One of the primary differences between the MBA and the EMBA is the type of student for which each program is intended. The Executive MBA is targeted toward potential students who already have significant management experience at the mid- and upper-level management levels. The profile of most EMBA students differs greatly from the traditional MBA student in that the EMBA student tends to be working in the business field already, whereas many MBA students can come from different backgrounds and levels of experience, much of which may not be at the management level. The EMBA student, according to the London Business School, will have anywhere from four to 19 years of experience in management and tend to be 26 to 41 years of age. MBA students can have these same qualifications, but this is not the norm.
Another primary difference between a traditional MBA program and the EMBA program can be the amount of time it takes to complete both. Full-time MBA students will typically spend two full years studying and taking courses to complete their degree. Some MBA programs offer these in accelerated formats that can substantially shorten the length of the program, but these are less common than the traditional two-year programs. The Executive MBA program is usually offered as a part-time program because it is designed for working professionals who do not intend to give up their current careers for full-time study. Instead, executive programs tend to offer classes in accelerated formats that require less time spent in class and more time focused on completing projects that integrate the curriculum into their current career. EMBA programs vary in length, but are often designed to be completed in less time than the traditional MBA program. Although students may go part-time, they often make up for this by taking seminars during the summer and winter breaks when most students are not in school. Some of this additional coursework may be completed online as well.
In most cases, the differences in curriculum between the MBA and the EMBA tend to be very slight or minimal. In some cases, the courses for an Executive MBA program may be exactly the same as those offered as part of the traditional MBA. EMBA students may be required to complete additional seminars specific to the EMBA and may have a significant capstone project that is based on their actual work in their current profession. MBA students may complete such projects, but these can often be more of a practice run for what they will do in their future positions as business executives.