Regular MBA or Executive MBA? Many students face this confusion. What is the right decision for one need not be the best for another. So, rather than searching for a direct answer, let’s analyse these courses to find out what suits you the best. This will largely depend on your reasons for doing an MBA and your expectations out of the same. The factors on which you can base your decision are listed below:
- Academic status
- Job profile and Work experience
- Return of Investment (ROI)
- Network and Lifestyle
- Career goals and target
- Programme Length, and others
Executive MBA (or EMBA) is generally a 1 year postgraduate course specially designed for business managers or corporate executives who are already working. Whereas, a regular MBA program spans for 2 years. Let’s find an Executive MBA details below:
Core Courses offered in EMBA
| Level of the course | Postgraduate level |
| Duration | Usually 1 year (somewhere 15 -18 months also) |
| Eligibility | 55% aggregate marks in graduation from a recognised UniversityMinimum work experience of 2 – 5 years (as specified by the Institution) |
| Admission Process | GMAT, CMAT, CAT, XAT, NMAT etc.Or, in-house tests conducted by some B-schools |
| Course Fee | INR 4 to 15 lakhs |
| Top Colleges | IIMs, Symbiosis Pune and Bangalore, ISB Hyderabad, NMIMS, etc. |
| Average starting package | INR 9 to 15 lakhs per annum |
| Recruitment Domains | Finance, Marketing, Sales, Human Resources, IT, Digital Marketing, Business Analysis, Brand Executive, Communications Manager, etc |
| Top Companies | Infosys, Wipro, Hindustan Unilever, TCL Technology |
Eligibility Criteria – Executive MBA v/s Regular MBA
The admission requirements for Regular MBA course is a bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification in any stream with the minimum aggregate score of 50 – 60%. For taking admission in Executive MBA, in addition to the aforementioned qualification, the candidate needs to have minimum work experience also. The extensive professional experience that is required for an Executive MBA hovers around 5-10 years. This minimum work experience criterion is different in different colleges.
Some top B-schools even require the EMBA candidates to submit letters of recommendation (LOR) during the selection process. And, for the students seeking an EMBA course in international colleges need to have a good English proficiency test score also.
Employer Sponsorship – Executive MBA v/s Regular MBA
Sponsorship is not applicable in Regular MBA courses as the aspirants are usually with less than a year (or minimal) of work experience. A major chunk of the management students are freshers who are recent graduates. These aspirants are looking for student-oriented full-time intensive courses, which will provide them with deep insights into the business and management.
However, the candidates for EMBA courses are generally from older age groups (around 35 years of age). They are already employed with years of work experience in diverse fields who are looking to upgrade their current skills. The organisations where they are already working often sponsor talented employees for an Executive MBA program. This benefits both the employer and the employee. The development of the managerial skills of the employee is in itself an investment and an asset to the company.
Flexibility – Executive MBA v/s Regular MBA
Normal MBA is a full-time course with a workload of regular classes on a daily basis. On the other hand, an Executive MBA is specially designed for the ones who are already working, so the time to be devoted towards classes is less. At some institutions, it is even offered through distance mode of education.
This flexibility makes an EMBA a preferable choice for somebody who wants to enhance their knowledge and earn a degree, while working simultaneously. Thus, an EMBA provides the opportunity to maintain a balance between the studies and the work.
Syllabus and Curriculum – Executive MBA
By and large, the syllabus and the areas of the study are similar in regular and Executive MBA. The highlighting difference in both the courses is the approach of the executive program. The course structure includes both core papers and elective papers, which helps the students to get deep insight and understanding in the areas of their practice.
The following is the overview of the core courses that are offered in the Executive MBA program:
Core Courses offered in EMBA
| Financial Reporting and Analysis | Competition and Strategy |
| Decision Sciences | Corporate Finance |
| Managerial Economics | Executive Communication |
| Accounting and Finance for Managers | Management Information Systems |
| Business Law | Corporate Governance and Ethics |
| Research Methods for Management | Microfinance: Perspectives and Operations |
The number of electives offered in Executive MBA are lesser as compared to its counterpart, the regular MBA program. The following is the list of the common elective courses available to the students to do specialization in:
- Corporate Strategy and Policy
- Entrepreneurial Learning
- Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources Management
- Production and Operations Management
- Decision Sciences and Information systems
- Economics and Social Sciences
- Finance and Accounting
Salary Prospects and Career Growth – Executive MBA v/s Regular MBA
There are a lot of opportunities available to an MBA graduate depending upon their areas of specialisations. After completion of Executive MBA, first of all, there are higher chances of promotions in the organisation a person was already working at. In the cases where the employer-sponsored the EMBA education for its employee, it’s a great opportunity to grab a high position in one’s company.
Top Recruiting Organisations – Executive MBA & Regular MBA
| TCS Technologies | Accenture |
| Infosys | HDFC Bank Private Limited |
| ITC Limited | International Business Machines (IBM) |
| Mahindra and Mahindra | Reliance Industries |
| Larsen & Toubro (L&T) | Hindustan Unilever (HUL) |
Is opting an Executive MBA better than a normal MBA?
There is no clear answer to this question, as it is subjective to one’s priorities. It all depends upon your current academic or job status, financial conditions, career requirements and aspirations. If you wish to explore a variety of sectors like Hospitality, Tourism, Fashion, and Hotel Management other than regular specializations, a Regular MBA can be the choice. Also, aspirants want to start a job immediately graduating, for them too such a program can be beneficial. But, if you are someone who is already working, seeking to upgrade your existing skills and knowledge in the current domain, you can go for an Executive MBA course.