Alongside an excellent career record that includes at least five years of managerial experience - usually 12 - there are two things that prospective Executive MBA students will need enough of: time and money. Money is not too difficult to find because most EMBA students have fairly senior roles. Fees for a programme can range from about HK$350,000 to more than three times that amount depending on the institution, and students are often able to get sponsorship for the course from their employer, or are able to afford the investment themselves.
The investment is often worth it, with average salaries for EMBA graduates of the world's top business schools rising by as much as 110 per cent within three years of graduating.
Time, however, may be harder to come by. EMBA students say that for the duration of the course (usually from 16 months to two years) they have to spend at least one hour every day on study and research, with an average of about another five full days a month spent in class or working with classmates.
The average age of an EMBA student is 35. And, for busy executives, the decision to make such an investment and sacrifice this much time out of their work and family life cannot be taken lightly. When the decision is taken they will want to be completely confident that the institution they choose is the right one. An important step in the process is to attend introductory seminars, which take place throughout the year, organised by the schools.
EMBA-Global Asia showcased its programme to prospective students last week. The two-hour seminar included an overview of the course by a senior faculty member, a question-and-answer session with current and past students, and a 30-minute demonstration lecture from a professor from the course.
'I have been to a couple of these seminars before, given by different institutions, and they are invaluable in making the final decision on where to study,' said one of the prospective students at the seminar.
'Ultimately, they are obviously trying to sell the course, but they give a great insight into what the programme will consist of and the views of current and past students.'