FAQ

Yes. Each student takes between three and five elective courses. In the past, these electives have included courses in finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, economics, strategy, leadership, and organizational behavior.

The Executive MBA program is designed as a general management program, in which all students take a set of core courses that cover all aspects of business, from accounting to strategy and leadership. As an option, students are able to follow designated focused areas of study during elective weeks in capital markets, corporate finance, strategy, marketing, entrepreneurship, and leadership and management.

Students from all three campuses begin the program together at Gleacher Center, Booth’s downtown Chicago campus. During the first summer of the program, students from the three campuses study together as part of the international sessions in Chicago, London, and Hong Kong, as well as at Kick-off Week in Chicago. During the second summer, all students come together again for two weeks of electives at Harper Center, on the University of Chicago’s Hyde Park campus. A total of five weeks - one-third of the program - will be spent working with students from the other two campuses. It's a great way to build a global network.

The program begins in late June and runs 21 months, concluding in March.

There is no minimum age or experience level, although the average student is in their mid-to-late 30s with 13 to 15 years of experience. Depending on the quality of experience and the ability to contribute to the program, we have admitted students in their late 20s or early 30s as well. We’ve also had students in their 40s and 50s.

• A complete application (online)
• Essays
• Resume
• Test score (Executive Assessment, GMAT, or GRE)
• Two letters of recommendation, one from a direct supervisor
• Transcripts from all academic institutions that have granted you a degree(s)
• A US $175 application fee

After admittance, a letter of support from your company acknowledging their agreement to honor the time you will be away from your job must be submitted.

In evaluating applicants, we look at the entire application, including work experience, recommendations, academic transcripts, etc. We believe that the best indicator of future career success is a person's career progression. Most of our applicants have a considerable number of years of work experience, so career progress and achievements are key competitive differentiators. We use the test score as a means of assessing if the applicant has the necessary skills to handle the rigorous academic work required in the program.

Students who complete the Executive MBA Program earn a University of Chicago MBA - the same degree awarded in all of our MBA programs.

The entire program is taught by the same University of Chicago faculty who teach in all of our MBA programs including our Full-Time MBA program.

Admissions decisions vary from year to year and campus to campus. For a schedule of deadline and decision dates please visit our Admissions Decisions page.

Yes. Applicants are required to submit a test score as part of their application. We accept the Executive Assessment, GMAT, or GRE. The Admissions Committee will need an official score before students start the program. However, applicants may submit an unofficial score during the application process.

Interviews will be granted on an invitation-only basis after evaluation of a submitted application.

The interview assists the Admissions Committee in assessing a candidate's interpersonal skills, motivation, and other qualities that may be difficult to gauge from written information only.

The interview lasts 45 minutes to one hour. You may meet with an admissions staff member or an alumnus of the program. The interview questions will focus on your work experience, your motivation to pursue the MBA, and your extracurricular activities. There is no specific preparation required for the interview. Interviews for our London and Chicago programs are conducted on campus. Most interviews for our Hong Kong program are conducted off-site.

The program is designed for those who are employed full-time.

The formal admissions requirements call for a bachelor's degree. However, exceptions have been made with applicants who have displayed an impressive professional and/or personal track record.

Applicants who received a degree from a university outside of the United States must submit a certified copy of the diploma/certificate as well as an official transcript (list of courses and the qualification received) of the diploma. These documents are also to be accompanied with a certified English translation and an explanation of the grading system used by the institution.

All applicants are required to submit a nonrefundable USD $175 application fee. This can be paid by bank transfer, check, or credit card.

Yes. Only online applications are available. There is no option to apply using a paper application.

• Early Deadline - Tuesday, October 3, 2017
• First Deadline - Friday, December 1, 2017
• Second Deadline - Thursday, February 1, 2018
• Final Deadline - Tuesday, April 3, 2018

You will need to submit the application form, responses to our essay questions, your test score, two letters of recommendation, and official transcript(s). 

Should you be admitted, you are also required to send a company support letter guaranteeing that your company will allow you the time off to attend the class sessions.

Time commitment is required from the applicant's employer. The letter should state that the company will provide you time away from work to attend all class sessions. The letter may also include details of financial support, if applicable.

Yes, all applicants must submit a test score as part of their application. We accept the Executive Assessment, GMAT, or GRE. These scores provide the admissions committee with useful information about an applicant's ability to succeed in an academically rigorous program.

Executive Assessment:

Candidates who have significant years of work experience and feel they can demonstrate strong quantitative skills through previous work and/or professional experience may consider taking the Executive Assessment. The test is administered by GMAC. 

GMAT:

You may find out more information about the GMAT including test centers and test dates in your area from the Graduate Management Admissions Council (mba.com). As test dates are limited, applicants are urged to review this information as soon possible.

What is Chicago Booth's code to submit a GMAT score?

You should add Chicago Booth to your list of schools having access to your GMAT scores through Pearson VUE and ACT, Inc. via mba.com. Our school codes are:

• Chicago H9X-9F-66
• London H9X-9F-28
• Hong Kong H9X-9F-71

GRE:

You may find out more information about the GRE including test centers and test dates in your area from the ETS (ets.org). As test dates are limited, applicants are urged to review this information as soon possible.

You should add Chicago Booth to your list of schools having access to your GRE scores through ETA via ets.org  Our school code is 3225.

GMAT: You should add Chicago Booth to your list of schools having access to your GMAT scores through Pearson VUE and ACT, Inc. via mba.com. Our school codes are:

• Chicago H9X-9F-66
• London H9X-9F-28
• Hong Kong H9X-9F-71

GRE: You should add Chicago Booth to your list of schools having access to your GRE scores through ETA via ets.org.

Our school code for all programs is 3225.

The score is just one piece of information used to assess a candidate's suitability for the Chicago Booth Executive MBA Program. We also consider previous education, previous management experience, leadership potential, letters of recommendation, and the results of a personal interview to decide if a candidate is the right fit for the program.

If you score lower than you would have liked to, taking the test again can be a way to strengthen your application. We do not recommend taking any test more than three times. The highest of your valid scores will be considered the official one.

The score is valid if the test was taken less than five years before the date of the application deadline. The test date makes no difference in the assessment of an application as long as it was within the past five years.

There is no minimum score required. In making an admissions decision, we look at all aspects of a candidate's background, knowledge, and experience as demonstrated in the application process.

We need your official score before you start the program, but you may submit your unofficial scores during the application process. 

You may find the following resources useful:

PreMBA Analytical Primer: Essential Quantitative Concepts for Business Math by Regina Trevino, PhD (paperback)

Algebra the Easy Way by Douglas Downing, PhD (paperback)

Forgotten Algebra by Barbara Lee Bleau, PhD (paperback)

Forgotten Calculus by Barbara Lee Bleau, PhD (paperback)

Yes, an orientation is included in "Kick-Off Week", which is held in Chicago at the start of the program. Students from all three campuses attend this week of classes and orientation. There is another local orientation during the first week of classes at your home campus.

For the very first session, course materials will be mailed to all students. All subsequent materials may be picked up by the students at their local campuses or mailed to them.

We admit approximately 90 students per class.

Our typical MBA class profile has students, who on average, have 12 to 15 years of work experience and who are in their mid to late 30s. Men make up approximately 75 percent of the class.

Approximately 35 percent of these students come from a general management background, with the second largest group having accounting and finance backgrounds. Sales and marketing, information technology, engineering, health care, operations management, and law make up the majority of the balance.

A new class begins every June and lasts 21 months.

Yes, students have access to professors. In addition, all campuses have teaching assistants to help students with any academically-related questions in their courses.

Yes, Chicago Booth has the same faculty for all of its MBA programs (Full-Time; Weekend; Evening; and Executive MBA programs in Chicago, London, and Hong Kong).

Although not required, laptops are highly recommended. The campuses have computers available for student use.

Yes, Chicago Booth has a large and highly active alumni base with more than 51,000 members living in more than 108 countries. The Chicago Booth community directory, an online searchable database, is available to all MBA students and alumni of the school.

Chicago Booth does not accept transfer credits from other institutions.

Yes, case studies are used along with teaching techniques such as analytical methods and conceptual tools from economics, statistics, behavioral sciences, and other academic disciplines.

The study groups are composed of five to seven students. Each group is formed as diversely as possible in terms of job function and professional industry.

Classes are held Monday through Saturday. A sample daily schedule is as follows:

• 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Lecture (1st class)
• 12:30 - 2 p.m. - Lunch Break / Study Time
• 2 - 5:30 p.m. - Lecture (2nd class)

There are usually case studies, readings, quizzes, and/or assignments that students work on in the evenings. 

Students are expected to participate in class, write papers for individual or group assignments, and take a midterm and final examination. The exact weight of each of these items is determined by the professor.

Each class has approximately 90 students.

Each full course subject takes place over 12 sessions including a midterm exam session and a final exam session. Optional review sessions are also offered. Two different subjects are taught over the same quarter. At the Chicago campus, a quarter consists of six weekends. At the Hong Kong and London Campuses, a quarter consists of two one-week modules. There may also be half courses which take place over 6 sessions.

During a session week in the Europe and Asia campuses, you will be on campus full time for sessions, group work, guest speakers, and study time. During non-session weeks, surveys of past students have told us you can expect to spend 10 to 15 hours each week reading and preparing for assignments and the coming sessions. For the Chicago campus, you can expect to spend 10 to 15 hours each week preparing for the weekend sessions that take place every other week. You can also expect study time to vary by your particular expertise and the material for the course.

Yes. All students will spend at least three weeks in Chicago, one week in Hong Kong, and one week in London.

Yes, candidates are highly encouraged to visit the campus to attend class, meet with current students, professors, and staff members, and to get acquainted with the campus and the city.

No, all classes are taught "face-to-face" by Chicago Booth faculty.

You need to inform the school and your professors as soon as you anticipate missing any part of the weekly sessions. A decision will be made on a case-by-case basis as to how you can make up the material you missed.

Yes, but check with your local campus for hours of operation and to reserve a study room.

The first difference is that students in our Executive MBA Program do not need to stop working to earn their MBA degrees. The Executive MBA is offered in two different study formats: weekends in Chicago or modular one-week sessions in Hong Kong and London. This allows our students to maintain their current job and place of residence while enrolled in our program.

The second difference is the student profile of the Executive MBA Program is older, with more extensive business experience than in a traditional full-time MBA program.

The last difference is that the Executive MBA curriculum is determined in advance, with all students taking the same subjects at the same time as a cohort. The focus is on general management. Students in the full-time program have more flexibility to choose their courses.

Our alumni are very willing to share their experiences with potential Executive MBA students. You can meet them at our information sessions, MBA fairs, and other recruitment events. Please visit our website for the latest list of activities or contact us directly to be connected to an alumnus in your field.

Yes, all enrolled students will receive an Email4Life account, which can be used during the program and as a forwarding tool after graduation.

Yes, the Executive MBA Program offers students the option to specialize in one of six areas: capital markets, corporate finance, entrepreneurship, strategy, marketing, or leadership and management.

Students should begin to think about choosing a focused area of study early in the program and should consider the opportunity as part of their overall career planning. Students will need to determine if they want to undertake a focused area of study by the time of registration for elective courses, which takes place after students have completed the first half of the program.

Focused areas of study are completed during the elective weeks at Harper Center on the University of Chicago’s Hyde Park campus, during the second summer of the program.

All elective courses are graded.

The Executive MBA Program is a general management program. Following a focused area of study allows you to build on these fundamentals. It signals deeper knowledge in a particular area, as well as an increase in the tools and analytical skills relevant to a function. You can also follow a focused area of study to fulfill personal interests in a specific subject area.

Tuition for the incoming Executive MBA Program classes is announced in early spring each year. For the class starting in June 2017 tuition costs are as follows:

• North America - USD $189,000
• Europe - USD $159,000
• Asia - HKD 1,305,000

This depends on when you make your decision to withdraw. Final decisions for such a request will be examined on a case-by-case basis. 

No, financial sponsorship is not a requirement for admission into the program.

Yes, special payment arrangements can be made for these situations, though the final responsibility of the tuition rests with the participant (and not the company).

Tuition and fees include all academic sessions, course materials, access to teaching assistants, most meals, daily snacks, and specific student activities. For Chicago program students, it also includes lodging for the residential weeks in Chicago (two sessions) and in London and Hong Kong (one session each). For Hong Kong and London campus students, lodging for any time spent away from their home campus is included.

Transportation to London, Chicago, and Hong Kong and lodging during home-campus modules are not included (with the exception noted for Chicago students). 

Yes, but it is the responsibility of the student to ensure that the full tuition is paid to the university in a timely manner.

For more information on financial aid, please contact the Financial Aid Office in Chicago at +1.773.702.3964 or financial.aid@chicagobooth.edu. Also, please see our website for additional information.

All Executive MBA students and alumni have access to career management services. Career Services offices are established at all three campuses to assist students and Chicago Booth alumni.

Services include career workshops for a variety of critical skills; one-on-one coaching; a listing of job openings for alumni seeking new professional opportunities; and a resume book that is actively marketed to employers and recruiters.

Yes, all program and course materials are in English.

No, there is no other language requirement.

A high level of English proficiency is required for the program. We will assess a candidate's English proficiency level from his/her completed application, as well as during the in-person interview. Dependent upon these results, a candidate may be asked to take the TOEFL exam.