The executive master's of business administration (EMBA) programme, offered by City University's business school, is an attractive option for students keen to balance academic learning with practical experience.

The course focuses on business and leadership on the mainland, providing exposure to real-life issues and the challenges executives can expect to face. Also included are three extended trips, company visits, and CEO forums to give students insights into the workings of the business world.

"Students will be assigned to do 10 days of consultation work for a mainland firm," says programme director Dr John Leung. "They will also pay a one-week visit to the University of California at Berkeley and Silicon Valley in the United States to learn about entrepreneurship and international marketing."

Complementing this, there will be further study trips within the Asia-Pacific region, allowing students to see and experience corporate operations in different countries.

Leung says many students progress from the EMBA to the school's doctor of business administration (DBA) programme. They can start to take DBA courses during their second year of study, making it possible to consolidate what they have learned and, in effect, take a short cut to the next level.

Typically, EMBA applicants represent a wide range of positions, backgrounds and industries, not just banking, finance and accounting. "We want students to learn and contribute to the programme by sharing experiences from their respective fields," Leung says.

This ensures a good mix, as does the policy of accepting no more than two candidates from the same company for each course. The average class size is 25 and lessons are held on Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons. The deadline for applications is March 31.