Oxford Executive MBA | Programme outline

An immersive learning experience enabling you to make immediate impact.

The Oxford Executive MBA programme has 16-18 week-long modules (depending on your choice of elective courses). Modules are designed to fit alongside work commitments and run approximately every five weeks.

Start dates are in either September or January each year. The teaching for the January programme is delivered over 22 months and the teaching for the September programme is delivered over 24 months. Assessments take place at the end of each module, extending the duration of each programme by approximately 1-2 months. There is no difference in content or qualification between the two intakes, so you can apply to join the cohort with the timings that suit you best.

Modules typically start on a Monday morning and end on a Friday evening. However, some weeks may include a Saturday and/or Sunday. These will be communicated in advance. The first module will be online, with the rest mostly taking place in Oxford. We recommend you stay in or near to Oxford. Elective modules and overseas modules will include weekends, as indicated in this provisional list of module dates.

The courses are complemented by personal study (reading, research, writing assignments), completed away from the Business School.

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Courses

The programme is made up of:

Core courses that offer you a comprehensive understanding of modern business. The content of these varies and includes one compulsory international course.
Elective courses, selected by you, include two optional international locations. These are designed to develop your individual skills and specialisations.
Compulsory integrative projects: the Global Opportunities and Threats Oxford (GOTO) project and the Entrepreneurship Project (EP), both team collaborations, draw together and apply themes and topics studied on the programme.

Throughout the programme, there will be a focus on leadership development, including group and individual coaching sessions, as well as a unique support programme from the Executive Career Development Team including career coaching, career workshops, sector information sessions and events as well as online resources.

Elective courses

As part of the programme, you will have the opportunity to personalise your Executive MBA experience and gain more in-depth knowledge and understanding of specialist areas through your elective choices. Electives are aligned with current developments in management and business and may vary each year. Students must take four elective credits.

Examples of electives available to Oxford Executive MBA candidates in previous years include:

AI for Executives
Psychology, Economic Decisions, and Financial Markets
Business History
Corporate Turnaround and Business Transformation
Corporate Valuation
Evidence-based Inclusive Leadership
Fintech and AI in Finance
Identification: the Art & Science of Separating Causation from Correlation
Mergers and Acquisitions
New Approaches to Strategy Work
Private Equity
Real Estate
Innovation Strategy
Systempreneurship: Innovate for Impact.

Previous international electives include:

Entrepreneurial Finance
Inclusive Innovation in Africa

Electives are regularly reviewed and subject to change.

Core themes

The programme includes core themes: entrepreneurial thinking (which includes a group entrepreneurship project), strategic leadership and global complexities and risk.

Teaching and learning methods

Alongside traditional teaching methods, you will have the chance to reflect on your own individual experiences and work with your peers.

The modules delivered in the Oxford EMBA are a catalyst for a shared learning experience between the cohort, as well as focused time with our faculty. Each course is taught intensively utilising case studies and highly interactive lectures, which require significant independent reading beforehand.

In addition, study groups are formed to facilitate collaborative learning through debate, discussion and presentation. Between sessions, additional coursework is to be completed, both individually and in virtual groups, using online resources.

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Sample lecture

Experience our teaching style.

Changes to this course and your supervision

We will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out on these pages. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for us to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made in circumstances of a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract.

Accreditation and membership

Assessment

The assessment regime is a combination of examinations, group and individual assignments. Assessment methods are tailored to most effectively achieve desired learning outcomes.