Top 10 Joint Executive MBA Programs 2019

The Executive MBA program offered by the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and HKUST Business School has been ranked the best joint EMBA program in the QS EMBA Rankings 2019.

Released today, the QS Global EMBA Rankings 2019 reveal the top executive MBA programs around the world, as well as providing a regional breakdown to help you find a top school near you. The rankings also include a separate table of the best joint programs.

You can find out more about the methodology used to produce the rankings here.

The top 10 joint programs can be seen below.

10) ESSEC/Mannheim

Kicking off the top 10 is the Executive MBA program offered by ESSEC Business School (pictured) and Mannheim Business School. The program achieved high scores across all ranking indicators, particularly for career outcomes and diversity.

Participants can choose from two EMBA tracks: the Europe track, in Paris or Mannheim, or the Asia track in Singapore. The Europe track is 18 months, with six-day modules every six weeks from Tuesday or Wednesday to Sunday midday. The Asia track is 15 months with six-day modules every four to five weeks from Monday to Saturday.

Program fees are €49,500 (approx. US$55,730), which includes tuition, class materials and accommodation during study trips. Participants have an average of 13 years’ work experience (seven in managerial roles) and enjoy a 44 percent salary increase after graduation.

9) Washington/Fudan

The Executive MBA Shanghai, offered by Washington University in St Louis Olin Business School and Fudan University School of Management (pictured), scored highly across all ranking indicators, including the joint highest score for executive profile.

Based in Shanghai, the program prepares senior-level professionals in China and Asia for global leadership. It’s an 18-month program, with participants attending courses once a month, Friday to Monday. There is also a mid-program residency in an Asian location determined by the cohort, and the program ends with a two-week capstone residency at Washington University in St. Louis.

Participants require a minimum of 10 years’ work experience to apply (five of which must be in managerial/high-level responsibility positions). The most recent cohort have an average age of 38 with 15 years’ work experience, and about 80 percent are Chinese citizens. The program costs RMB600,000 (approx. US$89,297).

8) Georgetown/ESADE

In eighth place is the Global Executive MBA offered between the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University and ESADE Ramon Llull University’s business school (pictured). The Global Executive MBA achieved high scores across all ranking indicators, including a perfect score for career outcomes.

The Georgetown/ESADE program is ideal for professionals who want a smaller class size, with the most recent cohort having 29 participants. Students have an average of 16 years’ work experience, with 20 percent of participants having c-suite experience.

Although the class is small, it’s a truly global program, with 66 percent of the class being international students of 22 different nationalities. The 14-month program has six modules in nine cities across the world, and students can enjoy a 54 percent salary increase post-graduation.

7) Kellogg/WHU

Next is the Executive MBA program offered by the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management (pictured), which achieved a perfect score for career outcomes.

Primarily based at WHU’s campus in Vallendar, Germany, on-site modules are approximately every four to seven weeks, for around five to seven days. Participants also attend a 10-day Global Network Week at Kellogg’s campus in Evanston (IL). There are also a number of global electives – previous destinations have included Miami, Toronto, Düsseldorf, Tel Aviv, Chicago, Lisbon and Hong Kong.

Fees for the two-year program are €89,000 (approx. US$100,630). The average participant has 14 years’ work experience, with finance and technology being the most popular background industries.

6) UCLA/NUS

In sixth place is the Executive MBA program offered by UCLA Anderson School of Management and NUS Business School (pictured) which achieved excellent scores across all ranking indicators, including a perfect score in employer reputation.

The 15-month program is structured into six two-week residential segments, including two modules in Singapore, two in Los Angeles, one in Shanghai, one in Shenzhen, one in Bangalore and one in New Delhi.

Participants on the program have an average age of 39 with 15 years’ work experience (the program requires a minimum of 10 years’ work experience for admission). Fees for the program are US$120,000 which includes tuition, textbooks and class materials, and most meals for residential segments. Travel and accommodation costs aren’t included.

5) Tsinghua/INSEAD

Ranked fifth is Tsinghua University School of Economics & Management and INSEAD (pictured). The program scored highly across all ranking indicators, including a perfect score for employer reputation and the second highest score in the joint rankings for thought leadership.

The 22-month program has tuition fees of US$125,000, with 12 weeks of on-campus classes equating to 59 days out of the office. Participants will spend five weeks in Beijing, three weeks in Singapore, two weeks in Fontainebleau, one week in Abu Dhabi and one week in Shenzhen.

The most recent cohort has an average age of 37, with 14 years’ work experience. Financial services is the most common background industry (29 percent), but healthcare and technology are also well represented (13 percent and 11 percent).

4) Kellogg/Schulich

Narrowly missing out on a top three spot is the Executive MBA program offered between the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and York University's Schulich School of Business (pictured). The program achieved a perfect score for career outcomes and the third highest score in the table for employer reputation.

The majority of the 18-month program is based at Schulich’s Toronto campus, but participants will spend two weeks at one of Kellogg’s campuses in Evanston or Miami. There is also a ‘Leveraging Global Perspectives’ elective in locations including China, Germany, Hong Kong and Israel.

Fees for the program are CAD$125,000 (approx. US$93,808). A minimum of 8 years’ work experience is required, with the average on the most recent cohort being 13 years. Participants can expect a healthy salary increase of around 51 percent post-graduation.

3) TRIUM

The bronze medalist is the TRIUM Global Executive MBA, offered between NYU Stern School of Business, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and HEC Paris. Although it didn’t achieve a perfect score, it achieved some of the highest scores in the table, particularly for thought leadership and employer reputation.

The program is divided into six modules over an 18-month period – around 10 weeks out of the office. There are two modules in Paris, and the other four modules are in London, California, New York and Shanghai.

Participants are required to have a minimum of 10 years’ work experience. The Class of 2019 have an average age of 40, with 16 years’ work experience. Fees for the program are US$181,500.

2) Columbia/HKU/LBS

In second place is the Global Asia program at Columbia Business School, The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and London Business School (pictured), which achieved two perfect scores, in employer reputation and thought leadership.

The 20-month program is made up of 14 core modules and eight electives. Core courses are taught in four- or five-day residential class weeks. While EMBA participants will receive the majority of their teaching in Hong Kong, they’ll also have class weeks in London and New York. There are also international electives, where participants can choose one or two modules in locations all over the world. Participants have an average of 12 years’ work experience.

Fees for the program are US$182,160, which covers tuition, course materials, and most meals and accommodation during core teaching blocks. Participants have an average of 12 years work experience.

HKU business school suggests why the program proves so popular with employers:

“The EMBA – Global Asia recruits at truly global and diversified student body, with students coming from over 20 nationalities and work locations. The quality and diversity of the students we recruit, together with the truly global experience we provide to our students appeals to employers.”

1) Kellogg/HKUST

Topping the table is the Executive MBA offered by the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and HKUST Business School (pictured). The program achieved two perfect scores, for employer reputation and career outcomes, as well as the highest score in the table for thought leadership and the joint highest score for executive profile.

The 18-month program includes 18 weekends (Friday afternoon to Sunday) and two residential modules in Hong Kong, a 10-day residential module in Chicago, and global elective weeks in six partner school campuses around the world.

Program fees are HK$1,439,900 or US$183,500 and include tuition, books and course materials, full accommodation and meals for all weekends at HKUST and for the two residential sessions at HKUST and Kellogg, as well as covering one mandatory global elective week. Participants have an average age of 40, with 16 years’ work experience, and can expect an impressive salary uplift of around 60 percent post-graduation.