FAQs

Both our Evening and Weekend MBA programs require a minimum of 5 years of work experience. The major difference between the two programs is the schedule and structure of class meetings.

The Weekend MBA Program’s hybrid model combines in-person class residencies every third weekend in Chapel Hill with online learning in between, keeping you engaged. Ambitious working professionals from around the country can integrate the MBA into their busy work and personal lives. Students often find that the weekend residencies allow them to focus on the program without distractions and the structure offers greater flexibility for work and personal commitments between classes. In addition to selecting from a wide array of electives, Weekend MBA students can choose a concentration in strategy and leadership, strategy and entrepreneurship, finance or marketing.

The Evening MBA meets weekly on campus in Chapel Hill. Working professionals who live within the metro area and who want the benefit of more regular class meetings can complete the Evening MBA while balancing their work and life responsibilities.

One of the things that sets the UNC Executive MBA programs apart from competitors is the broad selection of electives offered (more than other top-ranked Executive MBA programs), as well as the ability to take electives from one of our other MBA formats (Evening, Weekend or Online). As an Executive MBA student you may take up to 12 elective courses, which accounts for about 40% of your total credit hours, giving you the ability to really tailor your coursework to your goals and interests. Some students use their electives to focus on areas where they’d like to improve, and others opt to add further depth to their strengths or interests by completing a concentration.

We offer several different Executive MBA formats, with different schedules, for exactly this reason. Many of our students regularly travel for work and find that our Executive MBA programs provide plenty of flexibility to pursue their MBA without impacting those work-based travel demands. Weekend Executive MBA classes meet every third weekend, giving students great travel flexibility.

Our Executive MBA programs are designed so that busy, driven professionals can pursue their MBA while balancing their career and family commitments. Classes are scheduled so that you will have the flexibility for work travel and other personal commitments between class meetings. Our cohort model also means you can find support during particularly busy times. While the program is rigorous, our students are quick to tell others that it can be done and that time flies!

Yes! In fact, we encourage anyone who’s interested in applying to an Executive MBA program to sit in on a class. We structure these visit opportunities so you also have time to connect with current students before and after the scheduled class. Class visits offer the best way to experience the environment at UNC Kenan-Flagler, see how immediately relevant the curriculum is, witness the caliber of students you’ll be in class with and understand the strength of our cohorts and faculty. Additionally, we hold various webinars each month that allow you to learn more about our programs, including special career topics and student and alumni panel discussions. To register for a class visit or see our webinar schedule, visit our Admissions Events Calendar.

Yes. The UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School offers a portfolio of programs that enable students with a range of backgrounds, objectives and scheduling requirements to access UNC Kenan-Flagler’s top-ranked MBA. Whichever program you choose to pursue, you’ll receive the same degree.

Executive MBA programs allow experienced professionals to earn an MBA while working full-time, without sacrificing salary or career progression. On average, UNC’s Executive MBA students are about eight years older than our full-time MBAs. Though core coursework is similar across our MBA programs, professors in our Executive MBA Programs adapt their approach to take advantage of the professional experience their students bring to the classroom, often asking students to bring in real-word work challenges to study and problem-solve. As a student in an Executive MBA program, you’ll be able to turn to your cohort to seek solutions for challenges you currently face at work and you’ll be able to apply the knowledge and skills you acquire immediately in your career.

After graduation, you can take additional elective courses for a nominal fee. This allows you to update your skills and knowledge throughout your career.

Yes. All UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA programs, including both Executive MBA formats, are fully accredited by AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), the premier accrediting agency for business schools.

UNC Kenan-Flagler’s Executive Development programs offer non-degree business courses and seminars lasting a few days to several weeks. These highly ranked programs take an innovative approach to leadership development, business strategy and skills acquisition for executives.

Yes. The innovative online MBA@UNC makes the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA accessible to working professionals who are unable to make regular visits to the Chapel Hill campus for in-person coursework.

In addition to UNC Kenan-Flagler, more than 215 universities and colleges around the world offer Executive MBA programs and are members of the Executive MBA Council.

No. The Weekend MBA program is designed to be effective wherever you live in the country. Immersive residency weekends—where you’ll convene in Chapel Hill for several days of intensive coursework and relationship building—occur once every three weeks. The rest of the time you will progress through the program through a combination of independent and collaborative group study and via asynchronous online learning.

UNC Rizzo Center, home of the Weekend MBA program, is conveniently located just 20 minutes from the RDU airport.

Yes. Over the course of the program, Weekend MBA students have unlimited access to our dedicated working professionals career coaches. You can use these 1:1 sessions to review your development, provide guidance and make important connections between your coursework and your career objectives.

We believe that one of the primary advantages of an executive MBA is the wealth of knowledge, experience and leadership perspective our students bring to the classroom. It’s important to us that each cohort includes a diversity of backgrounds across a range of industries. That said, we also know from experience that the connections and relationships students make while in the program are meaningful and valuable well beyond graduation. We set the cohort size at 50 because this seems to be a sweet spot—sizable enough to include a rich diversity of voices and expertise and intimate enough to facilitate strong and lasting relationships among students and faculty. The size also allows the Weekend MBA administrative team to get to know each student, which not only helps us support the program but also puts us in a position where we can facilitate serendipitous connections between students on the fly.

No. In fact, it’s just the opposite: our full-time faculty teach across our MBA program formats and opportunities to teach in the Weekend MBA program are coveted. Faculty members enjoy the caliber and expertise of executive MBA students and love engaging with the real-world, current workplace challenges executive MBA students bring to the classroom.

Not necessarily. The Evening MBA program is best suited for students who learn best with short but regular contact with faculty and classmates. The Evening MBA program’s weekly class meetings extend into late evening hours, which works better for some students than others, depending on work and family obligations. Whereas all students in the Evening MBA program live close enough to drive in for weekly classes, about 30% of students in the Weekend MBA program live in proximity to Chapel Hill. The Weekend MBA Program is best suited to students who thrive in an immersive setting. Being in residence on campus for one weekend every three weeks means you can really concentrate on the work. But it also means you need to be self-directed enough to keep up with coursework between your sessions. So, our advice is to consider your learning style and life and work obligations. And contact us to learn about how students balance their lives with both programs.

Most students spend 12 to 20 hours per week in individual study or team meetings, in addition to class time.

Students communicate through email, video and conference calls, face-to-face meetings, and a variety of apps and collaboration tools between classes.

Yes. An important element of the weekend immersion experience is the opportunity to focus on your coursework and on making connections with faculty and the other members of your cohort. While in residence, you will stay at our executive conference facility, the Rizzo Center, where you’ll find hotel-style accommodations, superb culinary offerings, and a fitness center. The Rizzo Center is located just a few minutes from main campus and Franklin St. in Chapel Hill.

No, we do not accept transfer credits. All students in your class begin the Weekend MBA program at the same time and complete the coursework as a cohort.

Yes. The interview gives us an opportunity to learn more about you and your qualifications and gives you a chance to learn more about the Weekend MBA. We encourage you to schedule your interview at a time when you can visit a class and meet our students and faculty.

The Weekend MBA program is designed for driven, seasoned professionals, so most applicants have been away from school for many years. If you are concerned about the currency of certain skills (such as statistics, economics, or accounting), you may want to take continuing education courses to refresh those areas before applying. You will also need to be proficient in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel, including financial and statistical functions. Your academic background, work experience and standardized test scores (GMAT, GRE or Executive Assessment) are all things we assess to determine whether you will be academically successful.

Although we do have a standardized test requirement as part of the application process, we often find that many of our Executive MBA applicants have the academic and professional experience to make them good candidates to have this requirement waived. The review is simple and be completed prior to completing your application. We encourage you to submit a GMAT / GRE waiver request as one of the first steps you take in the process (although you can do it any time—regardless of how far along you are in the application process).