Which is the Right MBA for you? Executive MBA or Regular MBA

With working professionals realizing the importance of professional training, continued learning, and upskilling themselves, executive programs, especially for managers, have become all the rage. In this context, one of the most popular programs that have emerged as a choice for upskilling is an executive MBA, also commonly called the EMBA.

Offered in several modes to facilitate learning, an executive MBA brings together the essential features of a regular MBA, but in a manner more tweaked for the needs of industries and experienced managers. In this blog, we take a look at the details of this course and understand its utility for career growth for you if you are a professional serving in a managerial capacity.

What is an Executive MBA?

An executive MBA is an advanced program in business management offered by top B-schools and institutes at the postgraduate level. This course is designed to last from about 12 months to 18 months (exact duration varying as per particular institute) and is more specifically focused on specific niche skill domains of management in professional settings. This course is offered in a myriad of specializations so that different managers from varying industries can find the relevant choice to enhance their careers.

Designed specifically for working professionals, an executive MBA is offered in the following modes in India:

• Regular EMBA: This EMBA program caters to professionals wishing to experience on-campus learning with regular lectures, fixed time schedules, and in-person examinations.
• Online EMBA: This is a new-age mode of executive MBA wherein the full course is completed in the virtual mode, with live virtual lectures, recorded lectures, online proctored exams, webinars, etc.
• Part-Time MBA: A part-time MBA specifically caters to working professionals’ needs as it includes on-campus classes scheduled over weekends, holidays, or in the evening to match the working hours of professionals. This mode often includes access to virtual learning materials that allow for 24×7 access from home or any location while also providing the classroom learning experience.
• Distance EMBA: A distance EMBA is one of the oldest modes of the course available for those candidates wishing to pursue the degree through correspondence. Conventionally, a distance EMBA includes access to physical learning materials, self-paced learning, and fixed, in-person exams.

Read Also: Top Accredited Universities for Distance MBA Programs

How Does An Executive MBA Differ from a Regular MBA?

There are a few major differences between an executive and a conventional 2-year MBA. These include:

Course Details of EMBA

The general course details of an executive MBA have been tabulated below.

Why Choose an Executive MBA

Some of the major reasons to go for an executive MBA are listed below

• It is one of the most prestigious professional degrees in the industry as well as academia.
• It carries vast benefits for career advancement and can open doors to senior managerial and CXO-suite job roles.
• It is a highly industry-relevant course, making it useful for building advanced managerial skills in yourself, thus strengthening your professional portfolio.
• The course is available for a short duration of 12-18 months and its high flexibility allows for continuing one’s job alongside the degree.
• The online learning and part-time modes of executive MBA allow a high amount of flexibility to working professionals to continue their professional commitments alongside the degree.

Conclusion

In conclusion, an executive MBA degree is not only highly beneficial from one’s career perspective but also useful for allowing a candidate to gain professional experience alongside their degree due to its high flexibility and course structure. The up-and-coming modes of learning such as online learning and part-time learning contribute further in this direction with the high degree of flexibility they allow in learning.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)