Korea University Business School's Executive MBA Ranks 61st Globally – The Only Korean Program in FT’s Top 100 EMBA Rankings 

Korea University Business School (Dean Eonsoo Kim)’s Executive MBA (E-MBA) program has been ranked 61st in the Financial Times (FT) “2025 Top 100 Executive MBA Programmes,” making it the only Korean university program to be listed among the world’s top 100. 

The ranking represents a one-place rise from last year’s 62nd position and stands as a remarkable achievement not only within Korea but also across the broader Asian region. Korea University has once again reaffirmed its leading status as the sole domestic institution included in the rankings. Since first entering the FT list in 2011, Korea University’s E-MBA has consistently maintained a strong mid-to-upper-tier position, previously reaching as high as 12th place. 

This year’s top global spot was claimed by the “Olin–Fudan EMBA,” a joint program between Washington University in St. Louis and Fudan University in Shanghai. The “Ceibs Global EMBA” of the China Europe International Business School ranked second, followed by the “ESCP Europe EMBA” offered by ESCP Business School, which operates campuses across France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and Poland. 

The Financial Times (FT) rankings evaluate business schools worldwide based on a comprehensive set of criteria, including graduates’ career progress, academic and networking strengths, internationalization and diversity, sustainability and ESG performance, and overall satisfaction. 

A total of 19 indicators are assessed, with key metrics including: ▲Salary today (15%) ▲Salary increase (16%) ▲Career progress (6%) ▲Alumni network rank (4%) ▲Faculty with doctorates (5%) ▲FT research rank (10%) ▲Female faculty (5%) ▲ESG and net-zero teaching rank (3%) ▲Carbon footprint rank (4%) ▲Overall satisfaction. (Only major indicators among the 19 are listed here.) 

Korea University received particularly strong evaluations in Salary increase, Alumni network rank, and Overall satisfaction, contributing to its outstanding performance in this year’s rankings. 

Korea University Business School’s E-MBA is the only independent Korean program that has consistently ranked among the world’s top 100. Established in 2003, the program is designed for senior managers and executives with more than ten years of professional experience. It aims to nurture creative global leaders who can drive sustainable growth and innovation in today’s rapidly changing business environment. 

To maximize learning efficiency, the curriculum adopts a modular format in which students concentrate on one subject every two weeks, designed to accommodate their work schedules and professional demands. In addition to the faculty, students—who are accomplished professionals from diverse industries—engage in peer learning, sharing knowledge and experience to generate meaningful synergies. Over the two-year program, participants progress through the same academic journey together, naturally building lasting relationships that evolve into a powerful professional network. 

The E-MBA curriculum integrates theory and practice through courses such as Special CEO Topics, the ELITE (Executive Learning & Interactive Team Exercise) Project, and the International Residency Program (IRP). 

Among these, the ELITE Project stands out as a hands-on, practice-oriented course in which students apply their classroom learning to real-world corporate challenges under the close guidance of the faculty. Participants take an active role in the problem-solving process, sharing analyses and ideas within their teams to strengthen their practical capabilities. Many of the innovative ideas generated through these projects have been successfully commercialized, establishing the ELITE Project as a flagship experiential learning course that seamlessly connects theory with practice. 

The mandatory International Residency Program (IRP) provides students with opportunities to attend lectures at leading global universities, visit prominent local companies and institutions, and take part in a range of cultural and artistic activities — all designed to enhance their global perspective and international business capabilities. 

In the first semester of the 2025 academic year, the IRP was held at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business in the United States and at the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), Erasmus University, in the Netherlands. 

During their stay at Georgetown University, students explored the Port of Baltimore, Capitol Hill, Manhattan, Hudson Yards, and the One World Trade Center Observatory, and took a cruise to the Statue of Liberty — gaining a broad understanding of American history and business culture. 

At the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) in the Netherlands, participants visited innovative organizations and sustainable urban development sites such as Floating Farms, TNO (the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research), Signify (formerly Philips Lighting), High Tech Campus, and Blue City, where they gained firsthand insights into leading European practices in ESG-driven management. 

Through its high-caliber curriculum, Korea University’s E-MBA has strengthened both academic excellence and practice-oriented education, further solidifying its position as a globally respected graduate business program. This year’s ranking is recognized as the outcome of years of educational innovation and dedicated efforts by Korea University Business School to enhance global competitiveness. Its consistent inclusion in the world’s top 100 as an independent program reflects the depth and sustainability of its academic foundation. Looking ahead, Korea University’s E-MBA remains committed to developing leaders who combine global perspective with ethical insight, continuing to establish itself as a leading force in global business education.