There are thousands of options when considering an MBA, but one of the first decisions you need to make is what type of MBA Program is best for you and your goals. Very often we have candidates who wonder what the differences are between the two MBA formats that we offer here at Ivey: the full-time MBA and the Executive MBA (EMBA).
Our full time program is geared towards people with between 2 and 8 years of work experience, with the average being about 4.5 years. This group is looking to either accelerate their career within the industry they have been working in or make a career change, and they have a very good sense of what their post-MBA goals are and how the Ivey MBA will help achieve them. Recruiters who come to Ivey to recruit from this group are looking for a similar profile for hiring, therefore the admissions team takes experience into strong consideration when assessing applications. Additionally, our full-time program is just that – full-time – and it is based out of our campus in London, Canada.
The EMBA on the other hand targets people with at least 7 years of full-time experience, with the average being about 15 years. People in this group are typically looking to accelerate their career within their current organization, therefore career management is minimal. People who do the EMBA continue to work while they study, with the program running in 3 modules over the course of 18 months. At the beginning of each module, the class spends one week ‘in house’ in London, and during the months between, courses are held one weekend per month (Thursday through Sunday) in our Toronto campus.
For prospective MBAs with 8 years of experience, you’re right on the border of the two programs, so what I encourage you to do is attend info sessions about both and sit in on a class if possible. The peer groups and experience are very different between the two options, and you want to make sure thatyou apply to the program that you feel is the best fit for you and your goals.
For more information about the full-time Program, go to www.ivey.ca/mba and for more information about the EMBA, go to www.iveyemba.ca.