Printed from The Fuqua School of Business Executive MBA web site
Duke University, Durham, NC
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The Duke MBA – Global Executive

Frequently Asked Questions

Academic
How is the Global Executive program different, in terms of academic content, from other executive MBA programs (e.g., weekend EMBAs)? What makes it global?
How accessible is the faculty on-line?
What is the purpose/value in having international residencies?
Can group or individual projects be done that are directly related to the sponsoring the company?
Administrative
Given the rigor of the program and the necessary time commitment, how do I fit this into my life? How are current Global Executive students handling it?
Do I have to attend all of the residencies?
Can I use my own laptop during the program instead of the one that the program provides?
How good/reliable does my Internet access have to be?
Admissions
How technologically savvy do I need to be to succeed in Global Executive?
What "type" of student are you looking for?
Do you require the GMAT?
How closely do you look at undergraduate transcripts (i.e., I did poorly in college)?
Can I speak with a current student or an alumnus to hear first-hand about the Global Executive experience?
I've been out of school for a long time and/or I do not have a quantitative background. I am apprehensive about my quantitative readiness. How do you assess my quantitative skills in the admissions decision process? Is there help available prior to the start of the program?
Is an interview required?
The Duke Executive MBA brochure lists the average years as 14, and I have not been in the workplace for that long. Am I too young for the program?
Financial
Do I have to have corporate support to be admitted to the Global Executive program?
How do I go about getting corporate financial support?
What if I don't receive corporate financial support? Are scholarships available?
How will I be billed for the program fees and do you offer special payment plans?
What is NOT included in the program fee of $135,500?
Academic
Q1. How is the Global Executive program different, in terms of academic content, from other executive MBA programs (e.g., weekend EMBAs)? What makes it global?
A1. The Duke MBA – Global Executive is very demanding and rigorous. Global Executive uses the same faculty base, the same rigorous grading standards, and provides the same Duke degree as the other three MBA programs. However, the content has been adjusted to include more global issues and strategies to serve a participant population that has far more global management experience.
  • Like most other executive MBA programs, the Global Executive program is a lock-step curriculum, meaning that all students take all courses. The courses are targeted at general managers who have or will soon assume global responsibilities. The program is designed for those who want to enhance their career path within their existing company.
  • International residencies: See Q8
  • Global student body: Unlike traditional executive MBA programs which usually have a regional draw, the flexibility of Global Executive accommodates a student body from around the globe. Not only are the students diverse geographically, but they are also diverse in the types of global management experiences that they bring to the classroom.
Q2. How accessible is the faculty on-line?
A2. Faculty/student contact is actually significantly greater in Global Executive than in other executive MBA programs due to the 24 hours/day, 7 days a week nature of Internet-enabled learning. In addition to weekly real-time office hours, faculty monitor class and team bulletin board discussions and respond to e-mails on a regular basis. Faculty vary in availability, usually due to the subject matter and other teaching/research commitments. However, you can expect that, on average, faculty will respond within 24 hours.
Q3. What is the purpose/value in having international residencies?
A3. International residencies are an important ingredient in a global MBA program as they add to the value and richness of the classroom component by providing various lenses (social, economic, cultural, etc.) through which to view various economies and systems. Instead of simply studying about an economy, Fuqua provides an experiential component which adds value to the learning experience that cannot be duplicated in Durham. This is accomplished using a variety of means, including visiting regional companies, having regional speakers, bringing in company representatives to supplement case discussions, and simply by experiencing the region outside of classroom time. Additionally, being away from job responsibilities and family in an unfamiliar culture also helps build the intimacy and team spirit of the group. Oftentimes, Global Executive students who reside in the residency location act as hosts and expose the class to experiences and cultural insights that the average tourist would not encounter.
Q4. Can group or individual projects be done that are directly related to the sponsoring the company?
A4. There are several opportunities to work on issues facing your company, although it is important to note that these opportunities vary depending on the professor and the course. For instance, one course may ask your learning team to analyze some aspect of a corporation; if your corporation has challenges that interest your teammates, you may be able to persuade your team to focus on your company. Another course may ask you to write analyses based on your experience within your corporation. Regardless of the specific project, the courses are designed so that you can implement course materials in your daily work within a reasonable amount of time.
Administrative
Q5. Given the rigor of the program and the necessary time commitment, how do I fit this into my life? How are current Global Executive students handling it?
A5. The Global Executive program will definitely require some prioritizing in your life. When deciding to apply to the Global Executive program, you need to make sure that those around you--your significant other, family, and co-workers--understand the commitment you've made and support your undertaking. Some companies help to alleviate workload by providing their employees with additional support (e.g., staff support, time off), but most Global Executive students see no relief in their responsibilities. Global Executive students vary in how they handle the Global Executive workload (e.g., some may do school work all weekend, some may set aside 3 hours every day). The average workload during the program is 20 hours a week. The important point is that you need to find a routine that works for you and for your team and stick with it.
Q6. Do I have to attend all of the residencies?
A6. Yes, attendance at all of the residencies, for the entire residency, is a requirement.
Q7. Can I use my own laptop during the program instead of the one that the program provides?
A7. No, the Global Executive program provides each student with an IBM ThinkPad, all of the program software, and technical support. In order to provide the necessary technical support, it is imperative that everyone be on the same platform. If you use different hardware, we would not be able to assist you. A well-maintained laptop is critical to the distance learning component of Global Executive. The Fuqua School of Business Distance Learning specialists maintain, upgrade, and trouble-shoot Global Executive laptops during each residency. Some students have decided to purchase an additional hard drive in order to use the ThinkPad for work and Global Executive. Upon graduation, the ThinkPad becomes the property of the student.
Q8. How good/reliable does my Internet access have to be?
A8. In order to be a solid contributor to your team and to the program, you should be able to connect to the Internet for at least 45 minutes at a time for a total of at least five hours per week.
Admissions
Q9. How technologically savvy do I need to be to succeed in Global Executive?
A9. During your first residency, we provide an extra week for orientation. Part of this orientation focuses on getting students comfortable with understanding and using the technology. Most students are familiar with word processing, e-mail and the World Wide Web, but many have not been exposed to spreadsheets, electronic bulletin boards, chat rooms, and messaging services. There is a wide range of computer skills among the Global Executive students, but we recommend that you have some basic skills on the computer (e.g., EXCEL, Word, PowerPoint) to succeed in Global Executive.
Q10. What "type" of student are you looking for?
A10. Although each applicant will be assessed on his/her unique qualities, here are some characteristics that the admissions committee looks for in a Global Executive applicant: • Minimum of 10 years work experience
• Soon to be or already involved in significant global job responsibilities
• An enthusiasm, inquisitiveness and commitment to assure success in an intellectually challenging global learning endeavor.
• Quantitative aptitude and the intellectual ability to complete a rigorous graduate degree program at Duke University
• Highly proficient in English
• A clear understanding of the commitment required to succeed in Global Executive.
Q11. Do you require the GMAT?
A11. We do not require the GMAT at this time. We evaluate quantitative abilities by evaluating coursework on undergraduate transcripts. When we have questions about quantitative readiness, we make arrangements for prospective students to participate in a math discussion and assessment with a Fuqua professor.
Q12. How closely do you look at undergraduate transcripts (i.e., I did poorly in college)?
A12. We look quite closely at undergraduate transcripts, for both overall academic performance and for performance in quantitative coursework. We realize that most Global Executive students have been out of school for quite awhile, and therefore, we consider very seriously the applicant's career achievements, career progress, and any post-secondary academic work that has been completed.
Q13. Can I speak with a current student or an alumnus to hear first-hand about the Global Executive experience?
A13. Yes, we will be happy to provide you with the contact information for a current Global Executive student or alumnus.
Q14. I've been out of school for a long time and/or I do not have a quantitative background. I am apprehensive about my quantitative readiness. How do you assess my quantitative skills in the admissions decision process? Is there help available prior to the start of the program?
A14. The admissions committee will look closely at your performance at the undergraduate level and in any graduate work you have done, particularly quantitative courses. Also, the committee will consider your career history and the types of quantitative work that you were exposed to. Should there be a question about your quantitative skills, you will be asked to complete a diagnostic test comprised of various quantitative problems. Once this is completed, a faculty member, who is also on the admissions committee, will assess your skills. If review work is necessary, specific recommendations will be made.
Q15. Is an interview required?
A15. Yes. An interview can be conducted in a variety of ways. The applicant can come to the Duke campus, conduct the interview via telephone or videoconference or schedule an interview with a Fuqua representative during a visit to your region.
Q16. The Duke Executive MBA brochure lists the average years as 14, and I have not been in the workplace for that long. Am I too young for the program?
A16. A particular strength of an executive MBA program, such as Global Executive, is that the experiences brought to the classroom by the students elevate the learning experience. The average years of work experience are 14, but of course, there are some students with fewer years and some with more. An important factor in assessing your application is whether you will be able to make a valuable contribution to the classroom in addition to whether you will be able to succeed in the Global Executive program. This is where your career responsibilities and experiences and the interview are very important.
Financial
Q17. Do I have to have corporate support to be admitted to the Global Executive program?
A17. There are two types of corporate support, one is support for the endeavor itself and one is financial. Your company must endorse your involvement to the program by allowing the time off necessary to attend the eleven weeks of residencies and by being flexible about the additional commitment you've made in your daily life. It is not necessary to obtain financial support. As part of the application process, you must have a written agreement from your organization stating their willingness to let you be away from the office for the required period of time. How to categorize that time off (e.g., vacation, paid time off), is a decision that is left to you and your employer.
Q18. How do I go about getting corporate financial support?
A18. Policies vary among companies in terms of how they view educational benefits. Representatives from Fuqua are available to discuss strategies for gaining corporate sponsorship within your organization. We see the Global Executive program as a partnership of the student, the organization, and Fuqua, so we are eager to see that you have all of the information you need to garner adequate support from your organization.
Q19. What if I don't receive corporate financial support? Are scholarships available?
A19. Fortunately, scholarship funds from The Fuqua School of Business are available for this program but they are limited. Both merit scholarships and diversity scholarships are available for deserving candidates. Additionally, Global Executive students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents have the option of applying for a limited amount of federal loans. Fuqua has a financial aid office that can assist you with this process of borrowing from the U.S. Federal loan program (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/). International students can apply for an Expanded MBA Loan.
Q20. How will I be billed for the program fees and do you offer special payment plans?
A20. After acceptance, you will be asked to pay a deposit of $7,500. The remaining balance will be divided into five separate installments and due prior to each term.
Q21. What is NOT included in the program fee of $135,500?
A21. Travel to and from the residencies, incidental costs at each residency (e.g., phone calls, laundry, souvenirs) and the local Internet service provider costs are not included in the program fee.