Executive MBA: Course Details, Admission, Eligibility, Fees

Shubhangini Priyadarshi

Updated on - Nov 13, 2024

An Executive MBA, usually referred to as an Executive MBA for working professionals, is a 2 year specialized MBA program developed for working professionals who want to improve their leadership skills and grow their careers while still working. Unlike standard MBA programs, which frequently require full-time study, the Executive MBA in India provides flexible scheduling, including weekend or evening classes, to accommodate the demands of a demanding professional life. 

The Executive MBA program in India is suitable for mid to senior-level managers and professionals who want to broaden their professional networks, improve their business acumen, and raise their chances of career advancement. 

Human Resources, Operations, Sales & Marketing, and Finance are among the Executive MBA subjects offered. Executive MBA programs give students the information, leadership, and analytical abilities they need to advance their careers. Executive MBA eligibility needs a degree in any field and 3 - 5 years of relevant work experience, depending on the college/university. 

Executive MBA Admission requires candidates to clear a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% marks for unreserved category students and 45% marks for reserved category students. The candidate should also qualify for entrance exams such as CAT, XAT, GMAT, MAT, etc.,  along with having full-time work experience of 3-4 years. The average Executive MBA course fee is INR 8 Lakh- INR 30 Lakh.

What is Executive MBA?

EMBA full form is Executive Master of Business Administration. The Executive MBA from IIMs provides more research opportunities for professionals to upskill their managerial skills through chosen domains of specialization like Marketing, Finance, HR, Operations Management, etc. 

The Executive MBA program is career-oriented and produces more entrepreneurs in various domains. The Executive MBA job scope covers extensive roles ranging from finance manager, accountant, personal banker, etc. The average salary of an Executive MBA graduate is INR 10-30 LPA (Source: Payscale).

Executive MBA Eligibility Criteria

Students pursuing an Executive MBA are more likely to advance in their careers than those who do not. The eligibility requirements for an Executive MBA are comparable to those for a regular MBA. The sole difference in Executive MBA eligibility is job experience, which is highly valued during the selection process. 

Check out the Executive MBA eligibility requirements below:

• Any candidate who has earned a bachelor's degree with a minimum aggregate of 50% or equivalent from a recognized university. Many institutes have no minimum cut-off scores for Executive MBA eligibility.
• The candidate must pass the entrance exam before proceeding to the final step of selection, which includes the GD and PI rounds.
• The candidate must have two years of managerial or executive experience. None of the MBA institutes accept part-time work experience.
• The amount of working years required for Executive MBA eligibility varies by institute, ranging from two to five years. Before applying, the candidate should check the Executive MBA eligibility of their favourite B-schools.

Why Choose Executive MBA?

An Executive MBA degree builds better management skills for students in finance, marketing, accounting, etc., in detail and according to industry requirements. Below are some reasons why students should pursue an Executive MBA course.

• The Business market in India is projected to grow by 11.45% (2022-2027) resulting in a market volume of US$59.51m in 2027.
• As of 2022, 80,152 startups have been officially recognized in India.
• Students can expect lucrative job offers in some top companies like Amazon, Wipro, Deloitte, etc. They can get better jumps in salaries along with promotions.
• They can develop various managerial skills, leadership skills, communication skills, etc., through working on globally demanding projects.

Also Read: Top 12 Benefits of Executive MBA Program

Executive MBA Admission 2024

Students can seek admission into top Executive MBA colleges in India based on entrance exams such as CAT, MAT, etc. Elucidated below is the Executive MBA admission process in several colleges:

• There is an option for students to either apply online through the university website or apply offline by visiting the college.
• Students should fill out the course admission form once the notification is released.
• Most IIMs consider GMAT for executive MBA. A 750 and above score on GMAT is considered to be good. CAT is accepted by some IIMs like IIM Kozhikode, IIM Shillong, IIM Rohtak, etc.
• Some IIMs like IIM Bangalore and IIM Udaipur will have a separate language test. WAT is conducted to know more about candidates' future career goals.
• After completion of the exam, results will be put up on the website.
• Colleges may finally conduct GD/PI to finalize the selection process.

Executive MBA Entrance Exam

Students who want to pursue an Executive MBA in India have to clear the respective entrance examinations like CAT, MAT XAT, NMAT, etc. to get admission. There are various national entrance exams that students can opt for. Here is the list of some of the common popular entrance exams for Executive MBA:

Also Read: Steps to Build Your Profile for Admission to Top MBA Colleges in India

EMBA 2024 Cut Off Details

One must note that the Executive MBA cut off marks are decided in percentile every year. Thus, only passing the exam does not grant admission to the candidates. The Executive MBA CAT cut off is similar to the regular CAT cutoff marks. The rough estimate of the EMBA CAT cut off marks 2024 is shared below for reference.

Executive MBA 2023 Cutoff Details

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is conducted at the national level in India for admission to management programs in top B-schools such as IIMs, MDI, FMS Delhi, etc. The CAT cutoff varies each year depending on the toughness of the exam, the total applications, etc.

EMBA CAT Cut off 2023

The CAT cut-off 2023 was released by various colleges after the CAT exam was conducted across India. Below is the list of the best Executive MBA colleges in India along with their 2023 CAT cut-off for general category students:

EMBA MAT Cutoff 2023

Management Admission Test or MAT is a popular entrance exam for Executive MBA admissions into well-known management schools across the country. MAT exam takes place four times in a year- February, May, August and December.

Given below are the cutoff details of the MAT exam 2023 for the general category: 

Executive MBA Specializations

There are various MBA Executive specializations that students can opt for as per their interest area. The most pursued specializations are HR, Finance, and Marketing. The details of the Executive MBA specialization in India are given below:

Top Executive MBA Colleges in India With Fees

The Executive MBA in India can be pursued from top government colleges like IIM Ahmedabad, FMS Delhi, etc., and various private colleges like SP Jain School of Global Management, Christ University, etc. The total fee for an Executive MBA in India ranges from INR 8-30 Lakhs.

The top colleges offering EMBA courses along with their average fees are given below:

Executive MBA from IIMs

Executive MBA in IIMs is a bit high investment, but the ROI is also good. Pursuing this course in IIMs will be a great experience as candidates will be surrounded by some of the best faculties and will be able to build a good network of peers.

The table below contains the various IIMs offering MBA Executive programmes along with fee details:

IIM Ahmedabad Executive MBA

Executive MBA from IIM Ahmedabad is one of the top courses for students to pursue. Given below in the tables are the details of the Executive Management program at IIM Ahmedabad:

Read More: IIM Ahmedabad Executive MBA

IIM Bangalore Executive MBA

The Executive MBA course at IIM Bangalore is one of the most preferred courses by many working professionals for its job-oriented curriculum. Given below are the course details:

Read More: IIM Bangalore EMBA

IIM Kozhikode Executive MBA

The Executive MBA program at IIM Kozhikode is for those candidates who wish to learn management principles in depth through case studies and examples. The course details are provided below in the tables:

Read More: IIM Kozhikode Executive MBA

Top Private Executive MBA Colleges in India

The average total EMBA fees at private colleges are in the range of INR 3-14 Lakhs. The table below contains the best private EMBA colleges in India along with their average fees:

Types Of Executive MBA Courses

Executive MBA is meant for working professionals. Different types of Executive MBA courses along with their duration is given below:

Online Executive MBA Courses

EMBA courses can be done in online mode. It caters to working professionals who do not wish to leave their jobs. Below listed are some pointers regarding online EMBA:

• Many MBA Abroad colleges offer online MBA Courses such as universities like XIBMS, SP Jain School of Global Management, etc.
• The duration of this course is about 15-20 months.
• The Executive MBA eligibility for online MBA Programs is a GPA score of around 3.0 out of 4.0 and a GMAT score of 550 or more.

Weekend Executive MBA Courses

Weekend Executive MBAs have become easy for students who do not wish to leave their jobs but wish to get an MBA degree. Below listed are some important pointers regarding the weekend Executive MBA course:

• Colleges like ISB, PES University, etc., provide Weekend Executive MBA courses.
• It requires 3 years of work experience and the duration is 18 months. 
• The average course fee is between INR 50,000-3 Lakh.

Distance EMBA Course Details

Distance Executive MBA is an ideal option for students who cannot attend a full-time course at the respective college. Below mentioned are the EMBA distance education course details:

• The duration of a Distance Executive MBA is 1-2 years.
• There is no upper age limit to enrol in the course.
• A distance MBA Executive course can be pursued from prominent colleges like IGNOU, IMT Ghaziabad, Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning, etc, in various specializations.
• The average distance Executive MBA course fee is in the range of INR 20,000 - 2 Lakhs.

Also Read: Top 10 Skills Required for MBA Students to Succeed

Executive MBA Syllabus and Subjects

EMBA course is especially for working professionals who want to gain expertise in management subjects like marketing, finance, accounting, etc. The students will study in-depth core corporate-level strategies to develop a business and hone managerial skills to take up leadership roles.

The important Executive MBA subjects are explained below:

Read More: Executive MBA Syllabus and Subjects

Executive MBA Comparison

The course of MBA executive has been designed keeping the working professionals in mind. The EMBA degree is suitable for candidates who want to balance their work and MBA degree in a loop. Here is a comparison of EMBA with other related degrees.

EMBA vs MBA

Executive MBA is exclusively meant for working professionals who wish to upscale their management skills and seek better job profiles in a company, while MBA offers various specialisations for students who have completed their graduation.

The table lists the basic differences between MBA and Executive MBA course structures and curricula. 

Read More: EMBA vs MBA

Executive MBA vs Distance MBA

Executive MBA follows a rigorous curriculum for working employees and is offered both on campus and through online mode. Distance MBA is for students who wish to complete the course from the comfort of their homes. Given are some important differences between the two courses:

Also Check: Distance MBA Course

Executive MBA vs Part-Time MBA

A part-time degree in Management of Business Administration would be suitable who are handling multiple works altogether. This shall prove to be helpful to candidates who are mid-way professionals and want to add a feather to their cap.

Courses After Executive MBA

After completing the Executive MBA program, aspirants can pursue various higher education and certification courses to improve their domain expertise and knowledge. Below is a list of courses that EMBA graduates can pursue:

• Ph.D in Management
• Chartered Financial Analyst
• Doctor of Business Administration
• ISB's Certificate Programme in Business Analytics

Executive MBA Average Salary in India

The Executive MBA degree salary may vary based on experience and skills. The average entry-level salary range for an Executive MBA in India ranges from INR 10-18 LPA. After gaining 3-5 years of work experience professionals can earn in the range of INR 20-30 LPA (Source: Payscale).

Some of the top cities for Executive MBA graduates to look for jobs are:

Career Options After Executive MBA

Executive MBA graduates can enjoy an average salary hike of around 17% within two years of completing the course. EMBA career opportunities are abundant and some of the job roles along with hiring companies and salaries are listed below:

Read More: Executive MBA Jobs & Scope in India

Executive MBA Top Recruiters

The demand for an Executive MBA degree is increasing. Graduates of executive MBA programs at IIMs and other top B-Schools earn an average of INR 13 lakh per year or more. Executive MBA degree holders are best suited for top management positions and entrepreneurship. Companies and business houses hire such candidates for senior management positions in fields such as finance, marketing, sales, human resources, information technology, digital marketing, business analysis, operations, banking, insurance, and consulting.

Some of the companies that participate in the campus placement process to hire Executive MBAs are listed below.

• HCL
• Infosys
• Vedanta
• Trident Group
• Grey Orange
• KPMG
• Reliance Industries
• Larsen & Toubro (L&T)
• Cadbury
• Hindustan Unilever (HLL)

Also Read: How to Balance Job and MBA Alltogether?

Industries Targeting Executive MBA Graduates

Businesses are on the lookout for employees with EMBA degrees. An EMBA enables you to start your firm because the curriculum includes business management disciplines. The following industries have a greater rate of growth for those pursuing an Executive MBA:

1. Finance: An EMBA is an excellent career path for those who aspire to be pioneers in the field of finance. With an EMBA in Finance, you may learn all of the necessary skills while also improving your existing ones. A strong finance department is critical to every business, and careers in this field include financial analysis, investment banking, and risk management.

2. Human Resources: An EMBA helps employees get a better understanding of management, while the human resources department ensures that personnel are properly used through the employment of appropriate management strategies. A corporation's human resources department is responsibility for employing people, providing appropriate training, building a company culture, and so on.

3. Marketing: An EMBA can teach you everything you need to know about business, and marketing is an essential component of any organisation. Individuals can profit from an EMBA in Marketing by learning the principles of marketing and acquiring expertise in areas such as raising product awareness in the market and influencing purchase decisions.

4. Sales: To thrive in the market, a company's revenue generation is based on sales. Sales are important to a country's success. An EMBA in Sales can help individuals pursue a range of fascinating employment opportunities.

5. E-commerce: It is the sale and purchase of goods and services via the Internet. Transactions can occur between businesses, customers, consumers, or both. An EMBA with an E-commerce emphasis can lead to a variety of professional prospects, including Business Analyst, Supply Chain Management, Customer Relations Manager, and more.

Also Read: Private or Government College? Which is Best for MBA?

Executive MBA Course Objectives

There are several objectives fulfilled by the Executive MBA program. Any candidate opting for the EMBA course may excel in the following domain:

• Leadership Quality- The overall design of the course is in a way to boost the candidate's confidence, enhance personality, and motivate them towards leading a team with excellence.
• Financial Management- This factor is an important skill to be inculcated within all. It provides key skills in corporate finance and stakeholder values.
• Strategic Management- The program helps candidates cover long-term planning, work on policies, implement corporate strategies, and analyse upcoming pros and cons.
• Adds to Innovativeness- The continuous contact with different-minded people helps people perceive others and get more innovative and creative towards any project.

Skills to Excel in MBA Executive

To shine as an Executive MBA graduate, various skills should be inculcated in the ongoing learning environment that will help students improve their learning curves and develop a practical approach to solving problems. Listed below are some essential skills.

• Employee Development: A good manager should focus on developing his team members through various opportunities in a company.
• Strategic Thinking: Students should be aware of various long-term and short-term strategies to improve the growth of the business.
• Senior Leadership Skills: A team leader should influence his team through his hard work and dedication towards fulfilling the company’s objectives.
• Management Skills: Planning, Controlling, Organising, and Leading are the main 4 principles for working professionals to follow.
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills: They should build relevant contacts and maintain healthy employee relationships.

Also Read: Highest Paying MBA Specializations in India

Top Executive MBA Colleges

IIT Bombay

Mumbai,Maharashtra

University of Hyderabad (UOH)

Hyderabad,Telangana

Saveetha University

Chennai,Tamil Nadu

SRM University (SRM IST)

Chennai,Tamil Nadu

DTU

Delhi,Delhi NCR

IIM Calcutta

Kolkata,West Bengal

NITIE Mumbai

Mumbai,Maharashtra

IIM Indore

Indore,Madhya Pradesh

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Executive MBA Fee Structure

See Various Executive MBA Colleges in India