How to choose an executive MBA programme right for you

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An executive MBA is a great way to up your game professionally and give yourself a competitive edge. It can help with a shift of position and responsibility within an organisation or even switch careers altogether, especially if you are looking to get into thriving areas like tech, finance, marketing, consulting, healthcare, or supply chain. This degree provides students with skills to apply to problem-solving and critical thinking in the world of business.

At the same time, a well-recognised EMBA degree isn’t cheap, and choosing a programme that’s right for you can be overwhelming, given the range of programmes available on the market.

Here are some factors to consider before you embark on your journey.

Be clear about your career goals: A good starting point is to think through what you wish to achieve with an EMBA degree and consider if the programme curriculum supports those goals. What you want to study and your career goals should be the result of your self-assessment and personal reflection. For example, if you seek to start a business, does the programme offer classes in entrepreneurship? Possessing a clear vision of what you want will make it easier to decide if a particular programme is right for you or not.

Spend some time researching teaching style, delivery model, and faculty: Even though there might be similarities in their programmes, each school has a different teaching style and delivery model. Some might focus on lecture-based instruction, and others may use a more experiential learning approach. Yet others may choose a mix of the two or even entirely online.

Finding a fit in the teaching style and delivery model is essential for you to thrive and get the most out of the programme. At the same time, consider who is teaching the EMBA students. How well-qualified are the professors? Does the school bring in lecturers or junior faculty to deliver the programme, and do they offer access to industry experts?

Your goal should be to learn from top faculty who can help ensure you achieve your career goals. Also, find out how flexible the programme is – this is an essential aspect for working professionals who may be in roles that require them to move frequently, even if you choose to switch jobs whilst doing your EMBA.

Career services: In today’s competitive work environment, it’s more important than ever to receive strong guidance and advice when selecting a career path. Whether you hope to move up in your organisation or switch careers altogether, you should spend time checking out the level of career coaching and resources offered to students.

At Edinburgh Business School, for example, we run Career Fairs where students can meet with potential employers, as well as provide a wide variety of tools and resources on various aspects of employment, such as interview practice tools, CV writing workshops and leadership events. The school of your choice should offer a holistic approach to career management, offering EMBA students coaching on career trajectories rather than just their next job.

Talk to current students and alumni: As obvious as this may sound, make sure to talk to current students and alumni. Some ways to reach out are by attending university events for prospective EMBA students, finding alumni through professional networking sites and reaching out to them for feedback, and visiting the campus to try to get a sense of the learning environment.

These tips should help you look beyond just reputation to find a programme that meets your professional needs and is the right fit for you and your career ambitions.

Read: Here’s why an online MBA is advantageous for business leaders

The author is executive dean of Edinburgh Business School and the School of Social Sciences.