The Washington University-Fudan University Executive MBA program is a partnership between the Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis and School of Management, Fudan University. Delivered in English, the program closely matches the curriculum and structure of Olin Business School’s local Executive MBA program. While faculty members from Olin Business School teach the majority of the courses, professors from Fudan University also support some of the courses to instill local perspectives and provide the latest insights to China’s rapidly changing economy. Graduates will obtain a master degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a certificate from Fudan University, and will also be a member of both Universities’ alumni communities.
Graduates can certify degrees online through the official website ：
https://zwfw.cscse.edu.cn/cscse/lxfwzxwsfwdt2020/xlxwrz32/index.html
Required materials for certification:
1) Master degree certificate from Washington University
2) Certificate from Fudan University
3) Academic transcripts provided by Washington University
Faculty: The faculty of the Fudan University-University of Washington EMBA program consists of distinguished professors from both the University of Washington and Fudan University. Based on the curriculum design, the program team will arrange the most suitable faculty for each course.
Courses: The curriculum features foundational courses and three major themes that parallel managerial situations facing executives on a daily basis. The core courses provide you with the breadth you need to understand your business from a strategic perspective. The major themes stay abreast with the latest business environment, focusing on the global business management, leadership and entrepreneurship. According to the University of Washington's teaching requirements for the EMBA, students are required to complete 8 principal business courses in the first year. The second year includes two overseas class sessions and 8 core management courses, culminating in a total of 19 mandatory courses and an innovation project.
Student Composition: About 70% of students come from global enterprises. The average age of students is 40 years, with an average of 15 years of working experience and 9 years of management experience.
Application Method: The program uses a deep personal interview in English to assess applicants' comprehensive backgrounds, suitable for students with over 10 years of work experience and more than 5 years of management experience, with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Teaching Mode: The program uses a modular teaching approach, with classes concentrated once a month from Friday to Monday. Domestic MBA programs typically use a semester-based teaching system.
Degree and Diploma: Graduates receive an MBA degree certificate from Washington University, which can be certified by the Ministry of Education's Study Abroad Service Center. Fudan University provides a study certificate.
Program Duration: The program lasts 18 months including three residencies, including class opening residency in Suzhou, mid-term residency in Europe and the graduation residency in the US. Apart from the residencies, students will have most of the classes at Fudan School of Management in Shanghai.
Class Schedule: Washington University - Fudan University Executive MBA program is designed for busy professionals like you. Our 18-month program focuses on learning. You attend courses once per month, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday through Monday at Fudan University’s School of Management in Shanghai.
Established in 2002, the Fudan University - Washington University EMBA Program is the first EMBA program approved by the Ministry of Education of China and the first Sino-foreign cooperative EMBA program. Washington University, located in St. Louis, Missouri, is ranked 32nd in the world and 15th among the best universities in the U.S. by U.S. News in 2022. The Olin Business School, founded in 1917, is a leading research-oriented business school in the U.S. Professor Philip H. Dybvig from the Olin Business School was one of the three recipients of the 2022 Nobel Prize in Economics.
Fudan University, one of China's top universities, is ranked 34th in the world by QS in 2023 and third in mainland China. The School of Management at Fudan is one of the most influential business schools in China, accredited by both AACSB and EQUIS. It has consistently ranked first in mainland China and among the top 100 globally in UTD's global business school research rankings from 2018 to 2022. The program has entered the top ten globally in the Financial Times' global EMBA rankings 12 times, the earliest and longest-standing EMBA program in mainland China to achieve this feat. In 2022, it ranked 9th globally, with academic research ranking first in Asia for three consecutive years and graduate salary levels ranking sixth globally.
The Fudan University - Washington University EMBA Program is a part-time, fully English-taught EMBA program. It pioneered a joint teaching model, with American professors serving as lead lecturers and Fudan professors as co-teachers.
The curriculum is based on the design of the Olin Business School's EMBA program but tailored to the specific needs of Asian business leaders, closely linked to the current economic environment, focusing on global management, leadership, and innovation skills development. All students will complete 18 months of study, with classes concentrated for four days each month at the School of Management at Fudan University.
During the study period, you also have 2 overseas residencies during mid-term and final-term before your graduation. Graduates will obtain a master degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a certificate from Fudan University, and will also be a member of both Universities’ alumni communities.
(1) Can students take leave from classes?
Yes. To successfully complete a course, students must meet the minimum attendance rate of 25%, in addition to completing the required content and assignments by the instructor. Each module course checks attendance twice a day, with a total of four attendance checks per course, requiring at least three attendances. Students must sign in personally, and the program office supervises the entire process.
Module courses: Attendance is recorded twice daily during the course period, totaling four attendance checks per course. Students must attend at least three of these sessions. Attendance must be personally signed by the student, and the entire process is overseen by the project office.
(2) How is course performance evaluated?
Course performance is evaluated based on several aspects: attendance, group reports, quizzes/assignments/reports/projects, and course exams. Except for special circumstances, course exams are usually held after the course ends. The weight of each evaluation factor is determined by the instructor.
If you have over 10 years of work experience, more than 5 years of management experience, a university degree or equivalent, and a high level of English proficiency, you are welcome to apply.
The application process involves three main steps:
Step 1: Submit an online application form. First, fill out a preliminary application form. If you meet the EMBA admission requirements, you will be notified to complete a full application form. Prepare a resume, transcripts, degree certificates, two English recommendation letters, and a sponsorship letter from your company.
Step 2: Interview. Applicants who pass the preliminary review and submit complete materials will be invited for an English interview lasting about an hour.
Step 3: Admission. The Admissions Committee will evaluate applicants' performance, and admission results will be notified via email within 7 days after the interview.
Fluent in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in English.
Yes. Since the program is conducted entirely in English, foreign nationals who are fluent in English are eligible to apply. The application system for foreign nationals is the same as that for applicants from mainland China, and there is no difference in the application process.
Recommendation letters are mandatory. Applicants need to have two recommenders fill out English recommendation letters. Recommenders must complete an evaluation form and answer several open-ended questions.
Application materials:
•Online application form
•Two recommendation letters
•Sponsorship letter
•Official transcript in English
•Degree copy
•Three ID photos
•One copy of your ID card
•Two business cards
The Admissions Committee will determine the acceptance decision within approximately one week after the interview. Based on the interview performance and applicant's materials, the final offer letter will be sent to you by via email.
The total tuition for the 2025 intake (Class 23) is 768,000 RMB. The tuition includes textbook fees, study materials, and accommodation costs for all residential modules (including the final residential course in the United States). Students are only required to bear their own travel expenses and visa fees for overseas countries.
Additionally, the tuition does not need to be paid in one lump sum. It is mainly divided into four installments: the first payment is a 50,000 RMB non-refundable deposit before the start of the term; the second payment is 318,000 RMB; the third and fourth payments are both 200,000 RMB each.
The program cooperates with several banks each year to provide low-interest, low-fee bank loan policies.
Students who need to defer must submit a formal deferment application, which must be approved by the Fudan University - Washington University EMBA Program. Once approved, the student’s enrollment status will be retained, allowing them to complete their studies within seven years.
School of Management at Fudan University regularly hosts a variety of lectures. All alumni who have graduated from the program can participate in the lifelong learning plan for free.
Students can get various resources from both universities, including libraries, student IDs, and teaching systems. After graduation, you also can join in different alumni activities to meet more peers. Olin program also offers various alumni club activities. Currently, there’re medical club, entrepreneur club, and automotive club and so on.