EMBA - Global Options

Which is right for you?

All students begin and end the program with a week-long leadership residency on the Grounds of the Darden School in Charlottesville, Virginia. Weekend residences are once a month on average and take place in Darden's state-of-the-art facility in the Rosslyn district of Arlington, Virginia. During weekends, students follow a Friday through Sunday schedule. Classes begin at noon on Fridays and conclude at 3 p.m. on Sundays.

In addition to the global residences, all students participate in distance learning. Online distance classes are usually twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7–8:30 p.m. Classes are typically live synchronous sessions and attendance is required, but recordings are available to students who may miss an occasional class due to work conflicts or personal commitments.

When choosing, here are a few questions to keep in mind:

1. How much global experience do you want as part of your MBA?
2. What is your schedule like? Can you accommodate additional weeks out of the office?
3. What option makes sense for you financially?

There are typically 8-10 global residency locations offered to each Executive MBA class, and these weeklong courses occur during defined travel periods throughout the program. Learn more about our Global Residencies here.

How to choose:

When you apply to Darden, you are applying to the Executive MBA program. Our application will prompt you to answer if you are interested in EMBA, GEMBA or both. This question is not binding. If you are admitted and decide to accept your offer, you will officially choose your option at that time. 

Regardless of the option, all Executive MBA students graduate with the same degree as students in our Full-Time program: a Darden MBA.

View the calendar for the Executive MBA Class of 2027, enrolling in August 2025.

Want to explore further?

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.