All candidates in the MBA for Executives program are required to be employed full-time for the full duration of the 22-month program. Your employer will be a major stakeholder as you embark on this learning journey, and securing their support will be an important part of ensuring your success during your EMBA program. All candidates are required to complete an Employer Approval Form designed to formalize the agreement related to time out of the office, and to complete the requirements for the program.
As you engage your employer, you will want to discuss with them the required Employer Approval for time sponsorship during the program, but you may also want to discuss other opportunities for possible financial sponsorship and support.
Employer Approval
- Required for all applicants to the MBA for Executives program
- Your employer is committing to sponsor your time away from the office for the program.
- You include contact information for your designated approver in the application; once you are invited/schedule an interview, an electronic form is sent to the approver within 48 hours.
- This form must be submitted in advance of your interview.
Employer Sponsorship
- Not required for MBA for Executives candidates; not all candidates will receive employer sponsorship.
- Your employer provides partial or full financial support for your degree. Depending on your employer, this may be paid to Yale directly, or you may receive this as reimbursement.
- This may be through a program that your employer offers, but it also may be something you negotiate with them directly.
Employer Approval
Employer Approval, also referred to as time sponsorship, describes the process by which you explain to your employer that you have interest in furthering your education and request that they support your participation throughout your time in the program.
When you apply to the program, you will be required to share the name, title and contact information for whomever is designated to sign off on your time away from the office, be it your direct supervisor, hiring manager, or HR representative. If invited to interview, our team will use the provided information to reach out to the individual by email. The completion of the form provides the Admissions team with a formal, written confirmation that your employer is aware of the time commitment required by the program.
Some applicants find this a relatively simple ask, especially when employers may have also pursued an MBA and understand the benefit. Leaders see the value of supporting the continuing education of their workforce and recognize the mutual growth possibilities when students are able to share newfound perspectives and ideas with the workplace.
For some, you may need to build support for your plan to pursue an MBA. Here are some useful tips to consider:
Be clear on what the program will require in terms of time away from the office. When thinking about how to broach the subject of time away from the office, it may be helpful to have a visual representation of the time you’ll need to take. Reviewing and sharing a copy of the academic calendar will help you and your stakeholders visualize the time commitment and plan for it well in advance. The MBA for Executives program requires more than 60 days out of the office, including 4 total weeks spent in-residence and every other weekend (Friday and Saturday) over the span of 22 months. To be successful in the program, discuss the significant time commitment with clarity and honesty. The academic calendar is an important tool in navigating the next two years with your stakeholders.
Help your employer understand how your EMBA will benefit them, both in real time and in the long term. One of the benefits of the MBA for Executives program is that students attend class weekends and return to the office on Monday ready to apply what they have learned. Students bring their work-related challenges and ideas to vet with their peers and come away with fresh perspectives or new approaches to share in real time. While the pursuit of an MBA will benefit you personally in a number of ways, sharing information about the collaborative and practical nature of the program with your supervisor may help them to see the immediate rewards of allowing you this time to grow and learn from peers.
Frame your time away from the office as a growth opportunity for others on your team. Within your team, there are likely colleagues and individuals who are ready to take on a new project or flex their creativity. Take the initiative to develop a plan for dividing work functions and share it with your supervisor to help alleviate their concerns about your occasional absence from the office. Enabling your team to step up while you are in the program is valuable in helping your organization learn, grow, and thrive. As an added bonus, you use the leadership skills you’re developing to add value and elevate your team—a win-win!
Employer Sponsorship
Employer Sponsorship refers to a company’s partial or full financial support for a candidate’s degree. Financial sponsorship is not required for admission to the MBA for Executives program.
For many Executive MBA students, company sponsorship is a large component of the application and financing process. We encourage you to start a dialogue with your employer early to see if this is a resource that may be available to you. As part of the dialogue, we recommend that you put together a written proposal requesting sponsorship. We’ve included some helpful tips and guidelines for what to include in your proposal below:
Detail your contributions: What contributions have you made throughout your time at your organization? Point to specific examples and quantifiable data that highlight the value that you have brought to your organization.
Negotiate the terms of your sponsorship: What level of support are you requesting? You should also detail the period you’re requesting be covered by your sponsorship.
Skill development: What skills will you learn and develop at SOM that will help towards the growth of your organization? What courses will you take that will amplify your managerial skills? Let your employer know the value and return on investment that an MBA would offer for your professional development, and for the continued growth of your company.
If you’ve been approved for employer sponsorship, congratulations! Once you are admitted and have indicated your intent to enroll in the program, the Admissions Team will be happy to connect you with the necessary teams within Yale regarding any potential next steps.