FAQ

• The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) was established in 1916 and it has the broader scope in terms of international accreditations. It has developed a set of standards to improve college business education. Since this first set was developed in 1919, AACSB has regularly updated its standards, which are used as the basis to evaluate a business school’s mission, operations, faculty qualifications and contributions, programs, and other critical areas.
• The European Quality Standard (EQUIS) is an accreditation developed in 1997 by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD). EQUIS aims to internationally regulate quality standards for business schools, and it is considered the European equivalent of AACSB.

Rochester-Bern Executive Programs is a subsidiary of the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester in the U.S., which has been accredited by the AACSB since 1966 – longer than any school in Europe. Most American business schools, including the Simon Business School, do not seek further validation outside of North America.

These are the main differences between an MBA and an EMBA:

Target Audience:

• MBA: MBAs are typically aimed at early to mid-career professionals looking to pivot or accelerate their careers.
• EMBA: Executive MBAs are designed for experienced professionals already in leadership or project management positions (5-10 years or more).

Content and curriculum:

• MBA: MBAs offer a broad and comprehensive curriculum that provides a foundation of business knowledge and skills.
• EMBA: EMBAs focus on advanced leadership and executive-level skills, with an emphasis on strategic decision-making, organizational leadership, and global business perspectives.

Delivery format:

• MBA: MBAs often follow a full-time format, providing a more immersive experience while students focus on their studies.
• EMBA: Executive MBA programs are typically designed for working professionals and often follow a part-time format. Classes may be held in the evenings or on weekends to accommodate students’ work schedules.

• Dual degree: Upon successful completion of all ex­aminations, you will receive a Master of Business Administration degree (MBA) from the University of Rochester. In addition, you will be awarded an Execu­tive Master of Business Administration degree (EMBA) from the University of Bern upon successful completion of a Master Thesis. The degrees equip you for both international and national careers in all kinds of industries.
• Global faculty: RoBe faculty encompasses renowned professors from top business schools around the world. In addition to learning from leading scholars, you will benefit from their experience in the business world, presented in an engaging manner. Business leaders will enhance class­room discussions with dynamic guest lectures and company visits throughout the program.
• Holistic general management curriculum based on economics and finance: Build expertise in making data-driven business decisions with the holistic general management program that is rated #2 worldwide for economics and #8 for finance worldwide. Financial and economic principles are at the core of Rochester-Bern, reflecting their connection to all aspects of your business.
• International trips: Embrace digital transformation during a residency at the University of Rochester, NY. Throughout the two-week experience on our U.S. campus, you will learn to sharpen your marketing strategy to generate stronger customer engage­ment and challenge your organization’s pricing strategies and capture the value of pricing dynamics. Optionally, you can join a week-long trip to Asia, where you will explore innovation hubs, assess the impact of the “Asia factor” on the competitiveness of firms and share experiences with local executives.
• Modular flexibility: There are two different ways to pursue the EMBA: Traditionally, you begin with the full EMBA in January and complete it within 12-17 consecutive months. Alter­natively, you may split your educational journey into Master Classes or CAS over five years: 18 Master Classess + Master Thesis (or 3 CAS + 3 Master Classes + Master Thesis).
• Alumni/-ae network:  After graduation, you will automatically become part of the Alumni UniBE and the Simon Business School alumni/-ae community. In addition, you have the option to join the Rochester-Bern Leaders Circle, a yearly membership network for our graduates.
• Welcoming culture: From an individual approach to recruitment to a genuine interest in the successful development of our students, our team is committed to providing tailored student support and advancing the program.

• Two Masters degrees in parallel: obtain an Executive MBA from the University of Bern and an American MBA from the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester.
• Expand your horizons: Immerse yourself in a two-week residency in Rochester, U.S., where you will experience the American campus.
• Unleash your global edge: With internationally recognized dual credentials, you will enhance your versatility and it will open your doors in Switzerland and beyond.
• Stand out from senior managers: these international accreditations will immediately differentiate yourself in your career ambitions.

We understand that conflicts can arise that may prevent students from attending classes on site. To accommodate such situations, we encourage students to reach out to their professor and teammates to discuss what they will miss. In addition, we offer to provide hybrid classes or recordings of missed sessions whenever possible to support the minimum attendance requirement of 80%.

To provide you and your employer with additional flexibility when considering our EMBA program, we offer the option of beginning with one of our Certificates or Diplomas of Advanced Studies (CAS & DAS). The whole program must be completed within five years.

It is also possible to enroll in one of our CAS or DAS programs without continuing further EMBA studies.

In contrast to other EMBA programs, an academic background is not essential to be considered for the Rochester-Bern EMBA, as long as the student demonstrates over 10 years of managerial and leadership experience in lieu of academic qualifications.

While our program is known for its foundation in economics and finance, having a finance background is not a prerequisite. On the contrary, it should be an incentive to challenge yourself to improve your budgeting and resource allocation, understand and assess financial statements and potential risks, and communicate effectively with stakeholders, among others. Our diverse classes reflect a wide range of educational backgrounds, roles and industries: business, economics, engineering, natural sciences, IT, law, medicine or others – in fact, we welcome diversity!

We will gladly connect you with an alumnus/-a with a similar background for a relatable experience and tailored advice.

Even if you are already a CFO and/or work in the financial services, the program can still be highly beneficial and will position yourself for continued success in your career. Based on our alumni feedback, the finance experts will deepen their knowhow, and gain exposure and knowledge of other functional business areas to further develop themselves as well-rounded managers. From cross-functional areas such as leadership, operations or innovation, our holistic curriculum can help finance experts to contribute more meaningfully to strategic decisions that impact the entire organization.

We will gladly connect to an alumnus/-a with a similar background for relatable experience and tailored advice.

International stays can enhance your personal and professional development while fostering student bonding. At a personal level, studying in a foreign country can be a transformative experience, and it contributes to form lasting relationships.

From an academic perspective, it an opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge and visit companies in these locations, with companies at the forefront of fields such as manufacturing and science in Rochester.

Local faculty and different teaching styles, you can develop a broader perspective on business education. Besides, you will gain valuable insights into the cultural and social dynamics of these locations as well as the opportunities and challenges that exist in these regions.

While it is certainly possible for students to bring partners and family members along on study trips, it is not recommended as the primary goal is to fully engage in the student experience and focus on studies. That being said, there are ways to make it work. For example, students can arrange for activities and childcare services for their family members while they are in class. This can help to ensure that their loved ones are occupied and enjoying their time while the student is focused on their studies.

Working during a study trip can be stressful and distracting. Students may find it difficult to balance their studies with their job responsibilities, leading to a poorer academic experience. However, we acknowledge that some students may need to attend some business calls during their study trip. In this case, we suggest that students agree with their employer to ensure that their work schedule is compatible with their study schedule. It is possible to schedule work around study activities.

Our EMBA program is designed to be compatible with a full-time career. However, the program is an intensive program that requires a significant time commitment. To be successful in the program, you will need to be able to balance your workload and set priorities to be able to leave the office during course days.

Your time commitment will depend on your capacity, background, and professional goals. Each of the 18 Masterclasses involves approximately 25 hours of preparation and 25 hours for assessments in addition to class time. You can divide this work in the way that best fits your schedule, spreading it across weeks or concentrating it in focused blocks.

On average, participants report having devoted 10–15 hours per week outside of class. As you settle into the study rhythm, this workload often feels more manageable. The intensity may vary depending on your expertise — for example, those without a finance background may find those courses more demanding.

Throughout the program, you’ll work in diverse, well-balanced teams, leveraging each other’s strengths to enhance your learning and boost your performance.