How is BI Norwegian's Executive MBA program rated?

I don't think their EMBA has gotten into any rankings, but it's a well designed course from a strong school. It's not AMBA or AACSB accredited. Have you considered the Henley MBA in Norway?

Thanks for replying Duncan. NI has an EQUIS accreditation. What is the importance of a ranking on eduniversal (they are 17 under 5 palmes)? I will be checking Henley as you suggested. NI has a good modular structure i.e. classes for 10 to 12 days at a stretch facilitating people like me who travel and cannot conform to monthly classes such as those that require attendance three or four days every month. Any other good schools that follow this approach in Europe that you could recommend?

Hi there. Yes, EQUIS accreditation is of the institution as a whole, but the MBA lacks either of the accreditations available specifically for degrees.

I am a fan of eduniversal, which gives a good vision of the school's academic prestige in its national market. The international comparisons are not so strong (for example no-one can take seriously the idea that Copenhagen is stronger than INSEAD or that Rotterdam is stronger than MIT). What it does how is that, with schools that lead in their national market, that schools like BI, CBS (and Rotterdam, McGill, HEC, WU, IMD, Stockholm, SDA, Melbourne) get huge boosts in that ranking because they are ranked by academics in that country as being head and shoulders above the rest. They are all, of course, much weaker than Northwestern or Chicago, whom they beat in that ranking.

I think for you there might be two solutions: another school with two-week modules (The EMBAs of ESADE-Georgetown, Steinbeis, Tias-Gisma, Tepper-HEC), or a school where you could easily skip modules if you needed to (Warwick, Manchester, Durham). Also look at the Euro*MBA, which has a good structure.

Hi Duncan. Thanks for the information. Will check the schools you mention. So from your assessment, BI's EMBA is not up-to-the mark and not worth considering?

Well, I don't know about you or your options. BI and NHH are certainly the key schools in Norway and, if your future is there, then it makes sense to network into it. If you are the sort of person who might look for jobs outside Norway, with non-Norwegian firms, then I would look for a degree with more portability. At a different school you might have more diversity, access to electives, a better classroom experience and so on.

For $60,000 it's good value, but the IMM is $75,000 and comes in the top 25 worldwide (http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/emba-rankings-2010), and there are also programmes at WHU, ESCP and other European schools which are similar in price and are more international and more portable.

Thanks a lot for your help Duncan. I will research the schools you mention and those on the FT rankings in tandem with my time and money limitations. I wish to avoid e-learning schools for the moment as I think an MBA through such a method may yet not be considered strong by employers.How are the required 1,800 study hours calculated? Do they include assignments and outside class hours? Once again, thanks a lot for your feedback. It has been really helpful.

The Euro*MBA, of course, isn't offered by e-learning schools but by a consortium of well-respected universities: they are well known and, in discussions with employers, I'd call it an European MBA rather than an online MBA. It involves six residential weeks as well as distance learning. Study hours are normally calculated by adding together the time in class and outside of class needed to complete the course; you'll have to ask them how they do it. Most colleges have a fairly detailed plan for accreditation purposes.