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We are looking for experienced executives with intellectual curiosity and a desire to learn and challenge themselves in a rigorous academic programme. We welcome applications from around the world regardless of race, religion, gender or financial status and our aim is to build a top quality, exciting, dynamic and diverse class.
There is one GEMBA intake per year, divided into three regional sections, comprising around 210 participants and representing over 50 nationalities in total. The EMBA Admissions process is the same for all GEMBA applicants, whether they apply for the Asia, the Middle East or the Europe section. However, application deadlines are different as the sections start at different dates.
Are you ready for the challenge?
The GEMBA is not simply an intensive business course. It is an intense all-round experience: a major commitment that must be sustained over many months. Before starting the EMBA Admissions process, please consider that you must attend – and prepare for – all modules without exception, as well as completing a substantial volume of work between modules.
Admissions Criteria
We have four EMBA Admissions criteria which all bear equal importance:
Proven Leadership
INSEAD is looking for applicants who can demonstrate their potential as leaders. We will consider your professional experience and past performance when assessing your application. Participants in our current class have an average of 13 years work experience, and at least three years in a management role in charge of teams and/or projects.
Academic Capacity
The INSEAD GEMBA is intensive, rigorous and challenging. You must have a sound academic foundation: an undergraduate degree or equivalent from a recognised college or university (although in exceptional circumstances, we may waive this requirement) and the Executive Assessment (EA), GMAT or the INSEAD Assessment.
International Outlook
We attract applicants with cross-cultural sensitivity and an international outlook. We consider applicants who have lived, worked, or studied abroad or who are working for international companies or on an international level with clients, suppliers or other stakeholders. In addition to English, all participants will need to demonstrate at least basic knowledge of a second language in order to graduate.
Details
Ability to Contribute
We seek candidates who demonstrate a clear desire for intellectual growth, both in the classroom and through working on group projects. Participants are expected to contribute proactively and share the insights they have gained throughout their professional and personal experience.
Prerequisites
To apply to the INSEAD GEMBA programme, you must submit an online application form and the necessary supporting documentation. After submission, you will be emailed a confirmation of receipt and notification of any missing elements. Once your application is completed, we aim to notify you of the next steps within 5 business days.
INSEAD has one Admissions team responsible for processing all EMBA applications. Please recognise delays may happen due to time zone differences and public holidays.
The online application comprises:
Select INSEAD EMBA Assessment, EA or GMAT
To help ensure we have the right people in the classroom, EMBA applicants must fulfil a mandatory testing requirement. Applicants can choose between participating in the INSEAD EMBA Assessment Day, taking the GMAC® Executive Assessment (EA) or the GMAT® Exam. See here for guidance on the assessment options.
Please note, requests for a testing waiver cannot be granted.
If you choose to participate in the INSEAD EMBA Assessment Day, please indicate your intention to do so on the application form. Once your application has been submitted and confirmed complete, the Pre-selection Committee will review it and if successful, you will be invited to join the assessment at the campus of your choice.
Alternatively, you can take GMAC® Executive Assessment (EA) or the GMAT® Exam. Please upload the EA or GMAT unofficial report upon completion of the test as a supporting document with your application. Scores are valid for five years. Please request that your official score be sent directly to INSEAD. For EA, use the INSEAD EMBA Programme upon registration, or for GMAT the following code: INSEAD, DL3-S8-14 Business Programmes, Executive MBA Programmes at the time of testing. You will receive your official result at the test center and our admissions team will be able to access the same within 24 hours.
Profile Information
The profile information is hard facts about you and your history, similar to what you will have in a detailed resume. While not all fields are mandatory, the more information we have, the better understanding we will have of your history and potential.
Job Description and Motivational Essays
This section is a critical part of our evaluation process. As such, we advise you to spend a significant amount of time on your application essays. Your responses to the essay questions provide us the best opportunity to understand your career path, your accomplishments and your rationale for pursuing an EMBA. This is a chance to get to know you and to find out what motivates you. The essays are not meant to be academic articles or business memos, but rather your personal stories.
Letters of Recommendation
Two professional recommendation letters are required, providing insights about your demonstrated leadership and management potential. As such, at least one recommendation should come from your workplace; your current supervisor or manager is usually a good choice. The other recommendation may be from someone who has had the opportunity to evaluate you in a professional setting (ie. a client, a former supervisor, or a colleague from a non-work activity). Should you wish, you will also be able to upload an optional third letter of recommendation as part of the supporting documents.
Your recommenders can submit their letters prior to submission of the application, but please note that your application will not be evaluated until all letters of recommendation are submitted.
Official Academic Transcripts
Please submit both diplomas awarded and transcripts of grades from each college or university that you have attended. We will accept documents in English or French. All others must be accompanied by a certified English translation. Each document must bear the official seal and signature of the institution. Notarised copies will also be acceptable.
English Language Certification
Non-native English speakers who have not worked, trained or schooled in English for an extended period of time may be asked to provide an English language certification. We accept the PTE/TOEFL/IELTS exams.
CV
Please provide your latest curriculum vitae, limited to two pages maximum.
Photograph
Please upload a headshot of yourself in business professional attire. The photo should be in JPEG or GIF format and measure 99 pixels wide by 128 pixels high.
Application Fees
A fee of €250 must be paid online by credit card once you have submitted your application form. Please note that this application fee is non-refundable and your application will not be evaluated until the fee has been received.
Key Dates
We operate on a rolling admissions process, with four rounds for each of the three sections. The Scholarship Committee will prioritise early applicants when allocating scholarship awards.
Asia Section | Middle East Section | Europe Section | |
ROUND 1 | 20 December 2020 | 06 February 2021 | 07 March 2021 |
ROUND 2 | 21 February 2021 | 03 April 2021 | 09 May 2021 |
ROUND 3 | 11 April 2021 | 12 June 2021 | 11 July 2021 |
FINAL ROUND | 06 June 2021 | 07 August 2021 | 05 September 2021 |
COVID-19 Update:
In an effort to accommodate our candidates, we are pleased to inform you that the INSEAD Assessment Day is now online. Once you have submitted your application, your admissions officer will share available assessment dates with you.
Programme Start Dates
GEMBA Asia section: Thursday, 12 August 2021
GEMBA Middle East section: Friday, 1 October 2021
GEMBA Europe section: Thursday, 28 October 2021
INSEAD Assessment Day Dates
If you decide to take the INSEAD Assessment, you must have submitted a complete application at least 2 weeks before the test date. Successful applicants will then be invited to sit the test on one of our campuses.
The INSEAD Assessment takes place approximately once a month on each of our campuses. Please be prepared to spend five hours on campus.
INSEAD Assessment
If you opt to take the INSEAD Assessment, rather than the GMAT or Executive Assessment, you must first submit a completed application at least 2 weeks prior to the assessment date. Your application will be reviewed by our Pre-Selection committee and if successful, you will be invited to join the assessment at the campus of your choice.
The INSEAD Assessment takes place approximately once a month on each of our campuses. Please be prepared to spend five hours on campus.
More information on the INSEAD Assessment
Enquiry?
If you have any questions related to our programmes or application procedures, we are here to help you.
FAQs
What does the Admissions Committee look for in a competitive application?
We look for participants who will contribute proactively and share the insights they have gained throughout their professional and personal experience. A competitive applicant manages to demonstrate a clear desire for intellectual growth, both in the classroom and through working on group projects.
We select participants who demonstrate cross-cultural understanding and an international outlook.
Finally, admitted candidates have demonstrated their academic capacity to address the intensive, rigorous and challenging EMBA curriculum. Both GMAT and the INSEAD Assessment Day provide a uniform and standardised way of evaluating candidates to that effect. Academic transcripts and test scores help us determine analytical skills and if a participant would benefit from doing preparatory work for some of the courses, particularly mathematically-based ones.
What is Corporate Endorsement?
Each GEMBA candidate must have corporate endorsement before starting the programme.
Corporate endorsement means:
Your company acknowledges the necessary time commitment you need to complete the programme. Corporate endorsement does not necessarily mean the employer is paying the full tuition fee for the programme, although some participants are fully or partially financially sponsored for the Executive MBA programme.
Can I discuss the GEMBA Programme with someone before I apply?
You are most welcome to Contact Us to ask any questions you might have or request for a one-on-one consultation with GEMBA staff. You can also meet GEMBA programme advisors at our Events worldwide.