
Executive MBA
22 months
£69,000
Blended: London, UK and online
A first-class MBA preparing experienced professionals for executive leadership roles in a technology-driven world
The London-based Executive MBA (EMBA) is a part-time programme specially designed for experienced business professionals looking to accelerate their career either within an existing trajectory or by transitioning to a new business context or role. The programme is delivered through a combination of online and in-person teaching, harnessing the benefits of blended learning while minimising the number of days you need to spend away from the office.
Through a carefully-curated Executive Leadership Journey, our Executive MBA ensures you develop strong leadership skills alongside core modules to help you master fundamental business topics, preparing you for senior general management positions. In your second year, you will build upon this knowledge, gaining specialist skills and expertise through our wide range of elective modules. You will also complete one-week international residencies in both the USA or China to better understand the global business environment. With a focus on leadership, technology and building your global network our Executive MBA is your first-class ticket for success.

Study for your MBA at a world-leading university

Balance work and study
The Executive MBA programme is designed to fit around other commitments such as work and family as it offers a combination of online and on-campus teaching. This means you can keep your existing career on track while still investing in yourself and advancing your career.

Grow your network
Networking is a strong focus of the Executive MBA with regular events and dinners to foster valuable connections and potential employment opportunities. As an EMBA alumnus, you will be invited to join the Imperial EMBA Club which connects EMBA alumni.

International experience
International business experience is embedded into our Executive MBA to give you a global perspective and put your skills to the test. Previous students have visited leading companies and prestigious business schools in Berlin and China - two major global business centres.

Tackling grand challenges
Our Game-Changing Technologies and Grand Challenges module brings you directly in contact with Imperial scientists and technologists to help you understand what’s happening in technology and figure out how to engage with grand challenges.

Lifelong learning
As an EMBA alumnus, you can come back to the Business School and audit an elective module every year for free. In addition, we host Milestone Reunions which you can attend at 5 years, 10 years, 15 years post graduation. This provides an invaluable opportunity to get up to speed with the latest faculty research.
Programme content
In the first year of your Executive MBA, you will be required to come to campus every three to four weeks on a Friday and Saturday. Each Friday and Saturday block is structured to include four four-hour class sessions, ensuring an intensive and focused learning experience. These typically comprise three sessions on core business topics while the other four hours are spent on a combination of the Technology and Grand Challenges module, Business Leader speaker sessions, and your Executive Leadership Journey. The Executive Leadership Journey runs throughout the programme, and is supported by your personal career coach.
Your second year provides the opportunity to follow your particular interests and develop specialised knowledge and expertise via elective modules and a substantial individual project.
Please note, programme content is subject to change.
Online pre-study modules
Before the start of your programme, you will be expected to complete online pre-study modules, delivered via The Hub, our bespoke virtual learning environment. These include primers in key areas including data analysis, finance, accounting, maths, corporate sustainability, social innovation and ethics.
Induction week
Your Executive MBA induction will be spent at our South Kensington Campus in London, where you will meet with the rest of your cohort, faculty and programme staff.
This two-day induction will lay the foundations of your Executive MBA experience. As well as a programme introduction, you will partake in several lectures and activities to give you a taste for the programme, as well as attending a special welcome dinner.
Each core module is assessed via some combination of exam, coursework (either group or individual) and class participation.
Accounting and Corporate Reporting Analysis
Critical skills for business leaders include understanding the language of accounting and mastering financial analysis in day-to-day and strategic decision-making. This module will focus on the use of accounting for financial management and reporting, explaining the techniques of financial and management accounting, and examining their relevance to the broader issues of decision-making and management control in organisations. The module will give you insights into the way that business performance is measured, and how business decisions can be structured and analysed.
Corporate Finance
This module will provide you with a foundation in the theoretical tools to analyse modern financial markets and the decisions of corporate firms. The module covers a variety of topics in corporate finance, with a focus on how firms and individuals (investors) make financial decisions. We first want to understand the role that financial markets play in the economy; the role of financial intermediation. Then, the module is divided in two parts: valuation and capital structure.
The first part, valuation, focuses on how to create value of the left-hand side of the balance sheet (assets), i.e. explains how companies should select the assets they want to invest in. In more detail, we will cover an introduction to present value techniques; the basics of financial statements and cash flow calculation; investment rules and project evaluation. We will also cover the valuation of the main securities: bonds and stocks, including portfolio theory and CAPM.
The second part is about financing and risk management and investigates how companies finance their activities best. The aim is to understand what factors determine the “optimal” capital structure and how the interplay of those factors can affect financing decisions in a way that creates value on the right-hand side of the balance sheet.
Corporate Innovation and Intrapreneurship
The corporate innovation & intrapreneurship module offers you a unique opportunity to build your knowledge, skills and experience in understanding innovation at industry and company level and in setting up processes and procedures to foster corporate innovation. You will be guided through different strategies that are implemented by new ventures and in the live sessions we will discuss how corporates adopt ideas from the entrepreneurship community such as acceleration, incubation and venture capital as tools for corporate renewal. In addition, you will embark on a live experience through negotiating a term sheet, typically used in corporate entrepreneurship and venture capital environments.
Economics for Business
The aim of this module is to enable you to recognise and work with the tools and concepts that economists use to explain how market conditions are determined and how the economic environment influences business performance. The objective is to develop an understanding of economic forces and the ability to apply economic analysis to problems related to business strategy and managerial decision-making.
Game-changing Technologies and Grand Challenges
This module comprises two parts. The first enables you to understand enough about selected Game-Changing Technologies to be able to productively engage in the identification of business applications. The first part also sensitises you to important ethical and societal issues raised by some of these new technologies. The second part allows you to explore how a number of businesses have sought to make an impact in the context of a 'grand challenge'. You will discover some of the levers that can be used to drive real impact and change.
Please note, this module runs over both terms 1 and 2.
Marketing Management
Among business disciplines, marketing is the primary contact point between a business and its customers. Appreciating customer needs and how to marshal the resources of an organisation to meet those needs are crucial skills in today’s business world. This module develops a general management approach to making, planning and evaluating marketing decisions, from both strategic and tactical perspectives.
You will learn how marketing decisions contribute to overall business performance and how they are affected by organisational and environmental influences. We will define and explore fundamental marketing terms, concepts, principles, ideas and theories. We will discuss the role of marketing in an organisation, explore the link between marketing and customer value creation. You will learn how to think critically about marketing, how to use the marketing toolkit to gain competitive advantage, learn about the product life cycle and how to build customer relationships, as well as retain their loyalty. We will talk about branding, channels and promotions, and explore the opportunities presented by traditional and digital marketing communications.
Organisational Behaviour
This module covers the major factors that shape organisational behaviour and effectiveness. We will analyse organisational behaviour at three levels - the micro (individual), the meso (team), and the macro (organisational) - and examine how activities at each of these three levels enable organisational performance and effectiveness.
You will learn key concepts to improve organisational performance and acquire necessary tools to design organisations that function effectively in unpredictable environments. You will develop analytical, problem-solving and leaderships skills, and come to understand the dynamics that affect individuals in organisations, including culture, decision-making, group conflict, power structures, and wider social dynamics.
Responsible Leadership and Corporate Success
The module will focus on a number of themes and will involve a blend of activities. We start the module studying individual aspects of leadership and as the module progresses, we will pay more attention to organisation-based aspects, finishing off with sessions for personal action planning. All through the module we will keep coming back to the question of ethical responsibilities and spend time thinking through the challenge of responsible leadership.
By the end of our time together, you will not only have a more thorough awareness of the personal and social characteristics that shape you as a leader, but you will have a firm contract for moving forward with your personal leadership action plan. Thus, this module should be thought of as an initial assessment of your position at the beginning of what is going to be a stimulating personal, group and academic journey.
Strategy
This module primarily focuses on ‘business strategy’: where and how a single business company or a business unit of a larger corporation competes in its business. The module will also, however, provide an introduction to ‘corporate strategy’ which is about how multi-business corporations should make decisions around the scope of the businesses in their portfolio and how they should manage them.
The prime focus is on firms participating in competitive markets, though some of the ideas can also be applied to other kinds of organisations, for example in the not-for-profit sector. While the primary focus of the module is on developing the ability to assess if a strategy is likely to be successful, it will also devote some time to exploring how managers can come up with ideas for new or improved strategies. In addition it will look briefly at the organisational process of strategy development and strategy implementation.
There are many different ways to approach an understanding of business (and corporate) strategy. This module is based on a framework which sees the role of a strategy in terms of (1) creating value and (2) capturing value. We will discuss how this core framework relates to other well-known frameworks such as Porter’s five forces and Blue/Red Oceans. We will also discuss why having an explicit strategy can be both a blessing and a curse – which explains why successful firms often subsequently fail.
1. Online modules
2. Two-week: Monday & Tuesday (week 1), Thursday & Friday (week 2)
3. Weekend: Thursday afternoon, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning
4. IB Glocal Electives: intense study abroad programmes led by Business School faculty
Electives use coursework and class participation for assessment. You can also apply to sit in on an additional two electives for which you will not be assessed.
Analytics and Operations
Big Data, AI & Machine Learning (On-campus)
Business Analytics (On-campus)
Project Management (On-campus)
Data Analytics and Visualisation for Business
Operations Management (Online)
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
AI Ventures (On-campus)
Digital Business Model Design (On-campus)
Entrepreneurial Finance and Venture Capital (On-campus)
The Entrepreneurial Journey
Leading Social Innovation (On-campus)
Venture Capital Finance (Online)
Entrepreneurial SMARTCamp
Finance
Advanced Corporate Finance
Asset Management (On-campus)
Advanced Financial and Management Accounting
The Fintech Revolution: New Markets, Models and Opportunities (On-campus)
Clean Technology Investment (On-campus)
Entrepreneurial Finance and Venture Capital (On-campus)
Mergers and Acquisitions (On-campus and online)
Pricing Strategy (On-campus)
Private Equity (On-campus)
Venture Capital Finance (Online)
Leadership and Organisation
Digital Transformation: Leading Real-World Change (On-campus)
Family Business (On-campus)
Leadership (On-campus)
Leading and Executing Strategic Change (On-campus)
Leading Social Innovation (On-campus)
Leading YourSelf (On-campus)
Managing Negotiations (On-campus)
Strategy and Leadership in a Digital World (On-campus)
Marketing
Brand Management (On-campus)
Consumer Behaviour (On-campus)
Emerging Technologies in Marketing (On-campus)
Marketing Analytics (On-campus)
Pricing Strategy (On-campus)
Strategy
Breakout Strategy (On-campus)
Business Problem Solving
Climate Change and Business Strategy (On-campus)
Design for Business Transformation (On-campus)
Economics of Information and Intellectual Property (On-campus)
Energy Business (On-campus)
International Business (On-campus)
Strategic Networking (On-campus)
Strategy and Leadership in a Digital World (On-campus)
Sustainability and Competitive Advantage (On-campus)
Advanced Strategy in a Stakeholder Economy (Online)
Digital Business (Online)
You will be expected to complete approximately eight hours of online material per module prior to each campus weekend. Each block of preparation is split into manageable chunks of up to one-hour which can be completed at a time and pace that best suits you. Throughout the online preparation blocks, there are discussion points which will be drawn upon during the in-class sessions, ensuring a direct connection between learning online and on campus.
Executive Leadership Journey
The year-long Executive Leadership Journey will enhance your awareness of your own and other’s strengths. Working closely with a careers consultant throughout the programme, you will develop a plan for your future career trajectory, learning about yourself and developing key leadership skills.
Whether you hope to accelerate your career within your current organisation, or create opportunities for a change in direction, the Executive Leadership Journey offers an invaluable opportunity to maximise your potential.
Final Project
The Final Project is a formal report consisting of up to 15,000 words, completed in year two of the programme. It is your opportunity to solve a real business problem facing either your existing employer or an industry of interest.
One of the most important elements of leadership is the ability to create, propose and defend ideas that add value, solve problems or leverage untapped opportunities. During the Final Project, you will demonstrate your analytical skills, offering a strategy and implementation plan, adding real value to your employer at the highest level. This is an excellent way to show your decision-making and leadership skills, illustrating your potential as a senior business leader.
International residencies
You will complete two international residencies as part of your elective modules, visiting top business schools and organisations and gaining first-hand experience of international business contexts in other countries. Our international residency locations include:
Doing business with China
This is a one-week residency at a top business school in China. Its purpose is to enable students to appreciate what it takes to do business there, to work with Chinese companies and to develop supply chains.
The module also provides a perspective on the modern-day role of China in the world and highlights the ways that the country has become an innovator, especially in consumer digital business. The module involves lectures, company visits and group project work.
Technology and innovation in the US
The US continues to lead in technology-based entrepreneurship and this provides the focus of the trip, though we will also cover the US economy and 'doing business in the US'.
Future destinations for the Executive MBA residencies are subject to change. Imperial College Business School reserves the right to alter the locations when required.
Please note that the cost of an overseas elective is not included in your tuition fees.
Global Experience Week
Taking place over the summer term, Global Experience Week is an unforgettable opportunity that MBA students look forward to each year. You’ll learn about the challenges faced by local organisations, and how a country’s business environment affects the way they operate.
In previous years, students have visited Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Zambia, while our 2022-23 cohort chose from the following destinations:
Brazil – How business can unlock potential to boost productivity
Kenya – How business can scale while addressing the SDGs
Nordics (exact destination TBC) – How businesses can be transformed to tackle climate action
For the Nordics, past destinations have included Reykjavik, Tallinn, Helsinki and Copenhagen.
The cost of this trip is not included in your tuition fees.
IB Glocal Electives
Optional four-day international experiences giving you the opportunity to explore contemporary global business problems with a local perspective. Gain valuable insights into international issues in a particular geography and benefit from the in-market exposure and teaching the trips provide. These trips are shared across the MBA portfolio giving you the opportunity to build new connections. Previous locations have included Houston, Milan, Singapore and Tel Aviv.
Digital Opportunities: Insights from a Startup Nation
Sustainable Transformation Made in Italy
The Future of Cities
Sales Management and Leadership
The cost of this trip is not included in your tuition fees.
Global exchanges
The optional Global Exchanges programme allows you to increase your international exposure and build your network by taking advantage of specialised electives at one of our partner schools.
What our students say
“The Business School's strong network of alumni, industry connections, and corporate partnerships has provided invaluable opportunities for networking, mentorship, and accessing new career prospects.”
Class of 2023-24
Meet the classNext steps
Career impact
As an Executive MBA student, you get complete access to Careers, including a personal career coach, throughout your studies and beyond. Whether you are pursuing an MBA to accelerate progression in your current industry or you wish to make a transition, Careers will provide extensive support and resources to support you on your MBA journey.
(Financial Times Executive MBA Ranking 2021)

“My Executive MBA journey is giving me the knowledge and the skills needed to become a better leader. This programme shows that it takes time, effort, and willingness to continue learning to identify my leadership style and improve my communication skills.”
Meet your faculty
Our faculty are thought-leaders in the field of business. They combine theoretical knowledge from their cutting-edge research with the latest practical insights from their extensive work with industry and government. The majority of our Executive MBA faculty are doctorate-degree holders with experience of consulting or working for major companies such as the Boston Consulting Group, BP, EDF, Ernst & Young, the European Commission and more.

Ian Mackenzie

Celia Moore




Cloda Jenkins

Omar Merlo


Start your MBA journey today
FAQs
The Executive MBA is a 23-month programme. In your first year of study, you will attend lectures at our campus in South Kensington, London for two days every month, a residency in China and a three-day study trip to a European city. In the second year, you will complete electives, a residency in the United States and a final project. Please refer to the Programme page for more information on class timetables.
For each module, you will be expected to complete approximately 12-20 hours of class time plus three additional hours for every one hour in the classroom.
Our programmes are intensive periods of study. Contact hours form only part of the activity that you will be asked to undertake. You will be required to devote time to preparing for lectures, undertaking background reading, working in groups, completing assessments (both individual and in groups), revising for exams etc.
A significant amount of time will also need to be allocated to career planning and development as well as becoming an active contributor to the Business School community. This is not an exhaustive list but provides you with a flavour of what you can expect from your time as a student at Imperial College Business School.
Applications to the Executive MBA are made online – we do not accept paper applications.
Please refer to the how to apply section of our Admissions page to see which documents you are required to submit with your application.
Candidates will be considered on a rolling basis. Decisions will typically be released within 4 weeks of a complete application having been submitted.
Please email the Executive MBA Admissions team if you would like feedback on your application. Please note that whilst limited feedback can be provided, the decision of the academic selectors is final and it will not be possible for your application to be reconsidered.
GMAT is not a compulsory requirement for admission to this programme.
However, if you have already sat or intend to take GMAT, you are welcome to submit your results as a good score overall can add weight to your application – particularly if you feel that your degree performance does not reflect your academic potential.
To submit a GMAT score, you must request for it to be sent to Imperial College Business School using the code S22-7S-16.
For information on the fee and deposit amount, please visit the Admissions page
Self-funded students will have the option of selecting to pay their fees in instalments. This option will be made available at the time of responding to your offer. For further information about the instalment plan, please contact our Tuition Fee team.
There are a number of Business School scholarships available to Executive MBA candidates.
To be considered for an award, you must submit your MBA application before the deadline listed under the specific scholarship page. To receive notifications about scholarship deadlines and programme news, please join our mailing list.
Please note that specific scholarship schemes may have earlier application deadlines, so please ensure that you check the details on the Scholarships webpage carefully before applying.
Please be aware that you do not need to submit a separate scholarship application to be considered for an award; all applications received by the stated deadline will be considered. Scholarship decisions will be made in conjunction with your Executive MBA application decision.
Students may also obtain other sources of funding. A list of potential funding sources can be found on the financing your MBA page.
Please contact the Tuition Fees team with any queries you have regarding the Careers and Professional Development Loan.
Please contact the Tuition Fees team with any queries regarding your deposit or tuition fee invoice.
If you are being sponsored by an organisation that will be responsible for paying your tuition fees, you must provide acceptable proof of the award.
Satisfactory evidence of sponsorship is usually regarded as an original, dated and duly authorised letter from your sponsor on headed paper which includes the following:
- Your name and College Identifier Number
- The programme for which you have been offered a place
- The amount of fees which will be paid by your sponsor (please report in GBP)
- The address to which the invoice should be sent
- Any Purchase Order Number required
- Confirmation that the fees will be sent directly to Imperial College
Sponsorship letters should be emailed to both the MBA Admissions team and Tuition Fees team to the following email addresses: emba@imperial.ac.uk and tuition.fees@imperial.ac.uk
A student visa is not required for this programme. A short-term study visa is required for the on-campus periods of the programme if you are an international student from a country outside the EU or EEA. If you are made an offer for a place on the Executive MBA, our team will provide all the relevant visa information and guide you through the process.
The Business School holds online information sessions throughout the year to give you the opportunity to learn more about the programmes from the Programme Director, current students and alumni. Please refer to the Recruitment events and webinars page to find out when the next event is being held.
The Business School is located on the South Kensington campus of Imperial College London. Please refer to the location page for our address and guidance on how to get here.
Meet the Executive MBA class of 2023-24
The Executive MBA's unique blend of on-campus learning, and online study tools will provide our new cohort with knowledge of essential business disciplines as well as opportunities to specialise in their areas of expertise.

Why should you study an Executive MBA?
Find out more about the Imperial Executive MBA and how it could accelerate your career.

Meet the Executive MBA class of 2022-23
Meet the talented and experienced group of future leaders who make up the Executive MBA class of 2022-23