What is Executive MBA in India? - Eligibility, Top Colleges, & Benefits for Working Professionals
Know all about Executive MBA, career opportunities, salaries, syllabus and more in the article below.
The EMBA full form is Executive MBA. An EMBA is a graduate-level business degree designed for working professionals with managerial experience who wish to upskill without taking a career break. This programme is a lot like a regular MBA programme which is offered by some of the top institutes in India, including IIMs, ISB, XLRI, etc. The main difference is that an executive MBA programme is primarily designed to educate and enhance the careers of working executives, managers, entrepreneurs, and other business leaders. An Executive MBA is a popular MBA option for working professionals.
What sets the executive MBA apart from many other MBA programmes is the level of experience and insights that students bring to the programme. In most EMBA programmes, students' professional experience and expertise become an integral part of the curriculum. The programme is typically completed in a period of one to two years. During this period, candidates gain a wide range of new skills and sharpen their analytical abilities by combining coursework with day-to-day professional experience. The admission fee for EMBA programmes is relatively higher than the regular MBA programmes, however, in most cases, the employer provides financial assistance to its employees for pursuing an Executive MBA. EMBA has become increasingly popular in recent times and many top B-schools are also giving placements to EMBA graduates. Read the article below to know the EMBA eligibility criteria, syllabus, top colleges, fee and key benefits of pursuing an executive MBA in India.
- Eligibility Criteria for EMBA
- Popular Executive MBA Specializations
- Why Pursue An Executive MBA?
- Executive MBA Syllabus
- Executive MBA Career Prospects and Top Companies
- Executive MBA: Top Recruiters and Companies
- Top Colleges Offering Executive MBA
- Management Entrance Exams for EMBA
- Advantages of Pursuing an MBA for Working Professionals
- Executive MBA vs Regular MBA
Eligibility Criteria for EMBA
Candidates must fulfill the following eligibility criteria in order to pursue EMBA:
- A bachelor's degree is a must with at least 50% aggregate or equivalent CGPA from a recognised university.
- Candidates need to have about 2 to 5 years of professional experience.
- Candidates must be more than 27 years of age at the time of applying.
- Average GMAT may also be required by some institutes.
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Popular Executive MBA Specializations
Look at the table below to know the MBA specializations for working professionals.
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| Top EMBA Specialisations | |
|---|---|
| Bio-Technology | Telecom |
| Infrastructure Development | Hospitality Management |
| Retails | Accounting |
| Aviation | Operations |
| General Management | Sales and Marketing |
| Finance | Human Resources |
| IT | Internation Business |
| Import/Export | Retails |
| Hospital/Healthcare management | |
Why Pursue An Executive MBA?
Executive MBA programmes or MBA for working professionals place a strong emphasis on collaboration in order to reach a common objective. Students studying an EMBA at the best MBA colleges in India will learn about management concepts including marketing, human resource management, international business, microfinance and business laws. This programme concentrates on business and is designed specifically for working individuals with substantial experience. It is primarily intended to educate prospective employees, managers, entrepreneurs, and other corporate leaders.
NMAT exam is conducted for admission to more than 45 b-schools in India. The exam eligibility criteria can vary from the eligibility criteria of a particular institute. Additionally, MBA eligibility conditions for all participating institutes can vary. However, the NMAT exam eligibility remains the same. The space below mentions the NMAT eligibility criteria:
- Candidate must have a bachelor's degree, completed under 10+2+3 or four years of education pattern, irrespective of the stream.
- Aggregate score in the graduation degree level should not be less than 50 per cent the final year of the degree course.
- Candidates waiting for results or are currently in the final year of graduation are eligible to apply for NMAT exam.
Those who are yet to pass the bachelor's degree course get a provisional admission until the graduation mark sheet and certificate of the qualifying examination are submitted at the participating institute.
Your age should be 18 years old to sit for the GMAT exam 2026. The test asks for no specific degree. Yet most business schools will require you to hold a college degree for their classes. You need a valid official passport to register.
Executive MBA Syllabus
The syllabus of the Executive MBA course is almost the same as that of a Regular MBA programme. The only difference is that in Executive MBA, the topics are taught in a more elaborate manner. The programme includes core and elective subjects, allowing the candidate to opt for specialisation if he/she wishes to. The executive MBA programme provide students with both practical and theoretical expertise in a wide range of topics, including operations management, financial accounting, strategic leadership, marketing management, human resources management, etc
Explore more MBA exams with upcoming dates
13 Jan '26 - 17 Jan '26
XAT
29 Nov '25 - 19 Jan '26
30 Sep '25 - 20 Jan '26
22 Jan '26
15 Dec '25 - 23 Jan '26
CMAT
6 Oct '25 - 26 Jan '26
30 Jan '26
Given below are some of the topics common to all Executive MBA Syllabus:
| Semester | Syllabus |
|---|---|
| Semester-1 |
Operations Management |
| Human Resource Management | |
| Marketing Management | |
| Managerial Economics | |
| Semester-2 | Decision Sciences |
| Organisational Behaviour | |
| Financial Management | |
| Financial Reporting and Analysis | |
| Semester-3 | Sales Management |
| Project Management | |
| Designing Organisations | |
| Macroeconomics | |
| Semester-4 | B2B Marketing |
| Product Management | |
| Corporate Strategy and Policy | |
| Entrepreneurial Learning |
Elective Courses of Executive MBA
Check the table below to know the elective courses that are studied in the executive MBA programme.
| Elective Courses of Executive MBA |
|
|---|---|
| Corporate Strategy and Policy |
Economics and Social Sciences |
| Entrepreneurial Learning |
Decision Sciences and Information systems |
| Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources Management |
Finance and Accounting |
| Production and Operations Management |
Marketing |
Executive MBA Career Prospects and Top Companies
After completing an EMBA, aspirants can get lucrative job opportunities in big companies in India and abroad. They also stand a chance to climb the ladder faster in the organization they are working for. Also, they can also start their own venture which assists in building an international network of personal and professional contacts. From finance professionals to Human Resource to even product managers are taking this course to be able to have an edge over their peers. Listed below are some of the job profiles and average salaries offered to them.
| Executive MBA jobs |
Salary (in INR)* |
|---|---|
| Chief Executive Officer |
35 LPA to 100 LPA |
| Chief Financial Officer |
22 LPA to 101 LPA |
| Marketing Director |
20 LPA to 100 LPA |
| Chief Operating Officer |
13 LPA to 101 LPA |
| Operations Manager |
3.3 LPA to 22.1 LPA |
| Product Development Manager |
5.6 LPA to 38 LPA |
| HR Director |
20 LPA to 100 LPA |
| Digital Marketing Manager |
3.2 LPA to 20 LPA |
| Project Manager |
4.6 LPA to 31 LPA |
| Telecommunications Manager |
2 LPA to 19.3 LPA |
| Infrastructure Manager |
4.8 LPA to 37 LPA |
| International Business Manager |
6 LPA to 29.8 LPA |
| Energy & Environment Manager |
4.8 LPA to 26 LPA |
| Import & Export Manager |
3.1 LPA to 18.5 LPA |
| IT & Systems Manager |
3.6 LPA to 32 LPA |
| Healthcare & Hospital Manager |
1.5 LPA to 24.9 LPA |
| Supply Chain Manager |
3.5 LPA to 30 LPA |
| Public Relations Manager |
3 LPA to 18 LPA |
*salary data is taken from ambitionbox.com
Also Read: Career Scope after Executive MBA
Executive MBA: Top Recruiters and Companies
Below is the list of top companies that hire Executive MBA graduates.
| Top E-MBA Recruiters | |
|---|---|
| Amazon | BCG |
| Citibank | ITC |
| Samsung | Vodafone |
| Reliance | JP Morgan Chase & Co. |
| McKinsey & Company | HSBC |
| Nestle | Aditya Birla Group |
| HCL | Infosys |
| Vedanta | Larsen & Toubro |
| Hindustan Unilever | Godrej |
| Asian Paints | Tata Motors |
| Cadbury | KPMG |
Top Colleges Offering Executive MBA
Here is the list of top colleges in India offering Executive MBA:
Yes, even if you have a backlog, you can still appear for GMAT exam. There is no rule which bars applicants to appear for GMAT exam with a backlog or without results in hand.
The minimum academic criteria for MBA admission through CMAT is minimum 50% in graduation for General category students and minimum 45% for SC/ST/PwD category students. Even though this eligibility criteria is not mandatory for CMAT, it is the basic requirement for full time MBA as per the AICTE regulations.
CAT toppers are determined on the basis of candidate percentiles. Those whose overall percentiles are 100 and 99.99, they are declared the toppers of CAT exam. To calculate CAT percentiles, raw scores of every CAT candidate is normalized on the same scale and the following formula is applied:
P = (R/N) * 100
where,
P= Percentile score
R= Rank of the candidate arrived at on the basis of scaled CAT score or the total number of test takers ranking below a particular candidate.
N= Number of candidates who appeared in CAT exam (all three sessions)
| Name of the college | Course Fee |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | INR 33 Lakh |
| IIM Bangalore | INR 23 lakh |
| Symbiosis Institute of Business Management | INR 6.93 lakh |
| XLRI | INR 4.75 lakh |
| Jamia Millia Islamia | INR 1.17 lakh |
| Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi | INR 18 lakh |
| IIM Kozhikode | INR 15.98 lakh |
| IIM Calcutta | INR 13.5 lakh to INR 31 lakh |
| IIM Mumbai | INR 15 lakh |
| IIM Rohtak | INR 7.68 lakh |
| MDI Gurgaon | INR 4.84 lakh to INR 11.8 lakh |
| IIFT Delhi | INR 4.45 lakh to INR 4.85 lakh |
Management Entrance Exams for EMBA
The table below depicts a list of top entrance exams for admission into EMBA. Check out now.
| Top Executive MBA Entrance Exams in India | |
|---|---|
| CAT | GMAT |
| XAT | EMAT |
| NMAT by GMAC | CMAT |
Also Read: List of all EMBA/ MBA entrance exams
Advantages of Pursuing an MBA for Working Professionals
As mentioned above, an Executive MBA is one of the most popular MBA choices for working professionals. It is so because the programme offers significant advantages for working professionals who are looking to further their careers and personal development while balancing the demands of their current jobs. The executive MBA programme is an investment tactic, in other words, for working professionals seeking to accelerate their careers, develop leadership skills, expand their networks, and achieve personal and professional growth; all while continuing to work in their current roles. Here are some important benefits:
-
Career Advancement: An EMBA is designed for mid to senior-level professionals, so it is tailored to provide skills and knowledge relevant to their current and future career roles and goals. It can help the graduates climb the corporate ladder, take on more responsibility, and compete for further leadership positions.
- Enhanced Leadership Skills: EMBA programmes often have a strong focus on leadership development. The EMBA programme can help students work on their leadership skills, learn management strategies and also develop soft skills required to lead a team.
- Networking Opportunities: The Executive MBA attracts individuals from diverse backgrounds and different industries. This diversity can help the students expand their professional network significantly, providing them with valuable contacts and opportunities for collaboration or job changes in the future.
-
Global Perspective: Many EMBA programmes also include an international component, like global residencies or courses. This exposure to global business can be valuable if the students work for a multinational company or have aspirations to do so.
-
Career Transition: For some working professionals, an EMBA can be a pathway to transition into a different industry or role. The skills and network they build during the programme can open doors to new opportunities.
Executive MBA vs Regular MBA
Check out the table below which depicts the major differences between executive MBA and regular MBA in India:
| Feature | Executive MBA | Regular MBA |
|---|---|---|
| Target Audience | Working professionals with managerial experience | Fresh graduates or early career professionals |
| Eligibility Criteria | Graduation, minimum professional experience of 3-5 years | Graduation (some colleges accept students with at least 2 years of experience) |
| Duration | 1 to 1.5 years | 2 years |
| Mode | Part Time, hybrid or online | Full-time regular |
| Work experience | Mandatory experience required | Not mandatory |
| Placement | No or limited campus placement support | Full campus placement support |
| Course fee range | INR 10 to 40 lakh | INR 8 to 30 lakh |
| Top colleges | IIM A, IIM B, IIM C, XLRI, ISB, etc. | IIMs, XLRI, FMS, IIFT, MDI |
| Career level | Senior leadership, CXO levels | Entry level or mid level |
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Saumya Jain is an English Literature graduate from the University of Delhi. She has over 8 years of editorial and content writing experience. At Shiksha.com, she has spent more than six years creating research, stud
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There are certain conditions laid down by the GMAC for retaking the GMAT:
In case if a student wants to reschedule or cancel his/her GMAT exam, he/she needs to pay a fee for the same. The fee for rescheduling the GMAT exam in the case of a test centre GMAT and the online GMAT are different. Similarly, the refund in the case of GMAT exam cancellation are different in the case of a test centre GMAT and the online GMAT. It is advised that the students prepare well for their GMAT exam in one go to avoid rescheduling, cancellation, or running out of attempts.