Overview
Master the HKU Business School HKU-Fudan MBA (International) application with expert insights on this unique joint programme ranked #19 globally.
About HKU Business School
Based in China, HKU Business School draws applicants who want an EMBA built around their existing career rather than a break from it. Asia is where the fastest-growing share of executive and specialist management education now sits, with Singapore, Hong Kong, mainland China and India each anchoring a distinct regional hiring market.
Why HKU Business School stands out
Every school on a shortlist claims excellence; what matters is the specific edge you would actually use. For HKU Business School, that edge is concrete — Ranked #19 globally in Financial Times EMBA 2025.
- Ranked #19 globally in Financial Times EMBA 2025.
- Joint programme by HKU Business School and Fudan University School of Management.
- Format: 24 months, Part-time (Modular/Weekend).
- Tuition: ~RMB 498,000 (subject to annual review).
- Location: Shanghai, with courses in Hong Kong and global options.
- Taught in English, focusing on Asian and global business.
The EMBA at HKU Business School
A part-time or modular Executive MBA for senior managers and leaders who keep working full-time while studying on weekends or in intensive blocks.
HKU-Fudan MBA (International) — an executive-format MBA taught alongside full-time work, delivered in China.
Who is eligible
What the committee looks for
- Bachelor's degree from a recognized institution.
Tests & admission requirements
- GRK (National Postgraduate Entrance Examination) for mainland Chinese applicants.
- GMAT/GRE acceptable for international applicants.
- Exemptions available for qualified candidates with extensive experience or specific degrees.
What you'll submit
- Online Application Form.
- Essays / Statement of Purpose.
- CV / Resume.
- Academic Transcripts.
- Reference Letters.
- GMAT/GRE Score Report (if applicable).
Essays typically focus on why you want to join this specific HKU-Fudan joint programme, your career goals, and how you can contribute to the cross-cultural class environment.
How the process works
- Submit online application with essays, CV, and transcripts.
- Entrance Exam: GRK (for mainland Chinese) or GMAT/Interview (for international applicants).
- Interview (shortlisted candidates).
- Admission Decision notification.
Application timeline & prep
- Build your profile (12–18 months out)
Map your story to what HKU Business School actually values, and close obvious gaps in leadership evidence, academics or career progression before you apply.
- Take your tests (9–12 months out)
Typical expectation: GRK (National Postgraduate Entrance Examination) for mainland Chinese applicants. GMAT/GRE acceptable for international applicants.. Book early enough to allow one retake without missing a round.
- Shortlist and visit (6–9 months out)
Compare HKU Business School against 4–6 peer programs on placement in your target lane, net cost and location. Speak to current students and alumni — admissions teams notice informed applicants.
- Essays and recommendations (3–6 months out)
Draft essays that make one coherent argument for why this program, why now. Brief your recommenders with specific stories rather than adjectives.
- Submit and interview
Apply in the earliest round you can be genuinely ready for — earlier rounds usually mean better admission and scholarship odds. Prepare interviews around your own application, not a script.
- Decision, funding and visa
Leave 3–4 months post-admit for scholarship negotiation, financing and your China student visa.
Fees, scholarships & ROI
HKU Business Schoolsets fees by intake and cohort, so we don't quote a figure here. Ask admissions for the current total, and budget separately for travel, accommodation during residencies, and any modules taught abroad.
Asian programmes span heavily subsidised public universities and premium private business schools, and living costs vary by an order of magnitude between Singapore or Hong Kong and most mainland or Indian cities. Merit scholarships, external fellowships and — for executive formats — employer sponsorship can materially change the arithmetic, so build your shortlist around net cost, not sticker price.
When you model ROI, count all three costs: tuition, living expenses, and the salary you give up while studying. Then set that against the realistic post-EMBA salary in your target lane — not the program-wide average, which blends high-paying and low-paying paths. A shorter format or a strong scholarship often beats a marginally higher-ranked school on this arithmetic.
Get a realistic read on your HKU Business School chances
A free 1-on-1 evaluation of your profile against recent HKU Business School EMBA admits — where you stand, what to fix, and which rounds to target.
Careers after the HKU Business School EMBA
Graduates of EMBA programs like HKU Business School's typically move into C-suite readiness, P&L leadership, board roles and career pivots at the senior level.
Treat the careers office as a channel, not a guarantee: the students who convert a EMBA into the outcome they wanted start recruiting from week one, use alumni for referrals rather than information, and arrive with a story that explains why this exact role is the logical next step. The brand opens the door; preparation walks through it.
Rankings & outcomes
HKU-Fudan MBA (International) is ranked #19 in the Financial Times Executive MBA Ranking 2025. The figures below come from that ranking and describe the surveyed cohort — treat them as a directional read on outcomes, not a promise.
- #19
- Overall rank
- $313,765
- Salary today (US$)
- 118%
- Salary increase
- #16
- Career progress rank
- 68%
- Aims achieved
- #16
- Alumni network rank
Insider tips
- Highlight your cross-cultural management experience.
- Demonstrate your commitment to the 2-year part-time format.
- Show how you can contribute to the diverse class profile.
How we help you get in
Unique blend of Western management theory and Chinese business practice.
Access to alumni networks of both HKU and Fudan University.
Strong track record of career progression and salary increase.
Studying in Asia: work rights & visas
Post-study work rights differ sharply by market — Singapore and Hong Kong run employment-pass and graduate-visa routes, mainland China ties work rights to an employer-sponsored permit, and India has no separate post-study route for foreign graduates. Confirm the current rules with the destination's immigration authority before you commit. Work-rights certainty is often the biggest single factor in whether an international degree pays back, so weigh it alongside rankings and cost.
Day to day, you'll be based in China — factor its housing market, commute and cost of living into your budget alongside tuition, because they differ sharply between college towns and major capitals.
- Direct access to the fastest-growing corporate hiring markets
- Strong regional alumni networks across Greater China, ASEAN and India
- Cost-to-outcome ratios that are often the best of any region
How HKU Business School compares
Rankings compress a dozen dimensions into one number; your decision only needs three — placement strength in your target lane, net cost after scholarships, and the location where you want to build a network. Start your comparison with BI Norwegian Business School/Fudan University School of Management, CEIBS, CUHK Business School — each leads in a different lane.
Frequently asked questions
What is the duration?
The programme takes 2 years (24 months) to complete.
Is it a joint degree?
Yes, it is jointly offered by HKU and Fudan University.
Where are classes held?
Primarily in Shanghai, with modules in Hong Kong.
Ready to apply to HKU Business School?
Work 1-on-1 with mentors who've guided admits into HKU Business School and its peers — from shortlist and tests to essays, interviews and scholarships.