Thank you for your interest in Georgetown University’s Executive Master’s in Leadership - Qatar (EML-Q) program, offered by the McDonough School of Business exclusively to working professionals nominated by the Qatar Leadership Centre. The following guidelines will support you as you complete your application.
These instructions provide important information that you need to successfully submit your application. If you have questions, contact the EML-Q Admissions Office. All initial requirements may be submitted through the application system.
To apply, applicants must:
• Possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or the equivalent from an international college or university.
• Be nominated for the EML-Q program through the Qatar Leadership Centre (QLC).
Official copies of test scores and transcripts will be required of all admitted applicants prior to matriculation into the program.
The Admissions Committee uses a holistic approach when making an admission decision. Therefore, it is necessary for you to submit all application components so the Admissions Committee can make an informed decision.
The Admissions Committee will only review completed applications that include the following components:
• Online Application Form
• Current CV or Resume
• Written Essay
• Video Essay
• One (1) Professional Recommendation
• Transcripts/Academic Records (official copies must be submitted if admitted and prior to matriculating into the program)
• Demonstration of English Language Proficiency, if applicable – TOEFL or IELTS Score (an official score report must be submitted if admitted and prior to matriculating into the program)
• Additional Information Essay (optional)
We ask that you send only the information outlined in these instructions. Additional supplemental materials will not be considered as part of your application file.
In addition to the online application components listed above, all applicants are required to complete an interview coordinated by the Qatar Leadership Center (QLC). This interview is conducted outside of the online application process. QLC will contact applicants directly to schedule and conduct the interview.
Applications must be submitted through our online application portal.
Upon submission of your online application, you will receive a confirmation email reflecting the date and time of submission. You may check the status of your application online by logging back into your online application account and accessing the application status section, or by contacting your Admissions Manager.
Submit a current resume, no more than two pages in length, in month/year format that corresponds to the information submitted in your online application. If your resume is not in the month/year format, you may be asked to re-submit it.
The written essay provides you the opportunity to share with the Admissions Committee things about yourself not immediately evident in your resume. Please select one of the following essay options:
Option 1: Describe your proudest accomplishment. (This can be a personal, professional, or academic accomplishment.)
Option 2: Tell us something that is not on your resume that would make you a strong candidate for this program.
• All essays should be double-spaced using 12 pt. font and not exceed 500 words.
• Prepare your attachments offline in separate document files and upload them individually.
• Georgetown University prides itself on honesty and integrity. Plagiarism is not tolerated, and the Admissions Office reserves the right to deny applicants or rescind admission if plagiarism is found.
The final work you submit with your application should authentically reflect your lived experiences. We recognize that generative AI may be a useful tool as you structure and refine your essay, and if you choose to use generative AI, we recommend that you use this tool to enhance your original work. Think of generative AI as a supportive resource, much like asking a friend for brainstorming assistance or feedback, or using spell check in your computer software.
Keep in mind that your essay is an essential way to personalize your application and present your unique story—personal, professional, and academic—to the Admissions Committee. We value hearing your authentic voice and perspective, so ensure that your essay genuinely reflects who you are and what you hope to achieve.
The video essay component of the application provides you with an opportunity to share with the Admissions Committee things about yourself not immediately evident in other components of the application in a “conversational” format.
Please introduce yourself to the Admissions Committee. Explain why this is the right time in your career to pursue the Executive Master’s in Leadership at Georgetown, and what you hope to gain from the experience.
• Your video essay should be no more than two minutes in length.
• The admissions committee would like for you to appear in your video.
• You may use your phone, computer, or other means to record the video, but please ensure all audio and visual components are clear. We recommend a well-lit room and minimal noise distraction.
• Upload your video to an accessible website (such as YouTube, Vimeo, Google Drive, Youku, or Tudou), and submit the direct video URL into your online application.
• Please note that all videos must remain active and accessible to the admissions committee online for a minimum of five years for record retention purposes.
• For your privacy: Do not include your name in the title of your video. You may submit “unlisted” videos via YouTube, password-protected videos via Vimeo, or link shared through your Google Drive. If using a password, please include it immediately after your link in the text box below. [Ex: www.vimeo.com/123, password: your password] If using a shared link through Google Drive, ensure you have allowed external access.
• The video is for the purposes of admissions only and will not be used for any other purposes after your decision is provided.
One recommendation is required for the Georgetown EML-Q application. We are interested in gaining insight from someone who can objectively evaluate your professional performance as well as managerial and leadership potential. A current supervisor is strongly preferred as your recommender, though former supervisors or high-level clients (if you’re an entrepreneur) are also accepted. We strongly discourage recommendations from university faculty (unless you’ve recently completed a program), family members, or colleagues/peers.
All recommendations must be submitted electronically via the application system. Recommenders will receive detailed instructions once you complete the “Recommendations” section of your application.
You are required to hold a three/four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
To apply: We require you upload unofficial copies of your transcripts from all institutions that you have attended, whether or not a degree was or will be conferred (e.g. undergraduate, graduate, Ph.D., M.D., J.D., etc.).
If admitted/enrolled: All applicants who are admitted and enroll will be required to submit official transcripts from all institutions that have conferred a degree to you. Georgetown McDonough reserves the right to withdraw any offer of admission if there is a discrepancy between the uploaded unofficial transcript and/or translation and the official original language transcript and/or the official translation.
Instructions for transcripts:
1. All submitted transcripts must display the following:
• Student’s name
• University name
• Course names
• Type of degree and degree conferral information
• Grading scale
• Cumulative GPA
• All grades received (including from transfer credits and study abroad programs)
2. We require proof a degree was conferred and the date of graduation. If your transcript does not explicitly state that a degree was conferred or the date of graduation, you should obtain an official letter from your university indicating the date of your graduation and the degree conferral date. This letter should be enclosed in a signed, sealed envelope and included with your transcript.
3. A transcript is official when delivered via ONE of the following options:
• Submitted in an envelope which is issued by your institution(s) and sealed by your university’s registrar’s office (or equivalent office) to the address below:
ATTN: Executive Master’s in Leadership - Qatar Program Office
Georgetown University 37th and O Streets, NW Room 520, Rafik B. Hariri Building Washington, DC 20057 USA
• Requested from the appropriate institution’s registrar, returned to you, and submitted unopened.
• Submitted from your institution via a secure electronic delivery (such as Scrip-Safe or Parchment).
• If your institution uses Parchment: Digital Credential Service or National Student Clearinghouse, search for “Georgetown McDonough School of Business – Specialized Masters” to have your transcript sent directly.
• If your institution does not utilize Parchment or National Student Clearinghouse, the institution’s registrar may send the transcript via email to: emlq@georgetown.edu.
Students who have attended or graduated from a non-U.S. college or university should follow these instructions:
2. 1.
We require all transcripts to be submitted in English. Most major foreign universities will issue official transcripts in English themselves. However, if your institution is unable to do this, you are responsible for providing Georgetown McDonough with an English translation of your transcript. Your translator must certify that the original documentation was received in a sealed envelope from your university or issuing institution. After translating, your translator should enclose both the original (nontranslated) and the certified translation in an envelope and seal and sign the envelope. The transcript should be enclosed in a signed, sealed envelope and submitted by mail to Georgetown McDonough.
As an alternative to an individual translator providing certified translations, international applicants who attend institutions outside of the United States may submit their transcripts in the form of a credential evaluation. While this service is not required, we recommend the World Education Services (WES) ICAP evaluations. Credential evaluations may take the place of official transcripts, as long as they come to Georgetown McDonough directly from the evaluation service provider and include a copy of the official transcripts you had evaluated.
We require proof a degree was conferred and the date of graduation. Some international transcripts do not explicitly state that a degree was conferred or the date of graduation. If your transcript does not explicitly state that a degree was conferred or the date of graduation, you should obtain an official letter from your university indicating the date of your graduation and the degree conferral date. This letter should be enclosed in a signed, sealed envelope and included with your transcript.
A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Score or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Score is required for applicants who:
• Are non-native English speakers
• Have not completed a degree at a university where English is the primary language of instruction
• Have not worked full-time for the last 3+ years in an English-speaking country
Please note: Even if an applicant meets the above criteria, the Office of Admissions reserves the right to request proof of English Language Proficiency.
You may choose one of the following two exams to demonstrate your level of competence in English.
• TOEFL (internet-based) – The minimum required score is 100 (if taken on the original TOEFL iBT score scale) or 5 (if taken on the new TOEFL iBT score scale, beginning January 21, 2026). Your test result must not be more than two years old. At the time of application to the program, official scores must be sent directly from ETS to Georgetown University Executive Education Admissions using ETS Code Number: 5781.
• IELTS – We accept only academic module results. The minimum required score is 7.5. Your test result must not be more than two years old. At the time of application to the program, official scores must be sent electronically to us directly from Cambridge (IELTS). When requesting your scores from the test center, please enter the following information exactly as provided below:
Account Name: Georgetown University Sch of Business- MiM, MA-IBP, MSBA Address: Executive and Specialized Degree Programs 37th and O Streets, NW
Rafik B. Hariri Building, Suite 359 Washington, DC 20057 USA
Prompt: Please provide any information you would like to add that you have not otherwise included in other sections of your application. For example, you can use this space to describe inconsistent academic performance, gaps in employment, or any other relevant information.
Guidelines: You may use a bulleted list for this essay instead of a narrative format.
Interviews are coordinated by QLC, and will be conducted by QLC or EML-Q alumni. For more information please reach out to QLC.
• Your online application must be submitted by the deadline date.
• Documents submitted to the Office of Admissions become the property of Georgetown University and will not be returned to the applicant.
• Should you be admitted, you will receive a conditional offer and will be required to send all official copies of transcripts (and test scores, if applicable) to the Office of Admissions. Discrepancies between selfreported/unofficial documents and official records may result in an admissions offer being rescinded.
• If any application materials are found to be forged, falsified, or altered in any way, the university will notify all relevant officials, including the individual or institution issuing the document and, as appropriate, immigration officers. If an offer of admission has been made, it may be rescinded.
• We are unable to provide specific feedback to applicants who are not offered admission. Please note, the decision of the Admissions Committee is final, and we cannot recommend whether or not you should reapply for a future cycle.
• You may only apply once in a given application cycle, and your admissions decision is final. You are eligible to reapply in a future application cycle.
• If you are a visually-impaired applicant and need an accessible application, please contact us at emlq@georgetown.edu
For more information, please contact:
emlq@georgetown.edu msb.georgetown.edu/executive-masters-in-leadership-qatar
Rafik B. Hariri Building 37th and O Streets, NW Washington, DC 20057