NUS Executive MBA programmes rank 5th and 17th globally

Based on latest Financial Times rankings.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School's double-degree programme with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has retained its position at fifth in the world, while the School’s Asia Pacific Executive (APEX) Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme climbed nine places to 17th in the Financial Times' (FT) Global EMBA Rankings 2013, according to an NUS release.

The two EMBA programmes fared well in several categories on which their overall rankings are based.

Alumni of the UCLA – NUS EMBA programme reported enjoying a high average annual salary of US$243,677 and better career progression, reflecting the value and premium that employers place on graduates of the programme, noted NUS.

The UCLA – NUS EMBA jumped from 57th to 14th place for Career Progress.

Meanwhile, the programme moved up two places to third for International Course Experience, demonstrating the global learning and networking opportunities it offers. It also continues to be ranked eighth for its participants’ Work Experience, a measure of the seniority of previous jobs and an indication of student quality.

Targeted at senior executives, the UCLA – NUS EMBA is one of the few EMBA programmes in Asia in which more than 50 per cent of participants fly in from other continents for their six two-week segments, which are held in Singapore, Los Angeles, Shanghai and Bangalore. This accommodates the demanding schedules of busy executives from around the world, while enabling them to earn two world-class degrees at the same time, said NUS.

Meanwhile, NUS Business School’s Asia Pacific Executive (APEX) MBA, taught in both English and Mandarin, also scored several improvements. Its participants saw post-graduation salary increases of 68 per cent, up from 62 per cent last year.

APEX MBA alumni reported an average annual salary of US$235,567, the highest among graduates of single-degree EMBA programmes in Singapore. The APEX MBA also climbed from 24th to 18th for its participants’ work experience.

The APEX MBA, which is also targeted at senior executives, has teaching segments in various countries such as India, Indonesia, China, South Korea, Japan, Australia and Vietnam.

"We are greatly encouraged by our performance on the Financial Times EMBA rankings. Together with the recently-released Forbes MBA league tables, which placed us at second in the world for non-US two-year MBA programmes, the rankings are global recognition of our efforts to continually enhance our teaching and curriculum. We are also heartened to see our fellow Asian business schools ranked among the best in the world. This is a further indication of Asia's growth and emergence,” said Professor Bernard Yeung, Dean and Stephen Riady Distinguished Professor, NUS Business School.