I have over eight years of work experience in the telecom sector, mostly in Romania but with 1.5 years in the UK.

I am currently looking for an EMBA program that will help me along with my career. This step has been suggested by my superiors. But I have neither the time nor the inclination to take the GMAT, which I understand is a requirement for many programs. Right now I am essentially considering two programs.

1. A colleague has suggested ESADE in Spain which does not require the GMAT but has its own Spanish-language admissions test. This is doable for me but I would have to go to Barcelona or Madrid for the test. I understand that this program is highly regarded internationally. I have never had any direct experience with the school though. If I went with this school, I would sign up for the modular option, based on my scheduling needs.

2. I am actually leaning toward Cass' weekend program, because I attended one of the school's open enrollment programs several years ago and was impressed by the faculty's professionalism and the quality of the experience. This program does not require the GMAT, and I would be able to waive the IELTS requirement due to my UK work experience.

Does anybody have any thoughts on these or others that I might examine?

If you don't have 40 hours for the GMAT do you have 2000 hours for the MBA? http://board.find-mba.com/gmat/why-you-should-take-the-gmat-33542?_ga=1.24456314.1982599738.1410115952

Say I were willing to take the GMAT, would better programs than the Cass and ESADE ones be available to me?

A Romanian friend of mine, with a similar telecoms background, is a scholarship holder in the LBS London EMBA right now. Because of the pounds movement against the USD, their Global MBA is high in the rankings while the London-based EMBA is a bit lower. The experience is very similar, and LBS is moving over to the more work-friendly monthly long weekend calendar from the alternative Fridays (which I think is educationally better). So, why not aim for LBS?

Cass is #40 in the FT ranking while the ESADE EMBA is unranked. If you can get 600 on your GMAT I'd look at Cambridge, Kellogg-WHU, LBS and ESMT -- all of which are higher ranked than Cass and have higher salaries for alumni. For a top 20 school, you'd probably need to put much more time into your GMAT score.

[Edited by Duncan on Mar 30, 2015]

PS See: http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/executive-mba-ranking-2014

Perhaps you're right and I should take the GMAT. LBS certainly would not look bad on my resume.

It looks good on mine ;-)

Hi Duncan, I am also looking into EMBA programs (preferably in London) and have - until now - mostly considered Imperial, Cass and (potentially) Cambridge, as those business schools offer the "long weekend" once a month"-format which I am favoring due to my location (Austria). I was, however, positively surprised to read in your post above that LBS might also move into this direction with their London-based EMBA-program? Do you have any further information on this, in particular when a program with such a new format might start?

Would you have any other recommendations for me (in-house lawyer in the energy sector, about 6 years experience, preferably moving into entrepreneurship-sector or (at least) into a more general management role in an established company)? I have not (yet) taken the GMAT, but would be willing to make the effort...

And, by the way, many thanks for the vast information your postings have provided me with in the last few weeks of research! It is highly appreciated :-)

You can ask LBS... The Dubai cohort is already there, and I guess London will follow in September 2016. Why not join the Dubai cohort? It's the same programme, and the students have a great regional spread.

Entrepreneurship and established management are pretty different. I guess you looked at the Carlson EMBA at the WU? That is strong for general management. In terms of salary, it's on a par with Warwick, HSG and Imperial, but it's great value for money.

The executive MBA option at the University of North Alabama offers GMAT free admission, but I guess it's only for the distance programs in Taiwan and China, where students generally don't take the GMAT test. However, if you're located in Europe, I guess that won't be an option for you.

If this applicant is considering programs in the tier of LBS, I highly doubt he/she would be interested in a program at North Alabama.