Studies & Degrees in Executive MBA
Executive MBA Study Programs
An Executive MBA (EMBA) is a Master of Business Administration for managers who keep their job while they study. It covers the same general management subjects as a full-time MBA, but the classes are part-time and the classmates are experienced professionals. At ESCP Business School, for example, the average participant is 38 years old and has 13 years of work experience.
The curriculum gives a view of the whole company. The core courses at ESCP include strategy, marketing, finance, economics for managers, organisational behaviour and entrepreneurship. Most programmes add leadership training, international modules and a final project. At ESCP this is a consulting project carried out in a team over 12 to 14 months.
Qualifications and levels
The EMBA is a postgraduate qualification. Schools select candidates on their career as much as on their academic record.
- Experience. IESE Business School designs its Executive MBA for professionals with at least 5 years of work experience; the average in the class is 10 years. The Kellogg-WHU Executive MBA Program asks for at least eight years of full-time work experience after a first degree. SDA Bocconi reports an average of 13 years.
- Admission. IESE requires an official university degree, an admissions test (GMAT, GRE, Executive Assessment or its own test), a letter of support from the employer and two letters of recommendation. Non-native speakers must prove their level of English. Requirements differ: ENAE Business School, in Murcia, states that a previous university degree is not required for its programme, but relevant professional experience is.
- Duration and format. Most programmes take between 16 months and 2 years. IESE's lasts 18 months, with classes weekly, biweekly or triweekly depending on the campus. SDA Bocconi's lasts 18 months in a weekend or a modular format. At Temple University's Fox School of Business the programme takes one weekend per month for 16 months. ESCP offers tracks of 18, 22, 30 or 34 months, and the Kellogg-WHU programme lasts 2 years. ENAE teaches 60 ECTS credits with classes two days a week, usually on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, or live online.
- Recognition in Spain. An official master's degree (máster universitario) has 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. Universities also award their own lifelong-learning qualifications, such as the Máster de Formación Permanente, and the law requires them to be clearly distinguished from official degrees. IESE states that its Executive MBA is recognised as an official master's degree. Ask each school what recognition its qualification has.
- International accreditation. The Association of MBAs (AMBA) accredits MBA programmes, and AACSB accredits business schools through self-assessment and peer review. WHU, for example, lists EQUIS, AACSB and FIBAA accreditation.
Fees vary widely. In October 2026 IESE lists €85,000 for its Executive MBA in Barcelona and Madrid, and the Kellogg-WHU programme lists €105,000. Many participants are partly funded by their employer, so it is worth asking the company before applying.
Where to study it
This directory lists 45 active schools that offer an Executive MBA. Spain has 16, the United States 10, Germany 4, Italy 3 and France 3, followed by Greece and Switzerland with 2 each.
In Spain the listed schools include ENAE Business School in Murcia, EAE Business School in Barcelona, CESTE in Zaragoza, EUNCET Business School in Terrassa and Universidad Antonio de Nebrija. Elsewhere in Europe the list includes Bocconi University in Milan, the Kellogg-WHU Executive MBA Program in Vallendar, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, Emlyon Business School and the London and Turin campuses of ESCP Business School. In the United States, Temple University and San Diego State University are among the listed schools.
English is the usual language of international programmes. ESCP and Kellogg-WHU teach in English. IESE teaches in English and offers a bilingual Spanish and English format in Barcelona and Madrid. SDA Bocconi's weekend format is taught in Italian with selected modules in English, and its modular format entirely in English.
Careers
EMBA students already have a job. They use the degree to move from a functional role, such as engineering, sales or finance, into general management, to prepare for a senior position, to change sector or to start a company. The degree does not guarantee a promotion; results depend on the person, the employer and the market.
For context, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 3,890,600 jobs for top executives in 2025. It projects employment to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 304,100 openings each year. It notes that top executives typically need at least a bachelor's degree and considerable work experience.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an MBA and an Executive MBA?
The subjects are similar. The Executive MBA is part-time and aimed at people with more experience who keep working: IESE asks for at least 5 years and Kellogg-WHU for at least eight.
Can I work full-time during an Executive MBA?
Yes, the format is built for that. Classes are grouped on weekends, on a few days every two or three weeks or in intensive modules, depending on the school.
Is an Executive MBA an official degree in Spain?
It depends on the programme. Some are official master's degrees and others are the university's or school's own qualifications. Ask the school what recognition the qualification has, especially if you need it for a doctorate or for public employment.