Executive MBA

Is there a preference towards certain jobs before graduate business school?

We encourage applicants from a broad range of professional and academic backgrounds to apply.

What are the criteria by which the Admissions Committee evaluates applicants?

ASB is seeking candidates with intellectual capability and a high degree of emotional maturity. When reviewing applications and interviewing applicants, we are looking for candidates who articulate their professional and academic success, their ability to lead and influence others, and their collaborative spirit. Ultimately, the Admissions Committee is looking to assemble a class of highly qualified and diverse individuals who will bring the most to ASB and the Executive MBA Program.

How does the Admissions process work?

Application:

Applications are accepted through the online application which opens in January for the following year’s class intake. There are three admissions rounds with the following application deadlines:

• Round 1: Saturday, May 31, 2025
• Round 2: Sunday, August 31, 2025
• Round 3: Friday, October 31, 2025
• Round 4: Sunday, November 30, 2025
  

Any candidate that applies after the final application deadline will be evaluated on a rolling admission based on seat availability.

Interviews:

Highly qualified candidates will be invited for an in-person or online interview.  Interviews will be conducted by invitation only.

Admissions Decisions:

All applicants are informed of admission decisions through the online application system, including those who do not get invited to interview.

* It is always recommended to apply early in the admissions cycle. International Students are strongly encouraged to apply in Round 1 due to timelines for processing international student visa applications.

Are some parts of the application valued more than others? In other words, what is the most important part of the application?

Every component of the application holds the same value. Applications are evaluated comprehensively and holistically, and all of the information captured helps the admissions committee evaluate the candidate’s unique qualifications.

What is the application fee?

There is no application fee.

How does ASB evaluate the English proficiency of an applicant?

The Admissions Committee requires all applicants whose native language is not English OR applicants who have not received a university degree taught in English to provide proof of their English language proficiency by submitting one of the following valid test scores. The minimum required score is in brackets:

• IELTS Conventional/Online (Overall band 6.0).
• TOEFL (Internet-based 60, Essentials (Online) 8.5).
• Cambridge English (Advanced/Proficiency/Linguaskill Online 169, OET (Conventional/Online) 250).
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic (59).
• Malaysian University English Test (MUET) (Band 4).
• ELS (109).

We will only accept English language proficiency test scores taken within two years of the date of the intake for which you are applying.

If your undergraduate degree was taught in English and your institution was not from the following countries; USA, United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand, you will be required to provide a supporting letter to confirm English language as the medium of instruction for the undergraduate degree.

Does ASB compare international applicants against one another?

All applicants, domestic and international, are evaluated equally. There are no quotas based on country or citizenship for international applications

If I am an international student, when should I apply?

International students are strongly encouraged to apply in Round 1 due to the processing timelines required for an international student visa.

Who reads the Executive MBA applications and conducts the interviews?

Applications are reviewed and read by the professional admissions staff. Additionally, interviews are conducted by the members of the Admissions Committee

How important is the interview in the final admissions decision?

Receiving an interview invitation means that the candidate has been shortlisted for further consideration. The interview is a very important part of the application process. We conduct behavioral-based interviews, looking at past behavior as an indication of how you might handle future situations. We also evaluate your ability to communicate in a clear and professional manner. Furthermore, the interview is used as a platform to get to know you better beyond what is found in your written application. The interviewer will provide his/her recommendations to the Admissions Committee.

How long does an interview last?

An interview typically lasts approximately 45 minutes.

Does an applicant have to travel to Kuala Lumpur for interviews?

Interviews are conducted on campus in Kuala Lumpur or virtually through Zoom.

What does being on the waitlist mean?

The waitlist process differs from year to year and will depend upon the number of applications we receive. Generally, waitlisted applicants will be automatically considered in the following round and will receive an updated decision in that round.

Does ASB Executive MBA offer deferrals?

ASB’s general policy is to not offer deferred admissions. We will consider deferral requests on a case-by-case basis.

May I have feedback on my application or interview?

Individual feedback on your submitted application and attended interview will not be provided during the admissions process due to the volume of applications received. However, you may consult with members of our Admissions Team for advice and guidance before submitting your application

Do I need to submit copies of my transcripts?

You will be required to scan your transcripts from all institutions that contributed to a degree and submit them as part of your online application. During the application process, we will accept unofficial transcripts.

However, if your transcript is not in English, you must provide a notarised English translation of your transcript when applying. You may use a professional translator in your locality or an English translation done by your university.

If your educational institution does not use a 4.0 grading scale, you must ensure that your transcripts include a description of the grading scale. If your transcripts do not provide this information, you must submit supplemental official documentation describing the grading scale used. It will also be useful if you can provide supplemental official documentation that indicates the grade-point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale based on the grades or points awarded by your academic institution, or upload a CGPA equivalent calculation using Scholaro’s GPA Calculator.  You should include the supplemental document(s) within your transcript document upload when adding the institution within the “Academic History” section of the application. You may also provide a credential evaluation report from services such as WES or ECE (General with GPA).

Applicants admitted to the program will be required to provide an official transcript signed and sealed from each school attended. All admitted students will receive further instructions after they receive their admission decision. Any discrepancy between the scanned transcripts and official transcripts will result in withdrawal of our offer of admission.

Do I need to submit copies of my diploma(s)/ degree certificate(s)?

You are also required to scan and submit all diplomas/degree certificates/testamurs for programs from which you have received a degree in a single document upload. If the original is not in English, you must submit a notarised English translation.

If my transcript and/or degree certificate is not in English, will it need to be translated?

We require a notarised English translation of all transcripts and/or degree certificates, if not already in English. You may need to engage a professional translator in your city. If your university is able to do this, we will accept that as well.

How relevant are previous academic grades to be admitted into the program?

All of your previous academic work is important to us, and we will consider it, alongside everything else, in the evaluation process.

If I have a Master’s and/or PhD degree, would I need to submit transcripts and degree certificates of these?

Yes. We require scanned copies of your transcripts and degree certificates for all degrees as part of your application. If these documents are not in English, we would require notarised English translations of these as well.

Which test scores are required?

GMAT/GRE/EA:

While not required, the ASB Admissions Committee strongly encourages all applicants to submit a valid GMAT, GRE or Executive Assessment (EA) score as part of their application. We accept GMAT, GRE or EA test results and have no preference for one over the other. ASB does not require a minimum GMAT, GRE or EA score in order to apply.

GMAT, GRE and EA test score information is useful for the admissions committee when making scholarship decisions. Furthermore, the GMAT is often requested by top companies when evaluating graduates for employment opportunities.

English as a Second Language (ESL):

Applicants should be native English language speakers or have received a Bachelor’s degree that was taught in English. If you do not fulfill either of these requirements, you must submit an ESL test score to prove your English language proficiency. We accept one of the following test scores: TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge English Advanced, Cambridge English Proficiency, PTE Academic and Malaysian University English Test (MUET).

Where can I get more information on the GMAT and EA?

Applicants may visit MBA.com for more information on the GMAT exam, and gmac.com for EA exams, including sample questions and information on the test and registration.

What is the ASB school code for the GMAT or EA?

There is no program code required for the GMAT or EA.

Where can I get more information on the GRE?

Information on the GRE exam is available here.

What is the ASB school code for the GRE?

MBA GRE School code: 7568

Is there an exemption for the GMAT, GRE or EA?

While ASB strongly encourages applicants to apply with their GMAT, GRE or EA test results and ultimately reserves the right to require a test score from all applicants, the Admissions Committee does not require one of these test scores in order to apply.

Applicants who chose not to apply with a GMAT, GRE or EA test score are advised to show evidence of “quantitative competency” in their application. This may be, but is not limited to, strong quantitative academic credentials during university academics, evidence of quantitative competency in their work experience, evidence of post-graduate quantitative-based certification, etc.

Please note that applicants without a test score may be granted conditional admission – that they have to take one of the mentioned tests or complete a 100-hour Math Prep course before matriculation. Failure to complete the Math Prep course before arriving on campus can result in withdrawal of admission, or being asked to defer admissions to the following year.

Should I only include professional experience and goals in the cover letter and essays or also include personal interests to provide a more complete picture?

The cover letter is your way of introducing yourself to the admissions committee. It should be succinct and tie together your past experience, your goals for the future, and how the ASB EMBA program can help you achieve them. You may include a mix of personal and professional experiences in order to convey your message.

Should I focus on past achievements or future goals?

The cover letter should showcase examples of something you have done in the recent past, and be used to tie together your past experience with your future goals, and how an ASB EMBA fits into that picture.

How is the letter of recommendation submitted?

We require one recommendation letter to be submitted online directly by your recommender prior to the application deadline and according to the instructions in the online application. We do not accept recommendation letters via email. For more information, please visit the “Application Instructions” section on the Executive MBA program page.

Is there a word limit on the letters of recommendation?

ASB utilizes the GMAC common letter of recommendation as part of our application. There is space within the online letter of recommendation form for the Recommender to speak at length about your qualities, should they wish to do so. Please visit the “Application Instructions” tab for further details.

If a recommender is not an English speaker, can I translate the letter of recommendation?

If a recommender is not an English speaker, an official translation should be submitted with the name of the translator.

May an additional letter of recommendation be submitted beyond the one required letter of recommendation?

Additional letters of recommendation will not be accepted.

What is the admissions committee looking for in the letter of recommendation?

We prefer professional recommendations over peer, personal, or academic recommendations. We want to understand your accomplishments relative to your peers and also get representative examples of what it is like to work with you. ASB utilizes the GMAC Common Letter of Recommendation form in its online application. It is suggested that the recommender answers all the questions presented in the form, and utilizes the space at the end to elaborate more thoroughly on the applicant’s qualities, describing specific recent examples of strengths. A generic letter of recommendation without examples is discouraged. More information about the GMAC Letter of Recommendation form may be found here.

What if I own my own business, or work for a family business? Who can I use as a recommender?

Recommenders should be people with whom you have a professional relationship and who can speak to your professional accomplishments. Ideally, a recommender should be someone who has been in a supervisory position to you. You may also ask a client, a mentor, or a co-founder to submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf. We suggest not using letters of recommendation from family members or friends.

What if my supervisor changes frequently? Should I submit a recommendation from a current supervisor or a past supervisor?

Recommenders should be people who know you best and can provide comments on your professional development within a relatively recent timeframe. This decision is ultimately up to you. In addition, you may want to consider using the optional essay question section to explain why your current employer/supervisor is not represented in your recommendations in order to clarify the situation in your application.

What if I cannot get a recommendation from my current employer or supervisor because I do not want to risk losing my job?

If you are unable to get a letter of recommendation from your current employer, you should seek someone else who can comment on your accomplishments in a professional setting. You may consider explaining why your current employer/supervisor is not represented in your application using the optional essay question section.