General Information
The Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) degree is a full-time program offered in modules to working professionals.
As students admitted to both the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and SDA Bocconi School of Management at Bocconi University, there are a number of resources made available to you and policies that govern the way the Schools function.
Rules and regulations for the Global Executive MBA program are governed by the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) at the University of Toronto. The regulations of SGS are applicable, but not limited to, all matters relating to academic standards, examinations, course enrolment, and academic integrity. Please refer to the Policies section of this site for more information. The SGS Calendar is available online.
The Managing Director, Professional MBA Programs is responsible for all aspects of the GEMBA program and works closely with the Academic Director; the Vice-Dean, MBA Programs; and the Dean of the Rotman School of Management to ensure a high quality student experience for all.
As always, should you have any questions, please contact the Program Management Team.
Curriculum
GEMBA participants take courses throughout ten modules, including the Leadership Development Practicum, that span the entire 18 months. Participants are automatically enrolled in courses prior to the start of each module. Due to the integrated nature of the GEMBA curriculum, courses must be taken in the sequence outlined in the program curriculum. Participants who experience difficulty with the course load or a particular subject should consult the Program Management Team for advice.
*Program schedule subject to change, and exact dates will be posted on Quercus on the GEMBA Program Resources page
| Module | Location | Dates* |
| Module 1 | Toronto | Late September – Early October |
| Module 2 | Milan | Late November – Early December |
| Module 3 | Mumbai | Early/Mid February |
| Module 4 | San Francisco | Early April |
| Module 5 | Copenhagen | Early/Mid June |
| Module 6 Elective Option 1 Module 6 Elective Option 2 | Milan Toronto | Mid July Early/Mid August |
| Module 7 | Toronto | Mid/Late September |
| Module 8 | Shanghai | Mid November |
| Module 9 | Sao Paulo | Late January – Early February |
| Module 10 | Milan | Mid/Late March |
Course Drop Dates
Once you are enrolled in a course at Rotman, you will remain enrolled unless you officially request to drop the course. As core courses are required components for GEMBA degree completion, dropping such courses may only be considered under exceptional circumstances and must be approved by the program’s Academic Director. There are official dates by which a student must withdraw without academic penalty; otherwise, a failing mark will appear on the academic record. In order to drop a course without academic penalty no more than 50 per cent of the course contact hours may have been completed. Should you need to drop a course, a formal request must be made in writing.
Fees & Registration
Registration
A student is considered to be registered once he/she confirms his/her acceptance to the program and is up-to-date in program fee payments. As a registered student, the student agrees to abide by all academic and non-academic policies, rules and regulations of the University and his/her academic division as set out in the online handbooks, and to ensure that the accuracy of personal information (e.g. current mailing address and telephone number) is maintained.
Program fees include tuition, study materials (including electronic textbooks), accommodations during modules outside of Toronto or Milan, and lunches on class days. Travel visas, travel expenses and accommodation in Milan and Toronto and incidentals are not included.
GEMBA Class of 2025 Program Fees Schedule
The program fee structure for the GEMBA program is payable as outlined on your invoice according to the following schedule. All fees are non-refundable.
| Instalment | Payment Deadline |
|---|---|
| Deposit | Upon acceptance of offer of admission |
| First Instalment | On or before October 27, 2023 |
| Second Instalment | On or before February 5, 2024 |
| Third Instalment | On or before July 8, 2024 |
| Fourth (Final) Instalment | On or before January 10, 2025 |
GEMBA Class of 2026 Program Fees Schedule
The program fee structure for the GEMBA program is payable as outlined on your invoice according to the following schedule. All fees are non-refundable.
| Instalment | Payment Deadline |
|---|---|
| Deposit | Upon acceptance of offer of admission |
| First Instalment | On or before October 28, 2024 |
| Second Instalment | On or before February 3, 2025 |
| Third Instalment | On or before July 7, 2025 |
| Fourth (Final) Instalment | On or before January 12, 2026 |
Late Penalties Fees
In case of non-compliance with the above mentioned terms of payment, the Program reserves the right to terminate the contract with immediate dismissal of the participant from the Program and to proceed to collect the entire tuition fee.
All outstanding balances, regardless of the source of the payment, are subject to a service charge of 1.5% per month compounded (19.56% per annum), assessed on the 15th of each month until payment is made in full. Program Administration reserves the right to suspend those in arrears from participating in future classes.
The University reserves the right to impose the following academic sanctions on students who have outstanding debts or obligations to the University in accordance with the University of Toronto’s Academic Sanctions for Students Who Have Outstanding University Obligations Policy:
- Withhold access to the statements of results and transcripts of students, alumni and former students
- Withhold the release of the official diploma to students, alumni and former students
- Refuse requests to provide written or oral certifications of degree on behalf of students, alumni and former students
- Refuse registration to a continuing or returning student
Tax Forms
For tax purposes, all Rotman School programs are considered full-time registration.
- Questions concerning attendance figure and tuition amounts should be directed to the University Registrar’s Office
- Questions concerning taxes in general should be directed to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Tuition & Enrolment Certificate (T2202)
Renamed from the Tuition & Education Credit Certificate in 2017, students may view and print this certificate for the previous calendar year through ACORN in late February. The certificate confirms the allowable fees paid during the academic periods January–April and September–December (as there are no summer term fees collected). For Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting program students, the academic period is May–August. It also confirms the number of months the student was in full-time attendance for the same period of time. These certificates are required for income tax purposes.
Only the portions of tuition fee payments that are eligible for tuition credit are reported on the certificate. The allowable fees are defined by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Only the portion which is applicable to the academic session attended in the current calendar year (this may include your undergraduate term from January–April) will be listed on the current year certificate. Student society incidental fees, residence and service charge fees, and non-mandatory fees (such as Study Tour and pre-course fees) are examples of ineligible fee payments that are excluded from the tuition amounts reported on the certificate. Students are advised to consult the Canada Revenue Agency website.
Statement of Pension, Retirement, Annuity, and Other Income (T4A Form)
Awards, emergency bursaries, and grants are considered a bursary/grant and fall under “other income” for tax purposes. The University is required to report bursary/grant amounts issued to the students for information purposes. This amount will be reflected on a T4A form each year in February. Students may view and print the certificate for the previous calendar year through ACORN in late February.
For all provinces and territories except Quebec, generally, scholarship, bursary and fellowship income is fully exempt from tax when the income is received in connection with the student’s enrolment in an education program in respect of which the student is a qualifying student in the taxation year, in the immediately preceding taxation year or in the following taxation year (ie receiving the T2202 for the same tax year).
The scholarship exemption will be limited to the extent that the award was intended to support the student’s enrollment in the program. To determine what portion of your award was intended to support your enrollment, students should consider such factors as:
- the duration of the program;
- any terms and conditions that apply to the award; and
- the period for which support is intended to be provided by the award.
Students are advised to consult Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for further details.
Professional Student Loan Plans (PSLP)
The Rotman School is pleased to partner with the Bank of Montreal (BMO) and Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) to offer Rotman students the Professional Student Loan Plans. These plans are specifically aimed at helping students meet the educational costs of their degree. Full information can be found on the PSLP – EMBA, GEMBA, and GEMBA-HLS Programs section of this site.
Course Work Submission
Submission of Assignments & Examinations
The management of assignment due dates/times for courses is at the discretion of the instructor and will be posted on the course outline. Students must use the individual or group assignment cover page when submitting any materials unless otherwise noted by the instructor. The assignment cover page is available on Quercus.
Study Team Guidelines
Teamwork is a substantial part of the program and plays a significant role in both the academic setting for course grades, as well as training for the professional world. Therefore, the content and the workload within the GEMBA program are structured around the requirement for participants to work successfully in study groups. To allow students to benefit from the diversity of participants represented in the program, students will have a new study team of 4-5 students for each of the 10 GEMBA modules. The Program takes a number of factors into account when forming the study teams, including academic background, industry experience, international background and geographical area of work or residence. Study teams are required to work together for course projects and act as an academic resource for students for individual course work and class preparation. Many courses in the GEMBA program require a graded teamwork component.
Team Training & Development
In an effort to help foster leadership and team management skills in each member of the project team, each member of the team is encouraged to act as project lead for at least one project. The project lead will take responsibility for developing the overall project plan. Specifically, the project lead will be expected to utilize their leadership skills to:
- Determine project timelines
- Set meeting times & agendas
- Delegate work and tasks
- Establish reasonable milestones
- Facilitate or chair all project meeting
- Follow-up on task fulfillment
- Solve problem issues, involving the Team Advisor as appropriate
Team Work and Academic Integrity
When working as a team, each team member is responsible for the work submitted collectively by the team. As such, any work that may be considered academically dishonest, or for which an academic offence has been committed, is the responsibility of the entire team (as defined by the Codes of Conduct).
Team Behaviours and Protocols
All students are expected to treat team work as they would in a business setting, ensuring professional behaviour at all times. Professional behaviour in team settings includes (but is not limited to) the following:
- Respecting and treating all others in a manner consistent with the Codes of Conduct Ensuring all team members voice their opinions, thoughts, and concerns
- Taking personal responsibility to voice thoughts to benefit the team’s learning
- Contributing equal time and effort to the project as others in the group
- Committing to a standard of work agreed upon by the group
- Participating in team projects at a level agreed upon by the entire team
- The overall objective is to maintain a positive and productive team dynamic that will enhance the student’s learning experience.
Equitable Group Effort and Workload
In a situation where an individual or individuals have consistently failed to meet the project team’s expectations (as outlined in the team charter and the project plan), the project team should contact the Academic Directors to discuss next steps. Each situation will be reviewed on a case by case basis to determine the appropriate course of action. Action could include an academic penalty and/or an alternative assignment.
In extreme circumstances that involve concerns over physical or psychological safety (e.g. abusive behaviour, discrimination, harassment), the Program Management Team will intervene much earlier in the process drawing upon the appropriate resources of the Universities to do so.
Career Services
The following guidelines have been established to create a positive experience with Career Services. Adherence to these policies will both strengthen the relationships we have with our alumni and broader networks as well as protect our professional reputation. We encourage GEMBA students to make productive connections with classmates, faculty, alumni and corporate guests. Thank you in advance for continuing to promote the strong brand through your interactions with the business community.
Student Information
Students will ensure that all information provided to the program team, Career Services and to potential employers in all written and verbal correspondence will be honest, accurate and complete. This includes (but is not limited to) information related to the following: resumes, cover letters, transcripts, employment information, interviews and job offer data. All information shared with Director, Career Services is confidential and any data requested and collected is used in an aggregate format for reporting purposes.
Career Services Sessions/Workshops
Students are expected to exhibit professionalism in signing up for and attending all career related sessions as follows:
- Students unable to attend must cancel at least 24 hours in advance.
- Business attire is expected, unless otherwise stated.
- Arrive on time and plan to stay for the entire presentation.
Graduation Requirements
To earn the MBA from the Rotman School of Management, students must satisfactorily complete (e.g. receive a passing grade) all degree requirements to be considered for graduation from the GEMBA program. When all degree requirements have been fulfilled, Rotman is required to submit a degree recommendation to the University of Toronto’s School of Graduate Studies indicating that the program has been satisfactorily completed by the student and they have earned the MBA.
To earn the Global Executive Master of Business Administration (GEMBA) from SDA Bocconi, participants must prove to have acquired the knowledge, skills and attitude required for a responsible and effective career in management. The evaluation system aims to take into account:
- a blend of personal qualities, i.e. motivation, responsibility, reliability, problem solving;
- ability to solve managerial problems and to work in team;
- attendance to class activities during face-to-face modules of the whole Program;
- participation to the online activities (forum discussions and others) during the entire Program;
- performance in the GEMBA Program, as referred to in point Grading Policies.
Both Academic Directors constantly evaluate the participants’ performance throughout the Program. Participants who fail to meet the required standards will not be awarded the GEMBA.
Program Feedback
At the conclusion of each course the instructor and the course format are formally evaluated. These evaluations are used by instructors for on-going course development, by the Dean’s Offices in each instructor’s annual review for the Rotman School of Management and by the Associate Dean for Faculty for SDA Bocconi and, for both, the Program Management Team when making decisions on course staffing for subsequent years. Course evaluation results, including relevant comments written by students are made available to instructors only after final course grades have been submitted. Students are asked to provide thoughtful and constructive feedback when completing course evaluations.
Ongoing Feedback
The GEMBA Program Management Team will undertake additional surveys and/or focus groups on modules, recent events or activities. As part of the ongoing feedback, students are also encouraged to provide feedback over the course of the program.
External Surveys
Each year, the School endeavours to participate in external surveys (e.g. Financial Times rankings) to provide benchmarking data on the GEMBA Program and the program experience. All students are strongly encouraged to participate in the formal surveys, internal and external, as the Schools use the information as feedback on the delivery of the program.
Program Directory
The faculty and administrative staff at Rotman and SDA Bocconi are dedicated to supporting the efforts of each individual student to realize his or her fullest potential. The staff in the GEMBA Recruitment & Admissions Office, Registrar’s Office, and Career Services Office are available for consultation on all matters relating to the program, including admissions, enrollment, registration, grade or course issues, financial assistance, international programs, career development opportunities or special advising.
The full GEMBA directory, including recruitment, admissions, and careers, can be found here.
Academic Directors
Rotman School of Management: Jan Mahrt-Smith
SDA Bocconi School of Management: Ferdinando Pennarola
Program Management Team
Rotman School of Management, Associate Director: Dana Sirri
Rotman School of Management, Program Manager: Azel Mulagulova
SDA Bocconi School of Management, Learning Coordinator: Emilia Paolino
SDA Bocconi School of Management, Program Assistant: Monica Cappi
Career Services
Rotman School of Management: Katie Armstrong
SDA Bocconi School of Management: Viktoria Galitsi