Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about sponsorship. If you have additional questions, or would like to speak with an executive who has sponsored a student in the program, please contact us in Philadelphia or San Francisco.

• What is required from a sponsoring organization?
• Do you have to cover all costs to be a sponsor?
• How much time away from work is involved?
• What advantages does Wharton offer over programs that are closer and/or less expensive?

What is required from a sponsoring organization?

See Sponsorship Requirements for a complete overview. To summarize:

• The employer must provide a formal letter of endorsement demonstrating a willingness to make the time available for the student to attend the program. Students must be able to fulfill their obligations to attend classes on alternate Fridays and Saturdays, as well as occasional extended sessions during the two years of the program.
• Financial sponsorship is also strongly encouraged and should be indicated in the same letter.
• For Fellows candidates (applicants who are under 30 years old and have less than 8 years of work experience) the sponsoring organization should provide: (1) a letter of nomination that cites the candidate's exceptional managerial potential; and (2) a commitment of full financial and program-related support. (Applicants or sponsors may contact the admissions staff in Philadelphia or San Francisco to review special circumstances that would influence these support requirements.)
• Ideally, sponsors should also have a career development plan worked out with their candidate to ensure that the participant will have an opportunity to apply the skills gained through the program.

Do you have to cover all costs to be a sponsor?

No. With the exception of Fellows candidates (younger candidates who have less than 8 years of work experience), full financial sponsorship is not required. The level of a sponsoring organization's financial support does not influence the Admission Committee's evaluation of an application. Full support does send a strong signal to your candidate that you are interested in his or her potential for growth in your organization. Support at any level, however, is valued by students. Some organizations cover tuition only, while others contribute a fixed amount. In some cases, students work with their sponsors to consider financial sponsorship as part of a total compensation package, for instance by deferring bonuses or salary increases during the sponsored period.

How much time away from work is involved?

The alternate Friday/Saturday weekend schedule translates into about two Fridays per month away from work over the two-year period. There are also a few extended weekends and one-week sessions during the course of the program (for instance, orientation week and the week-long International Seminar). Most sponsors discover that the same high level of drive and accomplishment that prompts qualified employees to take on the challenge of the program ensures that their contributions at work won't diminish during the program. Whether or not to consider program time away from work as vacation time is something that you can discuss with your candidate and negotiate terms that make sense for your organization. For additional information about schedules, or to download a calendar of program dates, see Program Schedule and Calendar.

What advantages does Wharton offer over programs that are closer and/or less expensive?

There are many MBA and executive MBA programs. Both sponsors and individual applicants need to judge whether Wharton is the most appropriate program for them. In general, sponsors often value three elements of Wharton's program above all:

• academic rigor;
• international faculty members who are both leaders in business research and teaching and highly regarded consultants to corporations and governments around the world;
• the highly selective group of experienced executive students from diverse industries.