It’s a marathon, run in sprints

Here’s how to earn the Duke MBA without uprooting your entire life: our Global Executive format combines short in-person residencies with distance learning periods. Each term starts with a reading period to prep you for residency—a 24/7 immersion with teammates and faculty—and finishes with time spent working together remotely.

Traveling campus

Class convenes first in Durham, North Carolina, over a 2-week orientation session in late July. Then your classroom starts to move—through the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and Europe, where you’ll gather for 1-week residencies in October, January, April, and July, with each residency preceded and followed by distance learning periods. Your final term, you'll return to Duke for 2 - one week residencies for electives. The intense format ensures you’ll experience the total immersion of a traditional MBA program while continuing to work and live wherever you call home.

A special way of working

Fuqua’s difference comes from the way we structure our MBA programs: as learning teams. You’ll be assigned to a team of 5-6 peers who all think differently. The experience mimics the diversity of a real-world global team, where you work across time zones and different perspectives. You’ll need to learn to trust and rely on each other’s strengths, gaining practice in skills that will help you move any team forward.

Our Faculty

All Fuqua degree programs are taught by the same world-renowned faculty, who are recognized for excellence in both teaching and research. While our faculty are known for their accessibility across degree programs, the Global Executive format fosters an even closer relationship. Traveling and living together for international residencies, you’ll interact with your professors both in and out of the classroom. And since your distance learning platform is always on, your faculty are monitoring class bulletin board discussions and responding to emails continuously.

Classroom Dynamics

Your classmates will bring real-time expertise to class discussions. While extensive reading assignments get you ready, debate and analysis—both in the classroom and on your learning platform—is how you’ll learn. The case-based curriculum is academically rigorous, and faculty keep you on your toes with random "cold calls" as you work through the material.

Experiential Learning

You’ll go out into the field to gather real-world data points. The Global Executive MBA curriculum includes a range of non-traditional assignments—like interacting with locals—that get you out of your comfort zone. You’ll observe operations and meet with managers in company visits, developing insights on different industries. Senior leaders engage with your class in each country, providing perspective on that region’s political economy. These experiences enrich classroom discussion while giving you a real-world sense of the concepts you learn.

Over seven terms you’ll cover 17 courses: 10 in the core curriculum, three multi-term courses on dynamics in global business, and four electives. Although locations and timing may shift between calendar years, the typical Global Executive structure looks like this:

Term 1 (Durham)

  • Distance Period (15 days)
  • Orientation & Residency (15 days)
  • Distance Period (6 weeks)

Term 2 (Asia)

  • Distance Period (15 days)
  • Residency (10 days)
  • Distance Period (6 weeks)

Term 3 (Latin America)

  • Distance Period (15 days)
  • Residency (10 days)
  • Distance Period (6 weeks)

Term 4 (Asia)

  • Distance Period (15 days)
  • Residency (10 days)
  • Distance Period (6 weeks)

Term 5 (Europe)

  • Distance Period (15 days)
  • Residency (10 days)
  • Distance Period (6 weeks)

Elective Terms 6 - 7 (Durham)

  • Distance Period (15 days)
  • Residency (2 - 1 week sessions)
  • Distance Period (6 weeks following each 1 week residency)

Optional Term 8

Residencies

In the Global Executive format, you travel to meet classmates and professors in cities that become your campus for the week. Four of your residencies will be in cities selected to provide wide exposure to the global economy, while three residencies take place on Fuqua’s campus in Durham, North Carolina. Locations may vary based on travel restrictions, but the typical pattern looks like this:

  • Durham, NC 
  • Latin America 
  • Dubai
  • Asia 
  • Europe 
  • Durham, NC
  • Durham, NC

Condensed into a short window, residency is the time you immerse fully in your program:

  • Attending classes
  • Visiting companies
  • Engaging in cultural activities
  • Participating in career development workshops
  • Interacting with alumni
  • Working on assignments
  • Socializing with classmates
  • Meeting face-to-face with your team

Distance Learning

Between residencies, you’ll be in a distance learning period. During this part of the term, you attend weekly virtual classes with your faculty and continue working on team assignments remotely. Distance learning periods provide more flexibility to balance program requirements around the needs of your job and family. While you should expect to spend at least 20 hours a week on schoolwork during this time, you can schedule these tasks around work and personal commitments.

Throughout the program you’ll use your distance learning platform to:

  • Submit assignments
  • Download course materials
  • Chat with classmates
  • Read class and team bulletin boards
  • Take exams
  • Contribute to course discussion boards
  • Share documents
  • Call your teammates

Print Calendar

* Arrival day — lodging covered by program.
** Departure day from residency — no programming scheduled.
Residency locations are subject to change based on  local circumstances.

TERM 1 - DURHAM (2022)
Reading Period/Classes Begin July 1 - 23, 2022
Residency July 24* - August 7**, 2022
Distance August 8 - 15, 2022
Break August 16 - 22, 2022
Distance August 23 - October 3, 2022
Break October 4 - 6, 2022

 

TERM 2 - SANTIAGO  (2022)
Reading Period/Classes Begin October 7 - 26, 2022
Residency October 27* - November 6**, 2022
Break November 7, 2022
Distance November 8 - December 19, 2022
Break December 20, 2022 - January 3, 2023

 

TERM 3 - DUBAI (2023)
Reading Period/Classes Begin January 4 - 25, 2023
Residency (includes team changeover) January 26* - February 5**, 2023
Break February 6 - 13, 2023
Distance February 14 - March 27, 2023
Break March 28 - 30, 2023

 

TERM 4 - BANGKOK (2023)
Reading Period/Classes Begin March 31 - April 19, 2023
Residency April 20* - 30**, 2023
Break May 1, 2023
Distance May 2 - June 12, 2023
Break June 13 - 15, 2023

 

TERM 5 - BERLIN (2023)
Reading Period/Classes Begin June 16 - July 5, 2023
Residency July 6* - July 16**, 2023

Break

July 17 - July 24, 2023
Distance July 25 - September 4, 2023
Break September 5 - 14, 2023

 

ELECTIVE TERM 1 - DURHAM (2023)
Reading Period/Classes Begin September 15 - 28, 2023
Residency September 29* - October 7**, 2023
Break October 8 - 16, 2023
Distance October 17 - November 20, 2023
Break November 21 - December 31, 2023

 

ELECTIVE TERM 2 - DURHAM (2024)
Reading Period/Classes Begin January 1 - 12, 2024
Residency January 13* - 20**, 2024
Break January 21 - 29, 2024
Distance January 30 - March 4, 2024

 

OPTIONAL CONCENTRATION (2024)
Optional Concentration December 1, 2023 - April 1, 2024

 

GRADUATION
Degree Conferral May 12, 2024
Graduation Ceremony May 11 - May 12, 2024

Print Calendar

* Arrival day — lodging covered by program.
** Departure day from residency — no programming scheduled.
Residency locations are subject to change based on  local circumstances.

TERM 1 - DURHAM (2023)
Reading Period/Classes Begin July 1 - 22, 2023
Residency July 23* - August 6**, 2023
Distance August 7 - 14, 2023
Break August 15 - 21, 2023
Distance August 22 - October 2, 2023
Break October 3 - 5, 2023

 

TERM 2 - BANGKOK (2023)
Reading Period/Classes Begin October 6 - 25, 2023
Residency October 26* - November 5**, 2023
Break November 6, 2023
Distance November 7 - December 18, 2023
Break December 19, 2023 - January 2, 2024

 

TERM 3 - SANTIAGO (2024)
Reading Period/Classes Begin January 3 - 24, 2024
Residency January 25* - February 4**, 2024
Break February 5 - 12, 2024
Distance February 13 - March 25, 2024
Break March 26 - 28, 2024

 

TERM 4 - NEW DELHI (2024)
Reading Period/Classes Begin March 29 - April 17, 2024
Residency (includes team changeover) April 18* - 28**, 2024
Break April 29, 2024
Distance April 30 - June 10, 2024
Break June 11 - 13, 2024

 

TERM 5 - PRAGUE (2024)
Reading Period/Classes Begin June 14 - July 3, 2024
Residency July 4* - July 14**, 2024

Break

July 15 - July 22, 2024
Distance July 23 - September 2, 2024
Break September 3 - 12, 2024

 

ELECTIVE TERM 1 - DURHAM (2024)
Reading Period/Classes Begin September 13 - 26, 2024
Residency September 27* - October 5**, 2024
Break October 6 - 14, 2024
Distance October 15 - November 18, 2024
Break November 19 - December 31, 2024

 

ELECTIVE TERM 2 - DURHAM (2025)
Reading Period/Classes Begin January 1 - 10, 2025
Residency January 11* - 18**, 2025
Break January 19 - 27, 2025
Distance January 28 - March 3, 2025

 

OPTIONAL CONCENTRATION (2025)
Optional Concentration December 1, 2024 - April 1, 2025

 

GRADUATION
Degree Conferral May 11, 2025
Graduation Ceremony May 10, 2025 - May 11, 2025

Print Calendar

* Arrival day — lodging covered by program.
** Departure day from residency — no programming scheduled.
Residency locations are subject to change based on  local circumstances.

TERM 1 - DURHAM (2024)
Reading Period/Classes Begin July 1 - 20, 2024
Residency July 21* - August 4**, 2024
Distance August 5 - 12, 2024
Break August 13 - 19, 2024
Distance August 20 - September 30, 2024
Break October 1 - 3, 2023

 

TERM 2 - BANGKOK, THAILAND (2024)
Reading Period/Classes Begin October 4 - 23, 2024
Residency October 24* - November 3**, 2024
Break November 4, 2024
Distance November 5 - December 16, 2024
Break December 17 - 31, 2024

 

TERM 3 - LATIN AMERICA (2025)
Reading Period/Classes Begin January 1 - 22, 2025
Residency January 23* - February 2**, 2025
Break February 3, 2025
Distance February 4 - March 17, 2025
Break March 18 - 20, 2025

 

TERM 4 - NEW DELHI (2025)
Reading Period/Classes Begin March 21 - April 9, 2025
Residency (includes team changeover) April 10* - 20**, 2025
Break April 21, 2025
Distance April 22 - June 2, 2025
Break June 3 - 12, 2025

 

TERM 5 - BERLIN (2025)
Reading Period/Classes Begin June 13 - July 2, 2025
Residency July 3* - July 13**, 2025

Break

July 14 - July 21, 2025
Distance July 22 - September 1, 2025
Break September 2 - 11, 2025

 

ELECTIVE TERM 1 - DURHAM (2025)
Reading Period/Classes Begin September 12 - 25, 2025
Residency September 26* - October 4**, 2025
Break October 5 - 13, 2025
Distance October 14 - November 17, 2025
Break November 18 - December 31, 2025

 

ELECTIVE TERM 2 - DURHAM (2026)
Reading Period/Classes Begin January 1 - 9, 2026
Residency January 10* - 17**, 2026
Break January 18 - 26, 2026
Distance January 27 - March 2, 2026

 

OPTIONAL CONCENTRATION (2026)
Optional Concentration TBD

 

GRADUATION
Degree Conferral May 9, 2026
Graduation Ceremony May 9, 2026 - May 10, 2026

Can We Talk?

We'd love to learn more about your background and goals so we can help you explore whether the Global Executive MBA is a good fit for your career. We're also happy to answer any questions you may have about our programs or admissions process. 

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Global Executive MBA Quick Facts

Start Date: July 2024
Duration: 21 months
Location: Global
Style: Cohort-based
Curriculum: General management, with 5 concentrations and 1 certificate
Format: Residency and distance learning

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Program Location and Accommodations

JB Duke Hotel Fuqua Executive Education
During your time in Durham, you’ll live and learn in the four-star JB Duke Hotel, a contemporary and tranquil retreat on Duke’s campus with state-of-the-art learning facilities.
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Asia / India

On Location in New Delhi

Global Executive MBA students celebrate Holi in New Delhi
Taking a break from Decision Models to celebrate the festival of colors in India. Holi is a great example of why each residency experience is unforgettable.

Contact Us

Sign up for information about our Global Executive MBA program.

Sample Residency Day 1

Breakfast and review accounting notes
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM

Class: Managerial Accounting
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Guest speaker: China Business Council
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

Lunch with speaker
12:15 PM  - 1:15 PM

Class: Operations Management
1:15 PM  - 4:15 PM

Class: Global Markets & Institutions
4:30 PM  - 6:30 PM

Dinner with friends in Shanghai
6:45 PM  - 7:45 PM

Team meeting for operations assignment
8:00 PM  - 10:00 PM

Connect with family and prep tomorrow's cases
10:00 PM  - 12:00 AM

Sample Residency Day 2

City walk and breakfast
6:30 AM - 7:30 AM

Class: Global Markets & Institutions
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Class: Operations Management
8:45 AM - 10:45 PM

Class: Managerial Accounting
11:00 AM  - 1:00 PM

Box lunch and visit to auto factory
1:30 PM  - 5:00 PM

Team meeting for accounting assignment
5:30 PM  - 7:00 PM

Working dinner with team at hotel
7:00 PM  - 8:00 PM

Optional Chinese acrobat show
8:00 PM  - 9:00 PM

Socialize with classmates
9:00 PM  - 11:00 PM

Global Executive MBA

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