MIT EMBA Admissions FAQs

Ideal candidates will have demonstrated extraordinary leadership potential and impact in their careers. They will also possess the drive to innovate and the intellectual capability required to succeed in a rigorous academic program at MIT. Candidates should have at least ten years of work experience by the program start date.

No. However, we do recommend that you take the GMAT if you believe your academic records do not accurately reflect your current knowledge of quantitative methods.

Yes. For all applicants, we do look for one course in calculus and one course in statistics with a grade for B or better.  If you do not have a formal course, please contact us and we can make some suggestions.  The courses do not have to be complete in advance of submitting an application.  If you have taken the GMAT or GRE, and have a valid score, we can look to the quantitative results as an indicator of quantitative preparation.

The TOEFL is not required for native or fluent English speakers.

No. MIT will not count courses taken in a non-degree or degree program toward the MIT EMBA program.

Yes. We are looking for applicants who are active, employed, mid-career executives who have demonstrated outstanding potential.

No. We have arranged a preferred rate at a nearby hotel as an option—not a requirement—for students.

After submitting a completed application, you will receive a status update three weeks after the round deadline. This will include either an invitation to interview or a decision notification. 

Interviews are by invitation only and signal that your application has reached an advanced stage of consideration. Interviews are required for admission. 

Decisions for interviewed candidates are made by the posted date for each round. All candidates are informed of admissions decisions through the online application system.

The MIT Executive MBA curriculum integrates data-driven analytical methods and the fundamentals of business management with an action learning-based approach to executive-level management education. Through this scientific approach to management, you learn research-based tools and acquire the skills and the credibility to lead change across your organization and industry.  The core curriculum encompasses business essentials (i.e. finance, accounting, marketing, strategy), analytic frameworks (i.e. applied economics, data models and decisions, system dynamics), and applied learning (4 integrated modules and Organizations Lab and Executive Labs). Through electives, you delve deeply into specific areas of your own interest.

Yes, approximately 25% of the courses you take can be electives. Three electives are required to complete the degree. Every January you may choose to take one or two electives. You will also take two electives in your final spring. Electives offered vary from year to year but include advanced topics and cutting-edge research. MIT EMBA students may also take advantage of full cross-registration privileges at Harvard and MIT.

The MIT EMBA focuses on real, work-based problems that have measurable business impact. The bulk of your class activities and projects will involve working in teams to analyze business models and case studies, develop strategies that help solve complex business problems, and fine-tune your leadership skills. Most important, as an MIT EMBA student, you will be expected to take what you learn and apply it to your own workplace and to action learning projects based in other enterprises.

You should allot time for both individual and team-based projects between class sessions. MIT Sloan provides technology platforms for remote collaborations. Some courses also include online simulations, exercises, and submissions.

Our students report spending 15-20 hours per week.

The program is taught by senior members of the MIT Sloan faculty who are globally recognized experts in their fields. Throughout your course of study you will collaborate with these thought leaders to gain new perspective and advance your management capabilities. They serve not only as teachers, but also as colleagues with whom you develop an immediate and lifelong relationship. Over 40 faculty members teach in the program across the core requirements and electives.

All of our course sessions are recorded for those who miss a class owing to unexpected events such as a travel delay or family emergency. However, class attendance is required, and missing classes should be reserved for emergencies only.

Yes. Participants in the MIT EMBA have full access to the MIT Sloan Career Development Office, including a dedicated career advisor and targeted events and activities tailored for the executive degree students. Additionally, MIT EMBAs have access to a leadership assessment review as well as an executive coach.

If you’re interested in a full-time mid-career program at MIT Sloan, we recommend that you consider the MIT Sloan Fellows MBA Program. The MIT EMBA requires students to work full time so attending the program as a ‘full-time’ student is not possible.

No, you are expected to be on campus at MIT Sloan in Cambridge, Massachusetts when classes are held in person. However, as part of our pilot flexibility program, up to three class weekends may be converted to fully virtual. In addition, some exams, as well as individual and team assignments, will be completed online outside of scheduled class time. We encourage you to review the program schedule to understand the full scope of the commitment.

Both programs offer a rigorous curriculum, powerful experiential learning, and creative collaborations among world-class students and organizations. Both programs also share many of the same faculty, courses, and educational requirements. The MIT Sloan Fellows MBA is a one-year, full-time program for mid-career professionals who want an opportunity to step away from their working lives and immerse themselves in an intense, transformative experience.

The MIT Executive MBA is a 20-month executive-schedule program for mid-career professionals who want to enhance their global management and leadership skills in the context of their current positions. Because the MIT EMBA is designed for working professionals, participants benefit from the unique opportunity to apply what they learn in class to their work environments (and vice versa) in real time.

Yes. It is the same degree and diploma earned in the full-time program. Graduates receive a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Yes. Many of MIT Sloan’s senior faculty members teach in both programs.

There are formal networking and social events for our executive degree students as well as informal events with the entire MIT Sloan community.  Specifically, students from both programs study and collaborate together during the executive degree electives.