Executive MBA (EMBA) Frequently Asked Questions

The Executive MBA focuses on elevating existing leaders to enhance their leadership abilities, skills, and knowledge. It’s the chance to supercharge your leadership experience and prepare you for the next phase in senior leadership in community, business, society, academia, and/or public sector. 

In 2020, we elevated our MBA offering to better suit senior executives, but we never changed the name. We're doing that now to better reflect what we have been doing since then - building great leaders in a way that elevates them in knowledge, skills and approaches. 

The name. The sector has changed a lot over the last few years, with more MBA programmes being developed for people earlier in their leadership career. Our name change differentiates our offering and reflects our programme's focus on elevating experienced professionals.

The EMBA is designed for professionals with people or strategic leadership experience. They’re rising through the leadership ranks but perhaps haven’t had the privilege to learn how to be the best leader they can be OR they see senior leadership on the horizon. The programme is designed for those who are curious, development focused, and ready to challenge their own approach to leadership to enhance what they’ve learnt on the job and be ready to advance that into their future. 

We are the most industry engaged MBA programme in the country. Every class is taught with an academic lead and industry lead. This way you get the best of academic rigor coupled with real-world practical impacts that are happening right now. The programme is unashamedly people focused with a huge reliance on learner engagement and debate. Being ready to critically analyse cases and apply them into you own mahi is essential. 

Yes. All our weekly classes are taught outside of work hours and most of our students are working full time. 

Full-time study will take 18 months. Most EMBA students are part-time and will complete their qualification in 3-5 years. 

The EMBA at UC is an in-person and hybrid programme. All classes are taught at the University of Canterbury campus but if you cannot attend classes in person you are able to join via Zoom/Teams so you don’t miss out. We have many students who live outside of Canterbury who will travel in for intensive block days, but otherwise join us online during the weekly sessions. Block days are mandatory to attend in person for all students.

We recommend that students set aside 15 hours a week for each class. During assessment time this may require more time commitment and during quieter times of the term, it will be less. Ultimately, you get out what you put in. 

You will be supported by your lecturers during your study. You can also Contact the MBA Team at any time to discuss course planning, student services, feedback, or any other questions or concerns you may have.

What we can help with

• Course planning

• The enrolment process 

• Referrals to other applicable UC services (Academic Skills Centre, Student Care etc.) 

• Passing on your feedback about a course, staff member, or another learner

There are multiple internal and external events scheduled throughout the year that will allow you to network and learn, such as the UC Business School Thought Leadership events, Institute of Directors events, Canterbury Tech events, and more.

The Executive MBA is designed for experienced leaders who are looking to elevate their career into senior leadership roles. It requires at least five years of leadership experience. The EMBA programme looks at a wide range of business topics and weaves them together to enhance your leadership. It is taught in-person with hybrid learning available, as needed. 

The MBA with Specialisations is designed to support those who are earlier in their leadership journey and wanting to focus on a specific sector. Learners will have a minimum of three years of leadership experience in their field and will start with completing the core business papers before focusing their study into their specialist area.

The EMBA may be the right programme for you if:

• You wish to be a leader with a broad range of business knowledge. 
• You have 5+ years of leadership experience.
• You are looking for an in-depth programme.

The MBA with Specialisations may suit you if: 

• You wish to be a leader in a specific sector or field.
• You have 3+ years of leadership experience.

If you're still not sure which programme is right for you, or you would like to discuss your options, please contact the UC EMBA team.

With the Dean’s approval, we can explore these options for you. The reality is, the quicker you settle into your chosen programme, the better. 

UC’s EMBA has a special application process, with entry based on work experience and results of previous study. 

Yes, applicants to the Executive MBA at UC must have qualified for a degree with a minimum B grade average or equivalent. Read the full EMBA entry criteria.

Entry into the EMBA at UC requires at least five years of leadership experience. View the full EMBA entry criteria.

Yes! Most of our learners have little to no formal education in business and many come from community leadership, education, and public sector roles. We want to create great leaders, regardless of context, not just good business people. 

UC's EMBA provides you with the necessary skills, tools, networks and knowledge to lean into future leadership roles or change the way you address challenges faced by leaders. Some will find just having the qualification helps them to gain leadership positions, but the best outcomes come from those who can apply their knowledge to address real-world problems.

The beauty of an EMBA is that it creates leaders. That is not sector or discipline specific. Leadership is needed wherever complex tasks and people are involved and that’s almost certainly everywhere today. Using the EMBA, especially the final consulting project, to transition into an area of leadership is the best way to ensure you achieve your own leadership goals. 

Everyone’s journey is their own and many of our students leverage the EMBA to pivot into a new role. What we always say is that no one stays the same. Either their roles change, they change their employer or they change the way they do their work. Everyone is transformed. 

EMBA fees and scholarship opportunities are listed on our EMBA Fees & Scholarships page. 

If you are a domestic student and your fees will be paid by a company, employer or other sponsor, you will be required to provide a letter signed by them specifying:

• name and address of the company, employer, or sponsor

• student name and address

• amount to be paid by the company, employer, or sponsor

For further information, contact Financial Services or visit Student Finance in Te Pātaka, Puaka-James Hight Building. 

Visit our EMBA Fees & Scholarships page to find detailed scholarship information.

The EMBA is open for entries in Term 1 and Term 3 each year (approximately February and September). 

Head over to the student portal, myUC, and create an account. Follow the instructions to submit an application and upload documents such as your academic transcripts and CV (resume).

After you’ve submitted your application, we’ll contact you to request the rest of your application materials, including your self-interview video. We’ll send you instructions on how to prepare these.

Yes, of course. You can contact the UC EMBA Office directly, or submit an enquiry form.