What time are the classes?

Global cohort courses are taught by Wharton faculty live from the Philadelphia campus, located in the Eastern Time Zone (U.S.A.). Depending on where you live, the time of the classes may vary.

Find below a sample class schedule illustrating the time and duration Global cohort members would typically expect to experience in the program’s virtual class sessions, representative of a student who is based within the United States Eastern Time Zone.

Better explore the logistics of the Global student experience by perusing the Global Cohort Class of 2025 Academic Calendar, which better describes the cadence of the synchronous and virtual class sessions that the Global cohort experiences every-other-week.

Most class sessions are held virtually for members of the Global cohort; even so, your employer should be fully aware of the time commitment required by Wharton’s MBA Program for Executives. Your regular classroom experience will be set in a virtual and synchronous setting (find a brief overview on the WAVE Classroom above this FAQ section) that is already optimized for real-time interactions between Wharton professors and their students. Barring sickness or emergencies, attendance is required.

Depending on the time zone determined by your geographic location, there is a possibility of your class schedule also overlapping with your regular working hours. Particularly for members of the Global cohort, it is vital to set aside time to ensure that your class sessions will proceed without interruption. Outside of the active learning time spent in virtual class sessions, also expect to spend several hours per week on assigned readings, class projects, assignments, and more.

Your employer should also be aware of the program’s other attendance requirements, including your attendance at each of the program’s eight extended in-person class sessions; special Wharton weekends, held on select Thursday – Saturdays throughout your experience. Hosted mostly on Wharton’s historic Philadelphia campus, these extended sessions are curated to forge deeper ties with your future alma mater, to carve space for you to dive fully into the depths of your coursework, and strengthen your bonds with your cohort. Remember to remain present and engaged throughout the forty-hour-long span of extended weekend.

Yes, the Global cohort accepts applications from all over the world, including the United States. You may consider addressing within the application why you are not applying to the San Francisco or Philadelphia cohorts, especially if you are within driving distance from a campus.

We are looking for a geographically diverse Global cohort class with students from all over the world, including the United States. The Global cohort is a strong option for those who live in remote areas and from where it would be very difficult to get to the Philadelphia or San Francisco campuses. It’s also an option for those who travel frequently for work or who work for international companies.

If they can travel to San Francisco or Philadelphia by car, train, or plane — within a reasonable amount of time — we advise that prospective EMBA students first consider the San Francisco or Philadelphia cohorts.

The curriculum for the Global cohort is identical to that of the Philadelphia and San Francisco cohorts and the full-time Wharton MBA Program. Students complete the core curriculum in the first year of the program. In the second year, students choose from 200+ electives to tailor the curriculum to their interests.  There are components built into the Global curriculum that emphasize the realities of doing business internationally. Global students are required to take two Global Modular Courses, which are optional electives for students in the Philadelphia and San Francisco cohorts.

Like many in-person Wharton EMBA class sessions, Global cohort class sessions are recorded. However, it is not encouraged to miss a class session for reasons other than sickness or emergencies. Absence and class recording policies may vary by faculty member.

Yes, tuition for all three Wharton MBA Program for Executives cohorts is the same. Tuition covers fees, most course materials, and room and board for all required in-person class sessions. Transportation to and from in-person class sessions is not included.

The Global cohort’s classroom format is 75% virtual and 25% in person. Over the 22-month program, students attend biweekly virtual, synchronous class sessions. These are supplemented by eight in-person extended class sessions, each lasting about 5-7 days.

Currently, no scholarships are available for Global cohort applicants.

Yes, we will provide the necessary documentation required for your visa application process. We encourage prospective students to begin researching the visa process early, as it can sometimes take several months to complete. Please contact Penn’s International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) for more information regarding visas.

The Global cohort format is 75% virtual and 25% in person. Over the 22-month program, students attend biweekly virtual, synchronous class sessions. These are supplemented by eight in-person extended class sessions, each lasting about 5 – 7 days.

Students in the Global cohort can request a transfer in year two of the program, when electives are taken. If a student in the Global cohort is able to attend a term in person during year two, they can request a transfer for up to three terms. Transfers will be approved on a case-by-case basis, with space available being a key factor. Students in the San Francisco and Philadelphia cohorts will be allowed to take 1 credit unit of elective coursework per term with the Global cohort. 

We consider the three cohorts that enter each May as one class. Everyone starts on the University of Pennsylvania campus for a week of orientation and classes. The Global students stay an extra five days to further connect with each other before beginning their virtual class sessions. During Term 5, all three cohorts participate in the required Global Business Week course. There will be four or five options, with a mix of Global, Philadelphia, and San Francisco cohort students in each. The Global Modular Courses also include students from all three executive MBA cohorts, as well as full-time MBA students, and potentially advanced undergraduate students.