BI Norwegian Business School/Fudan University School of Management EMBA

About BI Norwegian Business School/Fudan University School of Management

Based in China, BI Norwegian Business School/Fudan University School of Management draws applicants who want an EMBA built around their existing career rather than a break from it. Asia is where the fastest-growing share of executive and specialist management education now sits, with Singapore, Hong Kong, mainland China and India each anchoring a distinct regional hiring market.

Why BI Norwegian Business School/Fudan University School of Management stands out

Every school on a shortlist claims excellence; what matters is the specific edge you would actually use. For BI Norwegian Business School/Fudan University School of Management, that edge is concrete — Joint degree from BI Norwegian Business School (Triple Crown accredited) and Fudan University School of Management.

• ✓Joint degree from BI Norwegian Business School (Triple Crown accredited) and Fudan University School of Management.
• ✓Ranked #21 globally in Financial Times EMBA 2025 and #1 in Nordic countries.
• ✓Part-time modular format (24 months) designed for working executives, primarily taught in Shanghai.
• ✓Curriculum emphasizes cross-cultural leadership, digitalization, and sustainable business (ESG).
• ✓Diverse cohort with average 13-15 years of work experience.

The EMBA at BI Norwegian Business School/Fudan University School of Management

A part-time or modular Executive MBA for senior managers and leaders who keep working full-time while studying on weekends or in intensive blocks.

Who is eligible

What the committee looks for

• ✓Strong academic record.
• ✓Interest in cross-cultural business, particularly between Europe and Asia.
• ✓Commitment to attending monthly modules in Shanghai.

Tests & admission requirements

• ✓GMAT or GRE is typically required, but waivers may be available for senior candidates with extensive management experience.
• ✓English language test (TOEFL/IELTS) for non-native speakers without an English-medium degree.

What you'll submit

• ✓Online Application Form.
• ✓Essays (Motivation, Career Goals).
• ✓CV/Resume (in English).
• ✓Two Letters of Recommendation.
• ✓Official University Transcripts and Degree Certificates.
• ✓Application Fee (approx. RMB 500-1000).

How the process works

1. 1
   Submit the online application with all required documents.
2. 2
   Initial screening by the admissions committee.
3. 3
   Invitation to interview (in-person in Shanghai or online via Skype/WeChat).
4. 4
   Final admission decision and scholarship offer (if applicable).

Application timeline & prep

1. 1
   Build your profile (12–18 months out)

   Map your story to what BI Norwegian Business School/Fudan University School of Management actually values, and close obvious gaps in leadership evidence, academics or career progression before you apply.

2. 2
   Take your tests (9–12 months out)

   Typical expectation: GMAT or GRE is typically required, but waivers may be available for senior candidates with extensive management experience. English language test (TOEFL/IELTS) for non-native speakers without an English-medium degree. Contact the admissions office to discuss test waivers based on your specific background.. Book early enough to allow one retake without missing a round.

3. 3
   Shortlist and visit (6–9 months out)

   Compare BI Norwegian Business School/Fudan University School of Management against 4–6 peer programs on placement in your target lane, net cost and location. Speak to current students and alumni — admissions teams notice informed applicants.

4. 4
   Essays and recommendations (3–6 months out)

   Draft essays that make one coherent argument for why this program, why now. Brief your recommenders with specific stories rather than adjectives.

5. 5
   Submit and interview

   Apply in the earliest round you can be genuinely ready for — earlier rounds usually mean better admission and scholarship odds. Prepare interviews around your own application, not a script.

6. 6
   Decision, funding and visa

   Leave 3–4 months post-admit for scholarship negotiation, financing and your China student visa.

Fees, scholarships & ROI

Asian programmes span heavily subsidised public universities and premium private business schools, and living costs vary by an order of magnitude between Singapore or Hong Kong and most mainland or Indian cities. Merit scholarships, external fellowships and — for executive formats — employer sponsorship can materially change the arithmetic, so build your shortlist around net cost, not sticker price.

When you model ROI, count all three costs: tuition, living expenses, and the salary you give up while studying. Then set that against the realistic post-EMBA salary in your target lane — not the program-wide average, which blends high-paying and low-paying paths. A shorter format or a strong scholarship often beats a marginally higher-ranked school on this arithmetic.

Careers after the BI Norwegian Business School/Fudan University School of Management EMBA

Graduates of EMBA programs like BI Norwegian Business School/Fudan University School of Management's typically move into C-suite readiness, P&L leadership, board roles and career pivots at the senior level.

Treat the careers office as a channel, not a guarantee: the students who convert a EMBA into the outcome they wanted start recruiting from week one, use alumni for referrals rather than information, and arrive with a story that explains why this exact role is the logical next step. The brand opens the door; preparation walks through it.

Rankings & outcomes

BI-Fudan MBA is ranked #21 in the Financial Times Executive MBA Ranking 2025. The figures below come from that ranking and describe the surveyed cohort — treat them as a directional read on outcomes, not a promise.

#21

Overall rank

$332,257

Salary today (US$)

123%

Salary increase

#23

Career progress rank

68%

Aims achieved

#7

Alumni network rank

Insider tips

• ✓Highlight your interest in the Nordic-Asian business connection.
• ✓Demonstrate how you have led teams or projects in a changing environment.
• ✓Showcase your ability to contribute to a diverse, experienced class.
• ✓Connect your career goals with the specific strengths of the program (e.g., sustainability, digital strategy).

How we help you get in

Studying in Asia: work rights & visas

Post-study work rights differ sharply by market — Singapore and Hong Kong run employment-pass and graduate-visa routes, mainland China ties work rights to an employer-sponsored permit, and India has no separate post-study route for foreign graduates. Confirm the current rules with the destination's immigration authority before you commit. Work-rights certainty is often the biggest single factor in whether an international degree pays back, so weigh it alongside rankings and cost.

Day to day, you'll be based in China — factor its housing market, commute and cost of living into your budget alongside tuition, because they differ sharply between college towns and major capitals.

• ✓Direct access to the fastest-growing corporate hiring markets
• ✓Strong regional alumni networks across Greater China, ASEAN and India
• ✓Cost-to-outcome ratios that are often the best of any region

How BI Norwegian Business School/Fudan University School of Management compares

Rankings compress a dozen dimensions into one number; your decision only needs three — placement strength in your target lane, net cost after scholarships, and the location where you want to build a network. Start your comparison with CEIBS, CUHK Business School, Fudan University School of Management — each leads in a different lane.

Frequently asked questions