EMBA Students: First-Week Reflections
Our newest Executive MBA students reflect on going back to school, meeting classmates, and learning from Chicago Booth’s award-winning faculty.
EMBA Students: First-Week Reflections
Executive MBA Program Structure
Earn your MBA in 22 months alongside a collaborative community of other aspirational, risk-taking professionals from around the world.
Quarter One: Autumn
Your program begins with a Kick-Off Week in Chicago, with your classmates from all three cohorts, from all over the world. This is followed by international session weeks in London and Hong Kong.
Quarters Two through Four: Winter–Summer
Home Campus Course
Following the international Autumn Quarter, you return to your home campus with your local cohort. Although you take classes at your home campus, all Executive MBA students follow the same rigorous curriculum. Each campus sets its own course schedule.
A Typical Week at Your Home Campus
Chicago classes meet over Thursday, Friday, and Saturday sessions four times a quarter. Here’s what a typical class session looks like:
| 8-9 a.m. | 9 a.m.-Noon | Noon-2 p.m. | 2-5 p.m. | 5-7 p.m. | 7-10 p.m. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | Breakfast | Marketing Management | Lunch | Corporate Finance | Individual and Group Study Time or Review Session and Dinner | Group Study |
| Friday | Breakfast | Marketing Management | Lunch | Corporate Finance | Individual and Group Study Time or Review Session and Dinner | Group Study or Class Event* |
| Saturday | Breakfast | Marketing Management | Lunch Event** | Corporate Finance | Shuttles to Midway and O'Hare Airports |
*Class events are social and networking opportunities planned by the Executive MBA Program team and the Student Partnership Council.
**Lunch events are enrichment opportunities such as Global Career and Leadership Development sessions, workshops, and talks with faculty, alumni, and business leaders.
View the Full Chicago Schedule
Learn more about our Chicago campus
London classes are held in weeklong sessions about every 3–6 weeks. Here’s what a typical week looks like:
| 8-9 a.m. | 9 a.m.-Noon | Noon-2 pm. | 2:30-5:30 p.m. | 5:30-8 p.m. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Breakfast | Operations Management | Lunch and Review Session* | Financial Strategy | Global Career and Leadership Development Session (Speaker/Workshop) |
| Tuesday | Breakfast | Operations Management | Lunch and Review Session | Financial Strategy | Review Session |
| Wednesday | Breakfast | Operations Management | Lunch and Review Session | Financial Strategy | Review Session |
| Thursday | Breakfast | Operations Management | Lunch and Review Session | Financial Strategy | Review Session |
| Friday | Breakfast | Operations Management | Lunch and Review Session | Financial Strategy | Review Session |
| Saturday | Breakfast | Operations Management | Lunch and Review Session | Financial Strategy | Social Event** |
*Midday sessions sometimes include lunch events such as Global Career and Leadership sessions, workshops, a student lunch and learn series, and talks with faculty, alumni, and business leaders.
**Social events give you the opportunity to socialize and network with your classmates in a relaxed setting. They are planned by the Executive MBA Program and the Student Partnership Council.
View the Full London Schedule
Learn more about the Robert Rothman, ’77, London Campus
Hong Kong classes are held in weeklong sessions about every three to six weeks. Here’s what a typical week looks like:
| 8-9 a.m. | 9 a.m.-Noon | Noon-2:30 pm. | 2:30-5:30 p.m. | 5:30-8 p.m. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Breakfast | Operations Management | Lunch | Financial Strategy | Global Career and Leadership Development Session |
| Tuesday | Breakfast | Operations Management | Lunch | Financial Strategy | Snack and Review Session |
| Wednesday | Breakfast | Operations Management | Lunch and Review Session | Financial Strategy | Snack and Review Session |
| Thursday | Breakfast | Operations Management | Lunch Event* | Financial Strategy | Snack and Review Session |
| Friday | Breakfast | Operations Management | Lunch and Review Session | Financial Strategy | Snack and Review Session |
| Saturday | Breakfast | Operations Management | Lunch | Financial Strategy | Social Event** |
*Lunch events include Global Career and Leadership Development sessions, workshops, a student lunch and learn series, and talks with faculty, alumni, and business leaders.
**Social events give you the chance to socialize and network with your classmates in a relaxed setting. They are planned by the Executive MBA Program Office and the Student Partnership Council.
View the Full Hong Kong Schedule
Learn more about our Hong Kong campus
Global Cohort: Electives Weeks in Chicago
During your second August in the program, you'll join global classmates and alumni for two consecutive weeks of electives courses in Chicago. You'll have the opportunity to choose from over 30 different courses in many different disciplines.
Customizing Your Executive MBA Program with Electives Weeks
Two weeks of electives give EMBA students the chance to address their own interests in a fast-changing global business environment.
Customizing Your Executive MBA Program with Electives WeeksQuarter Five through Seven: Autumn–Spring
Home Campus Courses
In the final three quarters of the program, you return to your home campus, complete core classes, and bring together key concepts you've learned in a team-based, capstone experience.
Spring: Graduation in Chicago
Spring: Graduation in Chicago
Spring: Graduation in Chicago
Your global class gathers in Chicago for an Executive MBA celebration and University-wide graduation activities. Although it's the end of the Executive MBA Program, it's just the beginning of your lifelong connection with the worldwide Chicago Booth network.
One Degree. Three Locations.
Whether you study in Chicago, London, or Hong Kong, you’ll collaborate with prize-winning faculty, join a global community, and prepare to lead with confidence.
Chicago Campus
Conveniently located in downtown Chicago, our Gleacher Center campus is a hub for business leaders and ideas.
Chicago Campus
London Campus
Earn your MBA in London’s financial district, home to some of the world’s most powerful brokerages, law firms, and banks.
London Campus
Hong Kong Campus
As an EMBA Hong Kong student, you’ll join a dynamic community of highly successful executives in Asia’s financial hub.
Hong Kong Campus
Get Updates from Chicago Booth
Sign up to receive admissions information, invitations to events, and other updates about the Executive MBA Program.