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Executive MBA (EMBA) 

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Executive MBA Student.

Executive MBA (EMBA) 

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UPF-BSMMastersExecutive MBA (EMBA)

The UPF Barcelona School of Management's Executive MBA is the management development program that will boost your professional career and prepare you to lead companies with a sustainable, impactful, global, and innovative vision.

SustainabilityLeadershipInnovationImpact
Next edition
Classes start14 October, 2024
Classes end30 March, 2026 (To be confirmed)
Program ends30 March, 2026 (To be confirmed)
ModalityOn-campus
LanguageSpanish
ECTS credits60
ScheduleFriday from 4 pm to 9 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm
Price31000 €

The Executive MBA is an official master's degree, accredited by AMBA, and endorsed by the excellence of Pompeu Fabra University.  

It is a part-time program, lasting 18 months, aimed at executives and managers with extensive professional experience. Our Executive MBA will make you a global leader, capable of transforming organizations, dealing with uncertain environments, and providing new responses to the challenges that companies and their managers face.   

With our Executive MBA you will:

  • Improve your ability to manage companies and provide transformative solutions to society, the economy, and understanding. 
  • Acquire new skills, through the challenge of developing a business plan from the first day of the course. 
  • Update your professional skills to quickly adapt them to a changing and competitive reality.
  • Improve your teamwork and leadership skills.


We have 24 years of experience training managers capable of leading projects with a global vision. People who seek to add value and transform society through innovation and a commitment to planetary well-being.   

The Executive MBA is endorsed by Pompeu Fabra University, the 1st Spanish university and the 15th best university in the world (of those with less than 50 years), according to the Times Higher Education ranking. In addition, UPF Barcelona School of Management has EQUIS accreditation, the most prestigious institutional recognition for business schools globally.

Collaborators:SDG CONSULTING logo

Why choose this program

01

Accredited School

Do your Executive MBA with the backing of a prestigious and recognized educational institution, ensuring the quality and relevance of your business management education. AQU, AMBA, and EQUIS accreditations endorse the academic excellence of our program.

02

Personalized Program

Benefit from a syllabus tailored to your needs, meticulously designed to hone your skills and enhance your leadership in the executive field. Additionally, you will have the support of a mentor and academic direction throughout the program.

03

Learn from the best

Take advantage of the experience and knowledge of prominent professionals and business experts, ensuring rigorous and highly practical training.

04

Networking

Establish meaningful connections with professionals from various industries and geographic areas, expanding your international network, an essential factor for professional development.

05

Electives and Complementary Activities

Personalize your educational experience by selecting elective courses and activities aligned with your goals, providing a specialized personalized focus for your Executive MBA. Participate in practical activities for personal and professional growth, such as the MBA Challenge and Outdoor Training.

06

International Focus

Immerse yourself in an educational environment that highlights the importance of globalization, business internationalization, and the strategic preparation necessary to lead in global markets. Gain a global view of business and discover other business realities through International Study Trips.

Who is it for?

The recommended entry profile for the Master is university graduates interested in the field of business administration and management. This Master is designed for graduates from various disciplines in the social sciences (such as Sociology, Law, Economics and Business), as well as Science and Engineering in their various specialties, with a minimum of 5 years’ professional experience.

 

Accreditations

The UPF Barcelona School of Management is the management school of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), the 3rd best public university in Spain according to the Times Higher Education ranking. It is the best Spanish university, 10th in Europe, and in the Top 20 worldwide in its 2023 ranking of the best young universities.

UPF Barcelona School of Management has EQUIS accreditation, the most prestigious institutional recognition for business schools globally, and places itself among the top business schools in the world.

The Executive MBA has AMBA accreditation from the Association of MBAs, which recognizes UPF-BSM for its academic quality and reputation.

The Executive MBA is an official master's degree and has the academic recognition of the Ministry of Education of the Government of Spain. The Quality Agency of the University System of Catalonia (AQU) has also institutionally accredited UPF-BSM. This accreditation certifies all the official master's degrees that we teach and recognizes the quality of our educational model in accordance with the criteria of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).

QS Business Masters ranking 2023 For the first time, the Executive MBA Ranking 2023 published by QS, one of the most highly respected higher education classifications in the world, has named the UPF-BSM among its selected business schools.

EQUIS-AccreditedAMBA logoAQU-MUBA-ENQS-ranking

Curriculum

The Executive MBA is structured over 18 months in which students will participate in core and optional subjects.

We have identified a set of key competencies that favour the professional development of the participants: leadership, communication, co-operation, adaptive thinking, decision-making, and autonomous learning. You will work on these competencies in an integrated and transversal way throughout the Executive MBA.

The MBA is taught in Spanish, but subjects in English can be chosen from among the electives.

The program also consists of an individual project that is defined in the intensive initial week (from 9 am to 7 pm) and is developed throughout the Executive MBA.

Materia 1. Management (24 ECTS)
Materia 2: Finance (9 ECTS)
Materia 3: Technology and operations (15 ECTS)
Materia 4: Soft skills (21 ECTS)
Materia 5: Entrepreneurship and Innovation. (12 ECTS)
TFM
Note on elective subjects

Note on the Curriculum

The information contained in these pages is for information purposes only and may be subject to change in the adaptation of each academic year. The definitive guide will be available to students in the virtual space before the start of each subject.

Complementary activities

The Executive MBA also includes the possibility of participating in practical, and personal and professional growth activities such as:

  • The Outdoor Training is a weekend of disconnection in a mountain hotel, in which team building activities are carried out with the aim of identifying roles and leaders, and improving managerial and team management skills.
  • The International Study Trips which are work trips in which you will visit the stock market and companies with the aim of learning about new international markets. We have previously visited Shanghai (China) or London (United Kingdom), among others.
  • The MBA Challenge is a four-day competition in which you will have the opportunity to work on a real challenge from a large corporation. Companies such as La Fageda, the Oncological Foundation of Catalonia, the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, or the Josep Carreres Foundation have already entrusted their cases to UPF-BSM participants.
  • International mobility: The UPF Barcelona School of Management offers you the possibility of expanding your training and international vision through the International Mobility Programme. Extend your studies extracurricularly, during the academic year following the completion of your Master's, at a top-level institution. Limited places.
  • UPF-BSM Inside: is a group of interdisciplinary subjects (applied data, communication, creativity, innovation and project management, sustainability and leadership among others) that, if you take this program, you can access at no additional cost. They are 100% online and you can take them throughout the academic year at your own pace, as they have been designed as self-study subjects.

Qualification obtained

Once students have completed the course they will obtain the Màster Universitari en Administració i Direcció d'Empreses / Master in Business Administration (MBA) - Máster Universitario en Administración y Dirección de Empresas / Master in Business Administration (MBA) official Master's Degree, issued by the Pompeu Fabra University.

Issuance of official Master's Degrees: The amount stipulated in the DOGC (Official Gazette of the Government of Catalonia) must be paid for the rights to issue the degree. This rate varies annually and the rate in force at the time of application for the degree will be applied.

Faculty

The Executive MBA is taught by management professionals from leading companies, and professors of recognized international prestige from UPF-BSM and the Department of Economics and Business at UPF.  

Academic directors

Coordinator

Faculty

Collaborating faculty

  • Borja Breña
    Principal at Nauta Capital
    Telecom engineer, Universitat de Sevilla. MBA, London Business School.
  • Jeffrey Breyer
    Director, Effective Coaching.
    Bachelor's in Anthropology , University of California, Berkeley.
  • Valentí Camps
    PADE-Top Management Program from IESE Businesss School
    Adjunct professor at ESCI-UPF
  • Jordi Damià
    Partner at Setesca.
    Telecommunications Engineer at the UPC.
  • Guillem Domingo
    Co-founder and CEO at Harboury Legal and Business Services
    PhD in Tax Law, Universitat de Barcelona
  • Joaquim López Caussa
    COO at Dozen Investments
    MBA, Asian Institute of Technology
  • August Mabilon Puig
    Associate of SDG Group.
    Management Development Program from IESE.
  • Marc Antoni Macia
    Co-founder  and COO at NoviCap
    MBA, IESE Business School
  • Bet Matoses
    Expert in Service Design and Design Thinking, specialized in the design of brand, product and service strategies with a completely digital approach. Bachelor's Degree in Political Sciences and Administration from Pompeu Fabra University and Degree in Industrial Design from IED.
  • Josep Maria Raya
    PhD in Economics from the University of Barcelona.
  • Christian Rodriguez Fornos
    Founder of BYHOURS, Urban Secretsm Netip Consulting, Chocolate Studio, among others.
    Board Member in Barcelona Tech City and Hawkers Group. Professor and university mentor on innovation and digital ecosystem issues.
  • Carlos Ribera
    Partner, SDG Group
    Telecommunications Engineer at the UPV.

Methodology

The Executive MBA combines fundamental contents essential for any professional aspiring to take on a management role with specific contents personalized with the support of a mentor based on personal competencies and professional projects.

The program also includes the opportunity to participate in practical and personal and professional growth activities, such as Outdoor Training, International Study Trips, and the MBA Challenge.

The EMBA employs various practical educational activities where the student is at the center of the learning process:

  • Project or Problem-Based Learning
  • Case Studies
  • Flipped Learning
  • Solving Real Company Challenges
  • Professional Simulations

These methodologies, combined with lectures, enable students to bridge theory and practice, acquire advanced skills, and gain directly applicable insights to their professional practice.

Project-Based Learning as an Integrative Element of Knowledge

Through the Final Master's Project (TFM), a project linked to the business world and/or organizations, students will work on throughout the course, allowing them to:

  • Bridge theory and practice
  • Integrate competencies from multiple disciplines
  • Apply their learning to professional practice
  • Design, manage, develop, and defend a professional project connected to the student's purpose and interests.
01

Personalized Approach and Active Mentoring

The EMBA adapts specific contents according to each participant’s competencies and professional projects, personalizing the learning experience with the active guidance of expert mentors and the selection of elective courses based on their needs or preferences.

02

Innovative Learning Methodologies

We use methods such as project-oriented learning, case studies, flipped learning, and professional simulations, providing an interactive and practical approach that effectively connects theory and practice.

03

Practical Professional Growth Activities

The program goes beyond the classroom with activities like Outdoor Training, International Study Trips, and the MBA Challenge, offering practical experiences that enhance the personal and professional growth of participants.

04

Integrated Learning through the Master's Thesis

Related to the business environment, the Master’s Thesis gives participants the opportunity to connect theory and practice, integrating multidisciplinary competencies, and transferring the knowledge and skills acquired to professional practice, culminating in the development and defense of a professionalizing project. The Thesis is developed individually by the participants with the support of the mentor and the Program Directors.

05

Connection between Theory and Practice

Combined with practical activities, sessions allow students to acquire advanced competencies directly applicable to their professional field, achieving an effective link between academic theory and the reality of the business world, which is strengthened by company visits and masterclasses with executives.

Evaluation

The Executive MBA program includes various evaluation systems for each course: examinations, group projects, and individual assignments. Class attendance is a mandatory requirement to ensure a comprehensive experience and maximize the benefits of the program.

Tools

Project-oriented learning and the combination of lectures and active methodologies such as case studies, flipped learning, solving real problems and professional simulations allow the student to connect theory and practice, acquire advanced skills and achieve learning which is transferable to work.

You will have:

  • Master's Final Project (TFM) or  Postgrad Final Project (TFP)
  • A personal mentor to monitor your final project (TFM or TFP)
  • Digital resources to achieve transversal skills
  • Interdisciplinary activities and workshops

Professional Future

On the Executive MBA, professional and corporate profiles come together with visionary entrepreneurs, all sharing a common goal of professional and personal growth. We provide a learning journey tailored to each profile, preparing participants for future professional challenges.

In the classroom, our approach is defined by interaction. Each session is an opportunity to blend theory and practice. Outdoor Training and Professional Simulations challenge participants to apply management skills in real time, creating leaders ready to tackle any business scenario.

Through innovative methodologies such as project-oriented learning and the individual Master’s Thesis linked to the business world, participants integrate knowledge, develop multidisciplinary competencies, and design transformative projects.

On completion of the program, the participants gain access to a range of professional opportunities, from executive positions to the option of developing their own project. The Executive MBA paves the way to new and diverse business areas. Global networking, personalized mentorship, and a practical approach ensure participants benefit from individualized learning focusing on tackling new challenges in an increasingly uncertain environment. Immersing themselves in this unique experience is the beginning of professional transformation.

Student profile

The Executive MBA ecosystem consists of national and international professionals with successful careers and active managers and executives with extensive experience who want to make a qualitative leap forward in their careers. Their typical education background is in Business Administration, Economics, Law, Engineering, or Public Accounting. The diversity of profiles sharing this experience (entrepreneurs, managers, consultants, engineers, etc.) adds significant value to your education.

36

Average age

9

Average experience

40%

International students

86%

Holding management positions

100%

Recommendation for the program

Career opportunities

The Executive MBA has become an essential tool for the participant's professional projection, enabling them to transform organizations and lead in uncertain environments. The combination of theoretical and practical sessions, applied projects, and activities equips the participants with the required to tackle new challenges.

This practical and results-oriented approach not only strengthens the student's professional position but also enables them to tackle business challenges with innovative solutions and lead in VUCA environments. At the end of the program, they will be equipped to embrace the dynamic challenges of the business world and lead transformations.

Participants have the full support of our Career Department and coaches who will accompany them throughout the program.

  • CEO, Board of Directors, or General Management of companies and organizations of any kind.
  • Venture Capital Manager, Private Equity Manager, and Strategic Consultant.
  • Management positions in any of the functional areas of a company: marketing, finance, human resources, production, etc.
  • Entrepreneur 
  • Intrapreneur: undertake projects within your organization.

Grants, scholarships and financing

Scholarships

The UPF Barcelona School of Management offers you different means of financing so that you can take any of our programs without worry. We offer you the opportunity to finance part of your program, either by rewarding your talent through scholarships, through grants from entities dedicated to promoting education or through collaboration agreements with financial entities.

Merit Based Scholarship

Apply for our Merit Based Scholarship, awarded to those who prove they have talent and motivation.

Learn more

Grants and discounts

Alumni discounts

If you are a member of our alumni associations or of one of our partner universities, we offer you a series of applicable discounts on the amount of tuition for your program.

Learn more

UPF Employee Discounts

If you are a member or family member of an employee of the UPF group or belonged to the collaborating institutions of the UPF Barcelona School of Management, you can enjoy a series of applicable discounts on the tuition fees for your program.

Learn more

UPF Partner Latinoamerican Universities Discount

If you are alumni of one of our Partner Universities, you are entitled to a discount of 10% on the UPF Barcelona School of Management Masters and postgraduate program tuition fees (those programs with more than 15 credits).

*Discount not compatible with other scholarships, discounts and reductions.

Learn more

External financial aid

A large number of external entities and institutions offer financial aid options to students who want to enrol on one of our master programs and postgraduate courses.

 

    Learn more

    MBA Discount

    Certain programs at UPF Barcelona School of Management offer specific financial aid to incoming students, funded by collaborating entities.

    Learn more

    Talent Boost MBA

    We reward candidates that have a promising profile and great prospects for the future. This aid can mean a 15% discount on the total price of the course.

    Learn more

    Funding

    Financing simulator

    You can choose how to finance your studies by consulting our simulator.

    Go to the simulator

    Collaborating entities

    In addition, we collaborate with various entities which provide study loans on favorable terms. For more information you can contact any of the following links. 

    CaixaBank
    BBVA
    Caixa d'Enginyers
    AGAUR
    Future studentFind all the information you need to prepare your future