The PGPEX (Post Graduate Programme for Executives) is meant for those with more than five years of professional experience. This batch has an average work experience of 99 months (8 years) and 5 months of international work experience. Students with international experience constitute 36 % of the class.

In academics, the average GMAT score is 701, median 700 and maximum 750. Students with Post Graduate degree constitute 7.57% of the batch.

The international immersion program, an essential part of the PGEPX, helps future business leaders hone their skills while tackling real-world challenges.

In Industry experience, 26 participants constituting 39.4% are from IT/ITES. Energy/Power/Oil & Gas comes next with 27.3% (18 students). Manufacturing has 9.1% share with 6 students followed by Automobile 7.6% (5 students), Financial Services 6.1% (4 students) and 3% each (2 students) in FMCG Pharma, Consulting, Entertainment & Telecom and 1.5% (1 student) Defence.

IIM Calcutta, the first management institute in India to be triple crowned, accredited by the international agencies, AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS, had launched the PGPEX in 2006 to provide mid-career professionals with an ideal platform to augment their existing skill sets for senior and top management roles in the industry.

Learning beyond the classroom is an important aspect of the program with case discussions enriching the practical experience of unravelling real-life business puzzles. Informal discussions on varied topics from thoughtfully chosen adjunct readings broaden individual perspectives.

The international immersion program, an essential part of the PGEPX, helps future business leaders hone their skills while tackling real-world challenges.

The PGPEX students are required to undertake an international immersion module as a part of the curriculum. This module provides an opportunity for them to work in a group in a cross-cultural environment and learn how to address business issues.

Apart from academic sessions at international business schools, the immersion program includes company visits and networking. No separate fee is charged for this module. The Institute takes care of airfare, accommodation, visa and medical insurance charges. Expenses for food are also subsidized.

The students also find time to make use of opportunities to participate in business case competitions, branding exercises and self-interest career advancement clubs.

The accelerated 12- month program provides a comprehensive, well-rounded business education to unleash the student’s full potential while minimizing time and opportunity costs. This program is ideal for those who already possess a wealth of professional experience or are studying under company sponsorship to enhance their career advancement.

The 16-month program is designed for students who are planning a career switch, looking to gain more international exposure or simply want to expand their career opportunities in China and Asia by equipping themselves with more solid regional knowledge. As part of the program, they will have the opportunity to participate in a summer internship and an optional one-semester overseas exchange at one of HKUST’s 60 partner schools worldwide.

Both programs start in August every year. The 1-year program concludes in August the next year, the 16-month program continues with summer internship option. It ends with 4 electives at HKUST or an exchange school in fall (September-December).

Since knowledge of Mandarin will be needed for those planning to explore new career opportunities in the Mainland or with China-related enterprises, HKUST has got an optional 4-week course just before the immersion program as part of the inter-university program for Chinese language studies. The classes at Tsinghua University in Beijing provide an opportunity for students to enhance their knowledge of business Mandarin. The costs are not included in the fees and will have to be borne by students. The HKUST Language Center also offers a basic Mandarin course for beginners during the immersion program.

Admission Eligibility

Applicants for the HKUST MBA Program need to have a Bachelor’s degree, satisfactory GMAT/GRE score and a minimum of 2 years’ full-time work experience after graduation. Those not having English as the first language of instruction in undergraduate/postgraduate program need TOEFL/IELTS certificate.

Application Schedule

HKUST starts accepting applications from September each year for intake in the following August. In the deadlines for the 2017 intake, phase 1 application deadline was November 9. Interview notification will be issued on January 6, 2017 an admission results announced latest by February 3, 2017.

The second phase admission deadline is January 11, 2017, interview notification by March 10 and admission results on April 7, 2017. The third phase application deadline is on March 8, 2017, interview notification by May 5 and admission results by June 2, 2017.

Ideally, international students should send in their applications by the first or second deadline to allow sufficient time to process their visas and for making other travel arrangements to Hong Kong. Late applications would be considered subject to place availability.

Fees & Other Expenses

The program fee of the full-time MBA program is HK$585,000 (approximately US$75,300) for the 2017 intake. This applies for the 12- and 16-month options as they both require 52 credits. Students are also entitled to enrol for 10 extra credits for no additional charge. Items covered by the program fee include tuition, textbooks and course materials for core courses (excluding course material for electives), and certain self-enrichment activities.

Successful applicants are required to pay a non-refundable deposit of HK$50,000 (approximately US$6,400), which will be deducted from their outstanding program fee. The remainder of the program fee can be paid in four instalments. Students should also expect a slight adjustment to the price of accommodation on campus which will only be finalized by the HKUST Housing Office in May 2017. As a reference, there was a price increase of 3% from 2015 to 2016. The other expenses come to about 790,000 Hong Kong dollars (US$101,600).

Class Profile

The current class has 113 students with an average age of 28 (25-33). They have an average work experience of 5 years (3-8 years), GMAT range is 580-710. International students comprise 93% of the class representing 28 nationalities.

Students from Australia, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand represent the Asia-Pacific region. Likewise Europe is represented by students from France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. The class also has students from Canada, United States, Brazil, Israel and South Africa.

As far as their professional background is concerned, 22% are from Finance, followed by 13% Sales/Marketing and 12% each in General Management and Consulting.

The Class of 2017 is the 10^th batch since the launch of the program in 2006.  The 68-member batch has 10 female students.

They have an average work experience of 92.6 months. Students with international experience comprise 34% of the class with an average   work experience of 9 months. The average GMAT score for the batch was 685, median 690 and maximum 760.

Engineers form an overwhelming 96% of the class and 12% of the students are post graduates.

Focus on Analytical & Problem Solving Pedagogy

IIMC says that PGPEX has a strong focus on analytical and problem-solving pedagogy.  The program blends theory and research in 600+ contact hours. As many as 40 courses (25 compulsory courses and 15 elective courses) are on offer.

Engineers form an overwhelming 96% of the class and 12% of the students are post graduates.

With due emphasis on decision-making and leadership skills, there is an appropriate mix of classroom lectures, case studies, individual and team assignments.

The program is delivered by IIMC faculty along with international faculty of repute. International Immersion modules are held in USA and Europe.

Teaching has workshop modes, lecture series by business luminaries and CEOs and engagement with public and industry champions.

Placements scenario

In Final Placements, the previous batch (2015-16) bagged an Average Salary of Rs 25.33 Lakh with the highest salary pegged at Rs 54 lakh. The 54-member batch received 61 offers with the maximum 17 in IT services.

Eligibility Criteria (for the batch 2017-18)

A bachelor’s degree (minimum 10+2+3 years of formal education) or equivalent in any discipline

At least 5 years of full time post qualification managerial/professional experience as on March 31, 2017

Valid GMAT Score (taken within last 36 months of application date)

Admission Process

The admission process for the 11^th batch (2017-18) started on June 30. The last date for submission of application forms was October 25. The announcement of short-listed candidates was made in the first week of November and interview of short-listed candidates is to take place in the second week. The list of candidates selected will come out in the last week of November.

The last date of acceptance and payment of first instalment of fees is in the second half of December, reporting date on campus for participants on April 18. Registration takes place on April 19-20 and the program commences on April 21, 2017.

Fees Structure

PGPEX program fee (non-refundable) is Rs 22,00,000 or equivalent US$ for one year, plus applicable service tax payable in four instalments to be paid by December, April, July and November.

An amount of Rs.20,000 has to be paid as refundable caution deposit at the time of registration. (Students provided with family accommodation will have to pay Rs 48,000 extra).

The programme fee includes tuition fees, cost of study material, accommodation and cost of study tours organised by IIMC. Airfare, visa and medical insurance charges for overseas study tours will be borne by the Institute.

However, students will have to bear the expenses for food, personal travel, electricity, cable TV, other utility and misc., expenses and any other expenses of personal nature during their stay in the campus or abroad.

The International Programme in Management for Executives (IPMX) this year starting April 2016 has attracted candidates with diverse backgrounds from industries such as Aviation, Merchant Navy, Energy/Power, Banking and Financial Services, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Automobile, IT and IT services.

The batch has an average work experience of 8.5 years and average age of 31 years. More than half of them have an average international experience of 2.5 years.

The Guest of Honour at the induction ceremony, Rajat Kathuria, Director and Chief Executive, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), in his address, referred to the changes in business environment in the country and highlighted the wide array of opportunities for Business leaders. He also stressed the importance of reducing the carbon footprint and ensuring sustainable growth.

The IPMX program is open to professionals of all nationalities. The candidates should have Bachelor’s Degree (10+2+3) in any discipline or equivalent, GMAT score obtained from July 1, 2012 to October 30, 2015. They should have minimum of 5 years full time professional experience (after graduation) as on March 31, 2016.

The fee is Rs. 19,11,000 which includes tuition, cost of course material, library, computer facilities, career counselling, student activities and mess charges, excluding accommodation in the campus, plus refundable caution money of Rs 20,000.

The class has a gender composition of 89% male and 11% female students. As much as 60% of the batch has IT background and the remaining 40% from non-IT sectors.

A majority of 59% have 5-8 years work experience, 27% with 8-10 years and 14%, more than 10 years.

Dr. Ajit Prasad, Director of IIM-Lucknow, Professor Amit Mookerjee, Dean IIM-Lucknow Noida Campus and Professor Anita Goyal, Chairperson of IPMX were present at the induction ceremony.