EPFL EMBA

What EPFL EMBA does

EPFL EMBA is an Executive MBA program operated by the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), a Swiss federal institute of technology. The 16-month, part-time program specializes in innovation management and is designed for senior executives, managers, and technology leaders who want to bridge technical innovation with business strategy. Curriculum is delivered through a blended learning model: theoretical foundations are made available online in advance, and classroom time is reserved for interactive practice. The program comprises 6 building blocks, over 20 courses, and three applied components: a Business Venture Project (multi-year business plan), a Strategic & Innovative Project (individual thesis at the participant's employer), and a 2-day Business Innovation Challenge sprint. A 9-day Global Immersion Study Trip anchors the conclusion of the program. Classes meet in person at the EPFL campus in Lausanne on 27 weekends (Friday and Saturday every two weeks), requiring participants to be based in Switzerland or a neighboring country.

Revenue is generated almost entirely from participant tuition of CHF 49,000 per seat, paid in four installments and inclusive of learning materials, lodging, and the study trip (flights excluded). No financial aid or scholarships are provided through the program. Admissions follow a formal process with multiple annual deadlines (November, February, May), supplemented by virtual info sessions, the emba.epfl.ch website, and LinkedIn/Instagram channels. The program is fully accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA), the European standard for MBA accreditation, and inherits the institutional brand strength of EPFL, which was ranked 16th worldwide by QS and 19th for Engineering and Technology by Times Higher Education in 2023.

Name

EPFL EMBA

Legal name

EPFL EMBA (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Executive MBA)

Website

https://emba.epfl.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EPFL EMBA is a 16-month, part-time Executive MBA program at EPFL in Lausanne, specializing in innovation management for senior executives and technology leaders seeking to bridge technical innovation with business strategy, delivered via blended learning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Education / Management Education

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

akta.pro primary industry

MBA & Executive MBA Programs (EDAHAHAB)

Keywords

• Executive education
• MBA program
• Innovation management
• Management education
• Executive coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

Lausanne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Single revenue stream from tuition fees charged to program participants. Total program cost is CHF 49,000, paid in four installments across the program duration (upon acceptance, Year 1, and Year 2). Tuition includes learning materials, lodging and activities for the international study trip.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The EPFL EMBA is a 16-month Executive MBA program delivered on the EPFL Campus in Lausanne, combining 27 weekend sessions (Friday and Saturday, every two weeks) with over 20 courses across 6 building blocks. It is fully accredited by AMBA and specializes in innovation management, integrating hands-on projects such as the Business Innovation Challenge, Business Venture Project, Strategic & Innovative Project, and a 9-day Global Immersion Study Trip for senior managers and executives.

Product overview

The EPFL EMBA is a single, unified Executive MBA program focused on innovation management. It operates as a 16-month executive education program with 6 building blocks and over 20 courses, supplemented by practical projects (Business Venture Project, Strategic & Innovative Project), an intensive 2-day Business Innovation Challenge, and a 9-day Global Immersion Study Trip. The program also offers regular Info Sessions for prospective participants. All components are delivered in-person at EPFL Campus in Lausanne, Switzerland, with classes meeting every two weeks on Friday and Saturday.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EPFL EMBA - Harnessing Innovation A 16-month Executive MBA program specializing in innovation management, designed for senior managers and executives with 5-7+ years of experience who want to lead innovation and technology initiatives. Delivered in 27 weekend sessions (Fridays and Saturdays, every two weeks) at the EPFL Campus in Lausanne, the program includes 6 building blocks with over 20 courses, hands-on business projects (Business Venture Project, Strategic & Innovative Project), a 2-day Business Innovation Challenge, and a 9-day Global Immersion Study Trip. Fully accredited by AMBA.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fully AMBA accredited program meeting European standards for MBA education
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• SDA Bocconi Executive MBA: SDA Bocconi's EMBA is a top-tier Italian executive program serving senior managers across Europe. It is comparable to EPFL EMBA in curriculum breadth, target segment, and AMBA-accredited quality standards.
• INSEAD Executive MBA: INSEAD's Global Executive MBA is a top-tier global EMBA with campuses in Fontainebleau, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi. It competes with EPFL EMBA for internationally mobile senior executives and is widely used as a benchmark for premium EMBA pricing.
• IMD Executive MBA: IMD's EMBA is based in Lausanne, Switzerland and targets senior executives with a general-management focus. It is the most direct local competitor to EPFL EMBA, competing for the same Swiss and European executive cohort, and frequently benchmarked alongside EPFL in the EMBA market.
• London Business School Executive MBA: LBS offers an EMBA program serving experienced senior managers globally. It competes with EPFL EMBA in the European premium EMBA segment and is among the strongest comparator programs on rankings, brand, and tuition pricing.
• University of Oxford Executive MBA: The Oxford Saïd EMBA is a global, modular executive program with strong international recognition. It competes with EPFL EMBA for senior European and global executives, particularly those drawn to top-ranked institutional brands.
• University of St. Gallen Executive MBA: The HSG EMBA is a leading German-speaking executive program emphasizing management and innovation. It competes with EPFL EMBA for senior executives from Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, and offers comparable AMBA-equivalent quality at a similar premium price point.
• IESE Business School Executive MBA: IESE's EMBA is a leading European executive program with strong brand recognition among senior executives. It competes with EPFL EMBA for European C-suite candidates, particularly those with international career trajectories.
• Cambridge Judge Business School EMBA: Cambridge Judge's EMBA emphasizes innovation and technology management — closely aligned with EPFL EMBA's positioning. It is a direct competitor for technology-oriented senior executives seeking a prestigious, innovation-led EMBA.

Regional players

• WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management Executive MBA: WHU's EMBA is a leading German-language executive program primarily serving German and DACH-region senior managers. It overlaps with EPFL EMBA in European executive target market but with a regional focus that limits direct head-to-head competition.

Emerging players

• Hult International Business School Executive MBA: Hult's Global EMBA offers a globally-rotating executive program aimed at mid-to-senior international managers. It competes with EPFL EMBA for international talent but at a broader, less innovation-specialized positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/epfl-executive-mba
• Instagraminstagram.com/epflemba

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EPFL EMBA