Executive Master in Change

Diversity is a foundational value of INSEAD. It is a value we hold dear, a cornerstone of the INSEAD education. As the Business School for the World, INSEAD commits to cultivating a community that pursues equity, exemplifies inclusion, and cherishes diversity in all its dimensions, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and religion. Please see here for more information on the school’s commitment and work in this regard.

Meanwhile, if you have specific questions in regards to diversity and inclusion matters at the EMC programme, including access for participants with disabilities and special needs, please contact [email protected].

The INSEAD Executive Master in Change welcomes diverse backgrounds and experiences. Typically, our participants have at least 10 years of professional experience, we also consider less experienced careers, complemented by a Master's degree, PhD, MD, or JD. Aside of your qualifications, we value the quality of your achievements, the motivation that has driven you throughout your career, your self-reflection ability and your drive to becoming a catalyst for change. Please contact us if you are not sure about the fit of your qualitifactions or work experience with EMC prerequisites so we may help to guide you.

We do not have INSEAD scholarships available for this programme. We therefore advise you to visit the Executive Master in Change - Financing page to learn more about global INSEAD loans and company sponsorships.

There is no coaching qualification offered following this programme, but it equips coaches and other professionals with valuable skills to drive individual and organisational development. You will also be enabled to assume roles in leading organisations and executing change management.

If you are interested in learning more about INSEAD's expertise in coaching and our leadership coaching programmes, please visit the INSEAD Executive Coaching page.

The Executive Master in Change (EMC) programme has been accredited by the Conférence des Grandes Écoles (CGE) of which INSEAD is a member since 2017.

The same programme is offered on both campuses. Regardless of campus, each cohort is highly diverse, providing a unique perspective and group dynamic.

In this programme, business and psychological aspects of change are fully intertwined. Other programmes often focus either more on the business or psychological perspective.

Learn more about how the EMC helps you to understand yourself and others. 

There is a great diversity of participants on this programme, from business executives holding Masters or PhD degrees, to experienced senior people with various academic backgrounds – and with an equally diverse range of motivations. What we can say however, is that there is a common trait of the candidate profile in this programme - they are professionals who have a deep curiosity in psychology, who are keen to understand human behaviour and how it impacts business systems.

No, it is a modular programme delivered in eight modules spread over 18 months, enabling you to continue working while you study. 

Academic tests such as GMAT, GRE and EA are not a requirement for application to the EMC programme. As the programme is intensive, rigorous and challenging, we will still review your academic capacity and will therefore instead look for a sound academic foundation in the form of:

• A bachelor's degree or equivalent from a recognised college or university (although in exceptional circumstances we may waive this requirement for outstanding candidates with substantial professional experience)
• Training in the various psychological or therapeutic areas, or like many of our applicants, any advanced degrees.

Please contact us if you would like to discuss how your background fits with the EMC prerequisites.

No, you can attend the programme either fully on the Europe or on the Asia campus.

It is advantageous that participants are in full-time jobs when they undertake the programme, in order to make links between the programme content, one’s professional life and oneself. However, we sometimes have participants in transition or in between jobs and arrangements can be made.

If you already know you are going to miss a module, please consider a future iteration of the programme. It is compulsory to attend all modules without exception.

The EMC class usually consists of 36 participants of more than 15 nationalities. Roughly a third are already consultants and coaches, a third are HR or L&D professionals and the final third are from the heart of the business.

The maximum length of the thesis is 50 pages of double-spaced text. The deadline is 4 months after the end of the final module. We will support you with workshops on research and writing methodologies and one-to-one sessions with an expert thesis tutor.

Find out more about the works written by INSEAD EMC students for their final master’s theses.