EMBA programs in the Nordic countries

Europe has long been a popular and exciting destination for Executive MBA students – both from Europe itself and further afield. And with well-established markets for high quality business education, such as the UK, France, Germany and Spain, it is no surprise the continent flourishes as a choice for EMBA students.

Top-tier business schools in these ‘traditional’ European EMBA markets, such as INSEAD (France), London Business School (UK), HHL Leipzig (Germany) and IE Business School (Spain), will perhaps always dominate the market. 

However, the Nordic countries boast a host of less well-known, but equally interesting, business schools, many of which offer Executive MBA programs.  Here is a small selection of what is in offer in the northern climes of Europe.

School of Business, Aalto University, Finland

One EMBA option in the Nordic countries is the established School of Business at Aalto University in Finland. Its Executive MBA program has received AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS accreditation and is ranked among the top 100 programs in the world. The university is the result of a merger between the Helsinki School of Economics, the Helsinki University of Technology and the University of Art and Design Helsinki in 2010. The School of Business, in various incarnations, has been around since 1911.

Aalto University’s School of Business offers students the opportunity to study the EMBA program in Singapore or Iran, in addition to the core program in Finland. The degree focuses on strategy and offers a variety of approaches to innovation and leadership. Executive MBA students who are interested in an ambitious and cutting-edge business education might just find what they are looking for in Finland.

BI Norwegian Business School, Norway

Norway’s BI Norwegian Business School offers a business education in a diverse range of locations, including Singapore, Spain, the US and France. The school has three EMBA strands: the EMBA Global, the EMBA Energy and the EMBA Maritime Offshore. Held over the course of 18 months, BI Norwegian’s Executive MBA degree takes place primarily in on-campus sessions and aims to give students both hard skills and soft skills. Prospective EMBA students in search of a high-quality degree that offers a global outlook, with a specialization in maritime offshoring or energy, might find their perfect match at BI Norwegian Business School.

Stockholm School of Economics (SSE), Sweden

Sweden’s Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) is a power player in the Nordic countries’ business school landscape. Privately financed, SSE has established EMBA programs, not only in Stockholm but also in Riga, Latvia, and St Petersburg and Moscow in Russia. The Riga EMBA program is designed for executive professionals and runs over the course of two years. Students will study in Riga, Stockholm and Hong Kong. The program caters to regional professionals who wish to broaden their knowledge and skill-base and gain a better global outlook for their business practice. Staffed with highly international lecturers, the program aims to open a gateway into international business. Similarly, the Stockholm School of Economics’ EMBA program in Russia caters to Russian business professionals who are hoping to acquire a more global outlook in their careers. In expanding to both Latvia and Russia, Stockholm School of Economics is able to provide students with a combination of Western and non-Western business experiences and practices.

Copenhagen Business School (CBS), Denmark

One of the Nordic countries’ business education gems is Copenhagen Business School (CBS). The school’s standard Executive MBA is an intensive 20-month program which includes a case study approach and integrates simulations, debate, experiential learning and projects which are relevant to the students’ work experience and environment. The Copenhagen Business School degree, which covers the basics of general management, business analysis, leadership, business development and innovation, places emphasis on academic rigor and practical immersion. Copenhagen Business School also offers a Flexible EMBA program. This version of the degree is stretched over 26 months to give students an opportunity to take a break in between modules. With EMBA programs like these on offer it’s no surprise that Denmark is becoming an increasingly popular destination for business school students (rising four places to 14th in this year’s QS TopMBA.com Applicant Survey list of the top 20 most desirable study locations).

The Nordic countries’ alternative

Far from being on the fringes of business education, the Nordic countries not only have spectacular landscapes, great opportunities for winter skiing and summer hiking, and a vibrant cultural scene, they are all in possession of some of the best business education Europe has to offer. Open-minded EMBA candidates would do well to take some of these options into consideration when researching their Executive MBA education options.