A fundamental difference between the two programs is the amount of experience they typically require from the applicant. An EMBA is designed for midlevel to senior business professionals and requires eight to 10 years of experience, preferably in management positions.
On the other hand, traditional MBAs require only two to five years of general business experience. Some MBAs are even designed for students right out of college, capitalizing on the benefits of continuity from their undergraduate education.
As the name implies, traditional full-time MBAs take longer, usually three to four years. Students attend classes four to five days a week, with 20-plus weekly classroom hours.
EMBAs, however, are designed for professionals who work while they take classes and can be finished in one to two years. The schedule is typically structured so students attend class on the last two days of the week (Friday and Saturday). The hourly commitment is also significantly less per week and some EMBAs require students to meet only once or twice a month. Additionally, distance learning and evening options are available for most EMBA programs to further accommodate demanding professional schedules.
Because EMBA programs are shorter, the courses are conversely more rigorous and demanding. Deadlines for projects that might normally take weeks must be completed in days in an EMBA program. EMBA professors tie in projects that are closely related to the student's company or industry and are expected to be finished during the workday. Some companies who sponsor their employees in taking EMBA classes recognize this and allow employees to dedicate part of the workday toward their studies.
MBAs, on the other hand, are more academically designed and work in a college environment. Company spotlights and international immersion trips are commonplace as well.
EMBA programs are geared toward professionals who have not earned an MBA or master's level degree. Universities recognize that these professionals may not have had the time or flexibility to move out or disrupt their ongoing career paths at the time. Therefore, universities designed programs to teach vital business skills to students as they progress toward senior management and C-level positions.
MBA programs offer general and comprehensive coursework to guide young students toward a specific field of interest. They cover all major aspects of business, which serves to spark new interests or cultivate existing business aptitudes. This serves to create a defined career direction for MBA students.