Pathway to the Executive MBA

Emba class

Continue your journey with Oxford

The Oxford Executive Diplomas can be just the beginning of your Oxford story.

Whilst approximately 30% of diploma participants already hold an MBA, the Oxford Executive Diplomas also offer a route towards the Oxford Executive MBA.

The Executive Diplomas offer a deep dive into key specialisms covered more broadly by the Executive MBA, and are designed for experienced professionals to deepen their knowledge, refine their advanced capabilities and sharpen their approach. The Oxford Executive MBA is a perfect next step for those who wish to enhance their capabilities even further in the broader context of global senior leadership and entrepreneurship.

Designed as a part-time, modular programme delivered in one-week blocks over two years, the Executive MBA programme enables leaders and entrepreneurs to drive innovation and navigate change for their organisations in a broad range of challenging global contexts whilst continuing to work full-time – without compromising on the learning experience.

Although the Executive Diplomas are stand-alone qualifications, diploma participants can apply to pursue the Oxford Executive MBA towards the end of their studies or afterwards. Should diploma participants gain a place on the programme, they will receive:

  • exemptions from four module assessments (attendance will be required at all modules, regardless of assessment exemption)
  • a fee reduction of 60% of the diploma course fee

There is no time limit on the fee reduction and exemptions are valid for five years. The earliest Executive MBA class potentially accessible for diploma pathway participants is the September of the year after starting the diploma.

Please note that there is no automatic right of transfer to the Oxford Executive MBA programme and diploma students will be considered on the basis of their Executive MBA application.

The diploma to EMBA route was essential in enabling me to breakdown the rather large task of paying for and completing the Oxford EMBA. The three years I spent at Oxford completing both programs was a fundamental career and life turning point.

Alastair Collier

Head of Strategy, Solutions and Sustainability at National Grid, UK