It’s a marathon, run in sprints
Here’s how to earn the Duke MBA without uprooting your entire life: our Global Executive format combines short in-person residencies with distance learning periods. Each term starts with a reading period to prep you for residency—a 24/7 immersion with teammates and faculty—and finishes with time spent working together remotely.
Traveling campus
Class convenes first in Durham, North Carolina, over a 2-week orientation session in late July. Then your classroom starts to move—through the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and Europe, where you’ll gather for 1-week residencies in October, January, April, and July, with each residency preceded and followed by distance learning periods. Your final term, you'll return to Duke for 2 - one week residencies for electives.The intense format ensures you’ll experience the total immersion of a traditional MBA program while continuing to work and live wherever you call home.
A special way of working
Fuqua’s difference comes from the way we structure our MBA programs: as learning teams. You’ll be assigned to a team of 5-6 peers who all think differently. The experience mimics the diversity of a real-world global team, where you work across time zones and different perspectives. You’ll need to learn to trust and rely on each other’s strengths, gaining practice in skills that will help you move any team forward.
Our Learning Environment
Our Faculty
All Fuqua degree programs are taught by the same world-renowned faculty, who are recognized for excellence in both teaching and research. While our faculty are known for their accessibility across degree programs, the Global Executiveformat fosters an even closer relationship. Traveling and living together for international residencies, you’ll interact with your professors both in and out of the classroom. And since your distance learning platform is always on, your faculty are monitoring class bulletin board discussions and responding to emails continuously.
Classroom Dynamics
Your classmates will bring real-time expertise to class discussions. While extensive reading assignments get you ready, debate and analysis—both in the classroom and on your learning platform—is how you’ll learn. The case-based curriculumis academically rigorous, and faculty keep you on your toes with random "cold calls" as you work through the material.
Experiential Learning
You’ll go out into the field to gather real-world data points. The Global Executive MBA curriculumincludes a range of non-traditional assignments—like interacting with locals—that get you out of your comfort zone. You’ll observe operations and meet with managers in company visits, developing insights on different industries. Senior leaders engage with your class in each country, providing perspective on that region’s political economy. These experiences enrich classroom discussion while giving you a real-world sense of the concepts you learn.
Term Structure
Over seventerms you’ll cover 17courses: 10 in the core curriculum, three multi-term courses on dynamics in global business, and four electives. Although locations and timing may shift between calendar years, the typical Global Executive structure looks like this:
Term 1 (Durham)
- Distance Period (15 days)
- Orientation & Residency (15 days)
- Distance Period (6 weeks)
Term 2 (Asia)
- Distance Period (15 days)
- Residency(10days)
- Distance Period (6 weeks)
Term 3 (Latin America)
- DistancePeriod (15 days)
- Residency (10days)
- Distance Period (6weeks)
Term 4 (Asia)
- Distance Period (15 days)
- Residency (10days)
- Distance Period (6weeks)
Term 5 (Europe)
- Distance Period (15 days)
- Residency (10days)
- Distance Period (6weeks)
ElectiveTerms 6 - 7 (Durham)
- Distance Period (15 days)
- Residency (2 - 1 week sessions)
- Distance Period (6weeks following each 1 week residency)
Optional Term 8
- Optional Concentration or Certification (12 weeks)
Residencies and Distance Learning
Residencies
In the Global Executive format, you travel to meet classmates and professors in cities that become your campus for the week. Four of your residencies will be in cities selected to provide wide exposure to the global economy, while three residencies take place on Fuqua’s campus in Durham, North Carolina. Locations may vary based on travel restrictions, but the typical pattern looks like this:
- Durham, NC
- Latin America
- Dubai
- Asia
- Europe
- Durham, NC
- Durham, NC
Condensed into a short window, residency is the time you immerse fully in your program:
- Attending classes
- Visiting companies
- Engaging in cultural activities
- Participating in career development workshops
- Interacting with alumni
- Working on assignments
- Socializing with classmates
- Meeting face-to-face with your team
Distance Learning
Between residencies, you’ll be in a distance learning period. During this part of the term, you attend weekly virtual classes with your faculty and continue working on team assignments remotely. Distance learning periods provide more flexibility to balance program requirements around the needs of your job and family. While you should expect to spend at least 20 hours a week on schoolwork during this time, you can schedule these tasks around work and personal commitments.
Throughout the program you’ll use your distance learning platform to:
- Submit assignments
- Download course materials
- Chat with classmates
- Read class and team bulletin boards
- Take exams
- Contribute to course discussion boards
- Share documents
- Call your teammates
2022-2024 Global Executive MBA Academic Calendar
2022-2024 Global Executive MBA Academic Calendar
* Arrival day— lodging covered by program.
** Departure day from residency — no programming scheduled.
Residency locations are subject to change based on local circ*mstances.
TERM 1 - DURHAM (2022) | |
Reading Period/Classes Begin | July 1 - 23, 2022 |
Residency | July 24* - August 7**, 2022 |
Distance | August 8 - 15, 2022 |
Break | August 16 - 22, 2022 |
Distance | August 23 - October 3, 2022 |
Break | October 4 - 6, 2022 |
TERM 2 - SANTIAGO(2022) | |
Reading Period/Classes Begin | October 7 - 26, 2022 |
Residency | October 27* - November 6**, 2022 |
Break | November 7, 2022 |
Distance | November 8 - December 19, 2022 |
Break | December 20, 2022 - January 3, 2023 |
TERM 3 - DUBAI(2023) | |
Reading Period/Classes Begin | January 4 - 25, 2023 |
Residency (includes team changeover) | January 26* - February 5**, 2023 |
Break | February 6 - 13, 2023 |
Distance | February 14 - March 27, 2023 |
Break | March 28 - 30, 2023 |
TERM 4 - BANGKOK (2023) | |
Reading Period/Classes Begin | March 31 - April 19, 2023 |
Residency | April 20* - 30**, 2023 |
Break | May 1, 2023 |
Distance | May 2 - June 12, 2023 |
Break | June 13 - 15, 2023 |
TERM 5 - BERLIN (2023) | |
Reading Period/Classes Begin | June 16 - July 5, 2023 |
Residency | July 6* - July 16**, 2023 |
Break | July 17 - July 24, 2023 |
Distance | July 25 - September 4, 2023 |
Break | September 5 - 14, 2023 |
ELECTIVE TERM 1 - DURHAM (2023) | |
Reading Period/Classes Begin | September 15 - 28, 2023 |
Residency | September 29* - October 7**, 2023 |
Break | October 8 - 16, 2023 |
Distance | October 17 - November 20, 2023 |
Break | November 21 - December 31, 2023 |
ELECTIVE TERM 2 - DURHAM (2024) | |
Reading Period/Classes Begin | January 1 - 12, 2024 |
Residency | January 13* - 20**, 2024 |
Break | January 21 - 29, 2024 |
Distance | January 30 - March 4, 2024 |
OPTIONAL CONCENTRATION (2024) | |
Optional Concentration | December 1, 2023 - April 1, 2024 |
GRADUATION | |
Degree Conferral | May 12, 2024 |
Graduation Ceremony | May 11 - May 12, 2024 |
2023-2025 Global Executive MBA Academic Calendar
2023-2025 Global Executive MBA Academic Calendar
* Arrival day— lodging covered by program.
** Departure day from residency — no programming scheduled.
Residency locations are subject to change based on local circ*mstances.
TERM 1 - DURHAM (2023) | |
Reading Period/Classes Begin | July 1 - 22, 2023 |
Residency | July 23* - August 6**, 2023 |
Distance | August 7 - 14, 2023 |
Break | August 15 - 21, 2023 |
Distance | August 22 - October 2, 2023 |
Break | October 3 - 5, 2023 |
TERM 2 - BANGKOK(2023) | |
Reading Period/Classes Begin | October 6 - 25, 2023 |
Residency | October 26* - November 5**, 2023 |
Break | November 6, 2023 |
Distance | November 7 - December 18, 2023 |
Break | December 19, 2023 - January 2, 2024 |
TERM 3 - SANTIAGO(2024) | |
Reading Period/Classes Begin | January 3 - 24, 2024 |
Residency | January 25* - February 4**, 2024 |
Break | February 5 - 12, 2024 |
Distance | February 13 - March 25, 2024 |
Break | March 26 - 28, 2024 |
TERM 4 - NEW DELHI (2024) | |
Reading Period/Classes Begin | March 29 - April 17, 2024 |
Residency(includes team changeover) | April 18* - 28**, 2024 |
Break | April 29, 2024 |
Distance | April 30 - June 10, 2024 |
Break | June 11 - 13, 2024 |
TERM 5 - PRAGUE (2024) | |
Reading Period/Classes Begin | June 14 - July 3, 2024 |
Residency | July 4* - July 14**, 2024 |
Break | July 15 - July 22, 2024 |
Distance | July 23 - September 2, 2024 |
Break | September 3 - 12, 2024 |
ELECTIVE TERM 1 - DURHAM (2024) | |
Reading Period/Classes Begin | September 13 - 26, 2024 |
Residency | September 27* - October 5**, 2024 |
Break | October 6 - 14, 2024 |
Distance | October 15 - November 18, 2024 |
Break | November 19 - December 31, 2024 |
ELECTIVE TERM 2 - DURHAM (2025) | |
Reading Period/Classes Begin | January 1 - 10, 2025 |
Residency | January 11* - 18**, 2025 |
Break | January 19 - 27, 2025 |
Distance | January 28 - March 3, 2025 |
OPTIONAL CONCENTRATION (2025) | |
Optional Concentration | December 1, 2024 - April 1, 2025 |
GRADUATION | |
Degree Conferral | May 11, 2025 |
Graduation Ceremony | May 10, 2025 - May 11, 2025 |
2024-2026 Global Executive MBA Academic Calendar
2024-2026 Global Executive MBA Academic Calendar
* Arrival day— lodging covered by program.
** Departure day from residency — no programming scheduled.
Residency locations are subject to change based on local circ*mstances.
TERM 1 - DURHAM (2024) | |
Reading Period/Classes Begin | July 1 - 20, 2024 |
Residency | July 21* - August 4**, 2024 |
Distance | August 5 - 12, 2024 |
Break | August 13 - 19, 2024 |
Distance | August 20 - September 30, 2024 |
Break | October 1 - 3, 2023 |
TERM 2 - BANGKOK, THAILAND(2024) | |
Reading Period/Classes Begin | October 4 - 23, 2024 |
Residency | October 24* - November 3**, 2024 |
Break | November 4, 2024 |
Distance | November 5 - December 16, 2024 |
Break | December 17 - 31, 2024 |
TERM 3 - LATIN AMERICA(2025) | |
Reading Period/Classes Begin | January 1 - 22, 2025 |
Residency | January 23* - February 2**, 2025 |
Break | February 3, 2025 |
Distance | February 4 - March 17, 2025 |
Break | March 18 - 20, 2025 |
TERM 4 - NEW DELHI (2025) | |
Reading Period/Classes Begin | March 21 - April 9, 2025 |
Residency(includes team changeover) | April 10* - 20**, 2025 |
Break | April 21, 2025 |
Distance | April 22 - June 2, 2025 |
Break | June 3 - 12,2025 |
TERM 5 - BERLIN (2025) | |
Reading Period/Classes Begin | June 13 - July 2, 2025 |
Residency | July 3* - July 13**, 2025 |
Break | July 14 - July 21, 2025 |
Distance | July 22 - September 1, 2025 |
Break | September 2 - 11, 2025 |
ELECTIVE TERM 1 - DURHAM (2025) | |
Reading Period/Classes Begin | September 12 - 25, 2025 |
Residency | September 26* - October 4**, 2025 |
Break | October 5 - 13, 2025 |
Distance | October 14 - November 17, 2025 |
Break | November 18 - December 31, 2025 |
ELECTIVE TERM 2 - DURHAM (2026) | |
Reading Period/Classes Begin | January 1 - 9, 2026 |
Residency | January 10* - 17**, 2026 |
Break | January 18 - 26, 2026 |
Distance | January 27 - March 2, 2026 |
OPTIONAL CONCENTRATION (2026) | |
Optional Concentration | TBD |
GRADUATION | |
Degree Conferral | May 9, 2026 |
Graduation Ceremony | May 9, 2026 - May 10, 2026 |
Can We Talk?
We'd love tolearn more about your background and goals so we can help you explore whether the Global Executive MBA is a good fit for your career. We're also happy to answer any questions you may have about our programs or admissions process.
Set up a call
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Global Executive MBA Quick Facts
Start Date: July 2024
Duration: 21months
Location: Global
Style: Cohort-based
Curriculum: General management, with 5 concentrations and 1 certificate
Format: Residency and distance learning
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Program Location and Accommodations
During your time in Durham, you’ll live and learn in the four-star JB Duke Hotel, a contemporary and tranquil retreat on Duke’s campus with state-of-the-art learning facilities.
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Asia / India
On Location in New Delhi
Taking a break from Decision Models to celebrate the festival of colors in India. Holi is a great example of why each residency experience is unforgettable.
Explore Locations
Contact Us
Sign up for information about our Global Executive MBAprogram.
Learn More
Sample Residency Day 1
Breakfast and review accounting notes
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Class: Managerial Accounting
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Guest speaker: China Business Council
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Lunch with speaker
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
Class: Operations Management
1:15 PM - 4:15 PM
Class: Global Markets & Institutions
4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Dinner with friends in Shanghai
6:45 PM - 7:45 PM
Team meeting for operations assignment
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Connect with family and prep tomorrow's cases
10:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Sample Residency Day 2
City walk and breakfast
6:30 AM - 7:30 AM
Class: Global Markets & Institutions
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Class: Operations Management
8:45 AM - 10:45 PM
Class: Managerial Accounting
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Box lunch and visit to auto factory
1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Team meeting for accounting assignment
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Working dinner with team at hotel
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Optional Chinese acrobat show
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Socialize with classmates
9:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Explore This Program
Program Format
Team up in intensive residencies.
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Globalize your business knowledge.
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