International Executive MBA
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EMBA (Executive MBA)

Executive Master of Business Administration – the International Dual Degree Program

Take the next step in your executive career with the International Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) program offered by Rochester-Bern. The well-known Dual Degree program gives you the tools you need to become a more decisive and dynamic leader while cultivating your analytical thinking.

The program’s high flex format allows you to design your educational journey based on your needs and possibilities selecting from a range of core and elective courses within various CAS programs, all culminating in the International Executive MBA.

The International Executive MBA is more than a credential; it provides a new level of clarity and a truly transformative leadership experience.

EMBA Overview →

Difference between EMBA and MBA →

Overview of the EMBA Program

Icon of a Mortarboard – Degree
Dual Degree
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
University of Rochester, New York (U.S.)
Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA)
University of Bern
Icon of a Clock – Course Start
Program Start
January 22, 2026
Icon of a Stopwatch – Duration
Duration
1.5 – 5 years
Icon of a Clock in front of a Schedule – Application Deadline
Application Deadline
December 15, 2025
Late applications considered if seats are available.
Icon von drei Sternen – ECTS Punkte
ECTS
45 U.S. Credits
(70 ECTS Points)
Icon of a Speech Bubble – Language
Program Language
English
Icon of a Wallet – Program Fees
Program Fees
CHF 58,400

EMBA Program Details

Benefits

As a participant of our International Executive MBA Program, you benefit from:

  • An internationally accredited dual degree from Switzerland and the United States
  • An individual and modular curriculum building on four CAS programs including electives
  • Flexibility regarding timing of your studies (you chose how fast you study)
  • A holistic state-of-the-art curriculum
  • Global exposure with a Rochester residency and an optional international seminar
  • Hands-on approach with focus on immediate application
  • World-class faculty from top business schools worldwide
  • Personal community of inspiring classmates, professors, and guest speakers
  • Lifelong learning in attractive alumni/ae associations
Teaching Approach

The International Executive MBA Program program by Rochester-Bern combines knowledge acquisition, practical application, and collaborative exchange with peers and faculty.

You build a solid foundation through preparatory digital content (including podcasts, e-books, and academic papers), and deepen your understanding by exchanging insights with faculty, guest speakers, and peers.

Held in a collaborative environment, the in-class sessions focus on real-world business challenges, enabling you to immediately apply what you have learned. This approach ensures a highly practical learning experience with immediate value for both you and your organization.

Modules, Dates & Professors
Financial Accounting
22.01. – 24.01.2026
Filip Roodhooft
Professor Filip Roodhooft
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and Vlerick Business School, Belgium
Managerial Accounting
19.02 – 21.02.2026
Filip Roodhooft
Professor Filip Roodhooft
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and Vlerick Business School, Belgium
Project Valuation
19.03. – 21.03.2026
Claudio Loderer
Professor Claudio Loderer
University of Bern, Switzerland
Company Valuation
16.04. – 18.04.2026
Claudio Loderer
Professor Claudio Loderer
University of Bern, Switzerland
Sales & Distribution Management
21.05. – 23.05.2026
Managerial Economics
11.06. – 13.06.2026
Professor David Myatt
Professor David Myatt
London Business School, England
Leadership & Empowerment
09.07. – 11.07.2026
Marketing Strategy
10.08. – 23.08.2026
Professor Ronald Goettler
Professor Ron Goettler
Simon Business School, University of Rochester, U.S.
Pricing Policies
10.08. – 23.08.2026
Prof. Dr. Teck Yong Tan
Professor Teck Yong Tan
Simon Business School, University of Rochester, U.S.
Global Economic Environment
17.09. – 19.09.2026
Aymo Brunetti
Professor Aymo Brunetti
University of Bern, Switzerland
Corporate Financial Policy
15.10. – 17.10.2026
Urs Wälchli
Professor Urs Wälchli
Simon Business School, University of Rochester, U.S.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
05.11. – 07.11.2026
Marc Gruber
Professor Marc Gruber
École polytechnique de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland
Corporate Strategy
10.12. – 12.12.2026
Filip Caeldries
Professor Filip Caeldries
TIAS Business School, Tilburg University, the Netherlands
Operations & Supply Chain Management
28.01. – 30.01.2027
Robert Boute
Professor Robert Boute
Vlerick Management School, Belgium
Managerial Decision Analysis
25.02. – 27.02.2027
Organizational Transformation
18.03. – 20.03.2027
Information Technology & Management
22.04. – 24.04.2027
Ravi N Mantena
Professor Ravi Mantena
Simon Business School, University of Rochester, U.S.
Business Analytics
20.05. – 22.05.2027

Please note that courses and dates can be subjects to change.

Applied Assignments

Each course will be assessed through applied assignments that incorporate your own work-related projects, delivering immediate added value.

Your professors will evaluate you through individual online exams, group assignments, case studies, individual papers, presentations, and/or class participation. This structure enables you to tackle specific challenges within your company or develop solutions and apply newly acquired knowledge directly to your work.

For those who strive for an EMBA degree of the University of Bern, the program culminates in a Master Thesis where you analyze and develop a topic tailored to your company in connection with a course you have attended. The Master Thesis is not necessary if you want to achieve the MBA degree of the University of Rochester only.

After successfully completing all assignments and final project, you will earn an MBA from the University of Rochester and an EMBA from the University of Bern (dual degree).

Target Audience/Requirements

We embrace diversity and welcome executives and project leaders from ​ all industries and functions to our programs.

To qualify for the International Executive MBA, you should meet the following criteria:

  • More than 5 years of experience in a responsible role and a university degree (or equivalent),
    or
    more than 10 years of management experience and an alternative qualification (admission sur dossier)
  • Potential to take on greater responsibilities
  • Alignment with the values of Rochester-Bern: respect and fairness, trust and loyalty, curiosity and openness
  • Fluent English skills and strong time management
Program Fees

The International Executive MBA Program consists of 18 Master Classes bundled in four CAS programs, which you can attend in any order over a period of one to five years.

Each CAS program includes four Core Master Classes and one Elective Master Class. To earn the International Executive MBA, you must complete and pass a total of 18 courses, i.e., three complete CAS programs and three additional Master Classes. Moreover, you have to compose a Master Thesis for the degree of the University of Bern.

The overall cost of the International Executive MBA program including Master Thesis sums up to CHF 58,400.

This includes tuition, all required preparatory materials, coffee breaks and water on regular class days, as well as registration and examination fees. Accommodation and travel expenses are not included. Invoices are issued at least six weeks prior to the start of the respective CAS program, thus you will pay overall tuition in four rates (4th rate: 3 Master Classes and Master Thesis fee).

The program fee is paid in 4 installments:

  1. Installment due November 30, 2025 (CHF 14,800)*
  2. Installment due May 31, 2026 (CHF 14,800)
  3. Installment due November 30, 2026 (CHF 14,800)
  4. Installment due January 31, 2027 (CHF 14,000)

*While the first installment is due by November 30, 2025, applications submitted by the official deadline of December 15, 2025 will still be considered. In such cases, the first invoice may be made in early 2026, following admission confirmation.

Application

Icon of an Application Form with a pencil next to it
Step 1
Online Application

Please download the application package and complete the three forms (application form, recommendation forms 1 and 2). Include the following documents:

  • CV
  • Copy of the diploma for your highest degree
  • Letter of motivation
  • Portrait photo (for the photo list)
  • Copy of your passport or ID card (for registration with the University of Bern)

Kindly send your application to recruiting@rochester-bern.ch.

Icon of two Speech Bubbles – Initial Meeting
Step 2
Admissions Interviews

We will contact you to schedule two interviews, one with an alumnus/a of the program and one with a member of the RoBe management. A decision regarding your admission will be made within one week of the interview.

Icon of an Application Form with a Check Mark – Admission Decision
Step 3
Enrollment & preparation

Along with your written admission confirmation, you will receive the invoice for the program fee of the first CAS program you are going to attend. Upon receipt of payment, we will send you the preparatory materials for the first Master Class.

Your EMBA Journey

Broaden your international outlook by participating in classes held by leading scholars from top business schools. Each course aligns with our core streams of digitalization, sustainability, and resilience.

Study Modules

Financial Accounting Filip Roodhooft

In the Financial Accounting Master Class, we discuss the different types of financial information that stock market companies prepare. Financial Accounting creates transparency in financial markets and helps capital providers make good decisions when allocating funds. After the course, you will understand the different financial statements (balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements) that a company publishes externally. You will also understand how estimates impact the financial information that companies publish externally.

Managerial Accounting Filip Roodhooft

The Managerial Accounting Master Class uses case studies to show how managers can apply internal information within companies to make better decisions and create value. One of the key contributions of the finance function in companies is strategic decision-making and strategic performance measurement. After the course, you will understand how reports prepared by financial managers can help other managers make better decisions and how financial managers can measure the strategic process of a company.

Project Valuation Claudio Loderer

The Project Valuation Master Class provides the conceptual framework necessary to help managers decide what investment decisions make best sense. We take a look at investment projects, such as replacing machines, launching new products, or building new factories. The perspectives presented in the course cover both theoretical and practical issues. While the course’s focus is on investments, the principles we develop apply to management decisions in general with a view to helping you make better choices.

Company Valuation Claudio Loderer

The Company Valuation course provides the conceptual framework necessary to help managers decide what investment decisions make best sense when it comes to the exciting topic of computing the value of companies and negotiating agreements about the acquisition and sale of companies. The perspectives presented in the course cover both theoretical and practical issues.

Sales & Distribution Management Paulo Albuquerque

The Sales & Distribution Management Master Class is designed with the objective of understanding distribution channels and how organizations can leverage them to create value, differentiate themselves in their markets, and gain a competitive advantage. Product proliferation, media fragmentation, intermediary power, e-commerce, omnichannel strategy, among other things, have converged to place a premium on effective channel design and management. The success of Apple, Alibaba, Amazon, Coupang, Mercado Libre, Rakuten, Reliance, Walmart, BlaBlaCar, Uber, Grab, Airbnb, Expedia, etc., indicates that careful attention to distribution can be tremendously rewarding.

The course covers channel issues that are internal (salesforce management, account management, sales-marketing-organization interface) and external (retailing, wholesaling, trade relationships, channel conflict, channel coordination) to a firm. The contexts used to explore these issues are a mix of B2B and B2C settings. At the end of the course, you will be able to appreciate the complexity and central role of the sales and distribution functions and the vital part they play in implementing the marketing strategy.

 

 

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Managerial Economics David Myatt

The Managerial Economics Master Class applies the fundamental tools and concepts of microeconomics – economic behavior, marginal analysis, opportunity cost, supply and demand analysis, and alternative market structures – to managerial decision-making. The course also uses economic analysis and tools to provide insights into internal organizational policies, including decision-right assignment, performance evaluation, and compensation plans. The course aims to help you develop your economic intuition about a broad range of problems related to business and everyday life, so that a business approach becomes second nature.

Leadership & Empowerment Katharina Lange

The Leadership & Empowerment Master Class takes you on a transformative journey from Leading yourself to Leading Teams and Leading Change in organizations. You will learn how to lead with greater impact, authenticity, and effectiveness. Starting with self-discovery, you’ll use a personality assessment to enhance self-awareness and understand your strengths, gaps, and motivational drivers, setting the stage for more authentic leadership. Experiential learning will deepen your understanding of team dynamics and organizational culture, while the course concludes with ambidextrous leadership, a proven strategy for leading dual transformations and driving enterprise-level success.

 

Marketing Strategy Ronald Goettler/in Rochester

The Marketing Strategy Master Class will focus on contemporary areas to improve marketing strategy decisions. During the course, you will: learn how to use marketing analytics; understand the various elements in marketing mix; learn return of investment analysis for each communication channel, particularly digital advertising; integrate market research into marketing strategic decision making and learn contemporary branding evaluation techniques.

This course is part of the International Trip to Rochester, New York (U.S.).

Pricing Policies Teck Yong Tan/in Rochester

Pricing is one of the most difficult decisions managers make and the one with the most direct and immediate impact on the firm’s financial position. Many firms do it poorly, primarily by using inappropriate rules of thumb. Doing it well requires knowledge, analysis, discipline, and creativity. The Pricing Policies Master Class will explore the fundamentals of pricing strategy, drawing on business-to-business and business-to-consumer examples and discussions. This course aims to equip participants with proven concepts, techniques, and frameworks for assessing and formulating pricing strategies. The goal of the course is to enhance students’ economic intuition related to pricing strategy.

This course is part of the International Trip to Rochester, New York (U.S.).

Global Economic Environment Aymo Brunetti

This Master Class aims to provide the main tools for understanding the macroeconomic environment in which a company operates. It covers the key concepts for addressing a wide range of macroeconomic questions. We emphasize intuition and application of the concepts. Furthermore, we try to give an overview that covers the most important macroeconomic areas and topics such as growth, business cycles, monetary policy, exchange rates, and financial crises.

 

Corporate Financial Policy Urs Wälchli

In this course, you learn how firms interact with capital markets and why that is relevant. At the core of our considerations are three financial policies:

  • Financing policy: How should firms finance their business activities?
  • Investment policy: Which factors should guide a firm’s investment activities?
  • Payout policy: How much and how should firms return capital to their investors?

You learn how financing instruments can be used to bridge disagreements, make deals more valuable, set the right incentives, and even serve as a “truth serum”. You discover the power of these tools in financing decisions throughout the lifecycle of a firm, including seed financing, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, and initial public offerings. Finally, we extend this logic to financial risk management and learn how different financial instruments can be used to mitigate risk.

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Marc Gruber

More than ever before, technological innovation and disruption affect the way business is conducted and new wealth is created. How to master technological change and profit from innovation are therefore key questions for business leaders. They are essential for developing a competitive advantage and boosting performance in all company types – new and old, large and small – across all industries. In this course, you will not only be exposed to the latest thinking about entrepreneurship, technological change and innovation but also apply new business tools that allow you to master technological disruption. Furthermore, you will develop an individual strategic innovation project for your company.

 

Corporate Strategy Filip Caeldries

Strategic management takes the perspective of the general manager involved with managing a business unit in its totality. The Corporate Strategy Master Class focuses on the underlying conditions that permit a firm to develop, sustain, and capture the value of a superior strategic position. At the end of the course, you will have gained an actionable understanding of the strategy concept, enabling you to participate confidently in the strategic dialogue within your organization.

 

Operations & Supply Chain Management Robert Boute

Operations & Supply Chain Management is at the core of any organization when it comes to designing, producing and delivering products and services that satisfy external and internal customer needs. Throughout the Master Class, you will develop an understanding of the complex and crucial interactions between operations and other functions, particularly marketing and finance. You will identify effective measures to improve operational performance and show how this in turn improves the organization’s financial results.

Managerial Decision Analysis Karl Schmedders

In the era of data science and artificial intelligence, managers need a solid grasp of the foundations of uncertainty modeling, business analytics, and AI tools. This course begins with fundamental concepts of uncertainty management and decision-making under risk. You will explore both the power and limitations of data analysis in business contexts. Special emphasis is placed on regression analysis, which continues to be one of the most important and interpretable tools in management analytics. The course will also include forward-looking discussion of modern AI, including an accessible introduction to large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT, and their potential role in enhancing managerial insight, productivity, and decision-making.

Organizational Transformation Katharina Lange

This Master Class prepares you to manage organizational transformation across structural, cultural, and technological dimensions. You will explore the key drivers and success factors of change management and examine the roles and dynamics that drive transformation. Drawing on organizational design frameworks, you will develop effective structures and processes that support lasting change. With a strong focus on practical application, you will evaluate how emerging technologies such as AI can enable innovation and generate value.

Information Technology & Strategy Ravi Mantena

Information technology is transforming firms, markets, products, and processes with remarkable speed. Recent developments in AI have the potential to further accelerate the transformation. This presents managers with new challenges and valuable opportunities. This course dives into the strategic use of IT within a business context, focusing on how IT can enable competitive advantage, enhance business processes, and drive innovation. The course interweaves theory and practice, with students acquiring useful frameworks for analyzing the use of IT in organizations.

Business Analytics José Parra-Moyano

Data has become an essential asset for companies to be able to operate and compete effectively. In fact, four of the six top companies in market valuation – Amazon, Alphabet, Facebook, and Alibaba – base their business models exclusively on the use of data to optimize advertising. Moreover, SMEs are starting to benefit substantially from analyzing data about their operations, finances, clients, and employees. It is therefore essential that business managers understand data as a production factor and know how to extract the value it contains. This Master Class introduces data as a production factor, explaining its unique attributes, and examines how data can transform existing organizations and give rise to new business models. Once you understand data as a production factor, this course shows you how to generate insights and gain value from it by means of various analytical and graphic tools.

 

Venues

Embrace the digital transformation during a two-week residency in Rochester (U.S.). Our campus in the main building of the University of Bern provides an idyllic setting for working in groups and networking with peers.

Rochester, United States
University of Rochester
Bern, Switzerland
Mainbuilding University of Bern
Asia Experience (Optional)
Gyeongbokgung palace, South Korea
Graphic showing three skylines – Venues EMBA

What is the difference between an EMBA and an MBA?

While MBA and EMBA are similar in terms of content, they differ in their target groups: typically, MBA programs accept candidates with two to three years of experience, while a EMBA students tend to be seasoned professionals (min. 5-10 years of management experience). In addition, EMBA programs also foster practical exchanges between students and faculty, enriching the learnings with real-world insights. Moreover, EMBA studies are offered on a part-time format to accommodate working professionals, unlike full-time MBA programs.

Learn more about the EMBA vs. MBA →

The different degrees explained →

Class Statistics

In our classes, we seek to combine a diversity of profiles to provide you with the most beneficial classroom experience and professional network possible. Here you can find the statistics of a typical class.

Origin

Functional Background

Industry Background

Gender
(female students)
Average
Age
Average
Work Experience
Average
Management Experience
22% 39 16 9

Your Benefits on the EMBA Program

Icon demonstrating Networking – RoBe Connect
Grow Your Personal Community

From the day you set foot on campus, you become part of a community. You will interact with peers from industries such as finance, transportation, hospitality, manufacturing, insurance, and healthcare who have functions ranging from project management to general management in the C-suite.

Icon of a Trophy on Top of a Book – Course Curriculum
Well-Aligned Course Curriculum

Designed to cover critical aspects of business education, our program offers courses in managerial finance and economics to help you make informed financial decisions and drive economic value. Comprehensive general management courses will enable you to integrate and apply these principles across various functions, preparing you to lead effectively. Additionally, enriching international stays will round off your international perspective.

Why Choose the Rochester-Bern EMBA?

We asked our students what their experience was during their EMBA studies and why they would recommend it to others.

International Excellence

#2
for ROI among top-25 business schools

Bloomberg Businessweek 2024

#60
Best MBAs in the world

Financial Times 2025

What Our Clients Say

Portrait Picrure of Tobias Kaiser, EMBA Alumnus
Tobias Kaiser
Head of Grid Connection Management & Metering Point Operation, BKW AG

“The Rochester-Bern EMBA has helped me plant the seeds which will continue to grow during future business challenges. Being able to put into practice what I just learned from outstanding professors and smart, ambitious fellow students is game-changing in VUCA times.”

Portrait Picture of Claudia Escher, EMBA Alumna
Claudia Escher
COO, TOLREMO therapeutics AG

“The Rochester-Bern EMBA has provided me with a comprehensive package of knowledge and application to master all aspects of a business. The excellent international faculty and the inspiring class of peers from different industries made the program truly deliver on its promise to change the way I think.”

Portrait Picture of Christian Graf, EMBA Alumnus
Christian Graf
CEO, Boa Lingua

“I really like the focus on business and finance, the outstanding faculty, as well as the customer care I received from the Rochester-Bern team! With each new course, you build on the knowledge you gained in the previous one, and the learning curve is steep. The dual degree is, of course, a plus too.”

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