Applicants are considered for admission holistically, with both quantitative and qualitative measures. Quantitative measures include academic background with a bachelor’s degree and a GPA above 3.0 preferred, a GMAT or GRE score and any additional coursework that would indicate a likelihood for academic success in the program. In addition, international applicants are required to complete the TOEFL, IELTS or PTE exam. Qualitative criteria include type and amount of professional work experience, 2 essays illustrating career goals and analysis of an emerging business trend, 2 recommendation letters, and communication skills evaluated during an online interview stream and/or the required invitation-only interview. Admissions decisions are released on a rolling basis.

Admission is based on applicants’ professional work accomplishments, management experience, academic performance, and a personal interview. A candidate for admission must hold a 4-year bachelor’s degree with 3.0 GPA from a university of fully recognized standing. Applicants graduating from institutions outside the US should have completed 16 years of study; with 4 years at the university level. We consider advanced degrees, postgraduate coursework, and licenses in the review process. We require at least 8 years of professional experience from diverse industries including media and entertainment, military, ?nancial services, real estate, pharmaceutical, technology, consulting, education, aerospace, healthcare, and many more to enable each study group to resemble a microcosm of business. Applicants are required to submit o?cial university transcripts, 1 essay, 2 recommendations, a professional resume/CV, and the TOEFL may or may not be required.

All applicants are considered for admission to the Fully Employed MBA (FEMBA) program through a holistic review process. We evaluate candidates on a quantitative and qualitative basis. Quantitative measures include holding a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school with a GPA above 3.0 preferred. We welcome students from any major. We also consider advanced degrees, certifications, and licenses in the review process. The GMAT or GRE is required for admission but may be waived if the applicant holds a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a U.S. institution in a quantitative major with a 3.0 GPA or above. The TOEFL may or may not be required. Qualitative criteria include the type and amount of professional work experience that a candidate brings into the FEMBA program. Typically, students have at least 2 years of professional experience, with an average of 5-6 years of experience prior to entering the program. We require one essay illustrating career goals, and an optional written or video essay may be submitted for additional consideration. Two letters of recommendation are required, typically from supervisors or managers who can comment on the applicant’s leadership potential, approach to teamwork, and readiness for the MBA. Finally, an admissions interview is required of all applicants to assess their communication skills and desire to pursue the MBA. All applicants are also evaluated for scholarship consideration at the time of admission, dependent on all factors above.

https://merage.uci.edu/programs/masters/full-time-mba/

Entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, technology, other

Full-time traditional two year, part-time evenings and weekends, part-time other, traditional executive MBA

Biotechnology, engineering, healthcare (medicine), law

The Merage School Full-Time MBA curriculum ensures our students are equipped with the knowledge and skills to succeed as adept and agile leaders in the digitally driven world. Woven throughout the program are the key components of business growth – strategic innovation, information technology, analytic decision-making, and collaborative execution – taught through the latest research insights, real-world projects, and industry case studies. Students take 10 core courses in the first year to gain a solid foundation in all business disciplines. The balance of the units are electives, allowing students to pursue their passion by delving deeper into a particular area of study or choosing electives across several different areas. The international requirement is fulfilled through a global elective, semester-long exchange program, or week-long international business residential. Throughout the two-year program is Career Launch, our unique series focused on preparing students for life-long career resiliency.

The MBA for Executives (EMBA) at the Merage School is more integrated than ever, offering classes on campus 4 times per quarter in an executive format: The 21-month program provides a cohesive and collaborative learning environment for all executive students. Students complete 9 core and 8 elective courses, and 3 off-site international business and experiential leadership residentials. Additionally, all EMBA students take Executive Leadership Modules, immersive and impactful experiences designed to develop leaders with the agility to change and anticipate challenges arising from emerging technologies in a global and digital world. Electives enable students to further customize their MBAs in areas of interest, including Digital Transformation, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Real Estate and Urban Development. There is also a Healthcare Leadership Track that requires a Health Care Federal Policy Residential in Washington, D.C. and relevant healthcare leadership electives. All EMBA students graduate with the same MBA as our full-time students at UCI Merage.

The Fully Employed MBA (FEMBA) program is specifically designed to maximize career impact for early-to-mid career working professionals. The Paul Merage of School of Business has developed a thematic approach to business education: leadership for a digitally driven world. Our FEMBA program helps students develop the tools and leadership skills to harness the power of disruptive technologies for competitive advantage, now and in the future. Through our pioneering curriculum, students will enhance their leadership skills and add immediate value to their organizations. Our personalized approach to cross-functional team learning prepares our students for real-world challenges they will inevitably face as managers and business owners. The FEMBA curriculum consists of 9 core, 7 elective, and 3 residential courses, including an international business residential and an executive leadership residential. Students have the flexibility to customize the FEMBA program around their career objectives through four specializations: Digital Transformation, Health Care, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Real Estate. Students attend classes either in the evenings or in a hybrid format that combines state-of-the-art online learning with four on-campus Saturday classes per quarter. Students may enroll in either the spring or fall cohort and will graduate in 24-to-33 months. We offer small-to-medium size classes for meaningful interactions with both classmates and faculty.