The Melbourne Business School has climbed to 73rd (2022: 94) in the latest global ranking of Executive MBA programs by UK-based FT, with graduates experiencing 50% increase in salary after completing their studies.
Graduates from the MBS EMBA, which will cost $119,700 in 2024, reported an average salary of $US176,309 ($277,300) three years after finishing the 18-month residential program. In the same ranking last year, graduates reported a salary of $US163,876.
The top-ranked global EMBA was the Hong Kong-based program offered by the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University (United States) and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).
EMBA graduates from the $US185,650 Kellogg-HKUST reported an 89% salary increase to $US652,000 ($AUD1.025 million).
Top 10 Global EMBA Programs for 2023 |
||||
| 2023 Rank | School | Location | Salary Today ($US) | YOY Change |
| 1 | Kellogg/HKUST Business School | Hong Kong | 652,326 | 0 |
| 2 | Ceibs | China/Switzerland/Ghana | 529,822 | 0 |
| 3 | ESCP Business School | France/Germany/UK/ Italy/Spain/Poland | 324,261 | 2 |
| 4 | Trium: HEC Paris/LSE/NYU: Stern | France/US/UK | 394,123 | 2 |
| 5 | University of Oxford: Saïd | UK | 333,676 | 10 |
| 6 | IE Business School | Spain | 313,746 | 6 |
| 7 | HEC Paris | France/Qatar | 323,515 | -3 |
| 8 | Fudan University School of Management | China | 483,878 | 4 |
| 9 | London Business School | UK/UAE | 292,595 | 10 |
| 10 | Iese Business School | Spain/US/Germany/Brazil | 306,384 | 0 |
| 10 | Yale School of Management | US | 292,124 | 4 |
MBS was the only Australian EMBA program to make the list and has now averaged a ranking of 83 over the last three years.
The MBS program consists of 17 four-day modules and one module in Asia, spread over 18 months. During the four-day modules, students stay on campus at Melbourne Business School from Thursday to Sunday.
This format lets students fully immerse themselves in the program, without the distractions of work and home. All students receive a private room with ensuite, and all meals are provided.
Laurie Edwards, who is Head of Ideation and Portfolio Management – Innovation for Australia’s largest construction materials supplier Boral, graduated with the Executive MBA class of 2021.
After leaving high school at 15, Laurie worked at one of Wollongong’s most-loved bars, The Little Prince, where he picked up skills he never imagined would lead to an executive career.
“I loved that job. I started as a glassy, picking up glasses, and progressed to manager, acted as a project manager and did a lot of event management too,” he says.
“When it seemed time to move on, I spoke to one of the owners, who asked me if I would be interested in a junior project management role at Boral, where she worked full-time. I’ve been there seven years now and learned a huge amount.”
One of the reasons for Laurie’s success at Boral – where his team helped develop the lower-carbon concrete known as ENVISIA – is his conviction that innovation is all about people.
“Innovation isn’t just about coming up with a break-through idea or research,” he says.
As Laurie rose into management at Boral, his success made him increasingly conscious of the gaps in his formal education.
“I’ve been fortunate to have managers who were confident in what I could achieve, and not so concerned about my prior education,” he says.
“But that’s not going to last forever. At some point, I knew I could be working for somebody who expected a little bit more proof.
“When I came across the Executive MBA, I saw that it would give me a really broad base of knowledge. I went through the modules, and they seemed highly relevant to the work I do. In any given week, I do some aspect of all of them. It was the perfect option for me.”
MBS EMBA applicants require at least five years of management experience, an undergraduate degree, English proficiency and confidential referees.
