UCT Masters of Business Administration (Executive Management) (EMBA) Admission Requirements

By | September 18, 2021


UCT Masters of Business Administration (Executive Management) (EMBA) Admission Requirements

Admission to the Executive MBA is highly selective and enrolment is limited. The programme aims to develop a cadre of senior management professionals who have the conceptual facilities, cultural empathy and practical capabilities to build exceptional careers, organisations and nations. Candidates are assessed with this in mind.

To be considered for the GSB MBA Executive Management candidates need to:

  • Have a minimum of 10-15 years’ work experience and a proven management track record in the public or private sector.
  • Be fluent in English. Applicants whose mother tongue is not English will be required to produce a TOEFL certificate to verify fluency in English.
  • Have completed either a Bachelor Honours degree or Postgraduate Diploma or a cognate Bachelor’s Degree equivalent at level 8 through relevant work experience. Candidates not meeting the degree requirement can apply through the Recognition of Prior Learning(RPL) route and submit the Portfolio of Learning (POL) assessment form.
  • GMAT test or the MCPA test.
    Applicants are required to write the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) and obtain a GMAT score of at least 550.  If this is not achieved then an applicant may be asked to write the NBT.  The GSB offers a five-day GMAT Preparation Course to help students prepare for the GMAT

As an alternative to the GMAT, applicants can complete the MCPA Assessment. This assessment provides an indication of the individual’s most suitable longer term fit with organisational complexity or work themes, and provides information about current and future capabilities.

Bookings for the MCPA can be made by visiting http://www.bioss.co.za and clicking on Assessment Bookings. Simply complete and submit the form after which you will then be contacted by Bioss to organise the MCPA. Results will be sent to the Graduate School of Business.





  • Take the NBT test. Applicants writing MCPA are required to write the National Benchmark Test (NBT) and obtain an acceptable NBT score. This UCT-developed test provides additional insight into the candidate’s verbal and quantitative abilities, and is assessed in conjunction with the other indicators.

Applicants who have met the admission requirements will be contacted to attend a selection interview.