EMBA Application Requirements

Tell us what sets you apart. We are genuinely interested in learning more about you. Columbia Business School values interesting individuals who are earnest in their career aspirations. Our faculty is world-renowned. The curriculum is rigorous. We believe this is the best Executive MBA for experienced professionals. Here's what you need to do to apply.

Application Checklist

Columbia Business School requires that the work contained in your application (including essays) is completely accurate and exclusively your own. Columbia University permits the use of generative AI tools for idea generation and/or to edit a candidate’s work; however, using these tools to generate complete responses violates the Honor Code.

Applicants should not participate in the drafting of letter(s) of recommendation.

All application content is subject to verification and adherence to the above requirements.

OFFERS OF ADMISSION WILL BE RESCINDED SHOULD ANY MISREPRESENTATION AND/OR OMISSION OCCUR.

Employer Sponsorship

  • Regardless of the level of financial support from your employer, applicants to EMBA-Friday/Saturday are required to submit a signed sponsorship letter from an authorized representative of your organization, briefly stating the terms of support.
  • Financial sponsorship is not required of your employer, but your organization must agree to: 1) Keep your travel time to a minimum; 2) Completely release you from all job responsibilities on class days.
  • Learn more about the sponsorship requirement.
  • Sponsorship letters must be uploaded into the online application system.

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Transcripts

A bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution is required for admission to Columbia Business School. As an EMBA applicant, you are required to provide the Admissions Committee with records of your academic work. Applicants should upload PDF versions of transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution that you have attended.

If offered admission, you will be required to provide encrypted digital copies of your transcripts from each of the colleges or universities submitted on your application. Offers of admission are not binding until academic records have been verified.

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GPA

Applicants should report their grade point average as it appears on their transcript.

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Standardized Tests (GMAT, Executive Assessment, or GRE Scores) & Test Waivers

Applicants should submit a valid self-reported GMAT*, Executive Assessment, or GRE score. Columbia Business School considers scores to be valid for five years after your test date. Please be sure to send your score report and submit your application at least one week before the scores expire. 

If admitted, CBS will ask you to submit an official GMAT, Executive Assessment, or GRE score. Columbia Business School’s GRE code is 6442 and the GMAT and Executive Assessment codes by program are:

  • EMBA-NY: QF8-N6-36
  • EMBA-Global: QF8-N6-06

The Admissions Committee will consider only your highest score when reviewing your application and will not combine sub-scores from multiple exams into a single composite score.

*We accept both GMAT Exam and GMAT Focus Edition scores.

For our Executive MBA programs, we offer a test waiver option based on quantitative aptitude and classroom readiness. In order to be considered for a test waiver you must open your application and complete the test waiver request form available in the Test Score section of the application. This form will require you to submit your resume, unofficial transcript, a brief statement elaborating on your eligibility, and two supplemental documents to support your eligibility. More information can be found on the form.

You must submit a request at least two weeks before the Round deadline you intend to apply to.

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Resume

Applicants should upload their current professional resume or CV to the online application. Your professional resume or CV should ideally be one-page in length, but one-to-two pages is also acceptable.

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Essays

The first short answer and Essays 1 and 2 are required. Please click on the entry term you are applying for to see the essays for that application.

Short Answer Question

For those that do not live in the NY Tri-state area, please briefly share your plans for attending class from that distance. (Maximum 50 characters)

Essay 1

Through your resume and recommendation, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your immediate and future career goals and motivations for pursuing the EMBA? (Maximum 500 words)

Essay 2

As a leader in your organization, how do you cultivate a sense of community and inclusivity within your team? The objective of this prompt is to get a sense of who you are, rather than what you have achieved professionally. (Maximum 500 words) 

 

Short Answer Question

Tell us where you’ll be living while in this program. (Maximum 50 characters)

Essay 1

What motivates you to join the EMBA-Global program, and what are your immediate and future career aspirations? (Maximum 500 words) 

Essay 2

In what ways do you exemplify the traits of a prospective global leader, and how do you cultivate a sense of community within your team and organization? The objective of this statement is to get a sense of who you are, rather than what you have achieved professionally. (Maximum 500 words) 

 

Optional Essay

Is there something else you feel would be helpful for the Admissions Committee to know? An optional essay will allow you to discuss any topics that do not fall within the purview of the required essays. These might include, but are not limited to:

  • Adverse circumstances in your background
  • An exciting side venture in which you are working
  • Areas of concern in your academic record
  • Or just a fun fact!

This does not need to be a formal essay. You may submit bullet points. (500 words maximum)

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Recommendation

The Admissions Committee requires one professional recommendation; ideally this should be from your current supervisor. Reapplicants are required to submit one new recommendation. If you are unable to secure a recommendation from your direct supervisor, please be sure to share why in the Recommendation section of your application where prompted. Beyond your direct supervisor, other recommender options include: a former direct supervisor or another professional associate, senior to you, who can share their insights on your candidacy. 

We expect that you, the applicant, will not participate in the drafting of your recommendation. When entering contact information for recommenders, please use their institutional or professional email address. We ask that the recommender upload their recommendation on letterhead, whenever possible. References submitted from personal or anonymous email accounts (e.g. Gmail, Yahoo, 123.com, 163.com, qq.com etc.) will be subject to your admission being rescinded if significant discrepancies are found. Please ensure that if admitted, your recommender is aware that they will be contacted via email and phone in order to verify your recommendation.

After you have contacted your reference about writing a recommendation and added their information on the Recommendation page of the online application, an email will be sent to your recommender with instructions and a web address they must visit in order to complete your recommendation. You will be notified via email when an online recommendation is received. Applications are not considered complete until all required information is submitted; this includes your recommendation. 

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Interview

Interviews are by invitation only and cannot be requested. The Admissions Office will contact you if you are selected for an interview.

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Application Fee

The nonrefundable application fee for the Columbia Business School Executive MBA Program is US$250. Applicants are strongly encouraged to pay this fee via credit card (Discover, Visa, or MasterCard only) within the online application system in order to expedite the processing of their application.

Applicants unable to pay by credit card should contact the Admissions Office at [email protected] for directions regarding alternative methods of payment. 

Fee waivers for EMBA applications are available to active duty US military personnel and for those who have completed an Executive Education course at Columbia Business School (or from London Business School if applying to EMBA-Global). Proof of current service (for US military) or completion of program (for Executive Education) is required. Applicants who qualify for a fee waiver should create or log into the application and navigate to the "Review" page. Upon accessing the Fee Waiver Request form, applicants will provide proof of service and explain their need for a fee waiver. Qualified applicants who have already submitted an application should email [email protected] to request a Fee Waiver Request form. Please allow up to one week for an update to your online status regarding a fee waiver request.

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Reapplicant Checklist

Please note that candidates may only apply once to a given term of entry. Candidates may not apply twice to the same term of entry.

The Admissions Office retains all applications for one year after a decision is rendered. If you are reapplying no more than 12 months from your initial term of entry to Columbia Business School, the checklist below will help ensure that you submit everything the Admissions Committee will need to reassess your candidacy. For example if you applied for August 2026 you will be considered a reapplicant for May 2027 or August 2027. If you are reapplying more than 12 months after the initial term of entry, you must submit a new, fully complete application.

To reapply to either the EMBA-New York or the EMBA-Global Program, please use the following checklist to ensure that you submit everything the Admissions Committee will need to reassess your candidacy. Please note, information and requirements are subject to change without notice. If you have trouble starting a new application, please contact the Admissions Office for assistance.

  • Reapplication fee: US$250.
  • One new recommendation, preferably from your current employer. If you have already used your current employer for a recommendation they will need to submit a new recommendation.
  • Update the following sections: "Application Information," "Personal Information," "Family," Employment," "Education," "Extracurricular Activities," and "Financing."
  • A new company sponsorship letter.
  • Transcripts of any additional courses you have taken since your previous application.
  • Please remember to indicate the dates and self-reported scores of the standardized tests that you wish to be considered in your admissions decision.

Please note: test scores are valid for five years. Your scores must be valid at the time of application submission.

Reapplicants are not required to submit two new essays. Only the reapplicant essay is required:

How have you enhanced your candidacy since your previous application? Please detail your progress since you last applied and reiterate how you plan to achieve your immediate and long term post-MBA professional goals. (Maximum 500 words).

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Deposit

All admitted students are required to submit a nonrefundable tuition deposit of US$4,000 within two weeks of admission to secure their place in the class. Deposits will be applied directly toward your first semester’s tuition and fees. Please be aware that if you do not matriculate, your deposit will not be refunded.

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The global COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 presented institutions of higher education with challenges in teaching and learning, as well as in the assessment of academic performance. As a consequence of these challenges, Columbia University affirms the following principle:

The University’s graduate and professional schools, as well as their respective Admissions committees, will take into account the important disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak when reviewing student transcripts and other Admissions materials as part of their customary practice of performing holistic reviews of individual applications or dossiers. Specifically, we will respect decisions made by institutions or individuals regarding the adoption of Pass/Fail or similar grading options during the period in question.

The Provost and University Deans adopted this principle to ensure that no applicants are disadvantaged by policy decisions made by their colleges/universities as a result of this unprecedented public health event.