Five Australian Executive MBA (EMBA) Programs In Latest Global Ranking

UNSW Business School

Five Australian Executive MBA Programs have secured a place in the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) 2024 EMBA rankings, with AGSM @ UNSW Business School EMBA rising 10 places to claim a top 30 spot in the world.

Overall, the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) ranked first in Australia and 27th globally out of 194 EMBA programs – placing it amongst the top 15% globally and up by ten places from the 2023 rankings. It also ranked 3rd in Asia Pacific – out of 27 other Asia Pacific programs – up by seven places from 2023.

The Melbourne Business School EMBA remained steady at 30, Monash Business School came in at 60th (2023: 34th), RMIT was ranked 111-120 and Sydney Business School at the University of Woollongong was ranked in the 121-130 band.

Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) 2024 EMBA rankings

2024 Global Rank (2023)School2024 FeesNotes
=27 (37)AGSM @ UNSW Business School$80,040 plus residential fee for the Executive Year.Part-time program that can be completed in 2-6 years on campus (with online options) in Sydney.
30 (30)Melbourne Business School$125,100 incl residential accommodationComprises 10 on-campus, 4-day residential weekend modules, with one Asia module, over 18 months.
60 (34)Monash Business School$60,00018-month program on-campus, full or part-time in Melbourne (Caulfield). Commencing in february each year.
111-120RMIT University$42,2401.5 years full-time (or part-time equivalent) program offered on-campus in Melbourne.
121-130Sydney Business School, University of Wollongong$28,952 - $32,640* depending on subject selection.2 years full-time, or part-time equivalent. Online, or on-campus (Sydney CBD or Wollongong campus)

All the EMBA programs included are assessed across multiple indicators including Career Outcomes, Diversity, Employer Reputation, Executive Profile, and Thought Leadership.

In the Global ranking, the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business Schoolplaced first, climbing two places up from third, with improvement in Managerial Experience, Women in Class and Salary Increase.

Professor Nick Wailes, Dean of Lifelong Learning and Director of AGSM, said AGSM’s improvement reflected the changes made to the program, making it possible for individuals to tailor the program to their professional needs while retaining a strong cohort experience.

“This is a testament to our ability to continue to attract ambitious students looking to become leaders who are equipped to make an impact and propel positive change. AGSM’s Executive MBA program remains a leading choice for those seeking to make a difference in a complex world.”

Professor Nick Wailes, AGSM Director, Senior Deputy Dean UNSW Business School

AGSM ranked highly in Thought Leadership, positioning 21st (23rd in 2023), with an earned score of 84.4 out of 100 (83.3 in 2023) – around 38 points ahead of the global average.

“AGSM’s Executive MBA program leverages its position at the forefront of business thinking, as evidenced by our strong ranking in Thought Leadership in these rankings. This focus on cutting-edge ideas equips graduates to become impactful leaders, shaping the future of business in a complex world,” says Professor Wailes.

“Importance is placed, not just on enhancing career prospects and management skills, but being prepared for the future and what it could deliver.”

Associate Professor Michele Roberts, AGSM Academic Director and UNSW Business School Associate Dean (Post Experience) emphasises the program’s strong performance in employer reputation.

“AGSM’s Executive MBA program takes pride in its employer reputation, scoring well above the global average in the QS rankings,” says Associate Professor Roberts.

“This metric reflects the positive perceptions of leading companies regarding the skills and preparedness of our graduates. By staying attuned to industry needs and equipping graduates with the most relevant knowledge and leadership qualities, we ensure they are career-ready and highly sought-after by top employers.”

“The AGSM Executive MBA program equips you with the knowledge, leadership skills, and global network to make a meaningful impact on the world around you, all while advancing your career.”

This is the eighth year that QS has released a global ranking for Executive MBA programs, which includes data collected from schools, students, academics, and employers. For the 2024 QS EMBA Rankings, 48 countries, 61,005 employers, and 48,166 academics were surveyed globally.

Europe continues to be the best destination for studying an executive MBA with all of the top six institutions in the region also ranking within the global top 10.

The Global Top Ten in QS Executive MBA Rankings 2024

1. University of Oxford (Saïd), UK
2. IESE Business School, Spain
3. HEC Paris, France
4. MIT (Sloan), US
5. London Business School, UK
6. Penn (Wharton), US
7. Northwestern (Kellogg), US
8. Yale School of Management, US
9. INSEAD, France
10. IE Business School, Spain

Of the American porividers Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and Yale School of Management moved into the top 10, climbing to seventh and eighth place respectively.

Saïd Business School top ranking highlighted particular strengths in the categories of Thought Leadership, determined by our global academic reputation, and Diversity, which notes the nationality breakdown of students. Said’s latest EMBA cohort includes students from 32 nationalities.

Oxford Saïd’s EMBA, tailored to suit working professionals, is also celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, having now welcomed more than 1,300 students onto the programme since its inception.

Kathy Harvey, Associate Dean, MBA and Executive Degrees, welcomed our first-place ranking, saying:

“We are fortunate to have one of the most diverse and experienced Executive MBA classes in the world, and to have our programme recognised by QS as the world-leader is an achievement everyone at Oxford Saïd can be proud of. Our transformational and competitive programme, now in its twentieth year, challenges students to explore the answers to complex business issues, delivering innovative and cutting-edge solutions to solve the problems of today, and those that will emerge tomorrow. We are grateful to our students, faculty and colleagues who continue to make our EMBA such a success.’

Ben Ready
Ben Ready founded MBA News in 2014 and is the Managing Editor. He is a former business and finance journalist with Australian Associated Press (AAP) and Dow Jones Newswires in London. Ben completed his MBA in 2012 and was awarded the QUT GMAA Entrepreneurship Prize. He is also the founder and Managing Director of RGC Media & Mktng (rgcmm.com.au).