begin at mid-
level (46%) or senior-
level (31%) positions.
The exceptions are the
ones who skyrocket to
executives (13%), and
the C-suite (3%) - CEOs,
CFOs, etc.
of graduates with business degrees other
than MBAs start work in entry-level posts
in comparison to just 4% of MBA holders.
We now come to the subject of company
size. It shouldnt really matter how big
a company is. Depending on personal
preferences, one may feel better in a
smaller start-up or a boutique firm, or in
a larger, more established organisation. The
highest proportion of alumni (30%) work for
large firms with 25,000 or more employees,
20% for companies with between 100 and
1,000 staff, 19% for firms with a workforce
between 5,000 and 25,000, 16% for entities
of between 1,000 and 4,999 people and the
remaining 15% for companies with fewer
than 100 people.
among alumni. One in every ten graduates
is self-employed. These are entrepreneurs
with a high level of autonomy who also
report high job satisfaction. While 65% of
employed MBAs say that they are satisfied
with their work, 81% of those that are self-
employed say the same. Average working
hours for this group is 49 hours per week
and the average pay of entrepreneurs is
145,000 USD per year. For those who want
to depend on themselves, an MBA with a
specialisation in entrepreneurship might be
a suitable choice. Here, unsurprisingly, the
greater extent of autonomy, self-reliance
and freedom, also comes with greater
responsibilities. D.G.
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 85
 Start Your Engines!
MBA CAREERS
Business schools embrace the startup hype
E
ver asked yourself why the
road from a good idea to its
realisation sometimes feels
so bumpy, long and exhausting?
The reason is that these are two
completely different parts of a
very important process. If one
neglects either of them, it may
all fall apart.
Facebook was not the first social network
in the world, but it is arguably the most
successful. Mark Zuckerberg did not
invent the idea itself; it had already
been out there for years. Classmates.
com started almost 10 years earlier in
1995, then sixdegrees.com appeared,
then Friendster, the list goes on and on.
Zuckerberg and his team, however, seem
to have developed the concept most
thoroughly and effectively. And neither did
Bill Gates pioneer software, or Steve Jobs
the tablet. All they and their teams ever
did was to perfect these things, making
them indispensable for millions of people.
The road to success is made out of many
different, sometimes small, steps. Making
one or a few of them correctly does not
guarantee you will ever get anywhere at
all. It takes talent, inspiration and original
thinking to give birth to a potentially
successful business concept. The skills
required for its successful creation are
indeed very valuable. The idea could be
adorable, people may get to love it one
day, its potential may truly be outstanding.
But if the realisation phase lacks courage,
perseverance and knowledge of how to
get through all the different business
processes, it may never be realised.
Coming up with an idea is one thing. This
might be quite different from the business
plan itself, and a world away from the
actual financing (IPO, loan, etc.), which
is a separate area from marketing and
86
advertising. These are totally different
things from the running and daily routine
of a company. And this is where an MBA
comes as a nexus. Business education
is useful for becoming an entrepreneur
in many spheres, one of which is the
booming innovative technology sector.
The development of Internet economics
recently aroused interest in the degree
among many players in the tech industry.
When technology meets
business education?
The 2015 GMAC Global Management
Education Graduate Survey places
technology as the fourth most significant
industry (12%) in terms of job offers for
the Class of 2015. The first three are
finance and accounting, consulting, and
products and services. Technology is also
the third sphere of preference of that
valuable 5% of business school students
who have started or are about to start
their own businesses. More concretely,
13% of b-school students that identify
themselves as entrepreneurs recognise
technology as their current or prospective
area of choice.
The available GMAC survey data suggests
excellent perspectives for tech profile
students. The average boost in salary for
graduates with a job offer in technology
in 2014 was 98%. This is second only to
healthcare by 12 points. In 2015, however,
the tech industry was the leader in this
respect, with an impressive increase in
remuneration of 103%.
The rapid development of Silicon Valley-
related businesses makes business
education of technological leaders a
topical subject. Combining computer-
related and hi-tech competencies
with good management abilities could
make a difference both for start-ups
and more established companies.
Employers recognise this - for example
30% of UCLA Anderson School of
Managements Class of 2015 were hired
by technology companies, as reported
by the Financial Times (FT) in February
2016. This proportion was equal to that
of graduates taking consultancy jobs -
perhaps the all-time favourite sector for
MBAs, together with finance. In that very
same year, around 20% of MBA alumni
from the London Business School also
took technology jobs.
From engineers to managers
Even five or six years ago, newer tech firms
felt that MBAs werent needed as much
in the technology industry, because they
felt they needed engineers, Andersons
director of recruiting operations, Phil
Han, explained to the FT. Many of these
companies are now growing so fast that
they need the strategic thinking and
leadership skills provided by an MBA. As a
result they are coming to us more often.
There is yet one more very strong historic
argument for the benefit of attracting
technology and start-up leaders into good
business schools. A deeper understanding
of how the economy and business cycles
work could be important to the well-being
of the tech industry in the longer run. Just
like every other booming economic sphere,
technology is not immune to overheating.
In a world of volatile markets, high added-
value areas like these, which seem to be
safe havens, need an emphasis on hedging
against risks. And education could be an
excellent way of doing so.
are cautionary about the start-up fever
in recent years and suggest graduates
should aim at finding jobs in stable
companies. In December 2015, the Wall
Street Journal reported an interesting
aspect of use of statistics for start-ups by
the Harvard Business School - it tracks the
percentage of students who founded start-
ups after graduation and uses it as a sign
of overheating. Prof. Thomas Eisenmann,
co-chair of the HBS Rock Center for
Entrepreneurship, calls this the canary-
in-the-coal-mine number. He suggests
that if new companies start mushrooming
too rapidly, as happened just before the
dotcom bubble burst, from roughly 5% in
1999 to 11% in 2000, it may be signalling
herd behaviour. He adds, however, that
with around 9% of the schools graduates
having started their new ventures, there is
no immediate cause for concern.
Digital transformations
As tech start-ups professionalise and
become more pervasive in spheres they
have only recently penetrated, their
structure becomes more sophisticated.
The need for schooled and seasoned
managers is no surprise. Whats relatively
new is the necessity for people with a dual
profile combining tech and leadership
acumen. The combination of technology
and strategy will be key to how the deal
landscape evolves in the next 10 years,
predicted John Dwyer, PwCs global
head of deals for businessbecause.com.
Buyers now expect to understand risks and
opportunities in far greater detail before
making significant investment decisions,
he added. The website also explains further
that the consulting industry demonstrated
demand for employers who are able to
lead clients digital transformations.
With businesses becoming more
technological and technology needing
more leadership talent in the classical
sense of the word, MBAs seem to fill a
valuable niche. This is especially interesting
given that nowadays exceptionally high
hopes are being vested in the tech industry,
almost to the point of being unrealistic.
Technology has turned out to be something
of a mantra; a crossroad hub of all known
human activities and achievements so
far, a linking chain between automation,
creativity, entertainment and even the
modified, fluid and, at first glance, more
democratised version of the media. Building
a sustainable future is what seems to be
the challenge. And here, quality business
education perhaps has something to offer.
D.G.

Other industries may not have such a

fresh memory of how tides can turn, but
technology sure does. It was a little more
than 15 years ago when the so - called
dotcom bubble burst, and the tech index
NASDAQ peaked in March 2000. Despite
all the great technological developments
throughout these years, it was not until
April 2015 that the index reached the same
levels again. The recent tech boom may
or may not be sustainable. But cultivating
and refining management skills in a
quality business school is a good way of
understanding how to switch strategies
when the economy changes or is about
to change.

Business education could also provide

some personal hedging. Some experts

ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 87

 My Cosmic Journey
MBA INTERVIEW
Through the MBA
A career outside business made me re-evaluate
the definition of MBA success
Why did you decide to
pursue an MBA degree at
Frankfurt School of Finance &
Management?
It was a rather fortunate encounter, at the
right time and at the right place, when I
realised I lacked the acumen to connect
technical solutions to the business context.
I needed to develop this ability, which had
become critical for all technical people
working at the edge of business.
I was living in Frankfurt am Main and since
I wanted to advance in my career, the first
step was to look at the solutions available
in my immediate area. I found out that
Frankfurt School of Finance & Management
was just starting its first edition of the MBA.
The idea (and privilege) of becoming a
student once more was rather exciting.
From the schools ranking in the Financial
Times and a personal meeting with the
director of the programme, I gained a good
impression of the overall faculty quality.
Frankfurt itself is a nice area to live in and,
coupled with its importance as a financial
and industrial hub, the idea of settling down
there became more and more appealing.
What did you end up doing
after you graduated?
For the time being, I am continuing in my
pre-MBA role of Requirements Engineering
consultant at EUMETSAT, where I support
the requirements management activities
of a range of European space programmes
with the definition of tools and processes.
I am confident that that there will be new
developments in the future, sometime,
somewhere. Patience and perseverance can
be virtues at times. In highly technological
international organisations, it is rather
88
Daniele Gianni
Frankfurt School of Finance
& Management
Full-time MBA Graduate,
Class of 2016
Daniele Gianni is a recent graduate
from the Frankfurt School of Finance
& Management. Currently, he is
working as a consultant at EUMETSAT,
the European Organisation for
the Exploitation of Meteorological
Satellites. Daniele first became
interested in the MBA after a life-
changing experience in the US during
his PhD. At that time, he felt he was
destined to remain in academia.
With prestigious opportunities
materialising in the UK and the
Netherlands, he never doubted
this direction. But in 2013, Daniele
landed in Frankfurt am Main for his
consultancy job, and during this time
of close encounters with the world of
business, he crossed paths with the
MBA again this time permanently
as one of the FSFM cohorts.
unusual that you can immediately capitalise
on this type of studies for several reasons:
the complex socio-technical understanding
required in leadership positions, the
seniority culture (sometimes), and last but
not least the stability of the organisation.
How has the MBA degree
helped you succeed in this
highly technological field?
Much depends on your own definition of
success. For the time being, my definition
falls between being effective in mobilising
others towards an organisational goal,
which I possibly co-define and helping
others to discover their talent and to grow
to achieve their potential. Achieving this
definition of success requires many skills.
Coming from years of applied research,
I had already developed sharp technical
problem-solving and analytical skills, which
can be key to reaching that definition of
success. However, when you deal with
people, the technical versions of these
skills need to be extended to include the
emotional and social sides of problem.
The MBA has helped me broaden these
skills to cover business and social aspects.
For example, now when I define a new
process, I also tend to assess its impact
on the human resources to determine
whether the best process in terms of
technical definition is also the best process
in terms of human implementation in the
organisational context. I also consider
other aspects, including the need for the
implementation of change management
activities.
In addition, the MBA offered me a unique
social laboratory opportunity in which
experimenting and failing were relatively
safe a rare privilege that cannot generally
be afforded in normal circumstances.
This marked the continuation of a self-
discovery journey (i.e. understanding how
you are perceived in your daily life) that
I had already started. However, it was
also the beginning of a self-regulation
journey (i.e. controlling how you react to
events) and a social awareness journey (i.e.
understanding the organisational culture).
Experts say that your progress in these
journeys is a key condition for being an
effective leader, and for me starting or
continuing them is the basis for reaching
success.
Have you tried measuring
the ROI given that you dont
necessarily deal with business
now?
This is a legitimate question, but I think
it has its limits. As you learn in the MBA,
financial indicators are only one out
of the four (or five) dimensions used
in the performance management of an
organisation: as entrepreneur of yourself,
why should you restrict yourself to financial
indicators alone? I encourage people to
look beyond the ROI and to consider
instead the Return on Investment in
Human Capital if you wish to stick to
numbers. Better yet, one should look at the
Return in Happiness (RiH), if you wish to be
more qualitative and to see the MBA as a
personal transformation experience along
the three journeys I have mentioned above.
Personally, when I made the decision to
enrol in the MBA programme, I mainly
considered the RiH. I looked at what I
wanted to achieve, what I was missing in
terms of knowledge and soft skills, and
pondered the options to fill this gap. One
option was to move to a different context,
such as in a private industrial organisation
or in a consulting company. In my case,
that appeared to be a move that would
have involved an average risk, uncertain
development, and less comprehensive
experience in terms of personal growth
(the three journeys). As I mentioned earlier,
social experimentation cannot always be
afforded in normal professional life. The
other option was to enrol in an MBA. For
me, that was a more encompassing growth
experience, a better way to prepare for
the future, and it involved less risk. There
was certainly a financial difference, but
considering that time is unredeemable and
that, to me, how you get there (in terms of
career) matters as much as where youre
heading to, I had few doubts about which
option I should pursue.
Do you feel satisfied with
your choice of postgraduate
education in light of your
current career path?
Overall, I am satisfied with what I have
acquired and discovered during the MBA.
And I know it is up to me to take it from
there and capitalise on this opportunity
to steer my career from a technical role
to a role at the edge of business. Often,
large organisations tend to outsource
part of the implementation activities.
As a consequence, traditional technical
roles have often evolved towards
positions that require business acumen
and managerial abilities to coordinate
internal or external human resources or
to guide the identification of solutions to
business problems. Having acquired formal
education in business and management,
I can offer tangible credentials about my
hard managerial knowledge. However, I
feel that staying on the path of the three
journeys will make me much more effective
in that role.
What would your advice be to
candidates who aspire to work
in fields other than business?
I would recommend not restricting the
application of MBA lessons to business
alone. There are many lessons that
can be re-applied to oneself to gain an
advantage in a career outside business. In
my view, one important and relevant lesson
concerns the awareness of the perceived
risk of an unusual professional profile
with respect to the risk appetite of the
organisation you wish to work for. Finding
an alignment between these two risks may
still be necessary, after the MBA, for your
way forward.
One warning: if you have an unusual
professional profile, be aware that your
definition of success might be different
from that of more conventional MBA
candidates and graduates. Be aware of
that and, more importantly, be comfortable
with it. A.Z.
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 89
 LEARN AND
ADVANCE

30 000 TRAINING COURSES ON KELFORMATION.COM

 MBA
GLOBAL

Features 2016-2017

Gain an In-depth Insight Into the Features of Top Business Schools

Europe North America

Athens University of Economics and Business 92 Concordia - John Molson School Business 121
Cass Business School 93 Hult International Business School 122
CEU Business School 96 Fordham Gabelli School of Business 124
Cranfield School of Management 98 McGill University - Desautels 125
Danube University Krems 99 Queens-Smith School of Business 126
Esade Business School 100 Sacred Heart University 127
EU Business School 102 Simon Fraser University - Beedie School 128
Edhec Business School 104 of Business
Frankfurt School of Finance and Management 105 UBC Sauder School of Business 129
IE Business School 106 University of New Brunswick 130
HEC Paris 108 University of Toronto - Rotman School 131
Leeds University Business School 109 of Management
International University of Monaco 110 York University - Schulich School 132
IESEG 112 of Business
Loughborough University, School of Business 113
and Economics Asia
Manchester Business School| Alliance MBS 114 Asia School of Business 133
MIP Politecnico di Milano 115 GLOBIS University 134
Munich Business School 116 NUS Singapore University 135
NEOMA Business School 117
Nottingham University Business School 118 Australia
University of St. Gallen 120 Monash Business School 136
MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

At the Forefront of Education and Research

GREECE
Student Body

Ratio of Applicants to Places: 3/1

Male Female Ratio: 49/51%
Age Range: 24-44
Average Age: 30
Degree Background: Engineering,
Management, Economics, Social
Sciences, Information Systems,
Technology
Situated at the crossroads of three (AMBA), and was the recipient of the MBA International Students: 15%
continents, Athens University of Economics Innovation Award 2013 by the International Europe: 50%
and Business (AUEB) offers an exceptional Accreditation Organisation. Moreover,
exposure to the world, bringing together the programme occupies top positions in North America: 17%
issues and challenges from the European international rankings and is highly accepted Oceania and Asia: 33%
Union, the Balkan countries, and the Middle in the market internationally.
East. Established in 1920, it is the oldest Admission Requirements
and most prestigious university in Greece Focusing on the individual client rather than
in the areas of Economics and Business on what can be taught, the programme can
Administration. be personalised and tailored to meet the University Degree: Bachelors degree
specific needs and goals of each individual (minimum)
Being on the forefront of education and student. This is achieved through a wide GMAT (minimum): 550 (mandatory
research for more than 90 years, AUEB variety of learning opportunities: optional for Full-time students only)
has produced by far the largest number courses, personal skills development TOEFL (minimum): 79
of Greek industry leaders, entrepreneurs, exercises, a variety of immersion projects,
and managers, as well as faculty members career office talks, company days, etc. IELTS (minimum): 6.5, or Certificate of
and researchers. With excellent faculty who Proficiency in English
receive wide international academic and The International MBA programme is set References: Two
professional recognition, AUEB attracts to change your life. It will give you the Minimum Length of Work Experience:
the best pool of candidates in both its knowledge, skills and confidence to analyse Three years
undergraduate and graduate programmes. the challenges and opportunities that lie
ahead in the global business environment (for the Full-time programme)
Programme Presentation and to formulate and implement Five years
innovative and effective strategies in the (for the Part-time programme)
AUEBs International MBA is a vibrant and new era. It will help you cultivate your
innovative programme that aspires to offer entrepreneurial capabilities, gain an
high quality education in flexible forms. It is international perspective, and strengthen Costs
fully accredited by the Association of MBAs your interpersonal and managerial skills.
Application Fees: 50 EUR
Tuition Fees: 12,000 EUR
(13,500 EUR for non-EU students)
Scholarships: Nationality based
Programme Info: scholarships are offered to students
Accreditations: AMBA
from the Balkan region,
Rankings: Eduniversal, FindyourMBA.com Asia and Africa.
Type of Programme: International MBA Further information at
Programme Format: Full-time, Part-time www.imba.aueb.gr
Finance; Marketing and Strategy;
Content Strength or International Business; Innovation and Entrepreneurship;
Specialisation: Technology, Logistics and Operations
Contacts
Languages Courses: Greek Name: Ms Afroditi Kompoliti
Application Deadlines: End January/End May Email: imba@aueb.gr
Starting Dates: Early September Telephone: +30 2108203659
France, Spain, Sweden, China, India, Website: www.imba.aueb.gr
Exchange Programme: Thailand, Colombia, USA

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MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

The Intellectual Heart of Business

united kingdom
Student Body

Full-time MBA 2015-16

Cass Business School is amongst the top
one percent of Business Schools worldwide.
Always aspiring to excellence, we constantly
seek new ways to serve our students and
the global business community. With a
considered and successful balance between
theory and practice, our programmes are
delivered in both London and Dubai and
we have an extensive business and alumni
network. We attract people from all over the
world and our global connections ensure
that our students are immersed in a truly
international environment.
Casss location is a clear advantage for your
study and career search. Situated between
the financial district and Tech City, no other
European business school has as many
Fortune 500 companies on its doorstep.
Our goal is to provide support to world-class
businesses with world-leading thinking. Our
research is ground-breaking and through
our partnerships with leading organisations
has a demonstrable impact on our students,
business and society.
Male Female Ratio: 70/30%
Average Age: 30
Programme Presentation Average work experience: 6 years
International Students:
Whether you are planning to transform United Kingdom: 21%
or accelerate your career, our range of Europe: 23%
MBA programmes are designed to help
you realise your potential. Taught by an North America: 10%
international faculty in the heart of London, Africa and Middle East: 2%
our one-year intensive Full-time MBA is Oceania and Asia: 39%
designed to develop your business skills Latin America: 5%
and experience, providing you with the
confidence, knowledge and networks
to achieve your career ambitions. Were Admission Requirements
ranked amongst the Top 20 by the Financial
Times for one-year MBAs, and have been Admissions requirements differ
consistently ranked in the top three for depending on your programme of
career progression in the UK. choice. Please refer to our website for
Throughout the course of the year you details.
will encounter challenges and learning
experiences that will prepare you for business Costs
leadership and enable you to become an
effective decision maker. On this journey, Tuition Fees:
you will be studying and collaborating
alongside a talented international cohort Full-time MBA: 39,500 GBP
of business professionals, each with their Scholarships: Various awards available
own expertise. The Cass MBA is a journey of www.cass.city.ac.uk/mba/full-time-
exploration and professional transformation. mba/scholarships

Contacts
Name: Cass MBA
Email: cass-mba@city.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7040 0286
Website: www.cassmbalondon.com

Programme Info:
Accreditations: AMBA, EQUIS, AACSB
Full-time MBA ranked 8th in the world for corporate strategy, best value
for money in London, Financial Times 2016
Rankings:
Full-time MBA ranked 6th in the UK, 13th in Europe and 37th in the
world, Financial Times 2016
Type of Programme: One-year Full-Time MBA
Programme Format: Full-Time (12 months)
Content Strength or General management with electives in Finance, Analytics, Strategy,
Specialisation: Consultancy, Marketing and Entrepreneurship
Application Deadlines: The Full-time MBA has a rolling admissions process
Starting Dates: Full-Time MBA: September

ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 93

 The Cass MBA London All that you can be,
begins here.

Our MBA programmes are designed for ambitious working professionals and focuses on real-world business.
On both our Full-time and Executive study modes, you will encounter stimulating challenges and learning
experiences to prepare you for business leadership and enable you to achieve your potential.

Cass Business School is located between the financial district and Tech City, Londons thriving technology hub
and start-up scene. We are perfectly placed to provide you with a unique MBA experience, with opportunities
for creating connections, exploration and career transformation.

All that you can be, begins here. Visit cassmbalondon.com or email us at
cass-mba@city.ac.uk for details on how to apply.

cassmbalondon.com
MBA INTERVIEW
Be All That You Can Be
From Armed Forces Officer to Business Consultant
What were the most important
aspects you considered when
choosing a course?
When I was considering an MBA, several
aspects were important for choosing Cass
Business School. First of all, I wanted an
intensive one-year programme which
ensured minimal time out of the workforce.
I also required a programme with a holistic
perspective to business that could provide
me with the necessary toolbox to achieve a
career change from the armed forces and
into management consulting. Secondly,
when looking at different schools and
geographies, the broad diversity of the
Cass MBA cohort was appealing in terms
of nationalities and backgrounds. I also
thoroughly considered location, reputation
and value for money. I wanted a school that
was located in a vibrant city, with plenty
of exciting businesses and networking
opportunities and a strong reputation at
a reasonable price point.
What was your goal and how
will the MBA/EMBA/Masters
help you achieve it?
In doing an MBA, my goal was to achieve a
career change. Early on, when considering
my personal interests, qualities and previous
work experience, I had a strong feeling that
strategy/management consulting was my
preferred industry. The Cass MBA certainly
helped reinforce this, and gave me good
insight into life as a consultant through
Mats Kallum
Cass Business School
Full-time MBA Graduate,
Class of 2015
Mats Kallum is a recent graduate
from Cass Business Schools MBA
prograwmme and holds a BsC in
Business and Economics from BI
Business School in Oslo. Prior to
entering the MBA, Mats had seven
years of work experience with the
Norwegian Armed Forces. Mats is
currently working as an Associate
with the Boston Consulting Group in
Oslo, and enjoys cross-country skiing,
mountain biking and tracking in his
spare time.
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017
several consulting projects e.g. a strategy
project where we worked in teams of seven
dealing with strategic challenges for a real
client, and a consultancy week in Iceland
where my team was working with one
of Icelands leading financial institutions.
Additionally, the Cass MBA careers service
provided me with excellent career coaching
and advice for the application and interview
processes in order for me to achieve my
career goal.
Would you recommend your
programme to others?
I would most certainly recommend the
Cass MBA programme to others. It is
always important to find the school and
the programme that fit your personal
aspirations and preferences. The Cass MBA
was a great experience and both time and
money well spent for me.
The Cass Full-time MBA is an intensive
12-month programme delivered in the
heart of London. Were located in the
business district and close to Tech City,
Londons thriving start-up hub, and have
close links with both. So whether youre
are a promising business professional
or a budding entrepreneur the school is
perfectly placed to give you the best the
city has to offer. If you would like to speak
to one of our Recruitment Managers about
an application you can email us at cass-
mba@city.ac.uk or visit www.cass.city.
ac.uk/mba.
95
MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

Where Ideas are Born

CEU Business School, founded by George
Soros, offers students an unprecedented
opportunity to earn an American MBA degree
in the heart of Europe. Its programmes
educate leaders and entrepreneurs who
transform organisations into innovative,
responsible enterprises that bring value to
the world, engines of prosperity, providing
opportunity and market growth in emerging
and established economies. The programme
includes a New York City Field Trip.
Education at CEU Business School represents
a dynamic balance between the latest
theory and practice, involving case studies,
application of the latest technology,
boardroom simulations and action learning
projects in the field. Students are part of
a diverse, sophisticated and engaged
community.
CEU Business School prides itself on making
its MBA programmes available to any
qualified candidates while adhering to the
highest standards of excellence.
Programme Presentation
CEU Business School currently offers the
following AMBA-accredited US degree
programmes:
H ungary
Student Body
Male Female Ratio:
1-Year MBA programme: 62/38%
Katalyst EMBA (weekend): 73/27%
Accelerated One-Year MBA: This 12-month IMM EMBA: 87/13%
programme is comprehensive and intensive. Age Range: 24-52
Its curriculum is modern, emphasising Average Age:
entrepreneurship, innovation, action 1-Year MBA programme: 33
learning, leadership, ethics and finance
Katalyst EMBA (weekend): 34
Katalyst Executive MBA: This 22-month IMM EMBA: 37
programme is designed for working Degree Background: Engineering: 20%;
executives, entrepreneurs and other Business/Commerce: 17%; Economics:
professionals who want to advance 16%; Management: 8%; Other: 29%
their careers without interrupting their (Law, Finance, Computer Science,
professional lives. Courses take place every Marketing & PR)
third weekend
International Students:
IMM Global Executive MBA: Students 1-Year MBA programme: 72%
study at partner institutions in 2-week Katalyst EMBA: 36%
modular sessions. Participants have an
1-Year & Katalyst EMBA: 100%
average of 13 years of work experience IMM EMBA: 100%
Admission Requirements:
Admission Requirements
Online Application Form and Professional
Resume/CV University Degree: Yes
A copy of undergraduate diploma and GMAT: 603 (average), waived for EMBA
transcripts TOEFL: CBT 230, PBT 570, IBT 88
A statement of purpose (essay) References: Two
GMAT or GRE score report (not required Minimum Length of Work Experience:
for Katalyst EMBA and IMM)
English Language Proficiency/TOEFL or 1-Year MBA - 3 years, Katalyst EMBA - 5
equivalent exam score report years, IMM EMBA - 5 years

Programme Info: Costs

Accreditations:
Rankings:
Type of Programme:
Programme Format:
Content Strength or
Specialisation:
Languages Courses:
Application Deadlines:
Starting Dates:
Exchange Programme:
Association of MBAs (AMBA)
Application Fees: 40 USD for full-time
Consistently highly ranked in Europe by international and regional
programmes
employers
Accelerated One-Year MBA; Katalyst Executive MBA; IMM Global Tuition Fees:
Executive MBA (modular multi-campus) 1-Year MBA: 15,500 EUR
Accelerated One-Year MBA -12 months; Katalyst Executive MBA (every Katalyst EMBA: 16,000 EUR
3rd weekend) - 22 months; IMM Global Executive MBA - 19 months IMM EMBA: 75,000 EUR
Scholarships: 15% tuition reduction for
Business and Sustainability; Entrepreneurship; Marketing; Finance
Alumni of all CEU Degree programmes;
English
Accelerated One-Year MBA programme: Scholarship Application
Deadline: end of January, General Application Deadline: June 30 Contacts
Katalyst Executive MBA (every 3rd weekend): In general one month
before the October and March programme starts Name: Marketing, Recruitment &
IMM Global Executive MBA: February 28 Admission Office
Accelerated One-year MBA: September Email: recruiting@business.ceu.edu
Katalyst Executive MBA (weekend): October, March
IMM Executive MBA: March
Telephone: +36 1 887 5014
9 schools in Europe, 4 schools in North America, 2 in Latin America and Website: business.ceu.edu
5 in Asia, with no additional tuition fees

96
MBA INTERVIEW
Rethink the Way
Business is Conducted
How would you describe CEU
Business School today?
CEU Business School is a dynamic, supportive
environment that challenges professionals
at all stages of their careers from recent
graduates to senior executives to rethink
the way they conduct business. We provide
them with theory and ideas, engage them
in debate, and give them examples and
practical experiencesall of which help
them grow as leaders. And we do this
using a range of teaching approaches,
including case studies, action learning in
firms, new courses on such avant garde
subjects as design thinking and financial
strategy, our new NYC-based MBA module
and a special course in our incubator, CEU
InnovationLabs, that asks students to
develop an actual new venture.
What do you think
differentiates CEU Business
School from other schools?
CEU Business School is a uniquely valuable
institution. Created and operating as a
world-class business school with the very
best in innovative teaching approaches and
professional standards, the School is also
rooted and deeply involved in a world that
has undergone great change. Indeed, the
School is part of that change. Thus, we
blend global professionalism with a deep
understanding of the emerging world. We
can serve -- perhaps better than almost
any institution in the world -- executives,
entrepreneurs, SMEs and multinationals,
aiming to prosper in the fastest-growing
part of the globe. And we have been doing
this for over 25 years.
Where do you want to see the
Business School 25 years from
now?
I believe the next 25 years will be even more
exciting and meaningful for CEU Business
School than its first quarter century.
Mel Horwitch
Dean and Professor
CEU Business School
Mel Horwitch is Dean and University
Professor at Central European
University Business School, located
in Budapest, Hungary. Previously,
he was Professor of Technology
Management, Director of the Institute
for Technology and Enterprise,
former Chair of the Department
of Technology Management,
Founding Director of the Othmer
Institute for Interdisciplinary
Studies, and Faculty Director of the
CleantechExecs Executive Program
at the Polytechnic Institute of New
York University. Professor Horwitch
is an acknowledged expert on
entrepreneurship and innovation
management.
Leveraging our CEE heritage, our success in
bridging all of Europe, and our experience
in bringing best practices to uncertain
environments, we now are able to carry
out our mission on a much larger scale than
before. Moreover, we can serve regions of
the world where quality business education
has traditionally been out of reach either
because of geographic or financial access.
That does not necessarily mean we will
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017
open branch campuses in other locations.
It will more likely mean partnering with
other institutions, using technology in
smarter ways, and teaching and conducting
curriculum development with academic and
corporate partners.
Who do you think should get
an MBA degree and why?
It is important to remember that there
is no single rigid MBA. The reason why
the MBA is the most popular and sought-
after degree on the planet is because of
its inherent capacity to adapt to changing
times and conditions. Previously, the MBA
was for students who generally wanted to
work in larger corporations, investment
banking and management consulting,
mostly in what was called the advanced
world. That is no longer the case today.
MBA students in increasing numbers are
working for SMEs. Others want to be
entrepreneurs, work in entrepreneurial
enterprises or serve entrepreneurs as VCs,
etc. Some MBA students will spend much
of their professional lives as independent
free agents serving a number of clients
in some fashion, and this will certainly
become increasingly common in an age
of outsourcing, corporate de-massing and
networked ecosystems of various kinds.
On top of all this is the importance of
acting with integrity. In a world rife with
questionable business practice and
rampant corruption in certain regions,
the MBA holder must also understand and
uphold the need in business to act within a
moral compass, thereby earning the trust
and respect of colleagues and external
stakeholders. All such new and essential
attributes make the MBA as valuable and
as needed as ever. This is the kind of MBA
education that CEU Business School is
committed to providing for its students.
M.H.
97
MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

Transformational Management Education

The Cranfield Full-time MBA
Cranfield is an exclusively postgraduate
university, a global leader for education and
transformational research in technology and
management.
The School of Management grew out of
industrys need for management training.
We are known for our excellence in
leadership development, for our powerful
industry links and our real-world focus.
In 2017, Cranfield School of Management
celebrates 50 years. Five decades of making
a difference, five decades of growing people
to become exceptional leaders. To mark this
special year, we are delighted to announce
our 50th Anniversary Scholarships for Full-
time and Executive MBA students.
You are invited to join our class of 2017
and enter a global community of alumni,
business partners, fellow students, friends
and supporters, collectively striving to
improve the practice of management.
Programme Presentation
Our Full-time MBA Programme is an
intensive one-year programme designed to
U nited K ingdom
Student Body
Ratio of Applicants to Places: 4/1
Male Female Ratio: 3/1
Average Age: 32
Degree Background: Graduates GPA 3+
help our students develop robust leadership International Students: 83%
skills and become proficient in a broad range Europe: 34%
of management techniques. This allows North America: 2%
them to thrive in a world where relevant Oceania and Asia: 50%
management skills are at a premium and
where business practices evolve rapidly as Africa: 7%
the pace of business increases. Latin America: 7%
The programme will give you the opportunity Admission Requirements
to immerse yourself fully in your studies. It
will allow you to: University Degree: 2:2 UK Equivalent or
GPA 3+
Create and implement your own leadership GMAT: 600
development plan, setting a vision for where
you want to be professionally and how you TOEFL: 100 or IELTS: 7
are going to get there. References: Two
Minimum Length of Work Experience:
Prepare for and find a professional role Three (Post-graduate)
that suits you based on your personality,
skills, experience and career aspirations.
Costs
Develop a sophisticated understanding of
the core aspects of business and finance, as Tuition Fees: 36,000 GBP
well as enhance skills such as self-awareness, Scholarships: Various
teamwork and resilience.
Grow your confidence and competence Contacts
to take on new challenges.
Name: Alice McCracken
Build relationships with and learn from Email: mbaenquiries@cranfield.ac.uk
experienced, like-minded professionals from Telephone: +44(0)1234758008
all around the world. Website: www.cranfield.ac.uk/MBA

Programme Info:
Accreditations:
Rankings:
Type of Programme:
Programme Format:
Content Strength or
Specialisation:
Languages Courses:
Application Deadlines:
Starting Dates:
AMBA, EQUIS, AACSB
13th in the world, 4th in the UK and 1st for student experience -
Bloomberg Businessweeks Best Business Schools Rankings 2015
Ranked 6th overall and 2nd in the UK in Forbes ranking of The Best
International MBAs: One-Year Programmes
Ranked 1st in the world for Organisational Behaviour and 3rd in the
world for Economics by the Financial Times
1-year MBA Programme
Full-time
Leadership, Entrepreneurship, General Management
English
30 October 2016*
29 January 2017*
9 April 2017
25 June 2017
September

98
 f e s s i o n a l L i f e
oost y o u r P ro
B

[ #1 EMBA Ra nking
2014 & 2015
Industriemaga
zin ]
Personal Innovation. State-of-the-art Education. Inspiring Campus.

Danube Business School Top Managers and Entrepreneurs Academics and Future Leaders

The competences of Danube Business
School mirror current issues in the interna-
tional business world. We bundle specialist
expertise and thus create high quality further
education courses, tailor-made to the future
qualification requirements of our students.
All programs link theory and practice in a
unique learning experience and teach selec-
ted management instruments, as well as
valuable personal skills.
Accreditations:
> Executive MBA
Innovative General Management program
for executives and entrepreneurs. Leadership-
experienced students will learn the latest
management techniques, and at the same
time, they will expand their professional and
personal capabilities to get a better under-
standing of modern management know-how.
The program includes academic and corporate
programs in Hongkong HKUST (# 1 in Asia)
and Silicon Valley, Stanford University.
> Professional MBA
for managers in or on the way to leadership
positions who would like to complete a state-
of-the-art general management education with
specific functional or industrial specializations.
> International Business MSc
is designed to provide students with an in-
depth understanding of the global practices
across the spectrum of business fields with
several attractive study programs abroad.
> MSc Finance
Advanced knowledge and skills for future
chief finance officers. Attractive study pro-
gram at UBC (Vancouver), Canada.
> Master in Business Administration
is designed for university graduates holding
a degree min. 240 ECTS worth who want to
enhance their employment and career pro-
spects within one year.

Danube University Krems. Danube Business School. Austria Europe.

www.donau-uni.ac.at/business-school
MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

A Top Tier Worldwide Academic Institution

S PA I N
Student Body

Male Female Ratio: 69/31%

ESADE Business School, established
in Barcelona in 1958 as a non-profit
organisation, is internationally recognised
for the excellent standard of its programmes
in management and is accredited by the
worlds three most respected management
education organisations: AACSB, EQUIS and
the Association of MBAs.
ESADE achieves consistently high positions
in global rankings. It has been ranked by
the Financial Times among the the top
five European business schools for four
consecutive years. The internationalisation
of ESADE has been one of the factors most
positively considered by this ranking as it is
highly valued for the number of international
companies who recruit students from the
school, as well as the number of foreign
participants in the classroom.
Programme Presentation
Why the ESADE MBA?
The most international experience youll
Average Age: 29
International Students: 95%
(167 students in total)
Europe: 26%
North America (US & Canada): 11%
Middle East: 4%
Asia Pacific: 30%
Africa: 1%
ever have. 95% international students in
class, global exchanges, internships and Latin America: 28%
study treks and over 50,000 alumni around
the world. Admission Requirements
Tailor-make your MBA in 12, 15 or 18
months and with a huge variety of electives University Degree: In any field
and 5 specialised business labs to make your
GMAT (average): 660
experience your own. Minimum Length of Work Experience:
Real world challenges, in an MBA where we
learn by doing. Action Learning Consultancy Two years / Average: Five years
Project, Challenge Based Innovation with
CERN, Case competitions and international Costs
growth challenges with global business
schools.
Application Fees: 135 EUR
MBA ranked 8th in Europe and 19th in Tuition Fees: 61,700 EUR
the world (Financial Times 2016). 1st Best
Programme in Europe for Placement Success
(The Economist 2015), 2nd for Salary Contacts
Increase (Financial Times 2016) and 3rd for
Student Satisfaction (Financial Times 2016). Name: Admissions
68% average salary increase after Email: esadebschool.admissions@esade.edu
graduation. Telephone: +34 934 952 088
Experience Barcelona: ranked as one of Website: www.esade.edu/ftmba
Europes top cities in which to live.

Programme Info:
Accreditations: AACSB, EQUIS and the Association of MBAs

Rankings: 8th in Europe, 23rd in the world (The Financial Times 2016)
Type of Programme: Full-time MBA
Programme Format: 12-15-18 months
Specialise in Entrepreneurship, Family Business, Finance, Innovation,
Content Strength or
or Marketing through our Business Labs, gaining certification in these
Specialisation:
areas
Languages Courses: English

Application Deadlines: Rolling admissions process, all year round

Starting Dates: September 2016

Exchange Programme: 40 top exchange schools around the world
Percentage of salary 68%
increase after graduation

100
 RAISE YOUR GAME
Full Time MBA
The Full Time MBA is a top-ranked
flexible programme that will increase your
management and business knowledge and
leadership skills in a multicultural, co-creative
environment combining the expertise of
a prestigious Business School with the
cosmopolitan business city of Barcelona.
You will create you own and unique MBA
experience that will prepare you for a
successful career.
Why the Full Time MBA? More information
5th Best Business School in Europe
Financial Times 2015. Tel. +34 934 952 088
Choose the length of study: 12-15-18 month tracks. www.esade.edu/ftmba
Global Experience through an Exchange Programme,
Global Study Tours, Career Treks, and Internships.
Diversity: 95% of international students and
50 nationalities in class.
Specialisation in one of our 5 Business Labs.
Real World Challenges with CERN, the ESADE
Creapolis ecosystem of companies and start- theESADEmba
ups and partner schools around the world.
MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

EU Business School: Excellence

in Business Education
EUROPE
Student Body

Ratio of Applicants to Places: 10/7

Male Female Ratio: 46/54%
Kazakhstan, Canada and Russia among Age Range: 22-35
others. Average Age: 26
Degree Background:
Geneva, Montreux, Barcelona, Munich Programme Presentation Business,Engineering, Sciences
International Students: 99%
The EU Group is a network of professionally Graduate students across all of our
accredited, multicultural, high-ranking campuses benefit from maximum flexibility, Europe: 60%
business schools established in 1973. In with a number of study options that can North America: 5%
addition to small, dynamic classes offered suit their individual requirements and Central/South America: 14%
in English, EU students also enjoy a global needs. EU MBA options are offered in: Middle East: 5%
environment while getting the best of both International Business; Communication & Oceania and Asia: 10%
North American and European academic PR; International Marketing; Global Banking
curricula. & Finance; Leadership; and E-Business, Africa: 5%
among others. The programs last one year,
We offer various programs at masters full time, or two years, part time, and require Admission Requirements
(MSc/MBA) level, both onsite and online, students to complete a dissertation.
in majors such as Business Administration; University Degree: A bachelors degree
Communication & Public Relations; Leisure EU students also have the option of gaining from an accredited college or university
& Tourism Management; Business Finance; a U.K. state-accredited MSc in International
Sports Management; International Relations; Management or an MBA, awarded by the GMAT (average): Satisfactory
International Business; Entrepreneurship; University of Roehampton, in addition to TOEFL: 233 (computer-based), 89
and E-Business. their EU MBA; or completing a full graduate (internet-based), 577 (paper-based)
degree, awarded by the University of References: Two
The EU Group has a global network of Roehampton on EUs Barcelona and Munich Minimum Length of Work Experience:
campuses, and we encourage students campuses.
to participate in exchange opportunities Three years
within the EU Group in Barcelona, Geneva, Our Online MBA program, which mirrors the
Montreux and Munich, and with partner on-campus version, has now been ranked Costs
institutions in the U.S.A., China, the U.K., best online MBA in the world two years in
Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, Mexico, Brazil, a row by CEO Magazine. Application Fees: 200 EUR
Tuition Fees:
Barcelona - 5,500 EUR per term + 3,000
Programme Info: EUR advanced tuition payment
Accreditations: ACBSP, IACBE, CEEMAN IQA, EDUQUA Switzerland - 11,200 CHF per term +
Online MBA number one in this years CEO Magazine global online 3,000 CHF advanced tuition payment
rankings Munich - 6,000 EUR per term (Terms I +
Rankings: MBA ranked top tier in Europe in this years CEO Magazine global II) 6,500 EUR per term (Term III) + 3,000
online rankings
Executive MBA ranked top tier globally
EUR advanced tuition payment
Full-time MBA, part-time MBA, Online MBA, Executive MBA Scholarships: Merit-based scholarships,
Type of Programme:
low-interest student loans or even
Programme Format: Full-time, part-time, and online
financial aid from employers
16 different graduate pathways to choose from
Content Strength or Language Courses: The English Foundation Program is provided to
Specialisation: students who want or need to improve their level of English before their Contacts
Masters studies
Rolling admissions Name: Admissions Department
Application Deadlines:
Email: info.bcn@euruni.edu
Starting Dates: October, January, March
Telephone: +34932018171
Transfer to any of the four main campuses after any completed term.
Exchange Programme: We also have exchange programs with a long list of other universities Website: www.euruni.edu/euruni/
around the world Admissions/EU-Business-School-
Percentage of salary 138% Admissions.html
increase after graduation

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 EU Prepares You
MBA INTERVIEW
for the Working World
Could you please describe
your MBA/EMBA/Masters
programmes?
At EU, we believe in providing a
comprehensive business education that
prepares our students to move straight
into the real world. To this end, we focus
on pragmatic teaching.
Our case studies are a tried and tested
method of giving students engaging
material that they can use to apply the
theory they have learned in the classroom.
Taking this one step further, we now enter
students into a web-based competitive
business simulation. This gives participants
business decision-making experience, as
close to real-life as possible, in a classroom
environment.
What is your school doing to
remain at the forefront of
business and management
thinking?
Many faculty members at EU are actively
involved with their own businesses, giving
the school years of experience to draw on
and an active eye on shifting trends in the
market. With this valuable knowledge, we
are able to continually review and adapt
course content to remain relevant in todays
business context.
Our wide use of industrial visits and
expert guest speakers allows our students
to experience first-hand the business
practices that they have learned about in
class. Students ask our guests personally
relevant questions, which not only gives
them a deeper understanding of common
practices, but often opens up new avenues
of thought.
What type of candidates are
you looking for?
At EU, we believe that an important
part of education is the sharing of ideas
Christine Clarke
Barcelona Academic Dean
EU Business School
Clarkes relationship with EU dates
back 19 years to 1995, when she
was invited to deliver a course:
Professional Communications
Dynamics. Since then she has taught
various subjects including sales and
purchasing, management, strategy,
entrepreneurship and specialist
English. She also coordinates course
development. Dean Clarke is an
entrepreneur and self-starter, and
has established her own language
and communications businesses.
She keeps a keen eye on market and
academic progress, and continually
tweaks her teaching style to remain
at the forefront of business education.
between students. Therefore, dedicated
and ambitious classmates provide more
varied and in-depth discussion. This is why
we look for young-spirited, internationally
minded individuals who can both contribute
to and benefit from the dynamic, diverse
environment of EU programmes.
What makes your MBA/EMBA/
Masters special?
Diversity makes EU as a whole stand out.
We have a notably even gender balance
and a truly multinational student body.
Another aspect is our focus on applicable
theory EU prepares students not just for
exams, but for the working world.
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017
Could you describe your
programmes structure and
curriculum?
EU MBAs are made up of three terms,
a dissertation and a variety of seminars
and industrial visits which provide a solid
background to enter the working world.
The first two terms form a solid foundation
of business knowledge, covering many
different aspects of business to allow
students to adapt. During these terms,
the online business simulation programme
is introduced. This enables students to
put what they have learned into practice.
In the third term students choose from
12 majors such as International Business,
Communication & Public Relations,
Global Banking & Finance and Sports
Management. The third term is when
students develop a specialisation using
the essential business concepts learned
in the first two terms.
To finish the course, students complete
a challenging post-course dissertation,
which they must defend in front of a panel.
What types of organisations
tend to employ your graduates
the most?
The organisations are as diverse as
our students! From starting their own
businesses or being employed in growing
start-ups to employment in medium-sized
businesses and MNOs.
What advice would you give to
potential candidates?
To ensure they take care of their soft skills
development. Recruiters are increasingly
taking technical skills for granted and basing
recruitment decisions on leadership, team
and communication skills, along with an
international mind set and adaptability,
all of which we are looking to develop in
our successful candidates.
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MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

EDHEC GLOBAL MBA

Change Yourself, Change the World
FRANCE
Student Body

Male Female Ratio: 56/44%

Age Range: 27-47
Average Age: 33
Professional Experience: 8 years
International Students: 96%
Programme Presentation International students, 32 Nationalities

EDHEC Business School has been providing A 10-month, Full-time MBA, entirely in Admission Requirements
first-class management education for more English in Nice in the South of France EDHEC
than 100 years and is constantly ranked GLOBAL MBA is the ideal programme, for: University Degree: Bachelors
among the Top 5 Business Schools in professionals who wish to give a stagnating
France. EDHEC aims to be recognised for career a boost GMAT: Compulsory
its high-quality research and education those with a specialised background English Test(s): English tested at
and for innovative ideas and tools that wanting to develop general management Interview
impact business. This EDHEC for Business know-how References: Two
strategy is underpinned by excellent professionals moving to another field
those thinking of starting their own Minimum Length of Work Experience:
academic research, the results of which
are systematically disseminated through company Three years
EDHECs academic programmes, and to the
Ranked in the Financial Times 2016: N3 in
business world and society at large.
France, N84 in the World, N3 Worldwide Costs
for Value For Money.
EDHEC holds the Triple Crown of The Economist 2015: N10 in Europe, N34 in Application Fees: 100 EUR
international accreditations (AACSB, AMBA, the World, N2 Worldwide for Educational
and EQUIS). Tuition Fees: 41,000 EUR September
Experience. 2016 and January 2017 intakes
Key facts : Our guaranteed scholarships offer including the two Business Trips (plane
5 campuses: Lille, Nice, Paris, London reductions of up to 50% through GMAT/ tickets, accommodation and most of
and Singapore GRE, Nationality, or others. the food)
7,000 students and 10,000 participants
in Executive Education, conferences and EDHEC GLOBAL MBA offers two Global
seminars organised in 28 global economic Business Trips to South Africa and to London, Scholarships:
capitals Singapore or San Francisco, depending on
20 degree programmes: Undergraduates, track choice. (included in the fees) Excellence: 50% reduction for
Masters in Management, Masters of candidates with a GMAT score of 720
Science, MBAs, PhD EDHECs exclusive CareerSMART is integrated or over
Over 30,000 graduates in 120 countries into the curriculum and is designed to give
142 permanent faculty participants an intensive look at their career Premium: 40% reduction for candidates
13 research and teaching chairs aspirations from the beginning of their MBA. with a GMAT score of 650-710
Merit: 30% reduction based on GMAT
and academic potential
1st Nationality: 20% reduction for
the first three candidates of each
Programme Info: nationality to enrol
Accreditations: AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Type of Programme: General MBA Contacts
Programme Format: 10-month Full-time MBA
The ability to choose between three tracks: Global Finance (Trip to Name: Franoise Evangelisti, Nikki Harle
Content Strength or
London), Entrepreneurship (Trip to San Francisco) and Leadership (Trip and Lucas Malki
Specialisation:
to Singapore) Email: mba.admissions@edhec.edu
Languages Courses: English Telephone: +33 4 93 18 78 56
Application Deadlines: 30 June and 30 November Website: www.edhec-mba.com
Starting Dates: September or January
Percentage of salary Increase on pre-MBA salary 77% (Economist Ranking 2015)
increase after graduation

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MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

Bringing Business to the Classroom

and the Class to Business!
GERMANY
Student Body

Male Female Ratio: 53/47%

Frankfurt School offers a suite of
internationally accredited and ranked
MBA and EMBA programmes catering to
the needs of professionals at every level
of management. Our programmes are
offered both full and part-time and follow
the participant-centred learning approach
developed by Harvard Business School.
During our career and personal
development oriented MBAs you will gain
a transformational learning experience
which will prepare you for the next level
of leadership. We bring business to the
classroom and offer valuable networking
opportunities, company visits and executive
talks to learn from the best.
Earn your MBA with specialisations like
general management & leadership or
international healthcare management in
the economic heart of Europe!
Programme Presentation
The Frankfurt MBA; available as a full-time
and part-time programme, builds on 60
Age Range: 24-36
Average Age: 29
Degree Background: Diverse. First
degree mandatory
International Students: 80%,
23 Nationalities
years of teaching and research at Frankfurt
School, one of Germanys top-ranked Admission Requirements
business schools.
University Degree: Yes
Our value proposition for you: GMAT (minimum): no minimum,
alternatively Frankfurt School
Transformational learning experiences Admission Test
Comprehensive career development
German excellence, global relevance TOEFL: min 90 or IELTS 6,5
References: Two
We prepare you for your further career Minimum Length of Work Experience:
with hands-on and up-to-date case studies, Two years
industry networking and company visits.
Highlights of The Frankfurt MBA: Costs
Europes economic capital is the ideal Application Fees: none
location for your MBA Tuition Fees FT: 31,900 EUR
Global perspectives and international Tuition Fees PT: 34,900 EUR
student community
Two international study trips to FT top- Scholarships: partial scholarships
ranked business schools available
Intensive German lessons to maximise
your job chances Contacts
Outstanding faculty and executive talks:
In the Boardroom Email: mba@fs.de
Strong career and personal development
Telephone: +49 (0)69154008-809
Website: www.fs.de/mba

Programme Info:
Type of Programme:
Programme Format:
Content Strength or
Specialisation:
Languages Courses:
Application Deadlines:
Starting Dates:
Exchange Programme:
MBA
Available as full-time (12 + 3 months) and part-time (16 weekends + 2
block weeks)
General Management & Leadership. Strong focus on career develop-
ment FT and personal development PT
Lectures in English, Full-time MBA offers free German classes
30 Nov: 5,000 EUR Early Bird Deadline
28 Feb: 2,500 EUR Early Bird Deadline
31 May: Scholarship Deadline
31 July: Final Application Deadline
October
Full-time: 2 modules abroad in Bocconi/Milan and Norwegian BS/Oslo
Part-time: 1 module abroad at top ranked BS in USA or Asia

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MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

Educating Tomorrows Business Leaders

spain
Student Body

Male Female Ratio: 70/30%

IE Business School is one of the worlds top
international business schools. A pioneer in
business education, IE shapes tomorrows
business leaders with an innovative
approach and acts as a catalyst for the
creation of new businesses.
IE Business Schools MBA programmes have
been met with worldwide acclaim. Featuring
highly in Financial Times, The Economist and
Business Week business school rankings,
these programmes elevate IE to the position
of a global leader in business education
and cement an already proven reputation.
Catering to the real needs of the corporate
world, IE Business School offers a number
of formats to ensure utmost flexibility in its
programmes.
Programme Presentation
The one-year Full-time International MBA
minimises time away from your professional
career while offering students far more
than just the average MBA degree. The
programme is held at our urban Madrid
campus, giving participants the chance to
earn their MBA degree in one of the greatest
capitals of Europe.
(programmes vary)
Age Range:
International MBA: 29
Global MBA: 30+
Executive MBA: 35+
Global Executive MBA: 37
IE Brown Executive MBA: 37
IE-SMU MBA: 30
The Global MBA programme, considered
the #1 Online MBA Worldwide (Financial Degree Background: Varies
Times, 2016), is aimed at professionals International Students: 90%
with an average of 10 years of experience.
The programme is designed especially Admission Requirements
for professionals who wish to polish their
strategic business vision, leadership and International MBA: Bachelors degree
team management skills to meet the
requirements of a modern leader. and GMAT or IE Admissions test and
professional experience
The Global Executive MBA is a programme Global MBA: Bachelors degree and
tailored for senior executives with GMAT or IE Admissions test and
transnational responsabilities and a need professional experience
to grow from an international perspective.
Global Executive MBA: Bachelors
The IE Brown Executive MBA is a programme degree and managerial experience
taught in collaboration with Brown IE Brown Executive MBA: Bachelors
University, which combines management degree and managerial experience
with liberal arts in Spain, US and South
Africa.
Costs
The IE-SMU MBA is an intensive 13-month
MBA programme designed by IE Business Application Fees: 125 EUR
School and Singapore Management Tuition Fees:
University to mould top leadership talent International MBA: 65,000 EUR
in Asia.
Global Executive MBA: 75,000 EUR
These two programmes combine face-to- Global MBA: 44,700 EUR
face studying with online learning. Executive MBA: 55,200 EUR
IE Brown Executive MBA: 130,000 USD
IE-SMU MBA: 74,900 SGD
Scholarships: www.ie.edu/financialaid

Programme Info:
Accreditations:
Rankings:
Type of Programme:
Programme Format:
Languages Courses:
Application Deadlines:
Percentage of Salary
Increase after Graduation:
Contacts
AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA Name: Admissions Department
#5 European Business School; Ranked among the top 3 in three consec- Email: admissions@ie.edu
utive years; #1 Worldwide Online MBA programme
Telephone: +34 91 568 96 00
MBA
Website: www.ie.edu/mbas
Full-time, Part-time and Blended (online and face-to-face periods
around the world)
MBAs are in both English and Spanish
Rolling admissions process
Please check the websites of specific programmes

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MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

HEC
HEC Paris MBA: A Leading Global MBA
FRANCE
Student Body

Male Female Ratio: 70/30%

HEC Paris is Europes premier business
school. With more alumni in CEO positions
than any other continental business school,
it is the alma mater of CEOs in Europe, with
those of BestBuy, LOreal, Kering, Lafarge,
AXA and the Executive Vice President of
Havas Worldwide hailing from HEC Paris,
to name but a few.
As well as gaining access to our alumni
network of 52,000 worldwide, our
students benefit from HEC Paris proximity
to La Dfense, the epicentre of European
business with the highest concentration of
multinational corporation headquarters on
the continent.
Our students constantly come into contact
with different backgrounds throughout the
MBA programme: our 200-strong student
body is made up of 90% international
students, with a wide range of academic
and professional experience.
Age Range: 25-35
Average Age: 30
International Students: 92%
Programme Presentation Africa: 4%
East and South Asia: 24%
At HEC Paris, we offer two different MBA Central Asia: 16%
options to our students: Full-time (16 Eastern and Central Europe: 5%
months) or Part-time (18 to 24 months).
Our curriculum, redesigned in partnership France: 8%
with Bain & Company, has two phases. The Latin America: 14%
Fundamental phase provides our students Middle East: 4 %
with advanced knowledge in essential North America: 13%
business disciplines. Students thus acquire Oceania: 1%
the key skills that are essential in carving Western Europe: 11%
out a career in business. The Customised
phase is more flexible in nature, giving
participants the opportunity to tailor their Admission Requirements
MBA by choosing from a range of electives
and fieldwork projects or by taking part in University Degree: Yes
an international exchange. GMAT (Minimum): Average 690
GRE (Minimum): Quantitative
Our ability to create business leaders
has been proven: 90% of our graduating Reasoning 65th percentile, Verbal
class find work within three months of Reasoning 65th percentile
graduation, with Amazon, Google, Goldman TOEFL (Minimum): 100 (IBT); 260 (CBT);
Sachs, McKinsey and LOral amongst our 600 (PBT)
top MBA recruiters. IELTS (Minimum): 6.5 Min PTE: 72
TOEIC (Minimum): 340 (speaking &
writing)
References: Two online forms to
complete
Minimum Length of Work Experience:
Between 2 and 10 years of professional
working experience

Costs

Programme Info: Application Fees: 200 EUR

Accreditations:
Rankings:
Type of Programme:
Course Specialisations:
Application Deadlines:
Starting Dates:
AMBA, EQUIS, AACSB Tuition Fees: 56,000 EUR
The Economist: #1 MBA in Europe (2015), #5 Worldwide (2015), the
Scholarships: Available after admission
Financial Times Global MBA Ranking: #15 Worldwide (2016), America
Economia: #4 Worldwide (2015). HEC Paris has been consistently ranked Contacts
#1 Business School in Europe by the Financial Times since 2006.
Generalist MBA Name: Admissions Office
Strategy, Marketing, Advanced Management in Global Enterprises, Email: admissionmba@hec.fr
Entrepreneurship, Finance Telephone: + 33 1 39 67 95 46
Rolling + 33 1 39 67 73 83
September and January Website: www.mba.hec.edu

Exchange Programme: 12 Double Degrees, over 40 academic partnerships worldwide

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MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

Making Connections, Accelerating Careers

U nited K ingdom
Student Body

Male Female Ratio: 43/54%

Age Range: 25-40
Average Age: 30
Degree Background: Students will be
Programme Presentation accepted with any degree discipline,
the degree discipline of our students
The Leeds MBA combines academic rigour varies every year however common
with practical leadership development degree backgrounds include business,
LEEDS UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL challenges that mean youre ready for
boasts a growing number of international senior management-level positions as engineering, computing, health care,
accolades reflecting the excellent teaching soon as you graduate. Our core programme maths and communications studies.
and learning experience we offer and our covers the broad fundamentals of business International Students:
commitment to your future career. We are management. You gain an understanding of Europe: 16%
a triple accredited, world ranked and award the key components of business marketing, Central/South America: 3%
winning business school. Our MBA is 98th accounting, finance, operations and human Middle East: 10 %
in the world (Financial Times Global MBA resource management. Alongside these
subjects you will explore how to manage Oceania and Asia: 66 %
Rankings 2016) and two of our Masters
MSc Accounting and Finance and MSc and lead people in organisations. Africa: 3%
International Business feature in the
prestigious Financial Times Global Rankings. A key aspect of The Leeds MBA is the live Admission Requirements
challenges that will stretch your thinking
The School is part of the University of Leeds, and your abilities. We encourage you to University Degree: Equivalent to a UK
a leading institution in enterprise, having develop your knowledge and links with upper second (2.1)
been awarded Entrepreneurial University the corporate world through our business
speaker events and international study GMAT: not required
of the Year (Times Higher Education
Awards 2015) and the Duke of York Award tours. The MBA culminates in your Individual IELTS: 6.5 with no less than 6 in each
for University Entrepreneurship (National Project this can be a consultancy project, component is preferred
Business Awards 2015). We are located an entrepreneurial project relating to a new TOEFL IBT: minimum overall score of
in the City of Leeds, a hub for financial business venture or a research dissertation. 92 in the Internet-based test with at
services and home to many national and least 21 in listening, 21 in reading, 23 in
international companies, such as Ernst & Drawing on the strengths of a vibrant city,
a highly ranked University and contacts speaking and 22 in writing
Young, Asda-Walmart and KPMG. Meaning
that Leeds is the ideal place for those looking with companies in various sectors, our full- References: Two references; one
to develop their career or expand their own time MBA offers a top-quality learning and academic and one employer
business. development experience. Minimum Length of Work Experience:
At least three years postgraduate
work experience is required before you
Programme Info: apply. This should include appropriate
AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB supervisory or management experience
Accreditations:
The Leeds MBA is ranked 98th in the world (Financial Times Global MBA
Rankings:
Rankings 2016) Costs
Type of Programme: Full-time
Tuition Fees: 25,000 GBP
A 12-month programme including a combination of lectures, tutorials,
Programme Format: Scholarships: Available and worth up to
workshops and challenges
Content Strength or Entrepreneurship, Finance, International Business, Leadership, Market- 50% of the tuition fee
Specialisation: ing and Strategy
Programme specific pre-sessional courses available at the University of Contacts
Languages Courses: Leeds Language Centre
Application Deadlines: 30 June 2016/30 June 2017 Name: MBA admissions
Email: mba@lubs.leeds.ac.uk
Starting Dates: September each year
Telephone: +44 (0)113 343 4908
Percentage of salary 79% Website: www.business.leeds.ac.uk
increase after graduation:

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MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

A Unique Learning and Networking Experience

MONACO
Student Body

Ratio of Applicants to Places: 1 place

for 3 applications
Male Female Ratio: 40%/60%
Age Range: 28 -52
Average Age: 32
Degree Background: Bachelors or
Masters degree
Programme Presentation International Students: 100%
Europe: 56%
The International University of Monaco is The IUMs AMBA accredited MBA is ranked North America: 12%
a private business school recognised and among the top 100 programmes in the world
certified by the Government of Monaco. (The Economist). In addition to its strong Central/South America: 8%
IUM offers students a thorough Business international environment, IUM offers small Middle East: 4%
education in English in a highly diverse class sizes and individualised attention in Oceania and Asia: 20%
cultural environment. IUM proposes one of the safest states in the world. IUMs Latin America: see Central/South
graduate degrees in Business Administration, graduates occupy leading management America
Finance, Luxury Management, Marketing, positions all around the world, and a degree
Sport Business Management and from IUM is a passport to valuable contacts
International Management. worldwide. Admission Requirements
University Degree: Bachelors or
Masters degree
GMAT: 550 recommended
TOEFL: 79 minimum
References: One reference letter
requested
Minimum Length of Work Experience:
Three years

Costs
Application Fees: 100 EUR
Tuition Fees: 32,500 EUR
Scholarships: Merit-based scholarship
available - up to 5,000 EUR

Contacts

Programme Info: Name: Mrs Diana Nyerges

Accreditations:
Rankings:
Type of Programme:
Programme Format:
Content Strength or
Specialisation:
Languages Courses:
Application Deadlines:
Starting Dates:
Percentage of salary
increase after graduation:
AMBA accredited
Email: dnyerges@monaco.edu
Telephone: +377.97.986.996
Ranked number 83 by the Economist
Website: www.monaco.edu
Full-time and online
Full-time: 10 months Online: from 1 to 3 years (flexible)
Luxury Management, Applied Finance, Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Programme taught entirely in English
31st August
September 2016 for full-time October 2016 for online
60%

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MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

Live in Paris, Study in English

and Advance Your Career!
FRANCE
Student Body

Male Female Ratio: 45/55%

ISEG School of Management is a Top
10 French Business School recognised
for the excellence of its programmes, its
internationalisation and the quality of its
research. It has been accredited by both
EQUIS and AACSB and ranked 21st in the
Financial Times 2015 Rankings for its
Masters in Management. ISEG has over
80% international permanent professors,
with 44% of its close to 4,300-strong student
body having an international background,
representing 98 nationalities.
ISEG has a strong international mindset,
notably seen in its partnerships with more
than 235 universities in more than 60
countries, and the fact that over 80% of its
permanent professors have multicultural
backgrounds and experience. The School
is made up of around 4,300 students,
nearly 1,900 of whom come from outside
of France. French classes are provided to
foreign students at all levels, from beginner
to advanced.
The School has built close relationships with
over 2,500 companies. All students, from
Bachelors to Masters level, gain experience
through placements.
Age Range: 30
Degree Background: Accounting &
Audit, Social Sciences & Humanities,
Engineering & IT, Business
Administration & Management,
Marketing & Communication,
Sciences
Programme Presentation International Students: 14 nationalities
Europe: 20%
The International MBA is a one-year full- North America: 8%
time programme taught in English. Its
Central/South America: 16%
location in Paris La Dfense is at the heart
of the largest business district in Europe. Oceania and Asia: 52%
The curriculum lays a strong foundation of Africa: 4%
theoretical knowledge, which participants
learn to apply in various practical contexts Admission Requirements
through a combination of case studies and
real-life examples. The iMBA programme
focuses on the development of the skills, University Degree: Bachelors degree in
knowledge and expertise necessary for any field
candidates next professional challenge. GMAT: Recommended, not mandatory
IMBA students receive guidance through TOEFL IBT: min 85
small-group workshops and interactions IELTS: min 6.5
with corporate professionals. In order
to complete the iMBA, candidates can TOEIC: min 800
create a business plan in collaboration References: Online application with 2
with a practitioner-instructor through named referees
a placement, a consulting project or a Minimum Length of Work Experience:
thesis. On a personal level, the Talent Three years of full-time and post-
Career Support programme is carried out
by accredited coaches and tutors and aims graduate work experience
to meet each candidates specific needs.
Trainers within the programme use proven Costs
tools and techniques to prepare students
individually, not only for their next position, Application Fees: 80 EUR
but for their entire career.
Tuition Fees: 20,000 EUR
Scholarships: from 10% up to 50% in
the form of a tuition waiver

Programme Info:
Accreditations:
Rankings:
Type of Programme:
Programme Format:
Content Strength or
Specialisation:
Languages Courses:
Application Deadlines:
Starting Dates:
Contacts
Name: International Recruitment Office
EQUIS and AACSB
Email: imba@ieseg.fr
21st in the Financial Times (Masters in Management)
Telephone: +33 3 20 54 58 92
Full-time International MBA / part-time Executive MBA
Website: www.ieseg.fr
12 months International MBA / 18 months Executive MBA
General Management
English + French courses for non-French speakers
Rolling admission process to 27th May for non-European candidates +
24th June for European candidates
29th August 2016

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Transform your Career and Become

an Elite Performer in Business
Transform your career, and become an
elite performer in business with The
Loughborough MBA, based just 90
mins. from London. Study alongside
an international cohort of experienced
managers at a Top-10 UK business school,
among just 1% of business schools in the
world to hold AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA
accreditation, with the option to extend
your studies to include a 45 to 52-week
professional internship.
As a first-class university, Loughborough
is proud to be ranked 4th in the Guardian
University League table 2017. Loughborough
is also the only university to have been
voted Englands Best Student Experience
for six consecutive years in the Times Higher
Education league table. As a Loughborough
MBA delegate, the time you will spend at
the School of Business and Economics will
shape who you will become in the most
positive way.
At Loughborough we believe competition
can be rewarding. In order to attract the
very best applicants, the School of Business
and Economics offers a range of competitive
scholarships and bursaries, worth up to
40% of fees. Deadlines apply (applicants
should be self-funded and include a personal
statement with their application). Applicants
may be eligible for other University awards.
Programme Presentation
Inspiring winners
At Loughborough we develop winners.
If you want to be an elite performer in
business, accelerate your career and learn
how to maximise business performance,
the Loughborough MBA is internationally
respected and will help you achieve your
career ambitions.
As part of a small, international cohort of
professionals with a minimum of 3 years,
management experience you will learn how
to adapt management theory into powerful,
innovative and practical business solutions,
and build lasting business networks with
your fellow students.
You will learn new ways to approach
problems, grow in confidence as a decision
maker, benefit from other students
experience, and adapt management theory
into powerful, practical strategies to improve
your business.
Internship opportunities
The Loughborough MBA is a one-year
programme. However, there is also the
option to extend your studies to two years
by including a 45 to 52-week internship,
giving you a fantastic opportunity to impress
potential employers and apply what you
have learned.See www.lboro.ac.uk/mba/
programme/options for more details.
U nited K ingdom
Student Body
Ratio of Applicants to Places: 11/1
Male/Female Ratio: 55/45%
Age Range: 24-45
Average Range: 29.8
Number of nationalities: 17
International Students: 89%
North America: 10%
Latin America: 2.5%
Europe: 10.5%
Asia: 75%
Admission Requirements
University degree: Bachelors (or
significant work experience)
GMAT: Not required
IELTS: 6.5 overall average, with at least
6.0 in each component. Applicants
without the required IELTS result may
be receive a conditional offer subject to
reaching the Universitys standard IELTS
requirement as above
TOEFL: iBT Overall score of 92, with not
less than 22 in each test. Other English
language qualifications:
www.lboro.ac.uk/international/
applicants/english
References: Covering at least 3 years
management experience and an
academic reference
Minimum Length of Work Experience:
Average 5.8 years, min 3 years
management/professional experience
plus degree see www.lboro.ac.uk/mba

Costs
Tuition Fees: 25,000 GBP (2017 entry)
Programme Info: for all MBA programmes
Accreditations: AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA Scholarships: Up to 40% of fees
Top-10 UK business school, 7th for Business Studies in The Times and
Sunday Times Complete University Guide 2016, 7th for Finance and Contacts
Rankings: Accounting in The Times and Sunday Times Complete University Guide
2016, Loughborough University 4th in the 2017 Guardian University Name: Frances Capps, (Postgraduate
League Table Programmes Administrator)
Type of Programme: Full-time MBA (1 year or 2 years with optional internship) Email: mba@lboro.ac.uk
Starting Dates: September Telephone: +44(0)1509 228842
Length of Course:
Full-time MBA: 12 months Website: www.lboro.ac.uk/mba
Full-time MBA with Internship pathway: 24 months

ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 113

MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

The Manchester MBA - Who Will You Become?

U nited K ingdom
Student Body

Ratio of Applicants to Places: 5/1

Male Female Ratio: 65/35%
Age Range: 2535 (middle 80%)
Average Range: 29
Degree Background: Diverse
International Students:
Europe: 23%
Established in 1965 as one of the UKs first put it into practice from day one with live North America: 5%
two business schools, Alliance Manchester consultancy project work and internships
Business School, The University of with high profile multinational corporations. Central/South America: 8%
Manchester is the UKs largest campus-based Middle East: 6%
business and management school. Located Our unique, hands-on programme gives you Oceania and Asia: 41%
in Manchester, the home of original thinkers, more client-facing hours than almost any Africa: 3%
Original Thinking Applied is at the heart other MBA programme nearly six months Latin America: 14%
of everything we do. We provide industry- worth so you can test theories immediately
focused education to undergraduates, in real world situations and wont feel
postgraduates and executives, and our completely removed from the commercial Admission Requirements
influential research impacts business locally, environment. You will gain international
nationally and internationally. experience through project work, the University degree: Bachelors (or
international exchange programme, and significant work experience)
We are ranked 2nd in the UK for research the chance to take an elective course or
power, and 4th for depth and breadth of study tour at one of our global centres in GMAT: 550 / GRE / Manchester
research (REF 2014), and we are one of Dubai, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore and Admissions Test
few institutions to have achieved triple So Paulo. English qualification: TOEFL 90 / IELTS
accreditation from AACSB International, 6.5 / PTE 59-65
AMBA and EQUIS. Plus, with centres in The Manchester MBA will take you out References: Two professional
Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Miami, of your comfort zone from day one and
Shanghai and So Paulo, our reach is truly encourage you to think, question and Minimum Length of Work Experience:
global. find solutions to complex, global business Three years, full-time post-graduation
problems. We offer personalised careers work experience
Programme Presentation support starting before you arrive in
Manchester and, in 2015, 87% of graduates Costs
The Manchester Full-time MBA not only looking for work had accepted an MBA level
gives you a thorough grounding in business offer of employment within three months
theory, it also gives you the opportunity to of graduating. Tuition Fees: 42,000 GBP
Scholarships: Up to full fees for UK
applicants (3 awards) 5,000 GBP, 10,000
GBP, 15,000 GBP and 20,000 GBP for
Programme Info: UK/EU/Rest of world applicants (up to
Alliance MBS is part of a small and select group of institutions world- 30 awards)
Accreditations: wide that is accredited by all three major bodies - AACSB International,
AMBA and EQUIS.
Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2016: We are positioned 7th in Contacts
Rankings: the UK, 14th in Europe and 38th in the world. We are ranked 6th in the
world, outside the US, by business title Forbes. Name: Alliance Manchester Business
Type of Programme: Full-time MBA School
18 months including a 3-month optional internship and a 3-month Email: mba@mbs.ac.uk
Programme Format: optional international exchange. The programme can also be completed Telephone: +44 (0) 161 275 6414
in 12 or 15 months. Website: www.mbs.ac.uk/mba
Beginning of June for International non-European applicants and
Application Deadlines:
beginning of July for UK and European Union applicants.
Starting Dates: September 2017
Exchange programme: Yes
Percentage salary
96% within three years (FT Global MBA Ranking 2016)
increase after graduation:

114
MBA INTERVIEW
Smart Learning Applied
to MBA Programmes
MIP is at the forefront of education and designed
to take you to the next professional level
What are the characteristics of
your MBA programme?
Our MBA programmes are characterised by
a close relationship with partner companies,
which actively take part in the design of the
MBA programmes. The smart learning of
all our MBAs is also an important element:
the digital approach is a strong component.
Our MBAs inherited the tradition of the
engineering mind-set, applying an analytical
approach and practical experience.
What types of people are drawn
to your MBA?
Ambition, independence and humility
are highly desirable characteristics. We
are looking for people who are highly
motivated to bring their own personal
contribution to the class and to promote
diversity.
Our International MBA programmes
are designed to suit the needs of every
prospective student, with a Full-time,
Part-time and Digital version available. The
new International Executive MBA (i-Flex),
developed in Smart Learning in partnership
with WOBI, the World of Business Ideas,
is entirely taught in English. In addition
to the Smart Learning experience
and Politecnicos didactic approach,
participants benefit from content quality
and the experts international outlook
in each of the management disciplines
addressed.
Experts include Martin Lindstrom, Joseph
Stiglitz, Nouriel Roubini and inspiring
celebrities such as Chris Gardner and Andre
Agassi. The i-Flex has been chosen as one of
P&G, Amazon, to name just a few), to
MIP Politecnico di Milano
Headquarters Building
Based in Milan and founded in 1979 as
a Consortium between the Politecnico
di Milano several leading public and
private companies, today MIP is a
not-for-profit consortium limited
company. MIP and the Department
of Management, Economics and
Industrial Engineering together make
up Politecnico di Milanos School of
Management, which is involved in all
aspects surrounding research and
education in the fields of management,
economics and industrial engineering.
the six most innovative MBAs world-wide
by a commission of experts from AMBA.
What is the philosophy of your
MBA programme?
The Programme is designed for talented
professionals who want to grow in their
career and apply the newly acquired skills
back in the workplace.
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017
The small classes allow for personalised
attention. In particular, Career Service
representatives offer a unique service,
working with candidates and key
stakeholders within important companies
(Ferrari, Gucci, Pirelli, Whirlpool, Luxottica,
understand both parties requirements
and find the most suitable matches for
in-company projects and placement
opportunities.
More than 30 companies actively
participate in the MBA bootcamps during
the programme.
What advice do you have for
our readers who are thinking
about getting an MBA?
We tend to suggest an MBA to those
candidates who feel they still have some
skills missing if they want to become
competent managers in a globalised world.
What is your school doing to
remain at the forefront of
business and management
thinking?
MIP is part of Politecnico di Milanos
School of Management, together with the
Department of Management, Economics
and Industrial Engineering (DIG).
Through its two constituent bodies DIG
and MIP the School of Management
delivers an end-to-end portfolio of
services in research, education and
high-level consultancy within the field of
management, economics, and industrial
engineering.
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MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

Hands-on International Management

GERMANY
Student Body

Ratio of Applicants to Places: 3/1

At our private university, students are
educated to become senior managers. After
its founding in 1991, Munich Business School
was able to set benchmarks in the German
landscape of higher education particularly
in two areas: the international focus and
the hands-on approach of the studies have
become a distinctive feature of the training
at Munich Business School long before
these features were defined as objectives
at other universities.
Munich Business School creates an
environment in which learning, research
and personal development, as well as public-
spirited actions, are encouraged in many
different contexts. The active participants in
this procedure are the students, professors,
lecturers, companies, international partner
universities, alumni and the universitys
administration. Top quality training and
research is assured through this close and
personal contact between all participants.
Male Female Ratio: 30/70%
Age Range: 2540
Average Range: 29
Degree Background:
25% Engineering/IT
Programme Presentation 25% Business
50% other
The 15-month Full-time MBA in International International Students: 75-100%
Management at MBS prepares graduates
to work in a complex multicultural world.
It is focused on international candidates Admission Requirements
with a non-business degree, but offers
enough depth for business degree holders University degree: Bachelors
seeking to further refine and strengthen GMAT: 550
their education. TOEFL: 90
References: Two
The Munich MBA is designed to cement
business foundations, solidifying the basis Minimum Length of Work Experience:
for international and multicultural work. At least two years
Selection of two out of four elective courses,
an international focus and individual
immersion in a study period abroad, Costs
internship, or a global consulting project
combine to allow students to enhance Application Fees: 45 EUR
their knowledge of a specific country or Tuition Fees: 26,850 EUR
organisation. This process improves the Scholarships: MBS offers a limited
skill application and reinforces students number of partial scholarships to
adaptation to new businesses and cultural
environments throughout their career. outstanding candidates

Contacts
Name: Juliane Groe
Email: mba@munich-business-school.de
Telephone: +49 (0) 89 547678-254
Website: mba.munich-business-school.de

Programme Info:
Accreditations:
Type of Programme:
Programme format:
Content Strength or
Specialisation:
Languages Courses:
Application Deadlines:
Starting Dates:
Exchange Programme:
State Accreditation, German Council of Science, FIBAA
Full-time MBA
12-15 months full-time, on-campus instruction
International Management
English
3 July
1 September
Option for one international week at Corvinus School of Management
(Budapest) or one semester at another university; agreements with
over 45 institutions worldwide

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MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

The Only Triple-Accredited

One-Year MBA in Central Paris
FRANCE
Student Body

Ratio of Applicants to Places: 3/1

Male Female Ratio: 60/40%
Age Range: 26-40
Average Range: 33
Degree Background: Business &
Economics 29%, Sciences & Engineering
Resulting from the merger of two prestigious the NEOMA BS One-Year MBA emphasises
Grandes Ecoles, Rouen Business School developing high-level personal skills along 54%, Social Sciences & Law 13%, Others
(1871) in Normandy and Reims Management with modern business knowledge through 4%
School (1928) in Champagne-Ardenne, hands-on educational experience. International Students: 80%
NEOMA Business School is ranked among Europe: 30%
the best Management Schools in Europe An intensive format in the heart of Paris North America: 10%
and in the Top 10 in France according to with strong international exposure; 100%
the Financial Times. in English, 80% foreign participants; world Central/South America: 15%
class international faculty Middle East: 10%
NEOMA BS offers more than 20 programmes An MBA with international recognition, Oceania and Asia: 15%
in French and in English from MBA, EMBA, ranked one of the five best French MBAs by Africa: 10%
and Bachelors to PhD, along with highly the Financial Times Latin America: 10%
selective Specialised Masters and Masters An innovative programme structure
of Science. There are three campuses organised over 5 Key Phases to provide a
located in ROUEN, REIMS and central PARIS. 360 strategic vision of modern business Admission Requirements
Action-based Learning: participants
NEOMA BS is one of under 1% of business engineer a real companys globalisation University degree: Bachelors or
schools in the world to have achieved strategy through the International Masters degree
accreditation from all three major Consulting Project or launch a business
international accrediting bodies (AACSB, through the Entrepreneurial Development TOEFL: 550 /667 (PBT) 220/330 (CBT)
AMBA, and EQUIS). Project 79/120 (IBT)
Emphasis on career services and personal References: Two
Studying an MBA at our campus in the heart development, featuring an Integration Minimum Length of Work Experience:
of Paris, you will join one of the largest Seminar in the French Alps, and a Leadership Three years, professional experience
business school alumni networks in France seminar with the French Air Force
(55,000+ alumni).
NEOMA BS also offers the Executive MBA as Costs
Programme Presentation a part-time course, three days per month
for 18 months, to develop the competencies Application Fees: 150 EUR
Following its inaugural class in 1972, today expected from top management. Tuition Fees: 36,000 EUR
Scholarships: A wide range of
scholarships based on merit, diversity
and other criteria
Programme Info:
Accreditations: EQUIS, AMBA, AACSB, RNCP registered Cadre Dirigeant Contacts
#5 Ranked MBA Programme in France by The Financial Times 2015
European Business School Ranking Name: Will TOUSSAINT
Rankings: Email: will.toussaint@neoma-bs.fr
#5 Ranked MBA Programme in France by SMBG/Eduniversal 2016
Ranking Telephone: +33 01 73 06 98 06
MBA with a 360 vision of managerial practices and a totally unique Website: www.neoma-bs.com
Type of Programme:
approach to Strategy strongly linked to Business
Programme format: Full-time starting in September and ending in mid-July
Content Strength or Content specialisation is possible in the fifth and final phase of the MBA
Specialisation:
Up to 90 hours of French Language and Cultural Instruction for begin-
Languages Courses:
ners and intermediate students
Application Deadlines: August
Starting Dates: Beginning of September

ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 117

MBA INTERVIEW
Exploring Practice
on the Nottingham MBA
Jeti-Oluwai Olafimihan, Full-time MBA student in
Entrepreneurship shares with us about Business Practice Week
Each year Full-time Nottingham
MBA students take a one week
experiential tour to get a first-
hand taste of different types of
organisation, examining their
business models and approach
to problems. This year students
were treated to talks by a record
breaking polar explorer (and fellow
Nottingham MBA alumnus) Adrian
Hayes, and renowned business
leader and CEO of International
Airlines Group, Willie Walsh.
They also visited workplaces as diverse as
global aerospace company Rolls Royce, a
contemporary art gallery, financial services
giant Bloomberg, Experian, Boots, and
easyJet. Business Practice Week is part
of a wider programme of opportunities
for Nottingham MBA students to engage
directly with a variety of organisations and
understand how key business concepts are
most effectively applied. Business Practice
Week allows students to anchor their
learning in contemporary issues. Students
on the Nottingham MBA may also choose
to undertake an International Study Tour
to China, the USA and Malaysia, offering
invaluable insight into global business.
Business Practice Week, or what is
fondly known as BPW was an insightful
experience for a budding MBA like myself;
a week of early mornings, late nights, lots
of reflection, listening and writing.
Day one focused on Strategy and
Leadership. We started off BPW with the
most motivating and inspiring speaker,
Adrian Hayes, an adventurer, speaker and
business coach who really set the tone for
our week. He spoke about his inspiring
118
Nottingham University
Business School
South Building, Jubilee
Campus
The Nottingham MBA is an ad-
vanced management course
for ambitious people who aim
to develop informed perspec-
tives on business functions in
a rapidly changing global en-
vironment. Choose between
Full-time or Executive MBA,
with the opportunity to study
some modules in Singapore,
Malaysia, China or the US.
With a wide range of pathways
to focus your MBA on your ca-
reer objectives (such as entre-
preneurship, CSR, finance, &
healthcare) the Nottingham
MBA enables you to discover
and grow your leadership po-
tential.
journey and how he had managed to find
the holy grail of balancing passion and
business. We spent the rest of the day
visiting businesses that opened our minds
to the intricacies, struggles and tricks of
growing, building and managing strategy.
Day two focused on Operations
Management, Sustainability and Business
Economics. We visited operations at Rolls
Royce, saw logistics in action at Cooperative
Distribution Centre and watched cosmetics
production at Boots. Day twos take-always
focused on efficient business models, and
key operational issues and their solutions.
Next, we were off to Birmingham and
Luton. Tarmac was a great example of how
a constantly changing company could be
managed effectively and easyJet was an
excellent example of diversity, company
culture and strategy. After a short walk to
the hotel, we all ended our day with some
dinner and a relaxing drink!
Already the last day of our packed week
and we were off to London! After a hearty
breakfast at around 6am, we loaded up
the coach and headed to the tube station
to catch our train to London. Our first stop,
The Trampery, was an amazing visit for
budding entrepreneurs like myself. We were
fortunate to listen to three inspiring people
speak about their experiences with start-
ups. Shortly after lunch, we made our way
to our final visit for the week, Bloomberg.
Overall, BPW was inspiring and a great
complement to studying and lectures. I
think I can speak for most students in our
cohort when I say this was a nice break
from our linear lifestyles.
Ten reasons to do a
Nottingham MBA
1. Global Top 100 ranked Business School 6. Excellent career opportunities with higher than
average salaries
2. Equipping you with the skills and knowledge to
succeed in todays complex business environments 7. Beautiful green award winning sustainable
campuses with superb facilities in the UK, China,
3. Taught by world leading academics with research
Malaysia, and Singapore
expertise in leadership, entrepreneurship, risk
management and sustainability 8. Flexible study options for the Executive MBA
programme e.g. 2-4 years to complete with
4. Specialisms in CSR, Entrepreneurship, Finance
and Healthcare (Executive MBA only) various start times, modules to suit your needs,
and Pay As You Go payment
5. Strong links with industry and unrivalled
networking opportunities such as Business 9. Generous discounts for Nottingham alumni
Practice Week, International Study Tours (e.g. 10. Range of scholarships available
USA and China), Business School events and high
profile business speakers

Contact
Meet us at one of our MBA Breakfast or Taster events. For more information on how to apply, details of discounts and
scholarships, and general enquiries about our range of MBA programmes, please contact the MBA team at

Telephone: +44 (0) 115 951 5501 E-mail: mba@nottingham.ac.uk Web: www.nottingham.ac.uk/business/mba
MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

From Insight to Impact

S wit z erland
Student Body

Ratio of Applicants to Places: 5/1

Founded in 1898, the University of St.
Gallen has become a centre of excellence
through our practice-oriented approach,
international flair and integrative view of
studies. Today, we are one of Europes
leading business schools. The University
has a particularly strong reputation in the
German-speaking European countries of
Germany, Switzerland and Austria. At an
institution level, we are #4 in the Financial
Times European Business Schools 2015
ranking.
Programme Presentation
The Full-time MBA programme spans Core
Courses, Integration Courses, electives
and a 10 to 12-week MBA Project solving
a strategic issue at a company. The MBAs
may alternatively work on a business plan
Male Female Ratio: 80/20%
Age Range: 26-35
Average Range: 30
Degree Background: Mixed
International Students: 85%
or opt to write an academic research paper.
Europe: 71%
Roughly 20% of our MBA curriculum is North America: 6%
dedicated to careers and corporates. This Middle East: 2%
includes external experts who train the MBAs Oceania and Asia: 12%
in public speaking, external coaches who Africa: 5%
challenge the MBAs in career development
strategies and corporate executives who run Latin America: 4%
the MBAs through a series of Leadership
Trainings. Admission Requirements
Additionally, all MBAs have a comprehensive University degree: Bachelors
career services experience. We enable GMAT: No minimum
students to have over 100 corporate TOEFL: No minimum
handshakes throughout their MBA
through initiatives such as weekly company References: Two
presentations on campus, a Munich career Minimum Length of Work Experience:
trek and our annual recruitment event Take Two years (Four recommended)
Off Day at which students are interviewed
by corporates for post-MBA jobs.
Costs
Application Fees: 100 CHF
Tuition Fees FT: 56,500 CHF
Scholarships: Please contact
Admissions for more information

Contacts
Name: Jonas Revensburg
Email: jonas.revensburg@unisg.ch
Telephone: +41 (0)71 224 73 55
Website: mba.unisg.ch

Programme Info:
Accreditations:
Type of Programme:
Programme format:
Content Strength or
Specialisation:
Languages Courses:
Application Deadlines:
Starting Dates:
Exchange Programme:
Percentage of salary
increase after graduation:
AACSB, EQUIS
MBA
Full-time
Integrative learning
German (for non-German speakers)
Rolling Admissions
September 2016, September 2017
Copenhagen Business School, Imperial College London, Nanyang Tech-
nological University (Singapore)
39% (base salary)

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MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

Educating Next-generation
Leaders in Montreal & Toronto
CANADA
Student Body

Male Female Ratio: MBA: 69/31 MBA/

CFA: 75/25
Average Age: MBA: 29 MBA/CFA: 26
Degree Background: Varies
Programme Presentation International Students: MBA: 21%
MBA/CFA: 36%
John Molson MBA in Montreal
The John Molson MBA addresses the
Concordia Universitys John Molson School issues of a global economy through an Admission Requirements
of Business (JMSB) is one of the leading interdisciplinary general management
business schools in Canada, offering perspective. The programme is diverse, University Degree: Bachelors degree
programmes at the undergraduate, graduate multicultural and aimed at preparing students with GPA 3.0 or equivalent
and doctoral levels. JMSBs internationally for managerial success in an increasingly
renowned faculty members are constantly GMAT: MBA: 580 MBA/CFA: 550
globalised and competitive business
pushing the boundaries of business research environment. One of the programmes TOEFL: 90 IELTS 7.0
and many of them have been recognised for great strengths is its flexibilitywe are References: : MBA: three MBA/CFA:
their exceptional teaching and scholarship. truly focused on our students needs. Our two
experiential learning model is proven to give Minimum Length of Work Experience:
The schools state-of-the-art Montreal students a competitive edge.
facilities are housed in the LEED silver- MBA: two years MBA/CFA: n/a
certified John Molson School of Business MBA with Complete CFA Integration in
building, the dynamic green centre of Montreal & Toronto Costs
Concordia Universitys city centre campus. This is the worlds only MBA programme
The MBA with Complete CFA Integration that fully integrates the Chartered Financial Application Fees: 100 CAD
programmes Toronto facilities are located Analyst (CFA) Body of Knowledge into its Tuition Fees: MBA: 42,000 CAD approx.
in the heart of the city on Bay Street the curriculum, enabling our students to study
centre of Canadas main financial district. towards two world-recognised designations MBA/CFA: 54,000 CAD
simultaneously. Offered in Toronto and Scholarships: : Competitive entrance
JMSBs mission is to provide an engaging Montreal, our programme prepares and in-course scholarships available
learning and research environment that students to take all three levels of the CFA
inspires us to go beyond the commonplace exams while completing an MBA degree.
for the development of business and society. Since the programmes establishment in
Contacts
Its flagship programme, the John Molson 2001, our students CFA Level 1 pass rates
MBA is consistently recognised by some of have consistently doubled the worldwide Name: Graduate Student Recruitment
the top international rankings bodies. rates. Advisor
Email: gradadvisor.jmsb@concordia.ca
Telephone: + 1-514-848-2424, ext 2727
Website: www.concordia.ca/mba &
Programme Info: concordia.ca/mbacfa
Accreditations: AACSB
The Economist: #88
Bloomberg Businessweek: #24 among international programmes
Rankings:
Corporate Knights: #12 at integrating sustainability into the MBA
experience
Type of Programme: MBA: 2 years full time, 3.5 years part-time MBA/CFA: 3 years
MBA: Flexible schedule MBA/CFA: Classes held on Wednesday evenings
Programme Format:
and Saturdays to accommodate students work schedules
MBA: General management, experiential learning, Coop, diverse and
Content Strength or
flexible specialisations MBA/CFA: Investment Management, Chartered
Specialisation:
Financial Analyst (CFA) Body of Knowledge
Application Deadlines: MBA: 15 February, 15 June MBA/CFA: Rolling admission
Starting Dates: MBA: September, January MBA/CFA: September
Percentage of graduate
students employed 3 85%
months after graduation:

ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 121

MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

The Global Business School

united states
Student Body

Male Female Ratio: 62/38%

Boston, San Francisco, London, Dubai,
Shanghai, New York and Ashridge Estate
(UK)
Hult is The Global Business School, located
in San Francisco, Boston, London, Dubai,
Shanghai, New York and Ashridge Estate
(UK). Our programmes enable you to study
in multiple locations as you learn from
internationally renowned faculty alongside
students from over 120 countries, and join
a network of more than 16,000 alumni
working across the globe.
Global
Hult is not just a business school. Its a
global network that educates, inspires and
connects some of the most forward-thinking
business talent from around the world. The
Hult experience is about becoming part of
an international academic and professional
community that fosters the boldness,
curiosity and resilience needed to become
a global business leader.
Innovative
Our innovative programmes are designed
to give students a global perspective on the
issues shaping todays business world, and
enable them to move seamlessly between
our campus locations to gain first-hand
experience in some of the worlds most
influential markets.
Practical
Bringing fundamental global business
Average Age: 31
Degree Background: Diverse
International Students:
concepts to life through real-world practice
is the cornerstone of all our programmes. Europe: 25%
We believe people learn better by doing, North America: 20%
so we have developed academic curricula Central/South America: 23%
that reflect this. We have won awards for Middle East and Africa: 9%
our cutting-edge approach and are ranked in Oceania and Asia: 23%
the top 1% of business schools worldwide.
Admission Requirements
Programme Presentation
University Degree: Bachelors degree or
Global One-year MBA Full-time equivalent
programme
Hults Full-time Global One-year MBA GMAT (minimum): Contact us to see if
is a highly customisable and practical you qualify for a GMAT waiver
programme designed for experienced TOEFL: Evidence of English proficiency
professionals who want to build a global (GMAT, GRE, TOEFL or Hult Business
career. Assessment Test)
Study in any three of our seven locations, References: Two
specialise in your chosen area, and learn Minimum Length of Work Experience:
to lead in a global environment with this Three years
award-winning programme.
All MBA students compete in our seven- Costs
month Business Challenge, solving a real
challenge set by a major corporation, or Application Fees: 150 USD
getting a startup ready to bring to market. Tuition Fees:
73,000 USD (Boston Campus)
Global Executive MBA Part-time 75,000 USD (San Francisco Campus)
programme
Our Part-time Global Executive MBA is a 49,900 GBP (London Campus)
highly flexible programme designed for 265,000 AED (Dubai Campus)
experienced professionals who want to Scholarships: Scholarships, financial
expand their global career without taking assistance and educational loans
time out from work. available

Programme Info: Contacts

Accreditations: AMBA, NEASC, BAC

Rankings:
Type of Programme:
Programme Format:
Content Strength or
Specialisation:
Application Deadlines:
Starting Dates:
Exchange Programme:
Percentage of salary
increase after graduation:
We are ranked in the top 1% of business schools worldwide by The Email:
Economist and Bloomberg Business Europe: info.europe@hult.edu
Global One-year MBA, Global Executive MBA North America: info.northam@hult.edu
MBA: 1 year of full-time study Latin America: info.latam@hult.edu
EMBA: 2 to 4 years of part-time study
Middle East Africa: info.mea@hult.edu
General Management, Finance, Marketing, Sustainability, Entrepreneur-
ship, Project Management Asia: info.asia@hult.edu
Rolling South Asia: info.india@hult.edu
September
Website: www.hult.edu
Study at any three of our seven campus locations
130%

122
The Global
Business School
Our global seven-campus network allows you to study in
multiple locations in some of the worlds most influential
markets. Learn from internationally renowned faculty
alongside students from over 120 countries and join an
alumni network that spans the globe.

Global campus network:

San Francisco | Boston | London | Dubai
Shanghai | New York | Ashridge EstateU.K.

hult.edu
MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

Business with a Purpose in

the Heart of New York City
united states
Student Body

Male Female Ratio: 62/38%

The Gabelli School of Business at Fordham
University educates students who have the
knowledge, creativity, and skills to make a
defining and lasting impact. Gabelli students
share a business with a purpose approach
that balances the demands of profit with
the interests of their communities and the
world. They refine their business philosophy,
along with industry and function specific
knowledge, using a mix of practical and
theoretical learning experiences.
Top firms seek out Gabelli graduates for
their analytical and strategic thinking, strong
communication and interpersonal skills,
principled leadership, sense of humility,
and commitment to collaboration and
community. Fordham produces graduates
whom people will hear about and admire,
not in 15 or 20 years, but in one or two.
Programme Presentation
Average Age: 28
The mission of the Gabelli School of Business Degree Background: Various
is to develop business leaders who are International Students: 59%
equipped for continuous growth in the
changing global environment. Located in Admission Requirements
the commercial capital of the world, the
Gabelli School is uniquely positioned to offer
students the opportunity to participate in University Degree: Bachelors
regional and global economies. Its reputation GMAT (minimum): 610
is built upon scholarship and excellence in TOEFL: (100)/IELTS: (8)
teaching. The faculty includes distinguished References: Two
scholars, as well as senior business leaders Minimum Length of Work Experience:
from Fortune 500 firms.
Three years
Community is a hallmark of the Gabelli
School, where an open, supportive Costs
environment proves that it is possible to
be both competitive and collaborative. MBA Application Fees: 130 USD (as of 1st
students receive special attention in their
internship and job searches from a dedicated May 2016; the application fee for the
team of career services professionals and, 2016-2017 academic year has not
at the conclusion of their programme, been set. Please visit:
join a global network of 175,000 Fordham www.fordham.edu/info/21259/tuition_
University alumni. and_fees for updated information on
fees.)

Tuition Fees FT: 81,120 USD (as of 1st

May 2016; tuition for the 2016-2017
academic year has not been set.
Please visit:
www.fordham.edu/info/21259/
tuition_and_fees for updated tuition
information.)

Scholarships: For specific information

related to merit-based scholarships and
Programme Info: financial awards, please visit
Accreditations: AACSB, Middle States www.fordham.edu/info/20491/
Bloomberg Businessweek 2015 (#72) financial_assistance
Rankings:
U.S. News and World Report 2017 (#83)
Type of Programme: Full-time MBA Programme Contacts
Programme Format: 20 months
Accounting, Communications and Media Management, Finance, Infor- Name: Gabelli School of Business Graduate
Content Strength or
Specialisation:
mation Systems, Management, Marketing, Public Accounting (CPA-Li- Admissions Office
censure Track) Email: admissionsgb@fordham.edu
Application Deadlines:
For more information regarding the application deadlines, please visit Telephone: + 1 (212) 636-6200
http://www.fordham.edu/info/20484/graduate_admissions Website: www.fordham.edu/business
Starting Dates: September
SDA Bocconi (Italy), ESADE (Spain), Koc University (Turkey), Peking
Exchange Programme: University (China), Skema Business School (France), Xavier Institute of
Management (India)

124
MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

Beyond Business as Usual

canada
Student Body

Male Female Ratio: 30/70%

About McGill Universitys Desautels Faculty
of Management:
Since 1821 McGill University in Montreal
has been one of Canadas leading and most
international post-secondary institutions.
It is consistently ranked among the worlds
top 20 research-intensive universities, with
two campuses, 11 faculties, 11 professional
schools, 300 programmes of study and some
38,000 students from over 150 countries
around the world. For over 100 years, the
Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill
has been recognised as one of the top
international business schools in the world.
The Desautels Faculty of Management
emphasises an integrated and holistic
approach to the teaching, research and
practice of management. Desautels
exacting standards, innovative approach
and historic reputation for excellence
continue to attract the finest students,
the most prominent professors and the
most demanding recruiters from around
the globe. Education choices at Desautels
include all management disciplines,
with programmes at the undergraduate,
Masters, Doctorate, and Executive levels.
Age Range: 28
Degree Background: Business /
Commerce: 29%, Engineering: 38%,
Programme Presentation Law: 4%
Science: 13%, Social Science: 16%
Many great business minds choose to International Students: 30 Countries
pursue their MBA at Desautels.
represented
Want to be a mover, shaker or impact
maker? Then join an MBA programme Admission Requirements
known internationally for developing
worldly leaders with a global perspective University Degree: Undergraduate
and a holistic approach to problem-solving. degree
A unique combination of curriculum and
practical experience; celebrated professors TOEFL IBT: Yes (minimum 100, with 20
and leading industry experts; a diverse in each category)
student body; first-hand global experience References: Two
through our international study trip this is Minimum Length of Work Experience:
the winning formula for producing graduates Two years
who display strong analytical ability, creativity,
teamwork and responsible leadership.
Costs
With 39,500 students, 250,000 alumni
and a reputation for excellence, McGill Application Fees: 105.80 CAD (2016
has carved out a spot among the worlds Entering Class)
greatest universities. Our diverse group of
accomplished students have journeyed from Tuition Fees: 79,500 CAD (2016
all over the world to study here in Montreal, Entering Class)
a city where Europe meets North America. Scholarships: Variable
McGills Desautels Faculty of Management
is located right in the heart of the city, with Contacts
Montreal ranked number 1 in Canada and
Top 10 in the world as a student-friendly city.
Join us. Become a leader. Name: Marie-Eve Roy
Email: me.roy@mcgill.ca
Telephone: + 1 (514) 398-4066
Website: www.mcgill.ca/mba

Programme Info:
Accreditations:
Rankings:
Type of Programme:
Programme Format:
Content Strength or
Specialisation:
Languages Courses:
Application Deadlines:
Starting Dates:
Exchange Programme:
EQUIS
Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2016: 85th / BusinessWeek MBA
Ranking 2015: 16th
Full-time, Part-time, MBA/Law, MBA/MD
2-year programme Part-time 3-year programme
Global Strategy & Leadership / Finance / Marketing / Business Analytics
(scheduled for autumn 2016)
English
1st November, 15th January, 15th March (Final deadline for Internation-
al Students), 1st May (Final deadline for Canadian Citizens and Perma-
nent Residents)
Beginning of August
Available

ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 125

MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

A Flexible and Highly Personalised

Approach to Management Education
CANADA
Student Body

Ratio of Applicants to Places: 350/75

A 12-month programme starting in
January which offers a flexible and highly
personalised approach to management
education, built around your career goals.
We believe strongly in our team-based
approach because it mirrors todays
progressive workplace. You will leave the
programme with a thorough understanding
of the best practices for successful team-
building and teamwork, well-prepared to be
a valuable member of a high-performance
team.
We are seeking exceptionally motivated
candidates who have demonstrated:
Male Female Ratio: 45/36%
Age Range: 22-38
Average Age: 28
Degree Background: : Business 23%,
Arts 21%, Science 19%, Engineering
academic excellence, career progression 16%, Technology 11%, Economics 5%,
(i.e. increased responsibility with each Healthcare 5%
successive position), leadership or International Students: 35 (43%)
leadership potential, integrity and a strong Europe: 2%
sense of ethics, superior communication
and interpersonal skills, ability to work well North America: 55%
Central/South America: 10%
in a team environment.
Middle East: 3%
Programme Presentation Oceania and Asia: 15%
Africa: 3%
The curriculum for Queens MBA is very
flexible and can be built to meet your Latin America: 10%
career goals. There are two modules
the Foundations Level, which provides an Admission Requirements
overview of business fundamentals, and
Mastery, which enables you to choose an University Degree: 4 Year U/G degree
area of specialisation. Upon completion of GMAT (minimum): 600
the MBA, you may then choose to advance TOEFL: 100 min.
to the Expert level by pursuing a second
Masters degree in this area of specialisation. References: Three professional
Minimum Length of Work Experience:
Two years

Programme Info:
Accreditations:
Rankings:
Type of Programme:
Programme Format:
Content Strength or
Specialisation:
Language Courses:
Application Deadlines:
Starting Dates:
Exchange Programme:
Percentage of salary
increase after graduation:
Costs
Application Fees: No fee
Tuition Fees: 89,000 CAD International,
79,000 CAD Domestic
Scholarships: Merit Based (range
15,000 - 60,000 CAD)
Contacts
AACSB, EQUIS
#1 Value for Money - Financial Times, #1 Highest Salary Increase
Name: Teresa Pires
Financial Times, #4 Overall Financial Times. #2 BusinessWeek, #2
Canadian Business Email: teresa.pires@queensu.ca
Full-time MBA programme (residential) 12 months Telephone: + 1 (844) 533-1651
12 month, modules Website: www.queensmba.ca
Finance, Consulting, Marketing & Sales, Entrepreneurship & Innovation,
Healthcare Management, General Management
English
14 March, 2016, 13 June, 2016, 12 September, 2016, 14 November,
2016 Rolling Admissions
16th January, 2017
Yes, 30 partnering schools in 19 countries
25-35%

126
 your career starts in luxembourg!

WELCH MBA
WITH INTERNSHIP
16 month program
Paid internship of 6-9 months at a top international company such as
PwC, ArcelorMittal, BBH, DuPont, Lombard, SES, UBS, Vodafone...
Individual coaching
International faculty & student body
American MBA, all courses taught in English
Optional: complete final courses in the US on main SHU campus
2 year work permit for non-EU students after graduation

DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP
IN THE HEART OF EUROPE
+352 22 76 13 1 | welchmba@shu.lu | shu.lu
MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

Personalised Experience
in the Heart of Vancouver
CANADA
Student Body

Ratio of Applicants to Places: 300/55

Since the creation of Canadas first
Executive MBA in 1968, the Beedie School
of Business has championed lifelong
learning, productive change and the need
to be innovative as we deliver research and
teaching that makes an impact. That we
have achieved some measure of success
is confirmed by our accreditation by the
AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate
Schools of Business), and by receiving
the EQUIS Quality award from the EFMD
(European Federation for Management
Development), globally recognised
accrediting agencies for business schools.
Less than 1% of business schools worldwide
have earned both of these international
accreditations.
Undergraduate, graduate and PhD.
programmes demonstrate a spirit of
innovation, flexibility and relevance.
Supported by extensive partnerships
with public, private and not-for-profit
organisations, our goal is to produce
broadly educated, enterprising and socially
responsible managers capable of making
lasting contributions to their communities.
Programme Presentation
Based in central Vancouver, the SFU MBA
is a collaborative and connected MBA. Our
maximum class size of 55 students isnt a
random figure. Weve tested it and know
that a more personal, collegial approach lets
you build stronger connections and get more
from your MBA. Youll learn with and from a
diverse group of classmates from different
countries and educational backgrounds. And
smaller classes let your professors get to know
you better and provide more personalised
guidance.
Our comprehensive and challenging
curriculum incorporates real-world business
challenges and explores relevant topics such as
sustainability, new ventures and international
business. Youll graduate with a business
management toolkit that applies across
industries, providing you with more career
options and mobility.
The programme consists of a 12-month
academic component followed by a 4-month
paid internship.
Male Female Ratio: 55/45%
Age Range: 23-45
Average Age: 29
Degree Background: Arts, Kinesiology,
Economics, Biology, Physics, Psychology,
Engineering, Education, Mathematics,
Communication, Political Science,
Music, Biochemistry, Geography,
Medicine, Business, Philosophy
International Students: 45%
Admission Requirements
University Degree: Bachelors Degree
GMAT (minimum): 550, average 612
TOEFL: 93+/IELTS 7+ if student studied
outside of Canada/US
References: Required to submit three
reference letters
Minimum Length of Work Experience:
Two years
Costs
Application Fees: 90 CAD (students
with Canadian transcripts) or 125 CAD
(students with international transcripts)
Tuition Fees: 37,000 CAD Domestic;
46,500 CAD International
Scholarships: Available from 3,000 CAD
to full

Programme Info:
Accreditations:
Type of Programme:
Programme Format:
Content Strength or
Specialisation:
Language Courses:
Application Deadlines:
Starting Dates:
Exchange Programme:
Contacts
Name: Shane Moore
EQUIS, AACSB, PRME
Email: mba@sfu.ca
12-month Full-time MBA programme followed by a 4-month internship
Telephone: + 1 778-782-5259
18-20 hours each week, at least four days out of five; additional 30
Website: www.beedie.sfu.ca/mba
hours
Our comprehensive and challenging curriculum incorporates real-world
business challenges and explores relevant topics such as sustainability,
new ventures and international business
n/a
4 deadlines (Nov 2016, Jan 2017, March 2017 and May 2017)
5 September 2017
International cross-cultural trip (China, Japan, Argentina, Chile in-
cludes site visits, cultural events, meetings with business leaders in
different industries) OR local (first nations Barkley and Clayoquoit
Sound site visits, meetings etc.)

128
MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

Make an Impact
C anada
Student Body

Male Female Ratio: 65/35%

The Sauder School of Business is one of the
worlds leading academic business schools,
recognised globally for its contributions to
the transformation of business practices
through innovative research and teaching.
Sauder offers a wide range of Graduate
Programmes, including full-time MBA, part-
time MBA, International MBA and Master
of Management. The school has more than
37,000 alumni in 77 countries around the
world.
Programme Presentation
The UBC MBA programme ranks among the
top 100 programmes in the world by the
Financial Times Global MBA Rankings and
places among the top five Canadian schools
to make the top 100. The Financial Times
also ranked the UBC MBA #1 in Canada
for International Faculty, #1 in Canada for
Female Students, and #1 in Canada for
Placement Success, recognising the UBC
MBA for its strength as a preferred source of
top talent for employers around the world.
The 16-month, full-time UBC MBA at
Sauders Robert H. Lee Graduate School
offers a uniquely integrated vision. With
three career tracks or the choice to
develop a custom career track tailored to
your interests, and a focus on experiential
learning, global immersion and personalised
leadership development, youll gain
confidence to innovate on the world stage.
Learn more:
www.sauder.ubc.ca/FTMBA
Age Range: 23-45
Degree Background: Business 35%,
Engineering 29%, Social Sciences 9%,
Humanities 8%, Science 7%, Economics
6%, Computer Science 5%, Law 2%
International Students: 59%
Admission Requirements
University Degree: A Bachelors degree
with a B average, or recognised
equivalent from an accredited institution
GMAT or GRE: min 550 GMAT or 300
GRE score
TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB or PTE: when
applicable (for all candidates whose
degrees are from a university outside
Canada or the U.S.A. in which English
was not the official language of
instruction)
References: Resume and professional
letters of reference
Minimum Length of Work Experience:
Two years of full-time work experience

Programme Info:
Accreditations:
Rankings:
Type of Programme:
Content Strength or
Specialisation:
Application Deadlines:
Starting Dates:
Percentage of salary
increase after graduation:
Costs
Application Fees: 125 CAD
Tuition Fees: Canadian Citizens and
Permanent Residents: 46,569 CAD*
International Students: 71,278 CAD*
*Subject to UBC Board of Governors approval.
The university may adjust fees at any time with
limited notice
EQUIS, AACSB
Financial Times 2016 Global MBA Ranking Scholarships: For more information,
#96 in the world and Top 5 in Canada please visit:
#1 in Canada for female students http://www.sauder.ubc.ca/FTMBA-Admissions
#1 in North America for international faculty
#3 in North America for international students Contacts
#4 in North America for international mobility
16-Month Full-time MBA Robert H. Lee Graduate School,
Finance, Product and Service Management, Innovation and
Sauder School of Business, UBC
Entrepreneurship, Custom
2 November, 2016
Email: mba@sauder.ubc.ca
11 January, 2017 Telephone: + 1 604-822-8422
1 March, 2017 Website: www.sauder.ubc.ca/FTMBA
3 May, 2017
August/September
72% salary increase by Financial Times 2016 MBA Ranking

ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 129

MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

Leading Discovery and Innovation since 1785

CANADA
Student Body

Ratio of Applicants to Places: 3/1

Established in 1785, the University of New
Brunswick is the oldest English speaking
university in Canada. We are #1 at fostering
innovation and entrepreneurial thinking,
which is why Startup Canada named us
Canadas most entrepreneurial university
in 2014. Do you have an innovative mind?
Then we are the right fit for you!
Male Female Ratio: 1.5/1
Programme Presentation Age Range: 27-53
Average Age: 30
The University of New Brunswick Saint Johns
Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree Background: Various areas
programme provides world-class education. International Students: 79%
Among the top ten in Canada, we were Europe: 4%
also ranked the top MBA school in Atlantic North America: 21%
Canada by the Business Canada Review. Central/South America: 2%
Our MBA is an investment in your future. We Middle East: 7%
have one of the shortest payback periods Oceania and Asia: 52%
in North America for a one-year full-time Africa: 14%
programme.

UNB has among the lowest student-to-
faculty ratios of Canadas comprehensive
universities. We offer world-class
programmes with a small-university
experience. Accomplished academics
and industry professionals provide an
engaging learning experience and personal
mentorship support.
UNB - 230 years of history, 16 Students for
every faculty member, 75+ Programmes to
choose from. The choice is clear!
An intensive programme blending classroom
and experiential learning with internships
in business and community organisations,
the programme is designed to develop
innovative entrepreneurial leaders. Our
students enjoy small class sizes, a diverse
international student body, accessible
faculty and a dedicated staff.
Join us! We will work together to develop
the skills you need to compete and succeed
in the global marketplace.
Admission Requirements
University Degree: Bachelors degree
with CGPA 3.0/4.3 or higher
GMAT (minimum): 550
TOEFL: 580, IBT 93, IELTS 7
References: Three from both academic
and professional sources
Minimum Length of Work Experience:
Two years
Costs
Application Fees: 100 CAD
Tuition Fees: International Students:
24,500 CAD, Domestic Students: 18,000
CAD
Scholarships: Merit Awards up to
10,000 CAD

Contacts

Programme Info: Name: MBA recruitment team

Accreditations:
Rankings:
Type of Programme:
Programme Format:
Content Strength or
Specialisation:
Language Courses:
Application Deadlines:
Starting Dates:
Exchange Programme:
Percentage of salary
increase after graduation:
AACSB member Email: mba@unbsj.ca
Top 10 Canada, 2014 Telephone: + 1 506-648-5973
1-year Full-time MBA Website: www.unb.ca/saintjohn/
In class business/mba/
Project management, entrepreneurship and technology management,
international business and general management
English
International Applications: 15 June, Domestic Applications: 15 July
Late September
Yes, France and China
25-50%

130
MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

#1 MBA Programme in Canada

ROTMAN
CANADA
Student Body

Male Female Ratio: 68/32%

The Rotman School of Management at
the University of Toronto has been ranked
the number 1 business school in Canada
for the past 10 years by the Financial
Times. Students also leverage the global
reputation of the University of Toronto itself,
consistently ranked in the global Top 20 and
currently number 4 in the world outside of
the United States. Over the past 15 years,
Rotman has quadrupled its endowment,
expanded its faculty to include some of
the worlds most cited academics and top
business thinkers, and opened a new state-
of-the-art $93-million building that more
than doubles the schools research, teaching
and study space. This year, Rotman has
received a generous $45 million donation
from the estate of Joseph L. Rotman to
establish the Rotman Catalyst Fund, ensuring
the Schools continuing commitment to
innovation, entrepreneurship and global
impact.
Programme Presentation
The Rotman Full-Time MBA programme
is the largest and most internationally
diverse class in Canada with 350 students
from 47 birth countries. Our large class
size and two-year format mean students
can triple their personal network to over
1,000+ Rotman MBAs upon graduation
(350 + 350 + 350). Rotman is located in
the heart of Toronto, a distinct advantage
in meeting with corporate recruiters, alumni
and executives headquartered minutes away
from campus for coffee chats and interviews.
Our Flexible Internship Programme helps
students access organisations year-round
to convert to full-time roles - the preferred
method of recruiting for many Canadian
employers. All international graduates are
eligible for a 3-year post grad work permit
in Canada (versus only 1 year for one-year
programmes in Canada, and no work permit
for US-based schools).
Age Range: 21-37
Average Age: 27
Degree Background: : Business/
Commerce, economics, life sciences,
humanities, physical science, law,
engineering, social sciences, maths and
computer science, other
International Students: 53%
Admission Requirements
University Degree: 4 year Bachelors
GMAT (minimum): There is no minimum
GMAT requirement. The range for the
class of 2017 is 500-780. Average GMAT
is 663
TOEFL: TOEFL iBT (internet based test)
score of 100 overall, with a minimum of
22 on speaking and writing
References: Two reference forms,
preferably from workplace supervisors,
must be completed online by your
referees
Minimum Length of Work Experience:
We recommend candidates have at least
two years of work experience but there is
no minimum requirement.

Programme Info:
Accreditations:
Rankings:
Type of Programme:
Programme Format:
Content Strength or
Specialisation:
Starting Dates:
Exchange Programme:
Percentage of salary
increase after graduation:
Costs
Application Fees: 175 CAD
Tuition Fees*: 98,424 CAD Canadian,
107,800 CAD international
*Please note that Tuition Fees, University
incidental fees and the Rotman ancillary fees
are set annually and are subject to change
Scholarships: 4,000,000 CAD in
scholarships and financial aid awarded
each year. Scholarships range from 5,000
AACSB CAD to 50% of tuition
# 1 in Canada, 60 in the world (2016 Financial Times Ranking)
Full-time MBA
Contacts
16 months of study, four-month flexible internship
Finance and consulting
Email: mba@rotman.utoronto.ca
September of each year Telephone: + 1 416-946-8463
Yes Website: www.rotman.utoronto.ca/mba
NA

ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 131

MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

Canadas Preeminent Business School

CANADA
Student Body

Ratio of Applicants to Places: 4/1

Ranked number 1 in Canada, Schulich is
Canadas pre-eminent MBA Programme
according to The Economist, Forbes and
CNN Expansion. At Schulich its not just
about the answers its about learning how
to ask the right question and then framing
the answer in the right context.
The Schulich MBA combines classroom
learning of fundamental and advanced
management concepts with real world
experience, including a six-month strategic
consulting project where students will work
with real clients on real business problems
and solutions.
Throughout the programme, students will
have the opportunity to build expertise in
up to 2 of the 20 areas of specialisation.
The programme offers flexible study options
including full-time, part-time and weekend
or evening courses. For individuals who are
interested in international immersion, there
is also an option to complete a 4-month
exchange with a partner school.
The Schulich MBA will equip you with the
specialised knowledge and leadership
skills you will need to gain a competitive
advantage. You will learn to manage
complexity, ambiguity and change as
you examine business issues in a global
environment.
If you seek a highly rewarding and stimulating
programme in a learning environment that is
truly diverse then you will want to consider
Canadas Global Business School - the
Schulich School of Business.
Male Female Ratio: 65/35%
Age Range: 25-38 (MBA and IMBA
programme)
Programme Presentation Average Age: 28
Degree Background: Business 28%, Arts
Rankings:
The Economist - #1 in Canada and top 50 40%, Engineering 32%
in the world in the 2015 global MBA ranking International Students: 55%
and #1 in Canada and 5th in the world in the Europe: 3%
2015 global Executive MBA ranking North America: 59%
Forbes- #1 in Canada and 9th in the world
Central/South America: 1%
among two-year MBA programmes outside
the US in the 20152016 Best Business Middle East: 3%
Schools ranking Oceania and Asia: 33%
CNN Expansion - #1 in Canada and 24th Africa: 1%
in the world in 2016 global MBA ranking Latin America: 1%
Corporate Knights- #1 in Canada and in the
2015 ranking of the top MBA programmes
integrating social, ethical and environmental Admission Requirements
impact management issues into the
curriculum University Degree: 4-year Bachelors
eFinancial Careers- #1 in Canada and 23rd degree (honours)
in the world in the 2015 Top MBAs to Get a
Job in Investment Banking survey GMAT (minimum): 550
TOEFL: 100 (iBT)
Content Strength or Specialisation: References: Two professional
20 areas of specialisation Minimum Length of Work Experience:
Two full years
Accounting, Arts and Media*, Business
and Sustainability*, Business Consulting,
Economics, Entrepreneurial Studies, Finance, Costs
Financial Engineering*, Financial Services,
Global Mining Management, Health Industry Application Fees: 150 USD
Management*, International Business, Tuition Fees:
Marketing, Operations Management
and Information Systems, Organisation Domestic students 74,000 CAD (FT)
Studies, Public Management*, Real 79,000 CAD (PT)
Estate and Infrastructure*, Social Sector International students 94,000 CAD
Management*, Strategic Management, Scholarships: Various (ranging from
Global Retail Management. 2,000 CAD to 76,000 CAD)
*graduate diploma available
Contacts

Programme Info: Name: Imran Kanga

Accreditations:
Type of Programme:
Programme Format:
Starting Dates:
Exchange Programme:
AMBA, EQUIS, AICTE Email: ikanga@schulich.yorku.ca
MBA, International MBA, MBA in India Telephone: +1 416-736-2100 x22062
MBA: Full-time or Part-time 16 months (FT) or ~40 months (PT) Website: www.schulich.yorku.ca
IMBA: Full-time only 20 months (including 4-month work term)
MBA
Full-time: January or September
Part-time: January, May or September
IMBA
Full-time, September start only
54 schools (in 31 countries)

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MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

Graduate School of Management, GLOBIS University

JA PA N
Student Body

Male/Female Ratio: 46/54%

Age Range: 25-40
Average Age: 30
Professional Experience: 8 years
International Students: 92%
Located in the heart of Tokyo, GLOBIS Entrepreneurship is more than a buzzword
Universitys fresh look at business education at GLOBIS. As a former start-up that grew Europe: 23%
has driven it to become Japans largest MBA into one of Japans top-ranked business North America: 8%
in a short space of time. Combining a highly schools, GLOBIS aims to develop the next Oceania and Asia: 65%
practical and interactive methodology with generation of entrepreneurs by offering a Africa: 4%
the uniqueness of time-tested Japanese space for students to share innovative ideas
management concepts, GLOBIS equips and experiences, and learn essential start-up
students to take on tomorrows challenges skills through courses taught by successful
Admission Requirements
in a global context, and become visionary entrepreneurs.
leaders who create and innovate societies. University Degree: Bachelors Degree
All courses at GLOBIS are taught by top GMAT: Optional
As Japans largest business school, GLOBIS business professionals, allowing students References: One (work related)
offers a door to an expansive network to tap into real-world insights in small, Minimum Length of Work Experience:
of business professionals and executives discussion-based classes.
throughout Japan and around the world. Two years
Our graduates apply their skills in all arenas, Beyond this, GLOBIS MBA students must
from start-up ventures to the largest blue- think deeply about their ultimate goal in life, Costs
chip global companies. and how they can leverage their new-found
skills and network to achieve this mission. Full Time
Programme Presentation This kokorozashi, or sense of mission, is a Application Fees:11,000 JPY (outside
unique cornerstone of the GLOBIS MBA that Japan)
sets it apart from other business schools.
Beyond developing practical business skills, Tuition Fees: 3,771,000 JPY + Enrolment
GLOBIS MBA students are pushed to find Interested students can take real MBA fees: 210,000 JPY = Total fees:
their place in society and think practically classes online before applying, through the 3,981,000 JPY
about the enduring and unique value that Pre-MBA Programme, with new courses Scholarships: Up to 50% of the total
they can add. offered every three months. tuition
Part Time
Application Fees: 11,000 JPY (outside
Programme Info: Japan)
Accreditations: Accredited by the Japan University Accreditation Association Tuition Fees: 2,961,000 JPY +
Rankings: Ranked second by Nikkei and Nikkei HR in 2014 Enrolment fees: 23,000 JPY = Total
Full-time, Part-time fees: 2,984,000 JPY
Type of Programme:
Scholarships: Up to 50% of the total
Full-time: 12-month programme, classes held during day time,
on-campus
tuition (for non-Japanese students)
Programme Format:
Part-time: 24-month programme, classes on weekday nights &
weekends, on-campus and online Contacts
Content Strength or Entrepreneurship, General Management, Japanese Management, Cross
Specialisation: Cultural Management Name: Mr Jake Pratley
Languages Courses: English Email: imba-info@globis.ac.jp
Full-time: November 2016, January 2017 and March 2017 Telephone: +81 3 5275 3850
Application Deadlines: Part-time: September 2016, February 2017 and June 2017
Website: www.globis.ac.jp
Full-time: September 2017
Part-time: October 2017
Starting Dates:
Exchange Programme (not necessary for EMBA): Overseas Module
with China Europe International Business School (CEIBS)
Exchange Programme Overseas Module with China Europe International Business School
(not necessary for EMBA): (CEIBS)

134
MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

Leading From Asia

National University of Singapore (NUS)
Business School is known for providing
management thought leadership from an
Asian perspective, enabling its students
and corporate partners to leverage global
knowledge and Asian insights.
The school has consistently received top
rankings in the Asia-Pacific region and is
accredited by organisations of high repute
in the education circle, endorsements that
the school has met the highest standards for
business education. The NUS MBA is 32nd in
the Financial Times Global Rankings 2016.
In 2015, Forbes also ranked the NUS MBA
as the #3 MBA programme in Asia in the
two-year International MBA programmes
category.
SINGAPORE
Student Body
Male Female Ratio: 57/43%
Age Range: 24-42
Average Age: 30
Degree Background: From any
undergraduate faculty
International Students: 90%
Europe: 4%
Programme Presentation North America: 2%
Oceania and Asia: 90%
The NUS MBA programme aims to ensure
Latin America: 4%
that our graduates acquire the knowledge
and skills to bridge theories with hands-
on practical experience. Insightful Asian Admission Requirements
content and experiential learning offerings,
such as the Management Practicum and
University Degree: A recognised
Management Communication modules Bachelors Degree
are imperative to offering an immersive GMAT: Good GMAT score
and authentic experience in the world English Proficiency: TOEFL/IELTS/
of business. The programme also offers
internship opportunities and student PTE (if undergraduate degree was not
conducted in English) ** minimum
exchange options, as well as specialisations
in Strategy & Organisation, Finance, TOEFL score is 100, minimum IELTS score
Marketing, Healthcare Management and is 6.5 and minimum PTE score is 68
Real Estate Management. References: Two professional
references
Minimum Length of Work Experience:
Two years of post-university full-time
work experience

Programme Info:
Accreditations:
Rankings:
Type of Programme:
Programme Format:
Content Strength or
Specialisation:
Application Deadlines:
Starting Dates:
Exchange Programme:
Costs
Application Fees: 100 SGD
Tuition Fees: 62,000 SGD
Scholarships:
The NUS MBA Study Awards
The NUS MBA ASEAN Scholarship
The NUS MBA Women-in-Business
Scholarship
The NUS MBA Diversity Scholarship
AACSB and EQUIS accredited
Asian Development Bank Japan
Ranked 32nd MBA Globally Financial Times Global Rankings 2016. Scholarship
Ranked #3 in Asia for two-year International MBA Programmes
Forbes 2015
Lam See Chiew Memorial Scholarship in
Entrepreneurship & Philanthropy
MBA Programme
NUS-APEC Scholarship
17 Months Full Time
Experiential Learning Modules (Management Practicum and Manage-
ment Communication) and Specialisations in Strategy & Organisation,
Contacts
Marketing, Finance, Healthcare Management and Real Estate
Management Name: Teo Su Ann
1st Oct 2016 - 31st January 2017 (Round 1/Scholarship Qualifying Email: suann.teo@nus.edu.sg
Round) and 1st February 2017 - 31st March 2017 (Round 2) Telephone: +65-65167363
July/Aug 2017 (one intake per year) Website: www.mba.nus.edu
Yes

ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017 135

MBA SCHOOL PROFILE

Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders

AUSTRALIA
Student Body

Ratio of Applicants to Places: 5/1

Monash Business School is a progressive
academy delivering the highest quality
teaching, learning and research. As one of
the worlds leaders in business education,
our ambition is to transform business by
advancing knowledge and addressing global
challenges. We do this by educating the
worlds future business and societal leaders
and by contributing to the development,
growth and transformation of local, national
and international economies.
In our increasingly complex world, the
ability to make sense of what is happening
around us and to prioritise strategically will
be the hallmarks of executive capability. We
are continually developing programmes,
courses and materials that empower the
next generation of leaders.
Programme Presentation
The Monash MBA is a two-year programme
designed for professionals with 3-7 years
experience. The programme combines
cutting-edge business skills development
with extensive practical project experience,
opportunities for the completion of an
international business project and an
advanced and integrated leadership and
professional development programme.
We constantly strive for the right balance
between intellectual rigour and experiential
learning. This is a powerful way to add
immediate impact to the learning, skills
and experiences of our students.
The Leadership and Personal Development
Programme is an integral part of the MBA,
and includes critical and reflective work
on personal style, networking and career
management. This focal aspect of the
Monash MBA supports the development
of transformational leaders with a global
perspective, agility and integrity.
Monash MBA candidates can demonstrate
authority and responsibility in their current
roles, career progression, project, staff and
budget management capabilities and desire
to share their unique experiences with like-
minded individuals.
The Monash Executive MBA Programme is
also available for experienced professionals
with at least 10 years work experience.
Male Female Ratio: 60/40%
Average Age: 33
Degree Background: Science
Business/Commerce, Engineering, Arts,
Applied Science, IT, Law
International Students: 30%
Europe: 3%
North America: 3%
Central/South America: 2%
Middle East: 4%
Oceania: 69%
Asia: 15%
Latin America: 4%
Admission Requirements
University Degree: An Australian
Bachelors degree or equivalent
GMAT: not required
TOEFL: minimum test score of 550 with
a Test of Written English score of at
least 4.5. Internet based TOEFL overall
79, Writing 21, Listening 12, Reading 13
and Speaking 18
References: Two
Minimum Length of Work Experience:
Three years, including 1 year of
professional/managerial experience
Costs
Application Fees: 100 AUD
Tuition Fees: 65,400 AUD (2016
indicative fees for two-year
programme)
Scholarships: Scholarships and study
support grants up to 50%

Contacts
Programme Info:
Accreditations: AMBA, AACSB, EQUIS Name: Monash MBA Office
Type of Programme: MBA Email: mba@monash.edu
Programme Format: Combination of block, evening and intensive modes Telephone: + 61 3 9903 4355
Leadership and Personal Development Programme, experiential Website: mba.monash.edu
Content Strength or
learning, international module, global, addressing next generation
Specialisation:
challenges and cohort approach
Application Deadlines: Application rounds 31 May, 31 July, 30 September
Starting Dates: March

136
MBA INTERVIEW
The Monash MBA
Develops Entrepreneurial Insights
and Skills for the 21st Century
Monash Business School is based
in Melbourne, Australia. Monash
University also has campuses in
Malaysia, South Africa, China,
India and Italy. It is ranked in
the worldstop one per cent of
universities by the Times Higher
Education World University
Rankings, and the Business
School has achieved triple crown
accreditation from the AACSB,
EQUIS and AMBA. Featuring
a commitment to leadership
development and true global
orientation, the Monash MBA
and Executive MBA suite prepare
next-generation leaders for the
21st century.
Could you give us a brief
overview of your MBA
programme?
The Monash MBA is a two-year programme
that incorporates class-based learning,
experiential modules, supervised consulting
projects and an overseas international
business module. Designed for ambitious
young professionals with a minimum of
three years, work experience, it combines
academic, practical and reflective
dimensions. The Monash Leadership and
Professional Development modules develop
critical executive capabilities and personal
leadership style. The programme brings
together international and local students
with a wide range of professional and
cultural backgrounds, and is committed
to a global orientation in all of its activities.
What is the profile of your
students?
The profile of students on the Monash
MBA programme is truly diverse. For
example, in the 2016 class of 70 students,
the international cohort represents one
third of the student body, from 22 different
countries. Women make up 40% of the
functional and operational disciplines. At all
stages of the programme students engage
strategy, technology and entrepreneurship
Prof Patrick Butler
Director
MBA Programmes
Monash Business School
class. All of the major business sectors
are represented, and the professional
backgrounds include engineering, science,
the arts, medicine, healthcare and
commerce. Such diversity in the classroom
engenders a respect for different social and
cultural backgrounds and helps participants
to embrace new and enlightening
perspectives.
What makes your MBA special?
In the Monash MBA programmes we
constantly strive for the right balance
of the intellectual rigour of a graduate
university programme and the application
capabilities necessary for management
practice. This requires us to combine
the leading insights of our research-
oriented academic staff with the hard-
won experience of reflective executives
and leaders. So, for example, in our MBA
consulting projects we work directly
with firms in cutting-edge technologies
and develop the entrepreneurial insights
and skills that are increasingly sought by
progressive organisations and employers.
ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017
Could you describe the
structure of your programme?
The two-year model commences with MBA
Orientation and then moves through a
series of broad-based strategic issues and
directly with businesses and organisations
on consulting project work. Projects on
are designed into the programme, and an
international business project and strategy
capstone complete the journey. Study is
undertaken in a combination of daytime,
evening, occasional weekend and intensive
study modes.
What business areas do your
students generally enter after
graduation?
Monash MBA graduates take up positions
in a wide range of sectors and roles. In
many cases, students return to their original
employers to move into more senior
managerial positions. Students who are
seeking a change of career deliberately seek
opportunities in new sectors and often in
new countries. Undertaking MBA projects
in different and challenging areas provides
a terrific opportunity to experience new
contexts and sectors.
What advice would you give to
potential candidates?
Applicants for the MBA programme
should be able to communicate clearly
their expectations of the programme.
Demonstrating a sound knowledge of the
purpose and role of an MBA is important
at a general level; being informed about
the particular details and content of a
specific programme is critical for a formal
application. Connecting their personal
career plans with the programme they
are applying for is the key. And applicants
should always remember to outline what
they can contribute to their classmates
learning, and show how they can add real
value to the experience.
137
 MBA
2016-2017 LISTING

Table of Some of the Top Full-time

MBA Programmes in the World
 Course Weighted Salary percent- Value for Aims achieved Employed at three International Women stu-
Rankings Accreditation(s)
Length salary (USD) age increase money rank rank months (%) students (%) dents (%)
School name Country Costs
Financial The Business
FT FT TE FT FT FT TE FT TE SD FT SD
Times Economist Week
ALBA Graduate Business School Greece 19,750 EUR 12 40 42 AMBA, NEASC
Arizona State University: W. P. Carey School of Business US 43,886 USD 47 49 22 4 62 >100 AACSB
Ashridge Business School (see Hult Internatrional Business School) UK 69,800 USD 12 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Aston Business School UK 25,250 GBP 12 88 50 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Athens University of Economics and Business Greece 12,000 EUR 11 15 51 AMBA
Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) Australia 72,960 AUD 66 16 109,273 61 49 83 85 (86) 92 67 22 30 AACSB
Babson College: Olin Graduate School of Business US 77,459 USD 90 56 21 118,458 86 66 81 86 (97) 67 32 AACSB, EQUIS, NEASC

USD
Bentley University US 70,000 USD 11 / 21 70 30 AACSB, EQUIS, NEASC
Boston College: Carroll School of Management US 90,540 USD 69 22 119,538 94 71 86 88 (97) 32 35 AACSB
Boston University School of Management US 92,844 USD 78 73 57 22 109,775 97 40 64 82 90 (89) 64 38 39 AACSB
Brandeis International Business School US 47,578 USD 24 50 AACSB
Brigham Young University: Marriott US 23,240 USD 80 27 24 123,655 120 16 82 92 (100) 22 19 AACSB
Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business US 60,000 USD 33 30 18 21 136,996 108 18 79 84 89 (100) 54 41 69 26 AACSB
Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of
US 75,000 USD 86 84 21 13 96 92 AACSB
Management
CEU Business School Hungary 15,500 EUR 12 72 38 AMBA
China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) China 63,994 USD 17 18 147,716 157 41 81 93 (99) 32 37 AACSB, ADCSC, EQUIS
CUHK Business School China 64,427 USD 26 100 16 124,268 120 90 34 79 91 (99) 77 41 55 49 AACSB
City University: Cass UK 65,757 USD 37 54 12 121,402 82 58 28 84 70 (96) >100 81 8 32 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Columbia Business School US 63,148 USD 6 12 6 20 169,866 99 62 92 84 92 (92) 5 47 22 36 AACSB
Concordia University John Molson School of Business Canada 37,622 USD 88 16 91 >100 77 AACSB
Cornell University: Johnson US 59,500 USD 31 23 16 21 142,764 102 39 78 83 88 (97) 46 46 58 26 AACSB
Cranfield School of Management UK 59,930 USD 57 52 13 13 116,604 64 49 22 81 90 (100) 63 84 30 29 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Dartmouth College: Tuck School of Business US 64,200 USD 22 3 14 21 156,652 95 57 91 85 95 (100) 6 39 55 42 AACSB
Duke University: Fuqua School of Business US 66,056 USD 21 20 8 22 144,455 94 44 97 84 94 (98) 40 44 17 34 AACSB, SACS
Durham University Business School UK 41,618 USD 66 68 12 98,029 77 71 14 77 86 (97) 92 95 37 49 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
EADA Business School Spain 35,800 EUR 11 92 39 AMBA, EQUIS
EDHEC Business School France 54,481 USD 84 34 10 106,761 66 51 3 79 80 (87) 48 96 25 28 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Edinburgh Business School - Heriot-Watt Scotland/ UAE 17,085 GBP 12 35 Royal Charter United Kingdom
EMLyon Business School France 50,495 USD 75 12 78 12 43 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Emory University: Goizueta US 49,600 USD 55 25 15 12 127,938 90 24 76 85 94 (99) 21 38 54 34 AACSB
Erasmus University: Rotterdam School of Management Netherlands 59,132 USD 42 76 26 12 107,998 81 48 20 82 83 (96) 95 98 33 37 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Esade Business School Spain 79,330 USD 23 21 11 12 132,119 117 6 60 86 83 (95) 9 95 42 31 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
ESMT - European School of Management and Technology Germany 50,495 USD 64 49 15 12 107,234 62 22 1 84 84 (97) 82 88 12 29 AACSB, AMBA, FIBAA
Spain/ Germany/
EU Business School 15,900 EUR 12 71 99 57 ACBSP, IACBE, CEEMAN
Switzerland
Frankfurt School of Finance and Management Germany 31,900 EUR 15 80 47 AACSB, EQUIS
Fudan University School of Management China 33,000 USD 47 24 96,884 170 40 80 97 (100) 15 51 AACSB, EQUIS
George Washington University US 46,890 USD 78 81 61 21 112,291 98 100 93 81 93 (91) 84 56 51 56 AACSB
Georgetown University: Robert Emmett McDonough School of
US 53,850 USD 44 40 26 21 130,950 95 37 99 85 86 (96) 53 42 29 31 AACSB
Business
Georgia Institute of Technology: Scheller US 59,756 USD 71 23 21 118,900 92 46 84 96 (100) 30 17 AACSB
By the Japanese Ministry of
Globis University Japan 3,981,000 JPY 12 92 54
Education
Grenoble Graduate School of Business France 41,592 USD 94 84 12 93,680 80 47 51 79 88 (68) 52 100 71 34 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Harvard Business School US 61,225 USD 2 4 1 24 172,501 94 85 82 85 91 (100) 30 34 11 42 AACSB
HEC Montral Canada 28,062 USD 94 29 12 >100 >100 79 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
HEC Paris France 58,500 USD 15 5 10 12 134,299 108 5 26 84 91 (87) 59 90 3 28 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
HHL - Leipzig Graduate School of Management Germany 29,000 EUR 15/21 64 30 AACSB, ACQUIN
Hong Kong UST Business School China 70,295 USD 14 78 16 144,303 114 77 13 84 88 (94) 87 70 61 34 AACSB
Hult International Business School US / UK / UAE / China 69,800 USD 65 12 16 5 AMBA, BAC, NEASC
IE Business School Spain 82,253 USD 12 17 4 13 159,266 104 61 23 83 92 (90) 42 90 13 29 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Iese Business School Spain 100,192 USD 16 14 7 19 140,185 121 11 81 85 91 (93) 33 80 20 28 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS

ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017

IESEG School of Management France 20,000 EUR 12 55 AACSB, EQUIS
IMD Switzerland 93,366 USD 13 32 5 11 157,439 83 82 5 88 87 (100) 66 100 21 30 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS

139
MBA LISTINGS
 MBA LISTINGS

140
Course Weighted Salary percentage Value for Aims achieved Employed at three International Women
Rankings Accreditation(s)
Length salary (USD) increase money rank rank months (%) students (%) students (%)
School name Country Costs
Financial The Business
FT FT TE FT FT FT TE FT TE SD FT SD
Times Economist Week
Imperial College Business School UK 39,000 GBP 35 20 12 112,301 83 31 82 91 (94) 88 45 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad India 37,160 USD 24 60 22 174,274 96 3 36 80 84 (100) 1 4 84 19 EQUIS
Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore India 26,600 USD 62 24 137,294 84 61 74 100 (100) 0 26 EQUIS
Indian School of Business India 40,000 USD 29 11 138,454 142 45 80 96 (94) 1 29 AACSB
Indiana University: Kelley School of Business US 44,460 USD 54 29 28 21 119,970 103 15 68 84 89 (100) 17 36 18 29 AACSB
Insead France / Singapore 87,436 USD 1 8 3 10 166,510 94 75 10 84 83 (98) 39 95 1 30 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
International University of Japan Graduate School of International
Japan 35,883 USD 90 24 72 31 23 Ministry of Education
Management
International University of Monaco Monaco 40,861 USD 83 10 >100 89 84 AMBA
Lancaster University Management School UK 44,948 USD 35 85 12 106,638 111 46 6 85 82 (94) 76 98 66 43 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Leeds University Business School UK 25,000 GBP 98 12 89,202 79 17 78 100 (74) 90 90 57 54 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
London Business School UK 112,785 USD 3 24 2 15 154,150 100 84 72 87 93 (99) 25 93 9 37 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Maastricht School of Management Netherlands 14,900 EUR 12 54 41 AMBA, IACBE, ACBSP, NVAO
Macquarie Graduate School of Management Australia 65,600 AUD 56 28 24 126,736 58 >100 21 80 91 (100) 31 93 55 34 AACSB
Manchester Business School/ Alliance MBS UK 42,000 GBP 38 19 18 117,918 96 53 82 72 (95) 89 31 35 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Mannheim Business School Germany 33,000EUR 49 38 12 109,622 79 80 9 83 93 (88) 47 89 52 40 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
McGill University: Desautels Canada 79,500 CAD 85 16 16 88,345 76 70 83 84 (92) 77 35 70 EQUIS
Melbourne Business School Australia 71,949 USD 87 43 23 12 95,356 72 34 37 81 93 (94) 56 84 44 25 AACSB, EQUIS
Michigan State University: Broad US 44,860 USD 65 35 30 24 103,672 120 2 50 84 91 (100) 3 39 >100 40 AACSB
MIP Politecnico di Milano Italy 31,000 EUR 12 70 65 AMBA, EQUIS
MIT: Sloan US 65,750 USD 9 15 4 24 159,909 90 76 96 83 92 (98) 22 48 88 41 AACSB
Munich Business School Germany 26,850 EUR 15 75 70 FIBAA
Nanyang Business School Singapore 46,485 USD 29 59 12 119,032 105 73 38 79 92 (97) 67 87 32 33 AACSB, EQUIS
National University of Singapore Business School Singapore 58,000 SGD 32 87 22 17 115,148 121 97 39 80 90 (96) 16 92 84 90 40 43 AACSB, EQUIS
NEOMA Business School France 36,000 EUR 12 80 40 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Newcastle University Business School UK 21,000 GBP 12 29 AMBA
New York University: Stern US 60,744 USD 19 11 49 22 150,510 97 66 98 84 89 (96) 15 36 7 35 AACSB
North Carolina State University: Jenkins Graduate School of Management US 39,954 USD 29 21 AACSB
Northeastern University D'Amore-McKim School of Business US 88,602 USD 61 24 AACSB
Northwestern University: Kellogg School of Management US 64,059 USD 11 7 3 24 162,923 93 83 89 85 94 (100) 14 44 10 43 AACSB
Nottingham University Business School UK 39,953 USD 74 12 68 91 AMBA, EQUIS
Ohio State University: Fisher US 49,099 USD 75 31 39 21 110,129 100 35 52 83 96 (91) 25 37 >100 23 AACSB
Pennsylvania State University: Smeal College of Business US 36,962 USD 89 62 43 21 104,612 105 30 48 80 86 (100) 80 43 >100 27 AACSB
Purdue University: Krannert US 44,816 USD 53 21 AACSB
Queen's School of Business Canada 87,000 CAD 93 80 9 12 93,761 85 59 35 82 84 (97) 59 48 95 31 AACSB, EQUIS
Rice University: Jones US 51,400 USD 53 45 19 22 126,207 100 31 65 83 91 (99) 29 29 >100 35 AACSB
SDA Bocconi Italy 62,454 USD 25 50 12 12 122,955 116 12 32 84 85 (86) 50 76 26 30 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Shanghai Jiao Tong University: Antai China 178,000 RMB 39 24 113,340 168 33 76 100 (99) 19 45 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Southern Methodist University: Cox School of Business US 44,200 USD 82 32 21 89 88 40 AACSB
SP Jain School of Global Management Dubai/Singapore/
19,500 USD 12 20 ABEST21, TEQSA
Sydney
Stanford Graduate School of Business US 64,050 USD 5 13 7 24 185,939 87 95 83 85 86 (100) 27 36 27 40 AACSB
Sungkyunkwan University GSB South Korea 44,500 KRW 69 16 107,362 80 43 82 92 (97) 27 24 AACSB
Syracuse University: Whitman School of Management US 74,762 USD 67 21 AACSB
Temple University Fox School of Business US 58,158 USD 53 24 87 61 AACSB
Texas A & M University: Mays US 35,122 USD 22 16 AACSB
Texas Christian University: Neeley School of Business US 44,605 USD 63 38 12 29 57 AACSB
The Lisbon MBA Portugal 35,000 EUR 40 12 123,584 100 2 82 82 (100) 30 36 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management Belgium/France 32,000 EUR 12 to 15 90 40 AMBA
Tilburg University: TiasNimbas Netherlands 37,500 EUR 12 92,289 16 75 100 29 AACSB, AMBA
UCLA: Anderson School of Management US 102,318 USD 34 9 11 24 140,067 89 53 88 83 87 (98) 69 32 52 30 AACSB
University at Buffalo School of Management US 33,848 USD 66 21 AACSB
University College Dublin: Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business Ireland 45,844 USD 79 56 12 107,185 73 45 12 78 91 (100) 35 67 48 31 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
 Course Weighted Salary percentage Value for Aims achieved Employed at three International Women
Rankings Accreditation(s)
Length salary (USD) increase money rank rank months (%) students (%) students (%)
School name Country Costs
Financial The Business
FT FT TE FT FT FT TE FT TE SD FT SD
Times Economist Week
University of Aberdeen Scotland 15,700 GBP 12 30 AMBA
University of Alberta Canada 50,113 CND 16 to 20 63 40 AACSB
University of Arizona Eller College of Management US 40,220 USD 93 21 17 68 30 AACSB
University of Bath School of Management UK 46,612 USD 98 64 12 97,908 55 93 47 78 98 (83) 35 83 33 41 AMBA, EQUIS
University of Birmingham Birmingham Business School UK 35,808 USD 92 89 12 103,344 71 63 15 77 94 (84) 81 100 65 32 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
University of British Columbia: Sauder Canada 71,278 CAD 96 16 90,413 72 59 77 77 (100) 67 59 35 35 AACSB, EQUIS
University of California at Berkeley: Haas US 54,066 USD 7 6 9 21 169,395 93 65 69 85 94 (99) 23 43 2 41 AACSB
University of California at Irvine: Merage US 77,863 USD 57 54 21 113,098 110 67 80 89 (100) 53 33 AACSB
University of California, Davis US 72,977 USD 21 35 39 AACSB
University of California, San Diego: Rady US 88,000 USD 65 21 AACSB
University of Cambridge: Judge UK 74,846 USD 10 61 12 156,323 95 >100 4 86 89 (89) 44 92 39 38 AMBA, EQUIS
University of Cape Town GSB South Africa 308,000 ZAR 76 11 138,466 68 8 78 69 (97) 31 40 EQUIS
University of Chicago: Booth US 63,980 USD 8 1 2 21 158,259 107 14 84 85 95 (99) 8 42 15 42 AACSB
University of Edinburgh Business School Scotland 45,114 USD 98 79 12 99,144 66 86 30 77 81 (86) 45 84 45 47 28 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
University of Florida Hough Graduate School of Business US 60,150 USD 58 41 24 42 79 AACSB
University of Georgia Terry College of Business US 33,768 USD 72 51 22 27 65 >100 AACSB
University of Hong Kong China 64,427 USD 44 100 14 112,518 106 90 54 83 72 (87) 77 70 55 36 AACSB, EQUIS
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign US 52,420 USD 91 57 21 107,052 97 57 82 94 (79) 39 27 AACSB
University of Iowa Tippie School of Management US 38,225 USD 94 73 52 21 103,058 113 20 25 83 98 (100) 58 32 97 26 AACSB
University of Maryland: Smith US 54,409 USD 51 42 33 21 109,982 97 38 90 82 81 (99) 71 37 95 37 AACSB
University of Michigan: Ann Arbor Ross School of Business US 59,450 USD 20 27 10 16 144,961 107 40 74 85 92 (89) 64 35 50 32 AACSB
University of Minnesota: Carlson School of Management US 45,000 USD 71 55 45 22 114,404 85 9 85 87 96 (95) 55 21 91 29 AACSB
University of Missouri, Columbia Trulaske College of Business US 26,950 USD 66 18 AACSB
University of North Carolina: Kenan-Flagler US 57,510 USD 41 33 17 21 128,240 97 23 87 83 94 (97) 43 34 60 30 AACSB
University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business US 48,530 USD 76 44 31 21 120,721 97 10 62 84 93 (98) 51 37 14 30 AACSB
University of Oxford: Sad Business School UK 78,325 USD 28 77 6 12 136,959 81 >100 19 85 82 (89) 83 96 59 31 AMBA, EQUIS
University of Pennsylvania: Wharton US 68,210 USD 4 10 5 21 177,877 84 >100 95 84 94 (94) 4 32 24 43 AACSB
University of Pittsburgh: Katz Graduate School of Business US 31,816 USD 98 69 44 12 97897 105 8 58 79 91 (100) 18 50 73 33 AACSB
University of Queensland Business School Australia 60,240 USD 16 12 >100 40 74 AACSB, EQUIS
University of Rochester: Simon Graduate School of Business US 46,000 USD 86 51 36 22 109,756 102 14 86 79 96 (90) 24 61 74 44 AACSB
University of San Diego School of Business Administration US 74,760 USD 59 13 22 108,834 119 56 86 64 (100) 73 48 AACSB
University of South Carolina: Moore US 71,580 USD 96 12 55 >100 AACSB
University of Southern California: Marshall US 109,944 USD 52 71 25 20 128,782 87 81 101 82 81 (9W9) 94 27 46 30 AACSB
University of St Gallen Switzerland 62,061 USD 60 70 14 12 112,940 60 79 18 84 79 (85) 99 90 90 20 20 AACSB, EQUIS
University of Strathclyde Business School UK 46,612 USD 63 48 12 99,450 91 60 7 82 97 (88) 18 87 77 29 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
University of Texas at Austin: McCombs US 48,832 USD 47 39 15 21 134,317 92 74 75 81 87 (97) 13 29 72 32 AACSB
University of Toronto: Joseph L Rotman School of Management Canada 105,690 CAD 20 53 32 AACSB
University of Virginia: Darden Graduate School of Business Administration US 61,250 USD 27 2 12 21 147,104 109 54 73 85 95 (100) 38 38 19 35 AACSB
University of Washington: Foster School of Business US 44,175 USD 49 37 20 21 120,279 87 43 63 84 96 (100) 10 34 76 33 AACSB
University of Wisconsin, Madison School of Business US 27,815 USD 57 21 67 59 >100 AACSB
Vanderbilt University: Owen Graduate School of Management US 49,950 USD 71 36 34 21 121,231 95 32 77 84 92 (99) 32 21 >100 26 AACSB
Vlerick Business School Belgium 36,000 EUR 12 90 35 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Wake Forest University: Babcock US 83,984 USD 30 21 AACSB
Warwick Business School UK 57,267 USD 46 18 12 112,287 70 19 24 79 97 (98) 93 85 8 32 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Washington University: Olin Business School US 53,500 USD 80 41 35 22 114,130 80 25 94 82 97 (95) 6 35 80 40 AACSB
Western University: Ivey Canada 80,113 USD 88 66 1 12 100,209 71 >100 42 82 89 (98) 72 31 81 31 EQUIS
WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management Germany 49,033 USD 99 15 96 >100 49 AACSB, EQUIS, FIBAA
Wisconsin School of Business US 53,514 USD 68 46 21 110,745 111 27 84 90 (100) 21 32 AACSB
Yale School of Management US 61,500 USD 18 19 11 22 152,232 108 56 80 87 92 (99) 49 48 36 40 AACSB

ACCESS MBA GUIDE 2016-2017

York University: Schulich Canada 78,488 USD 46 16 7 74 4 AMBA, EQUIS

1. FT - Financial Times 5. Value for Money: Calculated by considering the salary earned by alumni today, course length, fees, other 8. Weighted salary in US $: States the average salary today, includes salaries for current year and one or two preceding years.
2. TE - The Economist costs, and opportunity cost of not working for the programme duration. 9. %age of salary increase: Displays the percentage increase in salary pre and post MBA.

141
3. BW - Business Week 6. Aims achieved rank: The level at which alumni fulfilled their purpose of doing the MBA. 10. International students: Shows mix of international students.
4. SD - School Data 7. Career progress rank: Indicates the progress in career levels that alumni made pre and post MBA.
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2016-2017 EDITION

Executive

GUIDE
Global Publication for EMBA Students

Kings and Queens

Switching Gears with a GEMBA
A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed
Executive Examination
 EMBA OVERVIEW
Kings and Queens
The Executive MBA nurtures the leaders
of tomorrow
T
he Executive Master of
Business Administration
(EMBA) is widely regarded
as a valuable addition to any
senior managers CV. The resulting
portrait is one of an experienced
professional but not without the
ability to display these qualities
in the first place, as experience is
a prerequisite to undertaking the
degree itself. As the executive
part of the degree would suggest,
the EMBA requires a more senior
attitude towards business and
administration. Potential students
will normally be required to have
several years of experience
in managerial roles due to the
extensive and advanced subject
matter of the EMBA.
The EMBA student
The EMBA is not generally as long as a
graduate degree, and includes 16 modules
to be taken over a span of 20-21 months,
for the part-time degree. Most universities
only offer the course as part-time because
most students will have organisations to
run or other business to manage. The
entrance criteria are usually centered
around such experience as this, with
prospective students on average holding
12.7 years of working experience.
For example, Massachusetts Institute
of Technology (MIT) wont even accept
candidates without 10 years of business
related experience under normal
circumstances, and the median age of
EMBA students at MIT is 40. As you might
expect, this means that the average age
of EMBA students is markedly higher
than most other degrees. The average
age of students enrolled in EMBA courses
worldwide is 36.3 years old, according to
financial expert Dave Ross. The age of the
students is not as important as experience,
but there are certain things that develop
with age, such as flexibility and vision.
This is illustrated nicely by Christer
Holloman, the former senior business
development manager at Glassdoor
who, after just four months of studying
the EMBA at Oxford University, left his job
to pursue a previously subdued ambition
of founding his very own company. He
claims that the skills he learnt in the EMBA
programme gave him the courage that
he needed to make the final step and go
out into the business world alone. His
company, Divido, is an online payments
business which is gradually growing
in size and power due to the immense
funding that Holloman and his company
are receiving from Seedcamp, amongst
other interested investors. The prestige of
the EMBA is undoubtedly a factor in the 1
million GBP funding he is receiving from
benefactors. It does however usually cost
anywhere from 50,000 USD to 150,000
USD to enroll in the EMBA programme
depending on the university which,
judging by the return that Holloman and
other EMBA students are getting on their The average age of EMBA
investment, could turn out to be peanuts students is markedly higher
in the long run. Holloman also has sponsors
inside the university, from fellow students than most other degrees.
to teachers. The combined force of venture
capitalists and equity partners means that The average age of students
the staggeringly high enrolment fee could enrolled in EMBA courses
be paid back in good time if adequate
action is taken, during the course of study, worldwide is 36.3 years old.
to network and build business.
The EMBA class
The exclusive cohort of proven leaders,
selected by MIT and other top universities
providing the best EMBA courses like the
London Business School, is a good reason
to enroll, as it brings like-minded, driven
individuals together to share their wealth
of experience. The average class size is
120, so there is plenty of networking to
be done amongst elite professionals.
There is also the database of alumni that
enables them to stay in touch even after
the programme has finished and build
on what they have learnt and started
together. The widely clichd phrase its
not what you know, but who you know
to some extent rings true in this instance,
but the beauty of venturing into business
with people who you know and who
share the same wisdom as you, relieves
a lot of the stress and pressure that can
ACCESS EMBA GUIDE 2016-2017 145

overwhelm newbie entrepreneurs. The
mix of professions that can be found in a
lecture theatre of an EMBA is second to
none, heterogeneously speaking, resulting
in cross-functional perspectives and
productive collaborations as Ivyexec
correctly observe.
The EMBA curriculum
The resources that can be taken advantage
of in an EMBA programme include a
huge library full of statistical information
and other useful resources. This allows
thousands to access it without going
through university, and even if you did
want to do that, there is no guarantee
that you would know how to use that
information. Students learn various
soft skills as well as the bigger picture
outlook according to Clifford Brown,
EMBA alumnus at Oxford University
and Partner at Rockworth Management
Partners. The soft skills are integrated
into the management framework and
later become part of working lifestyles
through practice. The EMBA degree
enhances not only managerial skills, but
leadership qualities that can be taken
anywhere in the world. It embellishes
this valuable skill-set leading to efficient,
proficient, and energetic workers according
146
to Oxford Universitys EMBA programme
director Kathy Harvey. They do this in a
fairly balanced framework which aims to
limit static online learning and involve more
dynamic experiences for students. This
model includes some classroom activities
involving small groups of students, some
lectures where students can meet and take
notes on EMBA theory, and experiential
practical use of the concepts learnt. The
University of Edinburgh EMBA programme
consists of core modules including strategic
marketing, leadership and responsibility,
creative strategy and modelling business.
Apart from that, there is also a strong
focus on economics and business theory.
The optional modules are limited and are
all based on similar subjects, so it is not
for those looking for a broad perspective
on any one particular subject, but for
those aiming to learn and practise only
the vitally important skill-sets, and who
have a detailed understanding of how
certain business or financial models
work. Those taking C-level management
(the highest level of management) are
tasked with coordinating their business
and their workers whilst also maintaining
private equity endorsements. CEOs need
to be taught how to balance these aspects
and many more so that their companies
can thrive. If not, they are likely to lose
control of their workforce and shareholders
leading to the collapse of the company.
Embezzlement and pyramid schemes are
not uncommon in situations such as this,
which is why it is a good idea to research
the financial framework theory so one can
avoid being subjected to illegal practices.
The set modules of the EMBA deal with
these prominent issues and give advice
on how to cope as a leading authoritative
figure.
Whilst the EMBA requires serious
dedication, time and resources, it can
be rewarding for those looking to boost
their Mid-level career to reach the top
of their field. It is an asset to those who
are already in high positions as they can
immediately turn theory into practice in
their workplace. Equally, for those looking
to branch out and try something new, it
gives a safety net in the form of advice,
resources, and connections. As Janet
Dawson, currently studying an EMBA at
Oxford University observes, the EMBA gets
you to ask better questions as much as
it gets you to come up with the answers
yourself.
 The EMBA degree
enhances not only
managerial skills, but
leadership qualities that
can be taken anywhere
in the world.

ACCESS EMBA GUIDE 2016-2017 147

 Fortune Favours
EMBA OVERVIEW
the Prepared
The Value and ROI of the EMBA benefit the
professionally and intellectually mature
F
ew options in business
education are more suitable
for a certain type of highly
accomplished professional
than the Executive MBA. Sure,
there are the part-time MBA,
the Global MBA and also some
other interesting options. Rarely,
however, could they offer a more
aptly tailored curriculum for those
with management experience or
for the ambitious ladder-climbers
just about to break into the
executive world.
This is reflected in satisfaction levels
which are remarkably high among EMBA
students, research data shows. The
average grade for the degree is 4.1 out of
5, according to the Executive MBA Council,
an academic organisation representing
the executive education industry. Another
survey, carried out by GMAC, suggests that
EMBA students are the most satisfied with
their degree among all MBA programmes.
Of those interviewed, 95% report that they
are happy with it and 95% of them say that
they would recommend it.
Unsurprisingly, the payroll is also excellent.
The package comprising salary and bonus
at the start of the programme of EMBA
students in a 2014 survey was 155,848
USD over 15,000 USD more than that
reported in 2013. The degree itself
definitely impacts the paycheck of alumni.
By the programme end, the average
salary and bonus package of EMBAs rose
to 181,965 USD, which is an increase of
over 20,000 USD in comparison to the
2013 figures. This represents an average
increase of 16.8% from programme start
to programme end for the 2014 -2015
148
period. The data also shows that 41% of
students in 2014 were promoted during
their studies. There were 2,323 EMBAs
from 79 programmes who took part in
the survey of EMBAC.
Money and value
The gigantic boost in pay of MBA students
of course cannot be matched, as most
EMBAs are already excellently paid at
the time of admission. Perhaps this is
one of the reasons why 75% of them
plan to keep their current employment,
compared to just 15% of the Full-time
MBAs, according to GMAC. Only Online
MBAs and Part-time/flexible MBAs report
higher satisfaction with their companies
- respectively 88% and 77% of them say
they would not switch employers.
Overall, mainly due to the possibility of
working while studying, the ROI of the
EMBA is excellent. And that goes not
just for the more reputable schools, but
also for some lesser-known places that
offer executive degrees. In recent years
many renowned universities, although
geographically distant, formed joint
programmes, enabling students to feel
the truly global flair of modern-day
business. In the 2015 Financial Times
EMBA ranking, for example, the leader
is Tsinghua University/INSEAD and the
next 5 places are occupied by schools in
partnership too.
Tsinghua University/INSEAD EMBA alumni
report a salary of 324,115 USD three
years after graduation. This is a growth
of 80% vis-a-vis prior to graduation a
huge increase for an EMBA degree. The
not-so-famous Rice University: Jones
programme stands at 40th place but still
provides superb opportunities: a salary of
223,307 USD representing a rise of 49%,
compared to that before graduation. And
there are many similar other examples.
ACCESS MBA Guide believes it would be a
good idea not to disregard suitable EMBA
opportunities just because it is a more
boutique EMBA or simply doesnt come
from a top 50 school.
Why exactly EMBA?
Most often EMBA allows students to finish
their degree in 2-3 years, or sometimes
even less, without putting their career on
hold. But theres more. Beyond the theme
of money and the more flexible work-study
rhythm, are candidates also interested if
there is an idea behind the EMBA, one that
differentiates it from the classical MBA?
Ever since 1943, when Chicago Booth
started the first executive education degree,
the goal was not just to form global leaders,
but to provide businesses with talented
people that would develop them into truly
global institutions. The pace of globalisation
today accelerates and intensifies the need
for the sort of managers who understand
the importance of worldwide expansion.
Perhaps Michael Desiderio, Executive
Director of EMBAC put it best: EMBA
was born from a need to accelerate the
development of business leaders and
prepare them for greater leadership
responsibilities(...) Business are now
spans the world even local businesses
now more than ever looking to the global
marketplace, and advances in technology
are opening new opportunities. All these
changes contribute to a desire to develop
and bring to market new products, services,
and ideas more quickly than ever.
The content of EMBAs programmes does
not differ that much from the MBAs.
Some of it includes Finance, Accounting,
Marketing, Leadership, Strategy, Operations
Management, International Business,
Economics, Entrepreneurship, Ethics,
and so on. The combination of studying
executive education and a continuing
career, breaks down the barrier between
theory and practice in the most useful way.
The familiar network-making potential of
MBA could even be stronger for EMBAs,
as students know the worth of networking
from first-hand experience.
In 2014 close to 95% of executive
programmes had an alumni networking
event, says EMBAC. Despite the high level
of company satisfaction of EMBA students,
more than 92% of programmes offered
career services and over 72 % had executive
coaching.
But who is the average Joe of executive
education? According to the last available
Executive MBA Council survey, he or
she is 37.5 years old with 13.7 years of
experience. And out of those 13.7 years,
participants clocked an average of 8.7
years of managerial experience. EMBA has
long been considered a joint employer-
employee endeavour, the former often
agreeing to pick up some part of the bill,
sometimes all of it. This still holds true,
with 35.6% of students having partial
sponsorship, 24.6% - full sponsorship and
39.8% being self-funded.
The state of the economy, however, shifted
the weight onto the shoulders of students.
In 2008, when the crisis started taking its
toll, 33% or one third of students enjoyed
full sponsorship.
Keeping the balance
With a median price of 74,883 USD for
the degree it certainly does not come
cheap. However, it is worthwhile, as long
as it is adequately picked and suitable for
the overall individual profile, professional
experience, and career plans of the
candidate. Since it is mostly mature
people that choose to follow the EMBA
road, it would be wise for the ones with
spouses and children to make sure they
make enough time for their personal lives.
This is essential for happiness, even when
ones career is a priority.
Some schools recognise this need and pay
special attention to students partners.
One way of doing this is by organising
events at the programmes expense
during which the presence of spouses is
encouraged - trips, dinners, orientation
tours. It is a valuable investment because
its important for the students and
significant others to know that the school
cares about their families, said Gonzalo
Freixes, the associate dean of the EMBA
at the Anderson School of Management in
2008 for an interview for the Wall Street
Journal. And not much has changed ever
since. Study/work/life balance is crucial
for feeling good in ones personal time
and being productive at work. Nowadays
maintaining this equilibrium seems even
more valuable. D.G.
ACCESS EMBA GUIDE 2016-2017 149
 Switching Gears
E M B A F O R M AT

with a GEMBA
The Global EMBA programme moulds three types of business
executives the trekker, the leader and the investor

I
n todays fast-paced business
environment, it is executives
top priority to keep their
competitive edge. It is one thing
being a manager in a familiar
environment, but a completely
different story when it comes to
developing into a global leader.
This is where a Global Executive
MBA could prove useful.

Over the years, EMBA programmes have

been quick to evolve and very successful
in adapting to the business climate and
requirements. Business education has
long stopped being local. Indeed, the
move by US schools into Europe, and
later on the other way round, has been
considered one of the major events
marking business education evolution
over the past 20 years, according to
reputable sources such as the Financial
Times (FT).
The first decade of this century saw a
growing confidence at European schools
as they looked overseas to develop
relationships rather than competing
with their peers at home. Campuses
in the Middle East and Asia sprang up,
the most significant being INSEADs in
Singapore. Joint degrees, particularly with
Chinese universities, flourished, reads
FTs overview of programmes expansion.
The global business
trekker
The Global EMBA (GEMBA) is the
heavyweight incarnation of this trend.
There, executives with global aspirations
set out on a path for uncanny knowledge
that can lead to business growth on a truly
international scale. The GEMBAs focus
is on creating global leaders with cross-
border and cross-functional leadership
and practical skills to manage their
businesses in the international arena.
GEMBA programmes offer the opportunity
to receive first-hand experience of
global business and obtain sophisticated
knowledge about key world economies,
all the while receiving and experiencing
practical insights into local policies.
Global EMBA programmes are indeed
global. While the main part of the
programme is carried out at a single place,
certain modules are conducted at partner
schools abroad. That way students can take
advantage of the best those schools have
to offer in terms of faculty, campus and
learning and networking opportunities.
One such programme, KelloggWHU,
named after the partnership between
Americas Kellogg School of Management
at Northwestern University and
Germanys WHU - Otto Beisheim School
of Management, was established nearly
twenty years ago, with seven campuses
around North America, Asia, the Middle
East and Europe.
The programmes are also optimised in
such a way as to offer maximum flexibility,
mixing classroom training in Europe, the
Americas and Asia with distance learning,
making sure that executives are able to
fit the programme into their busy daily
schedule. The length of the programme
varies from school to school the Global
EMBA offered by SDA Bocconi, for
example, takes twenty months, with eight

150
concentrated one-week modules and two
nine-day modules, carried out every other
month. Bocconi is also one of the schools
offering the most diverse locations, going
from Milan to Los Angeles, Copenhagen,
Shanghai and Sao Paulo, channelling various
industries through each of these locations.
The INSEAD programme is one of the most
intensive, requiring 51-60 days away from
the office in 14-17 months, while IESE lasts
for up to 14 weeks, or 70 business days of
modules in the span of 16 months.
The immersive leader
The first year of a Global EMBA is focused
on providing a strong foundation of
essential business skills, and then building
on these with advanced topics, usually
electives, which can be selected based on
the students specific interests.
One of the top benefits of any EMBA
programme is its multicultural nature,
providing students with the opportunity
to benefit from each others different
perspectives and build knowledge on
cultural and business specifics. Global
EMBAs go one step further, allowing
unparalleled and complete immersion
in global markets and access to global
study opportunities, all through local
partnerships. Courses are taught in different
locations, by distinguished local experts
or faculty members, establishing a strong
foundation of business concepts. The
modules provide core business knowledge
as well as valuable insights into the regional
markets and geopolitical specifics. The
Georgetown-ESADE programme, an alliance
between Georgetown University and ESADE
Business School, for example takes place
in the business and government centres
of Spain, Brazil, the United States, China,
Qatar and India, and mirrors the complexity
of the global business environment.
Global immersion does not stop at the
classroom door: the networking events
organised at each location introduce
GEMBA participants to local alumni, as
well as local business executives and
officials. The schools do not simply offer
a joint degree, but allow access to their
full alumni networks, which often span
all the continents. In the case of Kellogg-
WHU, the alumni network includes almost
60,000 highly skilled professionals, and in
Georgetown-ESADE the number is over
200,000, including noted leaders such as
former US president Bill Clinton, King Felipe
VI of Spain and former CIA director George
Tenet.
The Global EMBA provides more than just
general management knowledge. It offers
a good understanding of cultural specifics
in international business and helps explain
how geopolitics affects business decisions.
However, this knowledge does not come
solely from taught material and professors.
Global EMBAs do a great job of capitalising
on the skillsets, experience and background
of their students, and use these actively in
the classroom. Some programmes, such
as Georgetown-ESADE, go a step further,
aligning the assigned projects with the skills
and interests of the entire project team.
This increases the value of the experience
and brings greater confidence in solving
complex organisational challenges across
different functions. Participants are also
able to extend their learning and utilise
their professional experience through
live consulting projects for companies
operating in different markets.
The shrewd investor
The Financial Times 2015 EMBA survey
shows an average salary increase of
41% in three years after graduation.
Unsurprisingly, the two best-ranked
programmes are global EMBAs: those
offered by INSEAD and Tsinghua University
(Tiemba), marking a massive 80% salary
growth in a revenue segment that many
already consider the top one percent
earners in the world. Indeed, Global EMBA
programmes occupy the top five spots in
the rankings. Yet, salary comes only third in
importance as a criterion for enrolling in a
GEMBA. Alumni have cited learning about
management as their top motivator, rated
9.1 out of 10, followed by the networking
opportunities. More than a quarter of the
alumni started their own company during
or post-graduation, and over 75% confirm
having fulfilled the goals and justified the
reasons they had for enrolling in an GEMBA
programme.
Leadership development and career
coaching have also been major takeaways
and critical success factors for GEMBA
alumni. INSEAD students, for example,
benefit from academic teaching, live fora
and peer exchanges, 360-degree feedback
and group coaching, while London Business
School alumni work with a dedicated
Career Centre coach to align career plans
and receive advice on CVs, networking,
interviewing and more.
Joining a Global EMBA allows an entry
into a world-class network of leaders.
The GEMBA provides its participants with
outstanding resources for leadership and
personal development training. Executives
will learn how to be entrepreneurs and
how to build and develop a business on a
global scale. In fact, career advancement,
networking and cross-cultural exposure are
just the tip of the iceberg. The Global EMBA
programme challenges its participants
to re-evaluate their career and create a
story for themselves by providing a rich
environment for personal and professional
growth.
But be aware of the fact that in order
to reach new heights and reconsider a
persons value to business and society,
they have to be prepared to switch the
gear that has brought them this far. And
that is exactly what the GEMBA excels
at catapulting executives out of their
comfort zone in order to awaken the leader
in them. E.V.
ACCESS EMBA GUIDE 2016-2017 151
EMBA ADMISSION

A Friend in Need is
a Friend Indeed
Convincing your employer to back your EMBA studies in
a tangible way will take effort and preparation

E
xecutive MBA programmes
are generally part-time,
conducted in a modular
format spanning 16 to 24 months.
As most EMBA class members
dont give up their jobs while
studying, business schools need
to be sure that professional
duties wont hinder personal
contributions to the class. Thats
why EMBA students are required
to have their employers support
for their regular absences from
work. Because of this, business
schools have included employer
endorsement as part of the
admission process. It is of key
importance as in this way schools
ensure that EMBA students are
able to commit the time, attention
and energy needed to be successful
in their studies. On the other hand,
employers endorsements ensure
that EMBA students are capable
of contributing to the classroom
learning environment and actively
participating.
Begin with a simple letter
Employers endorsements can be anything
from an official formal letter by the
students supervisor on company headed
stationery, or a signed-and-stamped
document indicating agreement between
the employer and the employee. Or, it
could simply be the employers consent for
the student to attend the programme. It
could also include a financial commitment
by the employer.
For example, at Wharton, all EMBA
applicants employed by an organisation
must have a formal letter of endorsement
from their employer, signed by a supervisor
and submitted on the companys headed
stationery. The letter should acknowledge
that the company is aware of the employees
interest in applying for the programme;
provide assurance that he or she will be
able to take the time away from work to
attend classes and handle approximately
20-25 hours of study during the week; and
indicate the level of financial support the
organisation intends to provide. The letter
of endorsement is separate from the two
professional recommendations required
as part of the application. However, it can
further support the applicants candidacy
by providing an endorsement of the
employees qualifications and leadership
potential.
Answer the question
Getting an employers support, especially
when seeking sponsorship, might not be
that easy. It definitely should be considered
a serious step in the application process.
INSEAD advises its executive MBA aspirants
to consider efforts to seek their employers
support as a business proposal. They should

152
be ready to answer a lot of questions when
seeking this support. Would-be participants
in the programme definitely need to
know three things; themselves, i.e. their
motivation in applying for the programme;
their organisations and corporate policies
with regard to supporting employees
in their postgraduate studies; and the
executive MBA programme, well enough to
answer any question that may arise during
the conversation with their employer.
Answering the main question: What kind
of support do you need? is of crucial
importance. Offer your employer a full
and realistic picture of the time investment
, says INSEAD in its guide to seeking an
employers support for executive MBAs.
When talking to an employer be ready to
negotiate a variety of types of leave. It could
consist of unpaid leave; additional paid
leave; advance holiday leave; a sabbatical
year; parental leave; or combining study
with business trips.
Negotiate the terms
The main question that employers ask
when negotiating endorsements for EMBAs
is What will I get in return? Employers see
giving their endorsement as an investment
and as such they need to know how this
will pay off, how you getting an EMBA will
contribute to the development of the
organisation.
Through your EMBA, you may obtain
new managerial skills and improve your
performance or you may learn the skills
to develop new projects, or bring new
networking opportunities, or get a fresh
perspective on global issues. But how will
this be reflected in the work you do directly
for your organisation and, in general, how
will you and your EMBA add value to the
business in the long run?
Employers need to be persuaded that
this investment in you will turn into a real
business investment with real benefits.
Thats why you should be very precise and
talk clearly about how the organisations
investment in your degree will enrich their
overall business.
Try to get financial
support
Apart from time commitment, an
employers support may also come
in a financial form. While employer
endorsement is required for admission,
financial sponsorship is at the discretion
of the students organisation. It can range
from covering tuition costs, to providing
full financial support for the programme
and travel expenses, or simply paying for
some of the extra costs that attending the
course entails.
In recent years, financial support for
executive MBA programmes has varied
considerably from company to company
and even within a company. Not so long
ago, nearly all executive MBA students
were fully sponsored financially, but that
is becoming rarer. Now, most students pay
for their studies themselves. Research
from Poets and Quants shows that 41%
of executive MBA students were fully self-
funded in 2013, up from 34% in 2009. Only
24% of MBA students received full financial
sponsorship. For example, at INSEAD,
around 27% of the schools executive MBA
participants receive some level of financial
support but typically only 19% of the class
are fully sponsored. At the University of
Cambridge Judge Business School, 46% of
all executive MBA students have some level
of financial support from their employer.
Know your options
When asking for financial support you
should be realistic about the amount
you ask for []. The level of financial
sponsorship you are offered may be in direct
correlation to the return on investment that
your employer feels they will receive from
you attending the programme, or it may be
attached to a retention clause stipulating
that you must stay with the organisation
for a set number of years post qualification.
You may wish to explore the possibility of
being retrospectively sponsored, with a
percentage of the fees being offered as
the company sees the additional benefits
you are able to bring to the organisation,
Cambridge advises.
Another option to explore is a form of
retrospective sponsorship, whereby
the company pays a percentage of the
total fees when the employee delivers
certain pre-arranged conditions. For
example, if workloads and deadlines
are not compromised after attending
the first couple of programme modules,
the employer reimburses a pre-agreed
amount to its employee.
With retrospective sponsorship, an
employer takes into consideration the
real benefits you are likely to bring to
your organisation through your EMBA.
It might be the development of future
corporate projects that you will be able
to manage thanks to the degree, and so
the arrangements need to be very clearly
communicated between you and your
employer.
Some students take a wait-and-see
approach. They are motivated to pursue
an MBA and self-fund their education; and
then, once they can demonstrate their
value to their organisations, they seek
reimbursement or compensation from
their employer.
Being flexible when negotiating
your employers support is highly
recommended. Considering it as a
business proposal, particularly when it
comes with financial support, is a good
start. I.D-S.
ACCESS EMBA GUIDE 2016-2017 153
 EMBA ADMISSION
Executive
Examination
The Executive Assessment test
may replace the GMAT in
EMBA admissions
I
n March 2016 GMAC launched a
new test to evaluate Executive
MBA (EMBA) applicants. So far,
leading international business
schools have required that
EMBA applicants sit the GMAT
or a school-specific test. Some
waived the GMAT requirement
for applicants with considerable
managerial experience. However,
the issue of standardised testing
for EMBA admission has been
around for quite a while.
Challenges for testing
executives
Executive candidates typically have
considerably more work experience than
full-time or part-time applicants. On the
one hand this means they must have
developed better analytical and critical
reasoning skills. On the other, they have
been removed from the classroom for
much longer and are not in the best
position to take a standardised test.
Another issue is that EMBA applicants,
normally being in positions of higher
responsibility, have less time to prepare
for a test. GMAT preparation usually takes
at least 100 hours and can span three to
six months.
It would seem that the Graduate
Management Admission Council - creator
and owner of the GMAT has risen to the
challenge and decided to develop a test
tailored exclusively to EMBA students the
Executive Assessment (EA). This new type
of test gives Executive MBA applicants
another testing option that looks a lot like
the GMAT, but may prove to be an easier
path to success.
Executive Assessment (EA)
vs. GMAT
The key change comes with the different
structure of the new exam. The EA puts
a greater emphasis on critical thinking,
analysis and problem solving and much
less focus on pure mathematics and
grammatical structures.
Another feature is the test duration. Unlike
the three and a half exhausting hours of
the GMAT, the Executive Assessment is
over in 90 minutes.
Here is a closer look at the similarities
and differences between the two exams:
Test structure
The GMAC Executive Assessment contains
three sections: Integrated Reasoning,
Verbal and Quantitative. Each section is just
30 minutes long, and the exam is delivered
on demand at existing test centres around
the globe. Scores are valid for five years,
unofficial scores are provided at the test
centre upon completion. Candidates are
required to register at least 24 hours in
advance.
In terms of test structure, there are 40 This new type of test gives
questions: 12 Integrated Reasoning, 14 Executive MBA applicants
Verbal, and 14 Quantitative. The order of
sections is slightly different from the GMAT, another testing option that
with Integrated Reasoning leading off,
followed by Verbal and then Quantitative. looks a lot like the GMAT,
Once you start the test, there will be no but may prove to be an
breaks between the different sections.
easier path to success.
Test content and scoring
From a content perspective, the test
seems to be consistent with current GMAT
questions, but with a slightly more skewed
focus towards business. Some of the
practice questions appeared in previous
versions of the GMAT Official Guide. This
suggests content that is consistent with
current GMAT questions.
The score scale is different total scores
will be reported on a scale of 100-200
(200-800 for the GMAT), and individual
sections on scales of 0-20.
Is it computer adaptive?
This test is not computer adaptive in the
way that the GMAT is. Your answer to a
single question does not determine the
level of difficulty of the next question.
Rather, questions are released in groups
(based on your performance on the
ACCESS EMBA GUIDE 2016-2017 155
previous group). This type of testing is
called multi-stage adaptive design.
Price and retake policy
The Executive Assessment, although
shorter, will actually cost you more (350
USD, compared to 250 USD for the GMAT).
However, there is no fee for rescheduling
unless you are less than 24 hours from
your appointment or for additional score
reports.
If you are not happy with your score, you
can retake the test, but you can only do so
156
once. Compared to the 16 days to retake
the GMAT, the EA waiting period is only
24 hours.
How business schools are
welcoming the Executive
Assessment
GMAT has worked with business schools
to develop the new exam. Currently, six
schools have signed on to use the EA as
part of their admissions processes: INSEAD
(France), CEIBS (China), London Business
School (UK), the University of Hong Kong,
Columbia University (New York, US), and
the University of Chicago (Illinois, US). Some
of these schools have already expressed a
preference for the Executive Assessment,
while others still accept the EA and the
GMAT equally.
While it will be some time before the
new exam is well established, executive
MBA applicants now appear to have a
choice between the GMAT and Executive
Assessment. However, before you opt for
one or the other, check out the admission
requirements of your selected business
schools for any preference they may have
between the two exams. I.B.
 Marketing in education & recognition of International Talent

barCelona 2017
18-19 January

Connecting global companies,

executive talent and top
business schools

www.meritsummit.com
by advent Group
EMBA INTERVIEW
Its About Confidence
One womans escape from her comfort zone and how that
made her a stronger manager
Has the EMBA degree helped
you achieve your career goals,
if so, how?
Definitely yes! The EMBA has taken me
on an entirely different professional path.
I initially joined the programme with the
ambition to further advance my career in a
global corporation. The EMBA introduced
me to abilities and interests, which
were neither used nor developed in the
corporate roles that Ive held previously.
It made me appreciate the wealth of
opportunities available to me if I were to
tap into them. Leveraging all the technical
skills I learned throughout the programme
and the inner strength and confidence I
gained, I felt ready to step up my game,
start my own business and write a new
chapter in my professional life.
What has the EMBA given you
career-wise?
The EMBA gave me an opportunity to thrive
in a unique environment where I was able
to meet and engage with extraordinary
people from diverse backgrounds. The
experience was instrumental in providing
me with the confidence that I needed to
try new things.
What particular soft skills did
you acquire during your EMBA
education and how have they
made you a better manager?
The EMBA was an incredible self-
confidence booster. It enabled me to
push the boundaries of my comfort zone,
to go out there and dare. I learned to
face challenges in new ways, but most
importantly, I was able to realise that
leadership is not tied to a position, but
rather it is about the actions that we take
158
Sandy Beky
HEC Paris EMBA Graduate,
Class of 2014
Sandy Beky, a native of Madagascar,
is the president and founder of
the managerial innovation start-
up KyoSei Leadership, a partner
for leadership consultancy IMV
Management Partners, and a director
of the adaptive software company
JCLIP. Sandy has studied in the US,
the UK and France, and has worked
in various sectors throughout her
career. She is also president of
the Paris branch of PWN Global, a
leadership development network for
businesswomen.
and the courage to speak the truth, to
behave according to ones values. I saw
myself grow as a person, and I think that
allowed me to become a better manager.
The EMBA took me on a creative personal
and professional journey that did not end
when I graduated.
What is your personal advice to
managers seeking to advance
to C-level?
The EMBA is a life-changing experience
and can certainly open career doors.
Yet, embarking on such a programme
is a decision that must be viewed from
different angles: the impact it will have
on your family life, on your teams and
colleagues at work, and on your social
circles. Being able to keep those three
environments stable and oneself healthy
can prove to be a test of your capacity
to handle a C-suite role. An EMBA is a
delightfully disruptive journey, which takes
us far beyond acquiring new technical
skills.
Tell us about a situation
where skills acquired during
your studies have helped
you make a vital managerial
or strategic decision in your
current company?
There are so many opportunities to learn
throughout the programmes duration
that it is difficult to identify one in
particular. And every lesson is of utmost
value. The EMBA made me revisit my
assumptions and reconsider the impact
I want to have in life for myself and on
others. I was particularly impressed by the
brilliant and very talented individuals I met
during the programme and I am extremely
grateful for the strong connections I
managed to keep with many of them
since then. Some of these connections
have led to strategic decisions in my
professional life. In 2014, I set up my own
business in Circular Economy applied to
Human Resources (KyoSei Leadership)
and became a partner in two different
companies (IMV Management Partners
and JCLIP Partners) founded by two HEC
Paris EMBA alumni. A.Z.
 EMBA
GLOBAL

Features 2016-2017

Gain an In-depth Insight Through Features of Top Business Schools

Ashridge Business School Hult 160 Kedge Business School 168

Cass Business School 161 Kellogg-WHU 170
Danube University Krems 162 Manchester Business School|Alliance MBS 172
Edhec Business School 163 MCI Management Center Innsbruck 173
ESCP Europe 164 SKEMA Business School 174
ETH Zurich 165 TELECOM Ecole de Management 175
ESSEC Mannheim EMBA 166 University of St. Gallen 176
HEC Paris EMBA 167
EMBA SCHOOL PROFILE

Ashridge Executive Education

UNITED KINGDOM
Student Body

Male Female Ratio: 45/55%

Ashridge has been a place of executive
learning and development for over 50 years,
having been founded in 1959 by visionary
leaders from organisations including Shell,
Guinness and Unilever.
A World Class Business Reputation
Each year, Ashridge works with two thirds
of the FTSE 100 companies, over 850
corporate clients and 6500 executives
across the globe. Ashridge holds triple
accreditation of EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB
highly regarded hallmarks of quality and
standards in education worldwide.
Practical Approach
Ashridge adopts an interactive and practical
learning approach by having smaller classes.
There is a strong emphasis on group work
and discussions as opposed to traditional
lecture-style classes.
Learn from Real Business Leaders
Ashridge faculty include high-achieving
business and academic professionals who
have a passion for developing leaders. We
are not traditional academics. Most of us
have extensive international experience,
meaning we are fully immersed in the
everyday issues and challenges you face.
Programme Presentation
This Executive MBA is for those looking to
gain the strategic skills and vision required
to respond to global and digital markets.
This programme is for people working in
the creative industries, such as film, TV,
advertising, music, radio, games, fashion,
digital, marketing, theatre, architecture,
PR, publishing. Students will learn a range
of skills through 12 subjects including
innovation, operations management,
creating strategic value, developing
sustainable business practice, leadership,
finance and managing globally.
The course features a series of talks
by leading creative industry managers,
practitioners and commentators to provide
students with further insight into leading
in the creative sector. Students will benefit
from working with and networking amongst
their own peers, allowing them to gain
transferable skills across the whole sector.
Due to the flexibility of the combination
of online learning and residential weeks
at Ashridge, creative professionals can
immediately begin to apply their learning
to the workplace, without waiting until the
end of the qualification.
Age Range: 23-51
Average Age: 36
International Students:
Europe: 55%
North America: 5%
Central/South America: 12.5%
Latin America: 2.5%
Oceania and Asia: 15%
Africa: 10%
Admission Requirements
University Degree: Bachelors degree
or equivalent (however experienced
applicants with professional experience
will also be considered)
GMAT: None, however participants may
have to sit an Ashridge Admissions Test
TOEFL: If English is not your first
language, you must provide evidence of
strong English skills via either IELTS or
other recognised proficiency tests
References: Two
Minimum Length of Work Experience:
Three years with first degree, or 5 years
with no degree
Costs
Tuition Fees: 32,500 GBP + VAT
Scholarships: Scholarships, financial
assistance and educational loans
available

Programme Info: Contacts

Accreditations: AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA

Rankings:
Type of Programme:
Programme Format:
Content Strength or
Specialisation:
Language Courses:
Application Deadlines:
Starting Dates:
Exchange Programme:
We are ranked in the top 1% of business schools worldwide by the Name: Admissions Office
Financial Times Email: admissions@ashridge.hult.edu
Executive MBA Telephone: +44 (0)1442 841120
Two years part-time study (blended learning, online and residential) Website: www.ashridge.org.uk
Management, Leadership, Finance, Marketing, Sustainability,
Entrepreneurship
English
Rolling
October2016
International Study Trip

160
EMBA SCHOOL PROFILE

A Leading EMBA to Develop Your Career

united kingdom
Student Body

Modular Executive MBA 2016-18

Cass Business School is amongst the top
one percent of Business Schools worldwide.
Always aspiring to excellence, we constantly
seek new ways to serve our students and
the global business community. With a
considered and successful balance between
theory and practice, our programmes are
delivered in both London and Dubai and
we have an extensive business and alumni
network. We attract people from all over the
world and our global connections ensure
that our students are immersed in a truly
international environment.
Casss location is a clear advantage for your
study and career search. Situated between
the financial district and Tech City, no other
European business school has as many
Fortune 500 companies on its doorstep.
Our goal is to provide support to world-class
businesses with world-leading thinking. Our
research is ground-breaking and, through
our partnerships with leading organisations,
has a demonstrable impact on our students,
business and society.
Male Female Ratio: 48/52%
Programme Presentation Average Age: 37
Average work experience: 14 years
The Cass Executive MBA is one of the top International Students:
ranked part-time MBAs in the UK and United Kingdom: 48%
Europe. It offers academic excellence and
outstanding connections with international Europe: 24%
businesses. North America: 2%
Africa and Middle East: 7%
Taught by leading faculty, the Executive Oceania and Asia: 14%
MBA is offered over two years in a range of Latin America: 5%
formats- modular and evening in London or
block format in Dubai. The structure delivers
core business skills with flexibility to focus Modular Executive MBA 2015-17
on areas of personal interest. Male Female Ratio: 77/23%
Average Age: 34
Designed for ambitious working Average work experience: 10 years
professionals, the Cass Executive MBA International Students:
focuses on real-world business. You know
that what you learn in the classroom can United Kingdom: 61%
be applied to your work environment Europe: 25%
almost immediately. From day one, you North America: 5%
will encounter stimulating challenges and Africa and Middle East: 7%
unique learning experiences. This is your Oceania and Asia: 2%
opportunity to join a diverse community
of equally enthusiastic and focused
professionals, taught by an international Admission Requirements
faculty in the heart of London.
Admission requirements differ
depending on your programme of
choice. Please refer to our website for
details.

Costs

Tuition Fees:
Executive MBA: 44,000 GBP
Modular Executive MBA: 44,000 GBP
Programme Info: Executive MBA in Dubai: 36,500 GBP
Accreditations: AMBA, EQUIS, AACSB Scholarships: Various awards available
Rankings:
Executive MBA ranked 5th in the UK, 14th in Europe and 32nd in the http://www.cass.city.ac.uk/mba/
world, Financial Times 2015 executive-mba/scholarships
Type of Programme: Two-year Executive MBA
Executive MBA
Programme Format: Modular Executive MBA
Contacts
Executive MBA in Dubai
Content Strength or General management with electives in Finance, Analytics, Strategy, Name: Cass MBA
Specialisation: Consultancy, Marketing and Entrepreneurship Email: cass-mba@city.ac.uk
Application Deadlines: Our Executive MBA programmes have rolling admissions Telephone: +44 (0)20 7040 0286
Modular Executive MBA: March
Website: www.cassmbalondon.com
Starting Dates: Evening Executive MBA: September
Executive MBA in Dubai: September

ACCESS EMBA GUIDE 2016-2017 161

EMBA SCHOOL PROFILE

The University for Continuing Education

AUSTRIA
Student Body

Male Female Ratio: 60/40%

Age Range: 30-45
Average Age: 39
International Students: 30%
Europe: 100%

As the only public university for continuing
education in the German-speaking countries,
the Danube University Krems (DUK) sets
international standards for lifelong learning.
Students of DUK are managers and experts
who have already completed an academic
degree and/or have already gained a wealth
of experience in their professional lives. They
want to expand or update their expertise
and competences, building upon their
existing knowledge and experience. They
aspire to successfully face the challenges
of a rapidly changing, complex, networked
and globalised society.
When DUK first opened its doors to students
in 1995, a competence centre for scientific
specialisation was created that focused on
the pressing challenges of our times, with
continuously evolving study courses. Today,
three faculties are successfully engaged
in teaching and research; approximately
18,000 people have already graduated from
the University of Continuing Education.
Follow us on this site through over 25
successful, exciting years.
Programme Presentation
The Executive MBA programme (EMBA)
offers a modular and executive-friendly
format. Its part-time curriculum provides
experienced managers and entrepreneurs
with a new understanding of their leadership
role in a dynamic and complex global
business environment.
Our special focus on leadership, strategy,
innovation and entrepreneurship ensures
that our participants gain state-of-the-art
business knowledge and leadership skills.
This is also represented by the EMBA
programmes motto: Lead innovatively.
Learn globally. Act strategically.
EMBA participants study in small learning
groups to reflect their knowledge and their
professional experiences profoundly. They
are educated and supported intensively
by our internationally renowned faculty,
providing our participants with a solid
business and management knowledge
foundation with high practical orientation.
Two academic and corporate study
programmes are included:
Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong University
of Science and Technology HKUST) and
Silicon Valley (Stanford University).
The 3 Dimensional Learning Model
considers the individual, organisational
and environmental perspective of the
executives fields of learning.
Admission Requirements
University Degree: University degree or
equivalent qualification
GMAT: DUK internal management test
TOEFL: Fluency in English
Minimum Length of Work Experience:
Five years of professional experience
Three years of leadership experience
Convincing personal and professional
goals
Costs
Tuition Fees: 29,200 EUR
Scholarships: Available for selected
groups of applicants. Please visit Web
page for information
Contacts
Name: Dr Doris Burger
Email: doris.burger@donau-uni.ac.at
Telephone: +43 (0) 2732 893 2113
Website: www.donau-uni.ac.at/
executive-mba

Programme Info:
Accreditations:
Rankings:
Type of Programme:
Programme Format:
Content Strength or
Specialisation:
Language Courses:
Application Deadlines:
FIBAA, AQ, ACBSP-Candidate
# 1 EMBA Programme in Austria Industry Magazine Ranking 2014,
2015 and 2016
EMBA
Part-time, on-site, 10 six-day modules every two months
(2 study programmes: Hong Kong + Silicon Valley)
Leadership LAB, Strategy and Innovation Management, Global Business
Dynamics, Complexity Management and Business Ethics
English
Rolling Admission

162
EMBA SCHOOL PROFILE

EDHEC Executive MBA

EDHEC Business School has been providing
first-class management education for more
than 100 years and is constantly ranked
among the Top 5 Business Schools in
France. EDHEC aims to be recognised for
its high-quality research and education
and for innovative ideas and tools that
impact business. This EDHEC for Business
strategy is underpinned by excellent
academic research, the results of which
are systematically disseminated through
EDHECs academic programmes, and to the
business world and society at large.
EDHEC holds the Triple Crown of
international accreditations (AACSB, AMBA,
and EQUIS).
Key facts :
5 campuses: Lille, Nice, Paris, London
and Singapore
7,000 students and 10,000 participants
in Executive Education, conferences and
seminars organised in 28 global economic
capitals
20 degree programmes: Undergraduates,
Masters in Management, Masters of
a Transformational Experience
Science, MBAs, PhD
Over 30,000 graduates in 120 countries
142 permanent faculty
13 research and teaching chairs
Programme Presentation
The EDHEC Executive MBA programme
is designed for experienced managers,
entrepreneurs and senior executives seeking
to experience a professional transformation.
It enables you to polish your leadership
skills and gives you a fresh perspective on
global business.
WEEKEND FORMAT Lille Campus
Friday & Saturday, twice a month
Length: 16 months
Lille Campus: located at the heart of the
Euroregion.
WEEKDAY FORMAT Paris Campus
Wednesday-Saturday, once a month
Length: 16 months
Paris Campus: An exceptional business
environment, in Central Paris, near Opra.
FRANCE
Student Body
Male Female Ratio: 66/34%
Average Age: 39
International Students: 14 nationalities,
22% international students
Admission Requirements
University degree: Bachelors degree or
equivalent
Minimum Length of Work Experience:
8 years
Costs
Application fees: 100 EUR excl. V.A.T
Tuition fees: 39,500 EUR excl. V.A.T
(including Global Business Trips)
Scholarships: A variety of financial aids
are available for this programme
Contacts
Name: Julie LE GOUZ
Email: executive-mba@edhec.edu
Telephone: +33(0)1 53 32 76 30
Website: http://emba.edhec-executive.
com/

We also offer...
EDHEC Family Business GEMBA:
The first Executive MBA specifically
created for the future leaders of Family
Businesses.
Find out more: www.edhec-family-
business-gemba.com

Programme Info:
Accreditations:
Type of Programme:
Programme Format:
Content Strength or
Specialisation:
Language Courses:
Application Deadlines:
Starting Dates:
AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Executive MBA
16 months, Part Time: Paris (weekday format) and Lille (weekday
format)
Core courses
A large choice of cutting-edge Electives
Individual Consulting Project
5 Coaching sessions
English
30 June and 30 December
September or February

ACCESS EMBA GUIDE 2016-2017 163

EMBA INTERVIEW
The only Executive
MBA to offer classes
in five European countries
Could you please describe
your EMBA programme?
The Executive MBA at ESCP Europe is top-
ranked, international, highly customisable
and based on close and supportive
relationships.
Singled out by the Financial Times 2015
Ranking, our Executive MBA ranks #13
worldwide, as well as #3 for International
Course Experience and for Career
Progression, with a 72% average increase
in salary.
ESCP Europe is the only business school
to provide its Executive MBA participants
with the opportunity to study at five
campuses across Europe: Berlin, London,
Madrid, Paris and Turin, as well as in Beirut
at its sister school, ESA. This international
positioning is what makes the programme
unique: participants plan their curriculum
in various countries, enjoying the
benefits of both academic and personal
experiences, and taking advantage of the
wide ESCP Europe network.
Our Executive MBA is a customisable, part-
time programme: the length, locations and
large choice of electives are all designed
to meet the specific needs and schedules
of busy executives.
Last but not least, the Executive MBA
team prides itself on providing a high-
quality personal development service to
all participants. Our programme leads
them to reflect upon themselves and
to discover as-yet-untapped skills and
164
Valrie Madon
Director of the Executive
MBA Programme
ESCP Europe
Valrie Madon has been the Director
of the Executive MBA programme
at ESCP Europe since January 2011.
She is the former Director of the
pre-experience Master in European
Business (MEB) programme and also
a Professor in Financial Accounting.
She has taught at ESCP Europe and
other institutions.
personal resources that transform them
and take their careers to the next level.
What kind of candidates are
you looking for?
The Executive MBA is geared towards
talented and ambitious professionals
with at least five years of managerial
experience who strive to take their career
to the next level. We welcome those with
high potentials who are ready to share
their insights with their peers and are
willing to learn in return.
The current class brings together 103
participants from 31 different nationalities
(all continents represented) and diverse
business sectors. They have, on average,
13 years of experience and 24% of the
group are women.
Could you describe the
structure and curriculum of
your programme?
The Executive MBA is organised as a part-
time programme lasting 18 to 30 months,
based on 4 pillars:
9 core courses: to become proficient in the
fundamentals of effective management;
10 elective courses: chosen from a
portfolio of more than 50 specialised
courses across Europe;
5 international seminars: to focus on
leadership, innovation management,
strategy and regional developed and
emerging market environments in Europe
(Paris, Brussels, Madrid), Asia (Shanghai,
New Delhi and Ahmedabad) and the
Americas (New York City, So Paolo and
Rio de Janeiro);
1 International Consulting Project: to
perform a real-case executive analysis
within a multicultural team.
EMBA SCHOOL PROFILE
Manage Global Operations and Supply Chains
ETH Zurich is one of the leading international
universities for technology and the natural
sciences. It is well known for its excellent
education, ground-breaking fundamental
research and for implementing its results
directly into practice. Twenty-one Nobel
Laureates have studied, taught or conducted
research at ETH Zurich, underlining the
excellent reputation of the university. The
latest international rankings place ETH in top
positions. Both the Times Higher Education
Ranking and QS World University Rankings
rank ETH 9th in the world, the highest overall
rating for the past years.
Programme Presentation
Offered by ETH Zurich, the executive MBA
in Supply Chain Management creates apt
business leaders, capable of managing
global operations and supply chains. Our
students gain cutting-edge insights from our
faculty and are able to put those ideas into
practice in important markets. They acquire
the practical tools and methodologies,
enrich their leadership personalities, and
build relationships required to make their
companies more competitive.
The 18-month part-time programme,
enables students to continue to work in
their organisation while gaining valuable
insight into industry, the latest tools, and
Programme Info:
Type of Programme: Executive MBA
Programme Format: Part time
Content Strength or General Management with in-depth knowledge of Supply Chain
Specialisation: Management
Application Deadlines: 30 April (28 February for early application)
Starting Dates: September every year
cutting-edge research. The classes take
place from Thursday to Sunday, starting in
September every year.
Benefits of joining the executive MBA at
ETH Zrich:
Acquiring up-to-date general management
skills, combined with in-depth knowledge
of international supply chain management
Becoming familiar with process based
oriented management thinking
Gaining a truly global perspective with
practical on-the-spot experience through
10 VIP Talks of CEOs and Board members
of large companies in the area, numerous
company visits, and study trips to the USA,
Russia, China, and Japan
Carrying out a Masters Thesis of high
relevance and immediate value for the
employer: 71% of thesis projects have been
already put into practice six months after
graduation
Joining an exclusive class of managers
and specialists, chosen based on the
highest standards regarding educational
background, job experience, and intellectual
capacity
Learning in a small class, characterised by
personalised teaching, as well as by intensive
interactions between students and lecturers
Obtaining an MBA degree from ETH Zurich,
one of the worlds leading universities
S wit z erland
Student Body
Male Female Ratio: 72.5/27.5%
Average Age: 35
Average Work Experience: 9 years
Degree Background: All disciplines
International Students: 35 nationalities
Admission Requirements
University Degree: Masters or
Bachelors degree with excellent grades
and additional qualifications
GMAT or TOEFL: Are not required
Minimum Length of Work Experience:
Five years
Costs
Application Fees: 150 CHF
Tuition Fees: 65,000 CHF (60,000 CHF if
early application)
Contacts
Name: Ramona Montalto and Patricia
Roth, Recruiting Managers
Email: mbainfo@ethz.ch
Telephone: +41-44-632 28 53
Website: www.mba.ethz.ch
ACCESS EMBA GUIDE 2016-2017 165
EMBA INTERVIEW
Believe, Lead, Succeed
With the inception of the ESSEC &
Mannheim Executive MBA in 2004,
two of Europes leading business
schools - ESSEC and Mannheim
Business School - joined forces
to create an 18-month part-time
generalist MBA that is European
in tradition and international
in outlook. Since then, the
partner schools have widened
the programmes international
scope by integrating an Asia-
Pacific track, delivered from
ESSECs Singapore campus.
The programme now boasts
over 1,500 alumni around the
globe, successfully leading top
international companies.
Could you give us a brief
overview of your EMBA
programme?
The ESSEC & Mannheim Executive MBA
offers senior executives a fast-track
solution to career advancement through
an international programme designed to
expose them to both core management
basics and evolving cutting-edge business
topics and includes an integrated
leadership track that prepares them to
take on top business roles.
What are the characteristics
you are looking for in
applicants?
Ideal applicants believe in their potential
to become global leaders. They are driven
and believe in working with others. All
are executives with at least a Bachelors
degree and a minimum of eight years, work
experience, part of which is international.
Top applicants usually possess several
years of leadership experience, and all
speak fluent English.
What makes your EMBA
unique amongst business
schools?
The Career Advancement and Leadership
166
Natalie Kettner
Director of Executive
Programmes
ESSEC Executive
Education
Development Tracks are two unique
components of this EMBA. Through
coaching, workshops and networking
events and leadership courses (including
experiential military training) and the
writing of a Leadership Journal, these
tracks provide participants with the
confidence and skills necessary to take
on their next career challenge. This
programme also allows you to design
your own learning experience through
Advanced Immersion Modules (AIMS),
in-depth electives on cutting-edge topics,
in Paris, Mannheim and Singapore.
Could you describe the
structure of your programme?
Our EMBA programme offers an executive-
friendly format with courses from Tuesday
or Wednesday to Sunday every six weeks
and few out-of-office days. Participants
alternate taking core courses such as
strategy and finance with electives on
cutting-edge topics. Two international
residencies occur towards the middle of
the programme. Leadership development
elements and a strategic project span the
entire programme.
What are the types of
organisations that tend to
employ your graduates the
most?
Our participants come from a variety
of backgrounds and sectors and their
motivations for attending the programme
differ, as do their post-programme goals
and paths. However, most graduates
continue working for companies, many
of them large and international. A number
of them also go on to create and run their
own companies.
What advice would you offer
to a person who is thinking
about getting an EMBA?
The decision to do an EMBA programme
also concerns your family and colleagues.
Its thus important to discuss this project
extensively with your close network so
that everyones expectations and roles
are clear. Contacting programme alumni
to discuss how to balance professional,
family and academic life during the
programme is also recommended.
How global is the programme,
and what is your school doing
to reinforce this position?
We recruit from our campuses in three
different countries (France, Germany and
Singapore), resulting in culturally diverse
classes. An Asia-Pacific track was added
to the programme in 2014 and ESSEC
inaugurated its state-ofthe art campus in
Singapore last year, providing for elective
options in this city-state. Participants
additionally develop a cross-cultural
business perspective through study trips
to the United States and Asia. In 2016,
ESSEC opened a campus in Morocco,
a potential future EMBA programme
destination.
EMBA SCHOOL PROFILE

1 Degree, 8 Majors, 14 Locations

FRANCE
Student Body

Male/Female Ratio: 80/20%

Created in 1881 by the Paris Chamber of
Commerce and Industry, HEC Paris aims
to train high potential individuals, capable
of becoming architects of a responsible
world. What makes HEC Paris unique is its
conviction shared by the HEC Community:
knowledge determines the freedom and
entrepreneurship required for a better
world.
HEC Paris mission is twofold: training the
global leaders of tomorrow and taking an
active part in the production of knowledge of
management, thanks to our internationally
renowned faculty who are at the forefront
of their respective fields.
Programme Presentation
The HEC Paris Executive MBA offers modular,
executive-friendly formats to suit a variety
of work schedules. Delivered around
the world and offering a range of majors
(specialisations), it is uniquely positioned to
offer participants the opportunity to study
in different countries with classmates from
very diverse backgrounds.
Our special focus on strategy, leadership and
the global business environment ensures
that our participants gain comprehensive,
innovative and applicable knowledge and
skills.
In keeping with HECs motto: The more
you know, the more you dare, our goal
is not only to strengthen the technical
expertise and leadership skills of future
global leaders, but also to enable you to
dare to implement innovative ideas and
solutions in complex professional situations.
Our internationally renowned faculty
members draw on extensive real world
experience to provide participants with
a solid foundation in management
fundamentals and exposure to cutting-edge
business knowledge.
Age Range: 31-49
Average Age: 39
Number of Accepted Participants
Enrolled in 2015: 243 participants
International Students:
Europe: 66%
Asia and Middle East: 22%
Average Professional Experience: 15
years
Admission Requirements
University degree: University Degree or
equivalent (official diplomas)
GMAT (minimum): Required or HEC
internal management test
TOEFL, TOEIC or IELTS for non-native
English speakers
References: Two persuasive letters of
recommendation
Minimum Length of Work Experience:
8 years of professional experience
(International exposure, Management
experience, Convincing personal and
professional goals)
Languages of Instruction:
English, English/French or English/
Chinese (translation)

Intakes
Paris, France intakes:
English Modular: January
End-of-week: March
One-day-a-week: September
Paris Modular: October
Doha, Qatar intake (in partnership
with the Qatar Foundation): February

Contacts
Programme Info:
Accreditations: AMBA, AACBS, EQUIS Name: Sara Drews
Rankings:
Ranked #2 worldwide by the Financial Times for Executive Education Email: emba@hec.edu
in 2015 Telephone: +33(0) 1 39 67 75 18
Type of Programme: Executive MBA
Website: www.emba.hec.edu
One-day-a-week; Six-day modules every month; 2 nine-day modules
Programme Format:
and 4 six-day modules; End-of-week
Application Deadlines: Rolling admissions
Starting Dates: January, February, March, September,October

ACCESS EMBA GUIDE 2016-2017 167

EMBA SCHOOL PROFILE

Global EMBA #1 Worldwide

Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille, Shanghai
Kedge Business School is the largest
Business School in France and belongs to
the close circle of the top 1% of Business
Schools worldwide with triple accreditation
(AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA). With campuses
in Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille, Toulon,
Dakar and Shanghai, Kedge is strategically
positioned to meet the needs of both
aspiring professionals and confirmed
Executives. KEDGE offers a wide range of
undergraduate and graduate degrees, as
well as an extensive portfolio of Executive
Education programmes.
The internationally-focused KEDGE Business
School comprises:
- More than 12,000 students on 4 continents,
- A network of 50,000 graduates,
- 196 permanent research professors,
- 300 international academic partners.
Our three strategic axes to drive chang:
CREATE: pedagogical innovations of
traditional approaches to higher education
to strengthen creative skills
SHARE: ideas and resources to find
answers to our worlds challenges. Kedge
encourages all talent: 1 million EUR awarded
in internal scholarships every year
CARE: about all students because the
future is in their hands. CSR is embedded
into the DNA of Kedge
Salary Increase (FT)
F R A N C E & C hina
Student Body
Ratio of Applicants to Places: 57%
Male Female Ratio: 30-35% women
Programme Presentation Age Range: 31-49
Average Age: 39
KEDGE Part-time Global Executive MBA: A Degree Background: University Degree
World-Class Degree
or equivalent
The Kedge MBA is globally diverse and International Students: 30-35%
comprehensive, delivered across one or Europe: 80%
several of your choices of campuses in a North America: 6%
modular format that offers enormous Central/South America: 2%
flexibility for busy and mobile executive
participants. Personal development, creativity Oceania and Asia: 5%
and responsibility remain our core values. Africa: 7%
14-24 month flexible & modular programme
-3 days per month Admission Requirements
100% in English
13 Business fundamental modules University degree: University Degree or
10 Online modules
2 International business seminars (USA, equivalent (official diplomas)
India, China, South Africa, Russia, Brazil, UAE, GMAT (minimum): 650 or our in-house
Australia...) test (Global MBA Business Admissions
Business development project Test) + admission interview
Personal & leadership development path TOEFL: 110, TOEIC: 750, IELTS 7.5 for
through personalised Exec. Coaching
600 Contact hours minimum non-native English speakers
4 Campuses (Marseille, Bordeaux, Paris References: Two professional letters of
and Shanghai) reference (our form)
12 Global academic partners (Europe, Minimum Length of Work Experience:
Canada, US, Asia, Latin America, Australia, A minimum of five years, managerial
Africa)
1,200 International Alumni experience (CV)
9 Specialisations: Entrepreneurship,
Aligning Global Strategy and Supply Chain Costs
Strategy, Driving Ecosystemic Innovation,
Global Management, Finance, Talent Application fees: 120 EUR (includes the
Management, Branding Strategy for Business
Development, Wine & Spirits Management, Business Admission Test)
Driving Sustainable Change Tuition fees: 35,000 EUR

Programme Info: Scholarships

Accreditations:
Rankings:
Type of Programme:
Programme Format:
Content Strength or
Specialisation:
Language Courses:
Application Deadlines:
Starting Dates:
Exchange Programme:
Percentage of salary increase:
AMBA, EQUIS, AACSB
#1 Worldwide for Salary Iincrease, Scholarships available to promote
23rd Exec MBA worldwide in 2015 Financial Times diversity (international, women, unique
Part-time Modular Executive MBA achievement/experience), excellence
Can be completed in 14-24 months - you set your own pace and entrepreneurship/professional
A strong framework of courses, electives, specialisations and conversion
international seminars delivered in a flexible format, plus a 2-year
individual accompaniment programme
English Contacts
All year long
Marseille: Nov. 2016; Bordeaux: Jan. 2017; Paris: Oct. 2016 & Feb. Name: Kirt WOOD
2017; Shanghai: Jan. 2017 Email: kirt.wood@kedgebs.com
12 EMBA partnerships with major international business schools on Telephone: +33 (0)6 03 34 32 94
4 continents Website: mba.kedgebs.com
114% (FT 15)

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 Executive MBA
Ranking 2015

FLEXIBLE, MODULAR, DESIGNED FOR BUSY PROFESSIONALS.

FOCUSED ON YOUR PROFESSIONAL AIMS.
ONE OF THE MOST INTERNATIONAL MBAS (AMBA ACCREDITORS) .
23 RD EXECUTIVE MBA WORLDWIDE (FINANCIAL TIMES).

mba.kedgebs.com
EMBA SCHOOL PROFILE

KELLOG
Local Knowledge. Global Expertise
G ermany
Student Body

Male Female Ratio: 80/20%

Age Range: 31-55
Average Age: 37
International Students (entering class
of 2015): 77%
Europe/Non-EU-Member States: 16%
Programme Presentation
Europe/EU-Member States excl.
WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management The Kellogg-WHU Executive MBA Germany: 30%
is a privately funded business school based programme, based in Germany, is a joint Germany: 24%, North America: 4%,
in Vallendar/Koblenz and in Dsseldorf. It is EMBA between Americas Kellogg School Central/South America: 4%, Asia: 20%,
a leading business school in Germany and is of Management at Northwestern University Africa & Middle East: 2%
continuously ranked among the top business in Chicago and Germanys WHU - Otto Seniority (entering class of 2015):
schools in Europe. Beisheim School of Management Vallendar
/Dsseldorf. The programme combines Manager: 34%, Senior Manager: 22%
WHU was founded in 1984 and has become the expertise of American and European Director: 28%, Owner/Partner: 6%
a model for future-oriented research and management and offers students the CXO: 6%, VP: 4%
teaching in the field of business economics. opportunity to gain new perspectives from
The university has placed highly in national major world regions. Admission Requirements
and international rankings, coming in at
number 8 in the 2015 Financial Times Our top-ranked EMBA programme combines University degree: Or international
required core and advanced courses with
Masters in Management Ranking (best equivalent with satisfactory grades,
global electives at one of the Kellogg School
German university), number 6 in the 2015 of Managements international hubs: fluency in English, minimum 8 years
Economist Which MBA? Executive Education Chicago, Miami, Hong Kong, Beijing, Toronto of professional experience (with
Ranking (best German university), and taking and Tel Aviv. The faculty is composed of
4th place in the 2014 Wirtschaftswoche HR substantial managerial experience), be
business experts from Kellogg, WHU and in full-time employment.
University Ranking (best private university). partner schools, whose innovative ideas and
extensive research are constantly shaping GMAT: No
WHUs academic degree programmes and global business education. TOEFL: Minimum 100 points IBT
executive education programmes provide References: Two
excellent educational opportunities for The programme aims at developing Essays/interviews: Participation in one
every career stage. We are dedicated to our managers into cross-border and cross- Interview Day is required, short essay
motto Local Knowledge. Global Expertise., functional leaders. Therefore, leadership questions within application form
which can be seen in our graduates and personal development activities are fully
professional success, our facultys research integrated into the programmes curriculum
results and our profitable collaborations through our Advanced Leadership Costs
with international business partners. Development Programme.
Application fees: 200 EUR
Tuition fees: 79,000 EUR (early bird
tuition reduction of 3,000 EUR if
Programme Info: complete application submitted by 31st
Accreditations: AACSB, EQUIS, FIBAA Premium May, every year)
Kellogg-WHU Executive MBA Programme was ranked by the Financial Scholarships: Please visit website for
Times (2015): more information
Rankings: Top 20 EMBA programme worldwide
Top 10 EMBA programme in Europe
# 1 EMBA programme in Germany Contacts
Type of Programme: Global Executive MBA
Programme Format: Modular, 21 months + master thesis Name: Beate Allar
Language Courses: English Email: emba@whu.edu
Application Deadlines: Rolling admissions, latest by 31st July every year Telephone: + 49 261 6509 186
Starting Dates: Mid-September, every year Website: www.kellogg.whu.edu
Global elective modules in Chicago, Miami, Tel Aviv, Hong Kong,
Exchange Programme:
Beijing, Toronto

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EMBA INTERVIEW
My Class Is Much More
Diverse than I Expected
Interaction with EMBA classmates is as important as
what the faculty teaches us
Amaka, why did you decide to
pursue an EMBA with Kellogg-
WHU?
Im already very technically sound; Im a
qualified accountant and I possess a lot
of work experience. I always wanted to go
further with my professional studies but
the timing was just never right. When I
eventually decided to do an MBA, it was
because I wanted to start my own business.
I already have a lot of entrepreneurial
ideas that I want to develop. But how do
you evaluate and choose the best one?
Thats when I realised I needed an MBA.
What is your goal and how will
the EMBA help you achieve it?
As mentioned above, I am hoping to start
my own business. The Kellogg-WHU EMBA
has a strong focus on entrepreneurship,
which is one of the reasons I chose
this programme. I believe the diverse
entrepreneurship classes will help me
structure the various business ideas I
already have in mind and provide me with
the tools to realise my plans successfully.
For instance, I am planning on writing a
business plan as my Masters thesis in
order to have something concrete or
in the right direction by the end of the
programme. The discussions with my
classmates and other EMBA students
within the Kellogg EMBA Global Network
also help me to evaluate and further
develop a lot of my entrepreneurial ideas.
What do you expect the EMBA
to give you?
I hope that once I finish the EMBA I will
have more confidence in my decisions
How would you describe
Amaka Ezike
Kellogg-WHU Executive
MBA Student
Class of 2017
Amaka Ezike, a current student of the
Kellogg-WHU Executive MBA Class of
2017, is a fully qualified accountant (ACCA,
ICAN) with over 13 years of experience
cutting across treasury and investments,
financial and management accounting
as well as risk management. Amaka also
holds a BA (Hons) in Computing and
Accounting & Finance from the University
of Kent. She is currently a finance and
strategy consultant at Think Capital Ltd
in Nigeria.
and will be able to better evaluate them.
I know that making a good decision is a
lot about your gut feeling, but you need
to have some means of analysing as well.
Another expectation concerns my work
style. Right now I might be doing things
the wrong way, since I am a financially
technical person. I have never dealt with
sales or marketing, for example. But
these skills are also essential for running
ACCESS EMBA GUIDE 2016-2017
a business. Through my Kellogg-WHU
network I am surrounded by people with
this knowledge, so I can learn from them.
the learning environment
in the Kellogg-WHU EMBA
Programme?
My class is much more diverse than I
expected. I thought people would come
mainly from the EMEA region and that
I would only meet people from other
continents during the Global Electives.
But my classmates come from all over
the world and from various industries
and academic backgrounds. That was a
pleasant surprise as we are learning a lot
from each others experiences on top of
what the faculty teaches.
Learning here is fun but very intense. The
programme focuses a lot on personal and
leadership development, which allows you
to take a step back and thoroughly analyse
a situation instead of automatically
completing a task. It makes you see the
bigger picture.
How do you fund your studies?
The funding was definitely the biggest
challenge. Even though I had help from
family and friends back home, it was not
enough to cover all costs. I applied for
one of the Kellogg-WHU scholarships
for women awarded by both the MBA
for Women Foundation and the WHU
Scholarship Fund. These types of
scholarships are really helpful. I also chose
to do an EMBA because it allowed me
to keep my full-time job and continue
earning money.
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EMBA SCHOOL PROFILE

Advance Your Global Business Career

Whilst Continuing to Work Full-time
U nited K ingdom
Student Body

Male Female Ratio: 71/29%

Alliance Manchester Business School has
nearly 25 years experience in transnational
education and our global reach now spans
four continents. Our centres in Dubai, Hong
Kong, Manchester, Sao Paulo, Shanghai
and Singapore boast strong links with the
local business communities, opening up a
wealth of contacts and opportunities for
our students and alumni. The Manchester
MBA can help transform your career and
change your life.
Programme Presentation
Global MB
The two-year Manchester Global Part-
time MBA is designed to fit around work
and personal commitments. World class
teaching is delivered in blocks at residential
workshops, with online activity to enrich the
learning experience. You can tailor your MBA
to suit your personal goals and interests
by selecting electives from the following
themes; Entrepreneurship and innovation,
Finance, HR Management, Leadership and
Age Range: 2655
Average Range: 36
International Students:
Europe: 19%
Management Practice, Marketing, Projects North America: 4%
and Technology. There is international Central/South America: 7%
flexibility within the programme; you can
attend workshops at any of our global Middle East: 16%
centres. Oceania and Asia: 49%
Africa: 5%
Kelley-Manchester MBA Global Centres:
Our joint MBA with Kelley School of Business Manchester
in the United States also allows candidates
Dubai
to study and work at the same time. The
programme brings together two of the Singapore
worlds leading business schools with a Hong Kong
combined legacy of nearly 150 years of Shanghai
innovation in business and management Sao Paulo
education. This pioneering new programme
will be taught using a blended format of Admission Requirements
online study and face-to-face classes, at
both the Kelley School in Indiana, USA At least four years, professional
and at Alliance Manchester Business
School campuses across the globe. Youll experience with strong career
progression and a recognised degree,
experience British and US style business
and management education, earning you or eight to ten years, managerial
two degrees from two top ranked schools experience instead of a recognised
in two years. degree. Kelley-Manchester MBA
requires a minimum of three years,
professional experience.

Costs
Application Fees: None
Tuition Fees: Global MBA - 27,300 GBP
Kelley-Manchester MBA 65,000 USD

Contacts
Programme Info:
Accreditations: AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS Name: Jane Dowson
Rankings:
We are positioned 7th in the UK, 14th in Europe and 38th in the World Email: global@mbs.ac.uk
(Financial Times Global MBA ranking 2016) Telephone: +44 (0) 161 275 7212
Programme Format: Part-time/ Distance Learning/ Executive
Website: www.mbs.ac.uk/mba/
Content Strength or Specialist learning themes available for the Global MBA in part-time
Specialisation: Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Technology, Marketing, HR, Leadership,
Finance and Project Management
Languages Courses: English
Global MBA: December 2016
Application Deadlines:
Kelley-Manchester MBA: May 2017
Global MBA: January and July 2017
Starting Dates:
Kelley-Manchester MBA: July 2017

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EMBA SCHOOL PROFILE
With 3,000 students, 1,000 lecturers,
200 partner universities and innumerable
graduates and employers worldwide, along
with an unbroken record of top places in
polls and rankings, the MCI Management
Center Innsbruck is in demand as an
international benchmark and partner
for research, teaching and management
training.
Admission requirements of an international
standard, consistently outstanding results
in polls and rankings, MCIs special
position as the Entrepreneurial School
in the framework of the Comprehensive
University Innsbruck concept, and a
network of prestigious partner universities
are powerful and convincing arguments for
the motivated in a key decision for their
professional and personal development.
At the Entrepreneurial School, an MBA
degree stands for an entrepreneurial
orientation, an international mindset,
new and modern ways of teaching and
interaction, motivation, decisiveness, a sense
of responsibility, immediate applicability of
newly acquired knowledge, intercultural
competence, robust networks and a credible
brand with a high level of acceptance in the
business world and society.
Programme Info:
Type of Programme: Executive MBA
Programme Format: Two-year part-time MBA in a blended learning format
International Business, Entrepreneurship, Finance & Accounting,
Content Strength or Marketing, HR Management, Organisational Behaviour, Operations
Specialisation: Management
Language Courses: Wide range of optional language courses available
23 May 2016
Application Deadlines: 22 August 2016
Starting Dates: 17 October 2016
Exchange Programme: Dual degree option with Royal Roads University, Canada
The Entrepreneurial School:
Mentoring the Motivated
Programme Presentation
With the MBA programme in International
Business, the Entrepreneurial School offers
an attractive programme that puts students
around the globe on the cutting edge of
modern academic education.
Embedded in a truly modern blended
learning environment, the MBA programme
is designed to effectively support the
personal development and career of
motivated business professionals. The two-
year part-time MBA programme comprises
three five-day residence phases. The rest
of the programme will be conducted in
MCIs highly interactive and sophisticated
online environment that allows students to
meet, discuss and learn with and from their
peers and professors wherever they are and
whenever they want to. The combination
of interactive online learning phases with
equally interactive face-to-face periods
provides the perfect environment for a
programme of the highest standards.
Students also combine MCIs International
Business courses with graduate courses
from Royal Roads University, Canada. A dual
degree option in collaboration with Royal
Road University is available.
ACCESS EMBA GUIDE 2016-2017
A ustria
Student Body
Male Female Ratio: 70/30%
Age Range: 25-50
Average Age: 33
Degree Background: Medicine/Pharma,
Engineering, Management, Economics,
Science, Art
International Students: 85%
(8 nationalities)
Admission Requirements
University degree: Undergraduate
degree from a recognised university
GMAT (minimum): score of 610
for applicants with extensive work
experience but no first degree
TOEFL: (min. 92) or IELTS (min. 6.5)
References: Motivational letter
Minimum Length of Work Experience:
Three years
Costs
Tuition fees: 18,900 EUR
Scholarships: Various (merit-based
scholarships)
www.mci.edu/en/study-program/
executive-master/mba-in-international-
business/scholarships-grants
Contacts
Name: Vanessa Walzl
Email: Vanessa.walzl@mci.edu
Telephone: +43 512 2070 2101
Website: www.mci.edu
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EMBA SCHOOL PROFILE

Knowledge Makes The Difference

FRANCE
Student Body

Male Female Ratio: 72/28%

SKEMA is one of the truly global business
schools. We train and educate the talented
individuals businesses require in the current
competitive environment.
SKEMA has AACSB and EQUIS accreditations
and has been consistently ranked as one of
the worlds very best business schools in the
Financial Times rankings.
Our graduates expand the boundaries of
knowledge and innovation. They are at ease
working in environments that are multi-
cultural and socially diverse. As graduates of
the school, they will go on to work towards
a collective goal with a common vision: to
create the right conditions for a sustainable
knowledge economy.
Our international structure, with campuses
in Asia, Europe, Latin America and the US,
enables us to remain in tune with the global
business environment and the world of
international higher education.
With 7,200 students and 160 professors,
SKEMA Business School ranks as a leading
global business school.
Age Range: 36-45
Average Age: 42
Programme Presentation Degree Background: International
The SKEMA Executive MBA is a high level Bachelors, Masters Degree or
continuing education programme for equivalent
experienced executives wishing to increase International Students:
their managerial and strategic skills. The Europe: 59%
Executive MBA programme offers general North America: 2%
modules and a unique specialisation in
project & programme management. This Middle East: 34%
intensive programme allows managers to Oceania and Asia: 5%
understand new organisational models
suited to constantly changing complex Admission Requirements
environments. It also aims to foster
participants overall strategic vision.
University degree: International
The Skema Executive MBA is particularly Bachelors, Masters Degree or
well suited to managers who have pressing
equivalent
professional commitments. It adopts a IELTS: 7(ENG)
blended learning format. The pedagogy
thus combines e-learning modules with TOEIC: 875 (ENG)
interactive seminars led by renowned CECR: C1 (FR)
professors in their fields. The programme References: Recommendation forms
is designed to optimise face-to-face
Minimum Length of Work Experience:
sessions by distance mode preparation
through highly structured modules that Five years
participants can adapt to their personal and
professional schedule. Seminars take place Costs
in Lille (France) and in four other locations:
Oslo (Norway), Dallas (Texas, USA), Belo
Horizonte (Brazil) and Shanghai (China) Application fees: 120 EUR
during study trips. Tuition fees: 32,000 EUR
Scholarships: up to 30%

Contacts
Name: Olivier Lefaivre
Email: olivier.lefaivre@skema.edu
Telephone: 01 41 16 76 94
Website: www.skema.edu

Programme Info:
Accreditations: EQUIS, AACSB, ISO
Rankings: Financial Times 84th Executive Education (customised programme)
Type of Programme: Blended learning (Online, face-to-face and webinar modules)
Programme Format: Executive MBA
Content Strength or
Project & Programme Management
Specialisation:
Language Courses: English
Application Deadlines: July and December
Starting Dates: August and January
Percentage of salary increase: 67% obtain a raise in pay after an EMBA

174
EMBA SCHOOL PROFILE

Leading Innovation in a Digital World

FRANCE
Student Body

Ratio of Applicants to Places: 50%

From its creation in 1979, Telecom Ecole
de Management has integrated new
technologies and information systems in
all its programmes. Our school has built
its reputation on this unique learning
experience and expertise which its corporate
partners readily recognise.
Accredited by AACSB and AMBA, TEM is the
Business School of Institut Mines-Telecom,
the leading group of engineering schools in
France, under the supervision of the French
Ministry of Economics, Industry and Finance.
Programme Presentation
Male Female Ratio: 75/25%
The EMBA Leading Innovation in a Digital Age Range: 30-50
World will develop your managerial Average Age: 42
and strategic skills and your leadership, Degree Background: : Business
while giving you the ability to seize the Administration, IT, Electronics, Computer
opportunities of the digital economy.
Taught part-time in Paris, the programme Networks, MIS, Chemistry Management,
will also take you to the heart of the major Engineering
technological clusters in the USA, Europe International Students: 37%
and Asia. Length of Work Experience:
Average 15 years
During the programme, you will have the
unique opportunity to develop your own Minimum 5 years
digital project, join one of our business
incubators in France and benefit from the Admission Requirements
full support of our faculty.
University degree: Bachelors or
Because we emphasise innovation, you will
meet with start-ups and entrepreneurs in equivalent
France and abroad, work with them on their TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, CAE or BULATS
own strategy and share their experience. References: Two recommendation
Becoming a participant of our programme forms,
will give you the unique opportunity to Interview + Case study for preselected
join the alumni network of Institut Mines-
Telecom, one of the largest of the French candidates
Grandes Ecoles (60,000+). Minimum Length of Work Experience:
Five years

Costs

Tuition fees: 40,000 EUR

Scholarships: several merit-based and
needs-based scholarships available
(upon application)
Negotiated interest rates with partner
banks

Programme Info:
Accreditations:
Type of Programme:
Programme Format:
Content Strength or
Specialisation:
Language Courses:
Application Deadlines:
Starting Dates:
Exchange Programme:
Contacts
AMBA / AACSB
Email: emba@telecom-em.eu
Executive MBA (Part-Time)
Telephone: +33 1 60 76 43 56
18 months, comprising 1 kick-off seminar, 12 academic weeks in Paris
(from Monday morning to Saturday evening, every 5 weeks) and 3 +33 6 74 40 93 81
international study tours Website: www.telecom-em.eu/en/emba
Digital Innovation, Innovation Management, Digital Strategy, Digital
Transformation, Leadership, New Business Models
Entirely taught in English
Rolling
18 April 2016
24 October 2016
October 2016 USA (Silicon Valley)
March 2017 Finland
October 2017 India

ACCESS EMBA GUIDE 2016-2017 175

EMBA SCHOOL PROFILE

The Worlds Most Exciting

Executive MBA Programme
S wit z erland
Student Body

Male Female Ratio: 70/30%

Average Age: 38

The University of St. Gallen is a leading Euro-
pean business school located in Switzerland.
Founded in 1898, it became a fully-fledged
business school in 1911 and today has the
largest management faculty in the Ger-
man-speaking area and more than 8,000
students. St. Gallen offers a full range of
undergraduate, postgraduate, executive
and PhD programmes and is accredited by
both EQUIS and AACSB.
Programme Presentation
Executive MBA HSG:
The Executive MBA HSG is designed as a
part-time general management programme,
consisting of 90 days structured in 5-day
modules (Monday to Friday). This includes
a study trip, 5 elective courses, a personal
development programme and a Masters
thesis. The Executive MBA HSG is taught
entirely in German and all modules, except
Admission Requirements
University Degree: recognised
for the study trip, take place at the Executive Bachelors degree
Campus in St. Gallen, Switzerland. GMAT/TOEFL: not necessary, but
fluency in English required for IEMBA
International Executive MBA HSG:
The International Executive MBA HSG is an HSG and GEMBA HSG
18-month part-time programme combining References: References: At least two
general management skills with an addition- (one professional, one personal)
al focus on international business, personal Minimum Length of Work Experience:
development and sustainability. Courses are Five years with three years of
taught in English and take place in Switzer-
land, the UK, Turkey and South Africa. leadership experience
Global Executive MBA HSG: Costs
The Global Executive MBA HSG is an
18-month part-time programme, taught EMBA: 67,000 CHF
in English in St. Gallen (CH), Rio de Janeiro
(BR), Cape Town (SA), Shanghai (CN), Los IEMBA: 76,000 CHF
Angeles (US) and Istanbul (TR). It is one of GEMBA: 89,000 CHF
the first truly global programmes, providing Scholarships: available in the following
the participants with the skills to lead in an categories:
increasingly globalised environment and Sustainability
establishing a worldwide network.
Women in Leadership
Excellence in Leadership
Entrepreneurs
Non-profit Management

Early booking incentives:

Up to 9,000 CHF depending on the
programme

Contacts
Name: Edna Bacopulos
Email: emba@unisg.ch
Programme Info: Telephone: +41 71 224 27 02
Accreditations: EQUIS, AACSB Website: emba.unisg.ch
4th in the European Business School Ranking 2015 (Financial Times)
Rankings: 8th in the most international universities in the world 2016 (Times
Higher Education)
Type of Programme: Executive MBA (part-time)
EMBA HSG: 90 days on campus
Programme Format:
IEMBA/GEMBA HSG: 70 on campus + 20 days off campus
Application Deadlines: One month prior to the start of the programme
EMBA: 19.09.2016 and 06.03.2017
Starting Dates: IEMBA: 08.08.2016
GEMBA: 08.08.2016

176
 EMBA
2016-2017 LISTING

Table of Some of the Top

EMBA Programmes in the World
 EMBA LISTINGS

178
Career Aims Average work
Salary today Salary percent- Women students International
Rankings progress achieved experience Accreditation(s)
(US$) age increase (%) students (%)
School name Country Costs Programme Name rank rank rank
Financial The
FT FT FT FT FT BW SD FT BW SD FT SD
Times Economist
Finland, Singapore,
Aalto University South Korea, Poland, 43,800 EUR Aalto EMBA 76 134,477 48 85 73 29 78 53 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Taiwan
Antwerp Management School Belgium, Russia 33,500 EUR EMBA 59 149,590 42 77 78 34 73 52 AACSB

Arizona State University: Carey China 78,500 USD Carey / SNAI EMBA 35 39 200,144 74 84 75 25 21 97 10 40 AACSB
BI Norwegian Business School/ Fudan University School of
China 390,000 NOK BI-Fudan MBA 48 172,984 83 38 72 53 95 81 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Management
Boston University School of Management US 97,500 USD Boston University EMBA 49 31 7 AACSB

Ceibs China 608,000 RMB Ceibs Global EMBA 16 313,442 37 9 77 36 52 18 AACSB, EQUIS

Centrum Catlica Peru / Colombia 116,800 USD Global MBA 52 211,812 36 50 71 29 40 25 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS

City University: Cass UK / UAE 44,000 GBP EMBA 32 156,631 68 26 76 30 23 15 68 10 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
EMBA-Global Americas and
Columbia / London Business School UK / US 172,815 USD 4 231,836 72 30 83 23 18 42 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Europe
Columbia Business School US 189,600 USD EMBA 28 15 209,988 55 27 75 23 26 41 21 89 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS

Copenhagen Business School Denmark 390,000 DKK CBS EMBA 62 60 121,752 35 13 74 23 40 48 38 4 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS

Cornell University: Johnson US 169,740 USD Cornell EMBA 55 20 208,058 41 94 72 26 24 54 21 47 AACSB

Cornell University: Johnson/Queen's School of Business US / Canada 133,516 USD EMBA Americas 53 164,027 53 40 75 19 37 61 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS

Cranfield School of Management UK 36,000 GBP Cranfield EMBA 86 31 128,048 44 73 72 17 64 48 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS

CUHK Business School China 520,000 HKD EMBA 31 263,132 52 91 68 38 33 24 AACSB

Duke University: Fuqua US 166,000 USD Duke MBA - Global Executive 17 251,645 32 56 75 21 14 29 33 12 AACSB, SACS

EMLyon Business School France 45,000 EUR EMBA 96 105,123 23 17 74 24 35 66 31 7 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS

Emory University: Goizueta US 101,700 USD Weekend EMBA 63 32 164,676 40 33 74 37 20 58 11 74 AACSB

ESA Business School Lebanon 35,000 USD Executive MBA 50 15 AMBA

France, UK, Germany,
ESCP Europe 56,000 EUR ESCP Europe EMBA 13 184,730 72 3 83 25 31 29 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Spain, Italy
ESMT - European School of Management and Technology Germany 57,500 EUR ESMT EMBA 30 8 168,636 56 1 83 33 22 19 AACSB, AMBA
France, Germany,
Essec / Mannheim 49,500 EUR Essec & Mannheim EMBA 45 26 131,037 45 25 77 35 50 23 90 22 6 AACSB, EQUIS
Singapore
Fordham University Graduate School of Business US 95,000 USD Fordham EMBA 79 162,877 51 72 70 33 40 51 30 97 AACSB

Georgetown University / Esade Business School US, Spain 155,718 USD Global EMBA 28 22 200,170 50 53 77 37 30 28 75 10 4 AACSB

Georgetown University: McDonough US 134,460 USD EMBA 37 27 190,675 54 36 76 42 24 59 12 60 AACSB

Georgia Institute of Technology: Scheller College of Business US 79,000 USD EMBA 89 144,762 40 59 73 20 21 79 17 64 AACSB

Georgia State University: Robinson US 69,500 USD EMBA 89 156,963 33 92 66 37 55 51 AACSB

Grenoble Graduate School of Business France 31,300 EUR Part-Time MBA 87 54 106,568 61 95 66 37 65 98 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS

HEC Lausanne Switzerland 34,500 CHF EMBA 83 113,604 18 75 78 19 21 16 AMBA, EQUIS

Henley Business School UK 37,750 GBP Henley EMBA 49 36 142,037 60 24 78 37 39 50 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS

HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management Germany 45,000 EUR Part-Time MBA 81 52 116,043 62 29 76 35 57 100 AACSB, ACQUIN

Hult International Business School UK 25,500 GBP Executive MBA 50 6 AMBA

IE Business School Spain 55,200 EUR Global EMBA 8 1 225,033 56 56 83 26 5 8 14 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS

Iese Business School Spain, US 99,000 EUR GEMBA 15 25 214,049 63 55 77 20 27 3 77 13 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS

IMD Switzerland 105,000 CHF IMD EMBA 18 261,397 40 31 74 23 2 3 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
 Career Aims Average work
Salary percent- Women students International
Rankings Salary today (US$) progress achieved experience Accreditation(s)
age increase (%) students (%)
School name Country Costs Programme Name rank rank rank
Financial The
FT FT FT FT FT BW SD FT BW SD FT SD
Times Economist
Imperial College Business School UK 55,000 GBP EMBA 38 130,104 64 18 78 24 20 90 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
10,400 EUR
Insead France, Singapore, UAE Insead Global EMBA 7 212,019 56 39 78 25 23 4 9 13 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
/125,000 USD
Kedge Business School France, China 35,000 EUR Kedge-SJTU Global MBA 23 196,998 114 22 73 35 35 60 99 14 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS

Kellogg / York University: Schulich Canada 120,000 CDN Kellogg-Schulich EMBA 25 5 167,343 51 45 80 33 6 39 AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA
AACSB, EQUIS, FIBAA
Kellogg / HKUST Business School China 1269,000 HKD Kellogg-HKUST EMBA 2 11 408,431 39 14 78 28 30 11 93 2 5
Premium
Kellogg / WHU Beisheim Germany 79,000 EUR Kellogg-WHU EMBA 20 6 182,078 55 5 82 12 16 75 32 8 AACSB, EQUIS

Ko University Graduate School of Business Turkey 71,000 TL EMBA 59 157,096 58 46 72 23 77 72 AMBA, EQUIS

Korea University Business School South Korea 100,000 KRW EMBA 27 246,492 92 69 79 6 97 58 AACSB, EQUIS

Kozminski University Poland 14,400 USD EMBA 61 144,509 70 49 73 39 67 80 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS

London Business School UK, UAE 72,795 GBP EMBA 19 181,083 41 23 77 20 1 30 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS

Michigan State University: Broad US 69,000 USD EMBA 72 46 144,484 48 41 70 30 68 91 AACSB

Nanyang Business School Singapore 95,000 SGD Nanyang EMBA 10 242,328 65 12 75 17 24 41 AACSB, EQUIS

National Sun Yat-sen University Taiwan 540,000 NT EMBA 64 161,504 61 71 77 30 90 93 AACSB, AMBA

National University of Singapore Business School Singapore 95,000 SGD NUS Asia-Pacific EMBA 25 29 233,946 51 51 75 27 35 12 17 5 AACSB

New York University: Stern US 177,800 USD NYU Stern EMBA 33 17 208,765 39 52 69 35 36 67 AACSB

Northwestern University: Kellogg US 187,290 USD Kellogg EMBA 22 3 239,190 53 48 78 23 92 33 AACSB

Ohio State University: Fisher US 115,000 USD Fisher EMBA 30 25 9 AACSB

China, Netherlands, US, OneMBA: Xiamen / RSM / UNC AACSB
OneMBA 112,270 USD 34 185,718 64 62 77 23 42 28
Brazil, Mexico / FGV So Paulo / Egade
Queen's University: Smith Canada 98,000 CDN Queen's EMBA 67 130,543 45 70 72 36 53 78 AACSB, EQUIS

Rice University: Jones US 115,000 USD Rice MBA for Executives 40 28 223,307 49 64 81 15 25 43 AACSB

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University Netherlands 49,000 EUR EMBA 60 121,885 45 60 71 28 30 66 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS

Rutgers Business School US 23,010 USD Rutgers EMBA 80 160,492 43 32 73 32 72 85 AACSB

Sabanci University School of Management Turkey 69,000 TRY Sabanci EMBA 92 132,781 34 76 69 19 83 92 AACSB

SDA Bocconi Italy 60,000 EUR EMBA 64 141,858 51 79 70 23 93 62 10 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS

Shanghai Jiao Tong University: Antai China 1,500 RMB Antai EMBA 10 292,525 92 63 75 25 94 71 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS

Skema Business School Europe 32,000 EUR Executive MBA 25 5 AACSB, EQUIS

SMU: Cox US 115,575 USD SMU Cox EMBA 71 13 172,140 36 11 76 23 62 55 AACSB

Stockholm School of Economics Sweden 465,000 SEK SSE MBA 78 127,340 45 67 75 34 35 36 EQUIS

Tlcom cole de Management France 40,000 EUR Executive MBA 24 37 15 AACSB, AMBA

Temple University: Fox US 94,992 USD Fox EMBA 45 AACSB

Texas A & M University: Mays US 86,000 USD Texas A&M EMBA 64 183,076 36 35 75 16 69 23 AACSB

Thunderbird School of Global Management US 125,000 USD EMBA 7 31 31 AACSB

Tias Business School Netherlands 42,500 EUR EMBA 73 62 111,017 45 44 74 32 50 83 AACSB, AMBA

Tongji University/ENPC China 128,000 RMB Shanghai International MBA 57 149,743 86 80 71 42 82 76 AMBA

ACCESS EMBA GUIDE 2016-2017

Toulouse Business School France 25,000 EUR TBS EMBA 97 128,963 46 98 64 22 81 27 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS

179
 EMBA LISTINGS

180
Career Aims Average work
Salary percent- Women students International
Rankings Salary today (US$) progress achieved experience Accreditation(s)
age increase (%) students (%)
School name Country Costs Programme Name rank rank rank
Financial The
FT FT FT FT FT BW SD FT BW SD FT SD
Times Economist
Trinity College Dublin Ireland 15,000 EUR Part-Time MBA Programme 59 43 7 AACSB,AMBA

Trium: HEC Paris / LSE / New York University: Stern France, UK, US 169,500 USD Trium Global EMBA 3 283,830 49 42 82 27 7 1 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
China, Singapore, UAE,
Tsinghua University / Insead 125,000 USD Tsinghua-Insead EMBA 1 324,115 80 2 81 18 19 4 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
France
Tulane University: Freeman US 85,000 USD EMBA 76 157,588 42 83 70 44 76 87 AACSB

UCLA: Anderson US 70,700 USD EMBA 42 19 187,862 37 68 77 27 56 40 AACSB, EQUIS

UCLA: Anderson / National University of Singapore US, Singapore 112,940 USD UCLA-NUS EMBA 5 4 250,956 53 19 82 24 8 5 AACSB, EQUIS

University College Dublin: Smurfit Ireland 15,350 EUR Smurfit EMBA 82 55 115,898 48 97 76 19 70 56 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS

University of Alberta/University of Calgary: Haskayne Canada 67,000 CDN Alberta / Haskayne EMBA 91 134,896 36 82 75 27 61 69 AACSB

University of Cambridge: Judge UK 63,960 GBP Cambridge EMBA 24 196,939 55 7 79 18 10 14 AMBA, EQUIS

University of Chicago: Booth US, UK, China 179,000 USD EMBA 12 9 231,232 51 28 75 24 9 35 AACSB
University of Hong Kong / Fudan University School of Man-
China 298,000 RMB HKU-Fudan IMBA 58 128,390 88 66 71 53 97 94 AACSB, EQUIS
agement
University of Maryland: Smith School of Business US 119,500 USD Smith EMBA 39 24 177,861 41 6 83 23 86 46 AACSB

University of Miami School of Business Administration US 111,800 USD Miami EMBA 40 AACSB

University of Michigan: Ross US 144,200 USD EMBA 43 16 203,326 42 78 74 19 74 57 AACSB

University of Oxford: Sad UK 72,094 GBP Oxford EMBA 9 2 229,205 73 15 83 24 31 14 95 15 6 AMBA, EQUIS

University of Pennsylvania: Wharton US 192,900 USD Wharton MBA for Executives 14 208,412 54 20 75 28 45 86 AACSB

University of Pittsburgh: Katz US, Brazil, Czech Republic 80,000 USD EMBA Worldwide 51 53 192,391 42 61 71 25 44 44 AACSB

University of Pretoria, Gibs South Africa 198,500 ZAR Modular & Part-Time MBA 87 190,343 51 65 70 36 89 88 AMBA

University of Rochester: Simon US, Switzerland 98,200 USD EMBA 93 126,336 38 89 75 34 70 49 AACSB

University of St. Gallen Switzerland 67,000 CHF EMBA HSG 41 159,327 47 4 82 27 63 20 12 AACSB, EQUIS
UK, Switzerland, Greece,
University of Strathclyde Business School 28,000 GBP Strathclyde EMBA 50 37 152,953 63 43 72 24 13 63 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
UAE, Bahrain, Oman
University of Texas at Austin: McCombs US 113,408 USD Texas EMBA 75 18 150,792 40 86 75 19 87 84 AACSB

University of Toronto: Rotman Canada 111,000 CAD Rotman EMBA 47 136,270 31 57 73 29 38 34 AACSB

University of Utah: Eccles School of Business US 79,000 USD EMBA 83 142,754 41 96 76 33 91 59 AACSB

University of Washington: Foster US 100,500 USD EMBA 69 166,122 32 87 70 31 85 75 AACSB, EQUIS

University of Zurich Switzerland 65,000 CHF Zurich EMBA 56 127,961 34 8 79 26 49 21 AACSB, EQUIS

Vanderbilt University: Owen US 49,950 USD Vanderbilt EMBA 70 42 135,938 62 100 79 31 29 80 8 95 AACSB

Vlerick Business School Belgium 38,995 EUR EMBA 73 121,022 55 16 74 20 43 73 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS

Warwick Business School UK 40,500 GBP Warwick EMBA 21 154,471 92 10 76 24 27 65 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS

Washington University, St. Louis: Olin Business School US 123,500 USD Olins Executive MBA 38 AACSB
Washington University: Olin/Fudan University School of
China 600,000 RMB Washington - Fudan EMBA 6 299,932 49 58 74 37 47 11 AACSB
Management
Western University: Ivey Canada, China 102,000 CND Ivey EMBA 53 174,456 41 74 74 25 46 37 EQUIS
WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business)/University
Austria 45,200 EUR Global EMBA 44 168,022 35 54 78 15 30 17 7 12 AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
of Minnesota: Carlson
Yale School of Management US 167,000 USD Yale MBA for Executives 10 AACSB

Yonsei University School of Business South Korea 51,750,000 KRW EMBA 45 237,864 62 81 72 15 97 96 AACSB, EQUIS, KABEA

Footnotes: 1. FT - Financial Times 3. SD - School Data 5. Salary Inc: Displays salary increase before and after MBA 7. Aims Achieved: The level at which the alumni fulfilled their purpose of doing an MBA
2. BW - Business Week 4. Salary today: Avg salary 3 years after graduation 6. Career Progress: changes in career before and after the MBA
Guide

2016-2017