EMBA vs MBA: What is the most suitable option for you?

MBA (Masters of Business Administration) and EMBA (Executive MBA) are two of the most commonly chosen courses amongst working professionals today. Both these programs help aspirants gain a better understanding of Business and Management so they can use their industry knowledge more effectively. But each of these courses has its own focus areas, requirements, and perks. Read on to get in-depth knowledge about MBA and EMBA so you can make the final decision based on your priorities.

What is a regular MBA and an EMBA?

MBA

• An MBA is a postgraduate degree course suitable for students who want to establish a career in management or business.
• During a regular MBA, you will be asked to intern with some companies to get practical experience in the field of business and management.

EMBA

• An Executive MBA course is specifically designed for business professionals who want to enhance their practical and business skills and increase their exposure.
• It focuses on all the major business aspects such as human resources, management, finance, marketing, accounting, operations, and economics. You can choose any area of your interest and specialize in that domain.

How are they different?

While both MBA and EMBA are highly prestigious courses offered by some of the top B-schools worldwide, there are 2 major differences between them that you should know about-

• One of the most important criteria to enroll for an Executive MBA program is work experience. You need to have at least 5-6 years of work experience to be eligible for an EMBA course. This is not true of MBA, which you can pursue even without work experience!
• An EMBA is a part-time degree. You will mostly have to attend classes on Friday evenings or weekends, which will make it easier for you to work and study simultaneously.

Key Differences: EMBA vs MBA

It may seem difficult to differentiate between a regular MBA and an Executive MBA at first glance. But these courses are vastly different-

MBA	EMBA
A regular MBA is a masters degree course offered by different universities, wherein students attain in-depth knowledge and understanding of business and management.	An Executive MBA is a post-graduate program for working professionals who are already placed in some business or the management company and want to enhance their skills in the same domain.
Course Duration – 2 to 3 years	Course Duration – 1 to 2 years
The main focus in a regular MBA course is upon theoretical as well as practical knowledge.	In an Executive MBA, the major focus lies on gaining practical knowledge, enhancing decision-making skills, and improving problem-solving skills.
For a student to pursue a regular MBA, they have to complete their graduation and pass entrance exams such as GMAT.	For an Executive MBA, the person should have graduated, passed the entrance exam, and in addition to that, he should have a work experience of 5-6 years.
It is a full-time course wherein you have to spend the whole academic year studying.	It is a part-time course and the classes are scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
While applying for a regular MBA, you have to look after your fees on your own.	In an Executive MBA, your employers take care of your tuition fee while studying.

Eligibility criteria

You should check the university’s criteria before applying to any business school for an MBA or an EMBA program. However, the entry requirements for both these programs are more or less the same, and include-

• Entrance exams like GMAT or GRE
• Bachelor’s degree
• Two to three years of work experience (varies from university to university) for an MBA, and 5-6 years of work experience in the case of EMBA

What is a GMAT exam?

GMAT stands for Graduate Management Admission Test. It is the most commonly taken entrance exam for admissions into international MBA programs. GMAT examines you on the basis of your verbal skills, mathematics, analytical writing skills, and integrated reasoning. You have to score well in all these segments to secure a good score and get an offer letter from a top management school.

Top universities offering MBA programs

• Stanford Graduate School of Business (USA)
• London Business School (UK)
• Harvard Business School (USA)
• INSEAD (France and Singapore)
• HEC Paris (France)
• Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (USA)

Top institutes offering EMBA

• Chicago Booth Executive MBA
• INSEAD Global Executive MBA
• The Kellogg Executive MBA Programme
• The Wharton MBA for Executives
• London Business School Executive MBA

Career options after pursuing an MBA

• Investment Banking
• Investment Management
• Private Equity
• Management Consulting
• Marketing
• Product Management
• Project Management
• Business Development
• Human Resource Management

Career Options after pursuing EMBA

After successful completion of an Executive MBA program, you can look for higher positions in the same company and incorporate your skills there. A person with an EMBA will also get a pay raise as they are now more precisely skilled and have more experience.

Key takeaways

• It is now quite clear how a regular MBA and an Executive MBA are different in their own ways.
• One needs to know all the criteria before applying either for a regular MBA or an EMBA to avoid application rejection.
• The major difference between a regular MBA and an EMBA relies on whether you are currently working and want to pursue studies (part-time course) while working or want to do the full-time course.
• An MBA is more of an in-depth course, providing you practical as well as theoretical knowledge about business administration and management. Whereas an Executive MBA is more of a practical-based course that helps you improving your business management skills.

That’s all for now! If you have any more questions about which program to choose, you can drop a comment below on reach out to us.

Liked this blog? Read: Top universities for MBA in USA

FAQs

Q1. Is an Executive MBA as good as a regular MBA?

Yes, the two MBAs hold equal importance in the business industry. However, their purpose and format make them different.

Q2. Is EMBA a master’s degree?

No, an EMBA is a graduate academic degree in business administration that is specifically designed for business professionals and working people.

Q3. Does an EMBA help you in increasing your salary?

Yes, an EMBA can help you raise your salary range. But that also depends on which university you graduated from and how much you’ve visibly grown.