Tsinghua University is a prestigious research university located in Beijing, China. It was founded in 1911 and is widely regarded as one of the top universities in China and the world. Tsinghua has a strong focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and has produced many notable alumni who have made significant contributions in these fields. The university has a diverse and international student body, with students from all over the world coming to study at Tsinghua.

Ranked #3 by the Financial Times in 2018, the Tsinghua – INSEAD Executive MBA (TIEMBA) is a unique partnership between INSEAD, one of the world's leading business schools, and Tsinghua, one of China’s most prestigious universities. The programme takes place across INSEAD’s three campuses in Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Fontainebleau (France), and Tsinghua’s campus in Beijing.

As a participant, you will exchange perspectives within an elite, dynamic, culturally diverse class of experienced managers and be part of two powerful alumni networks. The TIEMBA is where life-changing leadership development meets the technical mastery of key business disciplines. And both make an immediate impact on your organization. It is the best of East and West, learning and working, technical knowledge and soft skills — in a single programme.

Two Degrees from Two Prestigious Business Schools

You will obtain two management degrees from two top institutions in China and in the world.

Tsinghua University

To study at Tsinghua University is to join an institution whose history is intertwined with China’s extraordinary economic growth story of the last few decades. In fact, the founding dean of the School of Economics and Management (SEM), Professor Zhu Rongji, went on to become China’s fifth Premier in 1998. Today his vision of a school where China’s business elite could learn about the best global practice and its implementation in the Chinese economy is a reality. Tsinghua SEM has become one of the world’s most acclaimed business schools: a magnet for entrepreneurial activities and outstanding professionals from throughout China and beyond.

INSEAD

INSEAD is one of the world’s largest and highest-ranked graduate business schools. More importantly, it’s a unique environment that brings together people and ideas from different cultures to change lives and transform organizations. A global perspective and cultural diversity are reflected in all aspects of its research and teaching across three equal-status campuses in three world regions. Every year, INSEAD’s 145 expert faculty from more than 40 countries inspire over 1,300 master participants, while more than 10,000 executives are drawn to its campuses to participate in Executive Education.

Gateway to Global Networks
INSEAD provides you access to an international alumni network, while Tsinghua’s alumni community is the key to opening many doors in China.

World Experts as Faculty
Access to truly top faculty who deliver a robust curriculum through a rich variety of learning styles.

Deep Leadership Insights
Our Leadership Development Programme runs throughout the programme, taking leadership skills to the next level.

Learn from Diverse Participants
Learn alongside and from classmates who have a wealth of global experience.

Five Campuses

5 Weeks in Beijing, China (Tsinghua)

In the idyllic setting of the former Qing Dynasty royal garden in northwest Beijing, this famously beautiful campus blends traditional Chinese and modern Western architecture with restful green spaces and expanses of water. It’s also at the heart of the city’s academic Haidian district.

3 Weeks in Singapore (INSEAD)

INSEAD’s Asia Campus is just 10 minutes away from Singapore's Central Business District. With some of the world's most prestigious companies locating their Asia headquarters in Singapore, INSEAD is poised for easy access to thriving businesses in this high-growth region. 

2 Weeks in Fontainebleau, France (INSEAD)

On the outskirts of charming, historic Fontainebleau – but less than an hour from the bustling center of Paris, INSEAD’s original campus nestles in one of Europe’s most beautiful forests. It is the perfect place to step back from your demanding professional life and focus on your personal development.

1 Week in Abu Dhabi (INSEAD)

INSEAD’s Middle East campus is located at ADGM square on Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi’s new international financial center, and a vibrant business and lifestyle destination. Purposely designed for executives to learn, this presents a whole new world of possibilities for management education.

1 Week in Shenzhen, China (Tsinghua)

The Shenzhen campus brings Tsinghua University's historical presence and first-tier business education programmes to the country's south and benefits from the dynamic and entrepreneurial spirit of the thriving city. The proximity to Hong Kong, a world financial hub provides unmatched opportunities for the campus community. 

Programme Overview:

Programme Length: 22 Months

Days Out Of Office (approximate): 61 days

On-Campus Classes (approximate): 12 weeks

Countries: China (Beijing & Shenzhen), Singapore, France (Fontainebleau), UAE (Abu Dhabi).

Course Format: Modular

TIEMBA Scholarships

Tsinghua and INSEAD offer merit and need-based scholarships to offset tuition fees for TIEMBA candidates whose profiles will help further the programme's objectives as a vehicle for promoting international leadership and business practice.

• Merit-based Scholarships: TIEMBA Achievement Scholarship, and TIEMBA Scholarship for Women.
• Diversity Scholarships: TIEMBA Scholarship for National Diversity, TIEMBA Scholarship for Non-traditional Background, and TIEMBA Scholarship for Entrepreneurship.
• Need-based Scholarship: TIEMBA Financial Fellowship.

Eligibility: 

You can apply for a scholarship once you have been admitted to the TIEMBA programme.  Scholarship applicants need to be self-funded or partially sponsored to a maximum of 50%. Please refer to the individual scholarship descriptions for further details. You can apply for up to two scholarships. Successful candidates generally do not accumulate the awards.

Award: 

Awards are limited. 58% of the Class of 2020 received a TIEMBA scholarship. The scholarship award averages at 12% of the tuition fee. The award is deducted from the INSEAD last instalment of tuition fees.

How to Apply for a Scholarship:

INSEAD candidates:

You will find a link to upload the forms in your Admissions Portal iApply. Please note that you can only upload PDF files with a size of up to 1MB.

Step 1: Review the scholarships on offer and their eligibility criteria. Identify the scholarship(s) you would like to apply for.
Step 2: Download your selected scholarship application (maximum two), write your essay and save it under your name (Lastname_firstname_programme_name_class_section_name of scholarship).
Step 3: Upload your scholarship application(s) on INSEAD iApply.

Tsinghua candidates:

Please email the completed scholarship application form(s) to the INSEAD Scholarship Committee at [email protected].

Review Process: We will communicate the decision two weeks after the scholarship application submission.

Winning Employer Support

Receiving support for the TIEMBA programme from your employer means that you will need your organization's backing in terms of time, flexibility and help with company-specific assignments. In addition to this, it could also mean receiving financial support. In return, the TIEMBA offers a considerable return on investment.

• Immediate application and cascading of learning: During each TIEMBA module, you will be exposed to the latest business concepts and cutting-edge research. You will acquire new tools, approaches, and insights. And the next Monday morning, you will be able to apply them at work, as well as cascading your learning – through your team and colleagues – to the wider organization.

• In-depth analysis through reflection papers and your thesis: For the Key Management Challenge courses, you will have to write reflection papers on issues you have faced at work. Your final thesis is a chance to go even deeper, by bringing a real-world business problem into the classroom for full analysis. As a result, you have the opportunity to act as a valuable internal consultant and make a significant contribution to the company’s goals.

• Sharper leadership skills and increased contribution to your organization: Most important of all, the TIEMBA represents a major investment in your organization’s leadership pipeline – by rewarding and developing you. In particular, the Leadership Development Programme delivers instant gains by nurturing leadership skills that you can apply after each module.

Career Development

Both Tsinghua and INSEAD are recognized by companies worldwide as rich sources of talent and executive development. Together, they provide a career development curriculum that supports your career journey from the first day of the programme up to graduation.

They understand the diverse career needs of TIEMBA participants. Whether you’re looking to take the next step within your organization and maximize your career potential or explore a career change, their team partners with you to provide guidance and support throughout your journey. 

Career Development Activities

Open to all participants, their programme-long series of activities include workshops, online webinars and one-to-one advising sessions to help you focus on your individual career development goals. Using a variety of effective tools and frameworks, they will support you in the process of self-assessment and exploration, and develop your targeted career plan in parallel with your self-discovery of the Leadership Development Programme. 

A Curriculum Designed Around Your Career Objectives

Delivered by both Tsinghua and INSEAD faculty, the TIEMBA is designed around several essential components: Core Courses, Elective Courses, Key Management Challenges and a Final Thesis. The programme is further strengthened by a distinctive Leadership Development Programme which runs throughout the course of study. In addition to your time spent on campus, you will also need to allow time for independent study, pre-course preparation and post-course assignments. The TIEMBA programme's modular format is specially designed to allow you to put new ideas and techniques straight into practice within your organisation.

12 Core Courses
During the first seven modules, you will take compulsory courses covering the breadth of global business. Exams usually take place at the end of each module.

Corporate Finance
Data, Models and Decisions
Financial Accounting
International Economics
Macroeconomics and the Chinese Economy
Managerial Accounting
Microeconomics
Strategic Marketing
Operations Management
Organisational Behaviour
Strategic Talent Management
Strategy Management

4 Elective Courses
Electives allow you to delve deeper into the topics of your choice with pass/fail assessment to encourage you to leave your comfort zone. They are held over two weeks during the French summer, when INSEAD Fontainebleau campus is at its most idyllic. The module is shared with INSEAD Global Executive MBA classes to ensure greater choice and new networking possibilities. Alumni are also invited to return, further broadening your network and offering you a chance of truly lifelong learning after graduation. Electives currently offered (but varying according to demand) include:

Applied Corporate Finance
Applied Corporate Finance
Financial Statement Analysis
International Financial Management
Marketing
Brand Management
Customer Insight
Strategic Market Orientation
Strategy
Industry and Competitive Analysis
Investments
(Big) Data Analytics for Business
Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)
Entrepreneurship and Family Enterprise
Private Equity, Growth Equity and Venture Capital
Realising Entrepreneurial Potential
Corporate Entrepreneurship: Managing Innovation to Drive Growth
Social Entrepreneurship: Building Impact Ventures
Organisational Behaviour
Power and Influence in Organisations
Psychology of Leadership
Decision Sciences
Management Decision-making
Negotiations

9 Key Management Challenges (KMCs)
KMC courses run before and after the Electives cover broad, multi-disciplinary, whole-company issues, reflecting the uncertainty, changeability, open-ended problems and incomplete information of real life. You will usually be assessed through written assignments based on your experiences at work. Choices typically include:

Business and Commercial Laws
Competitive Supply Chains
Business Simulation
Cross-cultural Management
Entrepreneurial Leadership
Your First Hundred Days
Managerial Psychology
Operations Management
Corporate Governance

Thesis
The final component of the programme is your thesis: a live case study with you as the central character. With support from the faculty, you will write about a real-world project, such as a new venture or corporate innovation with ample time to work on it after the final module. Following the defence of your submission at Tsinghua, your work will also be translated into Chinese and published for all to read.

Leadership Development Programme
This transformational and enriching component is based on the pioneering group-coaching work of INSEADs Global Leadership Centre. The objective is to help you develop your own authentic leadership style. At the beginning of the programme, you will join a group of about four people selected for the diversity of backgrounds and embark on a journey of self-discovery and growth with a professional coach. Supporting, encouraging and challenging each other all the way, you will be taken on a series of intensive and structured activities, including:

Team-building and simulations
360-degree and progress feedback
Leadership labs with live cases
Communication workshops
Peer exchange and circles
Individual, peer and group coaching
Meet inspirational leaders

Tsinghua University is located in the North West of Beijing in the University District (Haidian District). The campus is in between Peking University and Wudaokou which is the centre of the University District. 

Tsinghua University is well known for its beautiful campus with lakes and greenery and beautiful buildings, it is located on the former site of Qing Dynasty royal gardens and retains Chinese-style landscaping as well as traditional buildings, but many of its buildings are also in the Western-style, reflecting the American influence in its history. Along with its rival and neighbor the Peking University, it is known throughout China and the wider world for having one of the most beautiful campuses. Tsinghua University’s campus was named one of the most beautiful college campuses in the world by a panel of architects and campus designers in Forbes in 2010; it was the only university in Asia on the list.

Campus Life:

Tsinghua campus is large with many facilities including high quality sports facilities, swimming pool, library. It is also located close to Wudaokou which is the center of the student district in Beijing and has many international restaurants and bars.

Student Associations:

International students are encouraged to participate in various extracurricular activities and join the student associations of the University. International students office also organizes extracurricular activities for international students, including welcome party for new students, New Year’s party, graduation party, tourist visits to Chinese cultural and historical destinations, sports competitions, etc.

Tsinghua University has more than 110 student associations covering five domains: science and technology, physical training, humanities, arts and public welfare. To name a few: the Students’ Performing Arts Club, Zijing Volunteer Service, Students’ Association of Science & Technology, Photography Association, Foreign Languages Association, Association of Student International Communication (ASIC), etc.

Accommodation:

Located in the north of Tsinghua University, Zijing Apartments (紫荆公寓) is the most modernised student dormitory in China and the largest, able to accommodate 22,400 students. Zijing comprises 26 blocks, with 23 buildings ranging from 7 to 15 stories. The total construction area amounts to 350,000 m2 (3,800,000 sq ft). The cost for the apartments are below.  New students should apply at the reception desk of Zijin Building 19.