Global Executive MBA

The tuition fee for 2024 Intake (Class of GEMBA'26) are as follows:

Asia - SG$208,000 (GST inclusive)
Middle East - US$146,000 (VAT inclusive)
Europe - €142,000 (VAT exempt)

The tuition fee covers teaching fees, all academic materials, access to the school library, IT services, access to the fitness centre (Europe and Asia Campuses), lunches, coffee breaks and INSEAD organised group dinners. The tuition fee does not include transport, accommodation and all other meals.

There are four instalments for self-funded participants, and two instalments for company-sponsored participants.

Asia Section

Self-funded participants: 
SG$39,000 non-refundable, within one month of admission*
SG$63,000  due on 31 July 2024
SG$53,000 due on 05 January 2025
SG$53,000 due on 05 March 2025

Company-sponsored students:
SG$39,000 non-refundable, within one month of admission*
SG$169,000 due on 31 July 2024

Europe section

Self-funded participants: 
€29,000 non-refundable, within one month of admission*
€43,000 due on 01 October 2024
€35,000 due on 05 March 2025
€35,000 due on 05 May 2025

Company-sponsored students:
€29,000 non-refundable, within one month of admission*
€113,000 due on 01 October 2024

Middle East section

Self-funded participants: 
US$28,500 non-refundable, within one month of admission*
US$44,500 due on 05 September 2024
US$36,500 due on 05 February 2025
US$36,500 due on 05 April 2025

Company-sponsored students:
US$28,500 non-refundable, within one month of admission*
US$117,500 due on 05 September 2024

 (*this period shall be reduced for those admitted close to the start of the programme).

Scholarship awards are generally not cumulated.

The Scholarship Committee will communicate the decision by e-mail within two weeks after you have applied for scholarships.

Over 40% of the GEMBA Class receives a scholarship. The average award is 10% of the tuition fees.

The estimated living expenses budget for INSEAD GEMBA is as follows:

Asia -  SG$34,000
Middle East - US$23,000
Europe - €22,000

You can first talk to your local bank where you have an account. You may also consider local country options, INSEAD Global loans (Lendwise, Prodigy Finance, Juno (U.S. Citizens and International Students with a valid U.S. cosigner), and MPOWER (U.S. Citizens and International Students with a valid U.S. cosigner; Europe section only).

We encourage you to limit your applications to a maximum of 2 scholarships. Be strategic and apply for those where you feel you can make a difference and where you fit best.

Yes, INSEAD offers scholarships for GEMBA programme admits. You can apply for a scholarship, once you are admitted to the programme. Applicants need to be self-funded or partially sponsored to a maximum of 50%. 

INSEAD scholarships have specific eligibility criteria based on a combination of merit and financial need. As a part of the merit criteria, the Committee will consider the academic and professional achievements and merit distinctions received. Financial Fellowships are open to all candidates who can demonstrate significant difficulty in raising sufficient finances for the programme and may be limited in accessing loans. The Committee will look into the financial need justification. 
Please note that admissions essays will not be considered as part of the scholarship review process. 

In general, the funding doesn't come from only one source. You can use INSEAD Global loans, savings, personal loans, family gifts, INSEAD or international scholarships, and company sponsorship.

The INSEAD GEMBA programme requires a significant time commitment. This translates to 12 weeks of on-campus modules, and in addition, there is an equivalent of 10 to 12 hours of homework a week.

For more information, see Curriculum and Programme Schedule.

You will receive a fully accredited and highly recognised Executive Master in Business Administration degree.

Yes, INSEAD has organised events for GEMBA partners. These are tailor-made for each GEMBA class, so can vary from year to year.

Full-time INSEAD faculty constitutes the majority of the GEMBA teaching team. Some faculty are engaged in teaching within the full-time MBA programme as well, and most of them have substantial experience in high-level Executive Education.

For more information, see our list of Faculty Profiles.

No. Our experience has been that our GEMBA offers unique value, even to those participants well versed in a discipline. Plus, the design of the INSEAD GEMBA implies that everyone in the class takes all the courses together, contributing to each others' learning.

The INSEAD GEMBA programme - as any INSEAD learning experience - is aimed at a wide range of executives from many different countries, industries, academic and business backgrounds. The diversity in INSEAD classes truly enriches the learning experience, as each student contributes with his or her own culture, perspective and mindset to the issues studied. Moreover, one of the cornerstones of our programme is our emphasis on group work and virtual teams and the importance of sharing best practices. Executive MBA participants are an important source of support to each other, developing close friendships and international professional network.

There is an exam at the end of each core course and for the electives a variety of evaluation methods will be applied. Final course grades for most courses will be determined by a mix of class participation, projects and exams. For exams, INSEAD grades on a Standard Normal Curve, also called a Z-Curve, with a mean of 3.0.

Returning to an intense learning environment such as the INSEAD GEMBA, after many years in business, certainly means adjustment and a major time commitment. But it is also a source of renewed inspiration and energy, a real life-changing experience. To make it work, you need to be prepared to invest time and energy in the people and the programme.

Before applying, we suggest that you try the simple “3Ps test” below:

Professional
Do you have the full support of your manager and colleagues?
Even if your company is supporting you financially or with unpaid leave, is everyone aware that there is absolutely no flexibility about the dates you will be away?

Personal 
Will you have the full support of your family or partner? 
Are they aware how long you will be away? Are practical arrangements, such as additional childcare, in place?

Programme
Have you fully researched the format of the GEMBA and compared it with other EMBA programmes?
Are you sure this will work for you and your circumstances?

The INSEAD Assessment is available online. Once you have submitted your application, your admissions officer will share available assessment dates with you.

View all details on the INSEAD Assessment Day page here.

The INSEAD Assessment comprises of 4 sections: Data analysis, data interpretation, communication analysis and critical thinking. For more information, please go to the INSEAD Assessment page.

Essentially there are math problems that test your fluency with numbers and ability to perform business mathematics as part of your job, and verbal problems that test your ability to zero in on the relevant content in logical and opinion pieces. If you do not use mathematics in work frequently, this will be indicated in your resume as well, and INSEAD will make recommendations for pre-EMBA preparation. You should not feel like you have to hit a particular target. The class will be balanced by people of different strengths, the test simply aids the admissions committee to understand your profile better.

The Assessment helps the Admissions Committee to gauge your likely performance in an academic and classroom environment, to determine your profile accordingly, and to aid them to propose additional preparation before the EMBA. There is no “weighting”. The most important part of your application remains your track record as a business person and your plan for maximising the EMBA opportunity to develop your career.

Learn more about your assessment options here. 

Preparation is strongly encouraged. The best way to prepare is to practise actual GMAT questions (focus on data analysis, data interpretation, communication analysis and critical thinking) and/or working with a 3rd party to prepare. It is wise to practise in a mock testing environment, inclusive of time constraints. Click here for more information and a comparison of all assessment options. 

You are given a business scenario in story format to read and absorb, with some number and background information. You will arrive at a general understanding of what is happening in the scenario and realise what the key points of the case are. You will make a presentation of up to three slides summarising the situation, and what the appropriate challenges and opportunities for the business are. The case will pose three questions that you must answer along the lines described above. A business person with significant experience in presentation will have been prepared for this exercise through their job.

The case presentation need not be prepared for. This is a holistic test of your approach to reviewing a business scenario, and your personal presentation and communication skills will shine in this part of the test. In fact, your individual personal approach will be valued better than a coached one. It is your opportunity to differentiate yourself from other candidates. There is no right or wrong result. The INSEAD Assessment does not look like a traditional consulting case, there is no need to review cases online. It is designed to be readable and understandable by people without a consulting background.

You cannot retake the INSEAD Assessment as it is only offered once. If you were not successful, it is up to the Admissions Committee to decide whether you can reapply and what course of actions is needed for you to improve your application.

Yes, you may choose another date on the test schedule.

The cost to take the INSEAD Assessment is €185 globally (subject to change). Once you have submitted your application indicating that you would like to take the test, your file will be pre-screened and upon the Admissions committee’s approval you will receive an invitation email with instructions on how to register for your preferred assessment date and pay the fee.

We recommend that you Get in Touch with Us for a discussion once you begin considering the programme. We will be able to help you with a pre-assessment, discuss your needs, and guide you along the process.

Yes.

As the EA or GMAT has a broadly similar structure, you can get a feeling for the test structure through looking at EA or GMAT questions. However, the EA or GMAT also tests many areas that the INSEAD Assessment does not, and vice versa. 

Yes you can.

Yes, there will be other candidates on the INSEAD Assessment day.

It is different. It tests a broader range of aptitudes including allowing a presentation to be made to indicate ability to analyse a business scenario and communicate it. It does NOT require you to spend time on extensive preparation for rule-based mathematics and English grammar correction that would not be used in a business context.

Learn more about your assessment options here. 

The test will be marked and the result is used to indicate the candidate’s relative strengths in quantitative ability, logical and analytical skills and communication skills. The result is not released as the Assessment score is not a comparative one, but an indicative one.

Once you have submitted your application, your admissions officer will share available assessment dates and times so that you may select the best suited option for you. 

No, you need to submit your application to the programme at least 2 weeks before your chosen Assessment date. Once your application has passed pre-screening, you will be able to confirm your place and issue online payment for the Assessment.

Application: All applications to the INSEAD GEMBA are submitted online. Make sure to thoroughly complete the Application Form, giving accurate and up-to-date information; and take the time to reflect upon and write up the six essays (one of which is optional). You will need to provide us with the required supporting documents including two recommendation letters - ideally from your current or past professional environment. You will also specify in in your application whether you plan to attempt the INSEAD EMBA Assessment, or have taken the GMAC Executive Assessment (EA) or GMAT (in which case you need to submit your score together with the application). View the Application Checklist page for more information.

Admissions Pre-selection: once the application is complete, the Pre-selection Committee decides whether or not to invite you to the next stage – an invitation to take the INSEAD EMBA Assessment or an admissions interview if you presented an EA or GMAT score. 

Admissions Decision: once panel results (for INSEAD Assessment takers) or interview reports (for EA or GMAT score holders) are received, final decisions are made by the Admissions Committee and notifications are sent to candidates by e-mail within ten days of the interview or of the INSEAD Assessment date.

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. The INSEAD EMBA Assessment, GMAC Executive Assessment (EA) or the GMAT all 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.

For related information, please check Admissions Criteria.

No, the Admissions process is the same whichever GEMBA section you apply for.

The INSEAD GEMBA programme operates a staged Admissions process. However, we are continually receiving and reviewing applications. It is strongly recommended to apply early. Application deadlines are different for each GEMBA section as classes start at different dates for each section.

Should you wish to take the INSEAD EMBA Admissions test, you must submit your application at least two weeks prior to the test date.

If you choose to delay submission of your application until the following round of the same intake, your application form details will be saved automatically. Note that access to your form will be temporarily disabled from 00:00am (Central European Time) on the day of the deadline, as the system will shutdown for about four days. Access to your form will resume once the temporary shutdown period ends, so you can continue editing it.

Please bear in mind that if you miss all four rounds of a particular intake, your application form and its entire contents will expire. At this point, you will be required to complete a new application from scratch, for the next intake.

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.

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.

We want participants to be in the driver’s seat of their careers and we provide resources to empower you to do this, as we partner with you throughout your career journey. Reaching your goals is directly related to the effort you put into planning and implementation.

You can start with a one-on-one meeting with your in-house advisor who will assess your needs and recommend next steps. We offer five career coaching sessions to be taken ideally over the duration of the Programme. Executive MBA participants have 6 months after graduation, to leverage the coaching programme. 

We offer resources to help you create your CV, workshops on personal branding and interview techniques, and a wide range of webinars and on-line resources to guide you along your career path.

You will also receive a regular newsletter with information about activities to be aware of as well as invitations to forthcoming events of interest.

INSEAD does not officially track this data according to industry standards. However, the norm is that within 12-18 months after graduation, participants experience either a promotion internally, or a career progression externally. We have also observed that 30% of our participants achieve a career change 10 months in the programme. We have also seen a growing number of participants receiving job offers or evolving with their careers whilst still in the programme.

Our philosophy is that you are in the driver’s seat and, as an executive level participant, you should activate your career coachings sessions once you feel ready to work towards your career goals. You are also fully responsible for the speed at which your plans progress and we recommend that you stay committed once you have started working with a coach. Make sure to follow up on the suggested action points and keep the momentum. Try not to leave it until the end of the Programme to start the sessions.

Career change is a process that depends on many factors – not only your degree! Therefore we strongly advise you to start thinking about your next career move as early as possible in the Programme, if not before starting at INSEAD! Career change is possible at any point in life but it is directly related to the amount of time and dedicated planning that each one puts into their career plans as well as into their expectations of a career switch. A complete career change (Industry, geography and function) is particularly challenging at top executive level but it is not impossible. Each participant has their own unique set of expectations, motivations and aspirations for the next move and together with his/her in-house advisor and career coach can develop a customized career plan to achieve career milestones. Remember, we can’t control the outcome but we can help you manage the process.

Participants have access as soon as the programme starts and up until graduation. After graduation, and once you join the alumni network, support continues under the services of the Alumni Career Development team.

Earning the prestigious Executive MBA at INSEAD is definitely a competitive advantage that can help accelerate your career. However, as with any degree it does not guarantee a new job after graduation. Potential employers rarely recruit executive-level candidates based on their degree alone but on a combination of your previous work experience, your leadership skills and your industry and geographical exposure. It is the holistic added value that you could bring to the organisation or business unit that will make you an attractive candidate. Participants studying at INSEAD say that the professional and personal advice they received through the Programme was important for their career but equally valuable is the INSEAD network and relationships with both classmates and Alumni. This is a lifelong advantage for your career.

Companies interested in hiring experienced and senior talent prefer to engage with EMBA participants on a one-to-one basis, conduct talent search and target specific profiles, rather than engage with an entire class. Therefore, at INSEAD you should not expect specific recruiters to attend on-campus events for a wide recruitment campaign. Senior hiring happens by companies looking for a specific position that requires a specific set of skills and experiences, therefore EMBA participants are rarely recruited solely because of their EMBA degree. It is a combination of your previous work experience, qualifications and your Executive MBA along with your geographical exposure that will (or not) qualify you for a senior vacancy. It is the holistic added value that you could bring to the organisation or business unit that will make you an attractive candidate. At certain events, such as the Talent Networking Forums, we welcome recruiters in key geographical locations that may be interested in more senior hires. We also see many recruiters browsing through the profiles of our senior EMBA candidates through the online career portal and approaching interesting profiles on an individual basis. As the recruitment approach is different compared to the big recruitment drives of the full-time MBA programme, we always encourage EMBA participants to develop and leverage the INSEAD network to support their job search plans.

Participants who are more than 51% sponsored for their tuition fee have limited access to the Career Development offerings. If this is your case and you wish to gain full access to all services, you will need to provide us with a letter of permission from your company. Please contact [email protected] for more info.

• INSEAD has a partnership with BlueSteps, the career management solution of the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants. Current participants and Alumni receive an exclusive 30% discount and free lifetime Premium Services.
• You have access to a list of executive search firms worldwide. 
• The organization directory in CareerGlobe includes some contacts with executive search firms.
• We organize a webinar to give you tips on what to expect from executive search firms and how to work with them.
• We organize executive search panel events or networking evenings during your Programme.
• We encourage you to do your own search, using your own network.

Many recruiters require experience, or at least very strong knowledge, of the region you would be targeting, if different from the location that you are based in. Geographical change is possible but requires planning and sometimes sacrifices if your exposure to a particular country is limited.

Your career coach can advise you on how to achieve a geo-switch. INSEAD provides sector insights, online resources and advisors in-house that may help you develop the necessary knowledge for your career move to a different location. It is important to bear in mind that being based in the target region when looking for a new career is sometimes compulsory, depending on the location. Be also well aware of the immigration policies, visa restrictions and/or language requirements of the country you are targeting, which could determine the success of your plans. These, and more, factors need careful consideration when targeting a geographical switch, and CDWP offers the resources needed to help you gain more knowledge around these moves.

Since executive level candidates have very diverse career needs, we do not provide a placement approach or service. INSEAD’s Career Development for Working Professionals (CDWP) team delivers professional development advice, offers opportunities to enhance your networks and supports your career journey through career coaching. Our aim is to help you take ownership and inspire you to develop the skills necessary to achieve career success, while using our numerous resources, such as on-campus events, Talent Networking Forums and Executive Search panels to execute your job search strategy. We do not connect our executive level candidates with recruiter contacts directly but we produce a digital Executive Profile Book that we share with INSEAD recruiters.

Once you become part of INSEAD’s Alumni community you will have various benefits from the School such as webinars and various forums across the world. We also offer two complimentary coaching sessions. You can view the Alumni Career Development brochure here and receive lifelong career support through access to our Alumni CV book and alumni career job board.

When you have decided on your target, your coach can help you with a strategy and our team of Employer Engagement specialists can give you advice on approaching companies in their portfolio. You may search for opportunities on CareerGlobe, and we have the resources to help you get your CV and LinkedIn profile into good shape. We can also help you with mock interviews and guide you on your networking approach. 

Learn more about developing your career with the INSEAD GEMBA.

Our dedicated EMBA Career Development team, as part of the Career Development for Working Professionals Department (CDWP), provides individual career advice sessions and access to a structured career coaching programme. We conduct career-themed workshops on campus or virtually, on a variety of topics, such as CV writing, how to prepare for executive level interviews, how to develop meaningful relationships and build a personal brand, and many more. CDWP maintains dedicated online resources to support your career journey throughout the programme and beyond, and communicates resources regularly through a career newsletter. EMBA participants have access to the INSEAD career platform (CareerGlobe) with job postings for executive level talent, most of which are exclusive to the INSEAD talent community. Finally, we promote all candidates to INSEAD recruiters through an opt-in digital Executive Profiles Book and offer panels with executive search firms to learn about senior hiring trends.