Executive MBA or Regular MBA – Which One to Choose?

When it comes to a master’s degree, business students often share confusion while choosing between Executive MBA (2 Years, Weekend Classes) and regular MBA (2.5-Years).  After graduation, it is vitally important to choose a master’s degree that is relevant to the student’s interests.  Many students seek job opportunities with an intention to gain practical experience. Meanwhile, others opt to continue their further studies to accomplish 18 years of education. Unlike other fields, business studies give the students an edge to pursue an executive master’s degree commonly known across the globe as an Executive MBA (EMBA). So, how is the executive degree different from the regular one? Here, we have gathered all the information about the benefits of the executive MBA program while we highlight the common differences.

What is an Executive MBA?

Executive MBA or EMBA is a globally recognized master’s program designed for business students. What sets it apart from the regular MBA is the duration period and eligibility criteria. EMBA is suitable for those business graduates who are not willing to take a break from pursuing their careers. These students often start working as soon as they are done with their bachelor’s degree. After gaining a certain amount of professional experience, they become eligible to pursue an MBA degree with a slightly different course module. The duration of EMBA is 1.5 years which is almost a year lesser than the regular full-time MBA.

Before looking at major Executive MBA and MBA differences, it is important to understand that the choice of degree depends upon the goals of the students. If they are looking to continue their job and pursue a professional master’s degree at the same time, EMBA is a great option for them. This degree program covers the professional modules while skipping the introductory courses. EMBA is cheaper in comparison to the regular MBA degree. 

What is a Regular MBA?

The regular degree of MBA is a full-time program that varies in duration from 2 to 3 years. The students looking to seek admissions without gaining professional experience can apply for MBA right away after graduation. The regular MBA degree covers both, introductory modules as well as professional modules. The students who opt for this full-time degree can start their professional careers after completion of the program.

The full-time MBA covers basic management in the initial year and specialization is covered in the next years. The full-time degree is costly as compared to the executive degree owing to a longer duration period.   

Why is the Executive MBA better?

In the last few years, the global, as well as the local scenario, has observed a major shift. Professional organizations have encouraged students to apply for internships and jobs after their graduation. The wide-ranging career possibilities have enabled students to gain professional experience at an earlier stage. In this fast-paced environment, EMBA is a vital option for students owing to the following benefits:

1. EMBA is cheaper as compared to a regular MBA.
2. EMBA has a lesser duration and convenient schedules allowing students to continue their jobs at the same time.
3. EMBA focuses on managerial and leadership development which greatly helps in a professional career.
4. By pursuing this degree program, students can accomplish multiple goals in a limited period of time.
5. Professional experience alongside EMBA greatly helps in studies.

Eligibility Criteria

Students seeking admissions in regular MBA need to have 16 years of education with a minimum grade requirement (as declared by relevant college or university). Some institutes also value having professional experience in the case of a regular MBA. However, it is not a requirement.

If we talk about the Executive MBA eligibility, students opting for the program need to have 16 years of education along with a professional experience of 2 years. The basic grade requirements may vary for different universities, however, a minimum of 45% (2nd division) is required in all the cases.

In Pakistan, there are many universities offering admissions in the executive degree program (along with full-time MBA). However, it is highly preferable to choose an institute that is envisioned to deliver professional business programs helping students to compete in a global environment. Students can check between the course modules offered by universities and evaluate their ratio of interest for each based on their preferences.