The MBA Executive Leadership modules are aimed at:

• Individuals who have passed the MAS in Business Administration program,
• Managers responsible for the overall direction of a company or division,
• Professionals involved in the development, analysis, and optimization of business models and processes, and
• Anyone with a leadership role in a staff or support unit.

The MBA Executive Leadership modules enable participants to:

• prepare for a senior management position,
• master complex financial, strategic, and international challenges,
• develop the knowledge they acquire further by working on various practical cases and their own business case.

For students with a business degree (MAS BA) from another university, the transfer of credits may be possible.

Strategic and innovative thinking, decision-making, flexibility, empathy, and authentic leadership are important managerial skills. Leaders are neither entirely born with their abilities, nor can they learn them from a textbook. What distinguishes modern leaders in today’s complex business world is an amalgamation of what you bring to the table as an individual, the tools and methods we can show you, and the valuable lessons you learn at work or while enrolled in our program. Our MBA program helps executives on their career path.

Core Subjects of the Executive Leadership Modules (30 ECTS credits):

The Executive Leadership modules help you consolidate what you have learned and focus on the topic of “leadership”.

• Leadership and management (including boot camp, practical management, and ethics)
• Strategic leadership (including strategic foresight, stakeholder management, and corporate governance)
• Financial leadership (including financial leadership from a top management and a board perspective, steering management, and risk management)
• International leadership (including leadership clinic and intercultural communication)
• Crisis management (leadership simulation week with a crisis management scenario)

The program to become a Master of Business Administration is characterized by methodological diversity. In addition to traditional teaching methods, lectures, presentations, exercises, case studies, and working on practical case studies, great importance is attached to the practical transfer of the knowledge and skills acquired.

Classes in the basic modules are usually held on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings. In the advanced modules, classes are held all day on Friday and Saturday. In addition, there are external seminars and individual extended teaching blocks.

The next course is scheduled to start in mid/end October 2025 (the dates have not yet been finalised) and is already fully booked.
Registration on a waiting list is possible.
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Many of our participants, as mothers or fathers with young children, face the challenge of balancing family and career.
MBA & Family – We're here to support you!
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To be admitted to the program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• They must have graduated from a university or university of applied sciences and have at least five years of professional experience (no major interruptions and a workload of at least 60% (i.e., four days a week)).
• Professionals without a university degree must have at least five years of professional experience (no major interruptions and a workload of at least 60% (4 days a week)) and corresponding continuing education certificates (e.g., from a college of higher education and training (höhere Fachschule) or the examination for the advanced federal diploma of higher education (höhere Fachprüfung mit eidg. Fachausweis/Diplom)).
• Management experience required:
   
  • Line management position with at least 4 years of line management experience in a multi-member team, department, division, management, etc. Management experience is calculated as a whole and does not have to have been completed in one go. Proof of experience relates exclusively to business activities (employment relationship) and not to leisure functions (e.g., club president).
  • Those with only 2 years of management experience may be admitted if they currently hold a line management position.
  • In exceptional cases, those with a project management function may also be admitted, provided their professional activity primarily relates to project management. Documentary evidence must show a high project volume and clearly recognizable management responsibility
    (certificates such as IPMA A- or B-Level).
• Minimum age: 26 years

The ultimate decision concerning admission lies with the Head of Program.

If you would like a without-obligation check of your admission requirements before applying for the Master of Business Aministration (Executive Leadership Module), please submit the following documents to us in advance by email:

• Up-to-date CV/resume
• Copies of highest degree qualification
• Copies of employment references

Preparation for application:
Please have the necessary information and documents ready in electronic form for your application:

Information:

• Swiss social security number (13-digit number in the format: 000.0000.0000.00):
  You will find this on your AHV card or Swiss health insurance card if you live or work in Switzerland.
• CH matriculation number (8-digit number in the format: xx-xxx-xxx):
  If you are or have previously been enrolled at a Swiss university, university of applied sciences, or higher education institution, you will find the matriculation number
   
  • on your confirmation of enrollment or deregistration
  • on the student ID* of your initial enrollment
    (yellow sticker on *certificate or diploma)

Documentation:

• Up-to-date CV/resume
• Digital profile picture for ZHAW identification card (CampusCard)
  (format: JPG or JPEG/file size pixels: 300x400)
• Letter of motivation
• Copies of highest educational qualification
• Copies of employment references
• Copies of other degrees or certificates
• Copies of management training course certificates

Applications will be considered in the order in which they are received.

Start: on request

Application deadline: on request

Registration link 2025:
Start of implementation: 23 October 2025 (Programme fully booked, registration on waiting list possible)

Registration link 2026:
Start of Implementation: mid/end of October 2026 (Programme fully booked, registration on waiting list also possible