Master in International Management

International Managerial Research Methods 

This advanced qualitative and quantitative research design module prepares students to undertake business or management research at master’s level. Students will gain confidence in a range of cognitive and practical skills suitable to conducting research projects in a range of international business contexts.

Cross Cultural Management and Leadership

This module strives to develop the management and leadership skills of students through understanding the critical role of culture in this process and the skills needed to manage oneself as well as relationships with others. Students will participate in a highly recognized award winning global cross-cultural organisation of projects and real challenges.

Developing International Business Strategy

Students learn to think strategically about how a firm should position itself to compete at home and abroad and create value for their shareholders and stakeholders by understanding the concepts to create competitive advantage, as well as developing sustainable strategies for international corporate competitiveness.

Strategic Financial Decision Making

The module provides future (non-financial) executives with tools and concepts to make important financial decisions that can critically enhance their institution’s ability to respond to competitive challenges, undertake new projects, overcome financial setbacks, and most importantly, create shareholder value.

Cooperative Learning Project

This module links a student to a corporate coach. It develops a student’s thinking skills, scientific writing skills, as well as to advance a student’s ability to be a competent researcher and reader. Students explore a focal topic related to cross-country or international comparison, cross-cultural or inter-cultural comparison, international opportunities, or internationalisation process.

Research Proposal 

This module includes a planned application of scientific and empirical research methods of a research direction for the Master’s thesis. It aims to guide a student through their research journey in a constructive and efficient manner before embarking into an empirical investigation of an international or cross-culture management, marketing or business-related problem or opportunity.

Master's Thesis (Final Semester)

The master’s thesis with a final defence is the last module which a student works independently under the supervision of an academic and/or corporate sponsors. Student combines knowledge from learned modules to develop an empirical research project with an international or cross-culture context that has implications for knowledge development, corporate strategy, economy and society.

Select 6 Electives from a list of offers (6 ECTS each, Total 36 ECTS). Electives are subject to change depending on the demand. Some popular electives are Business Analytics, Challenging International Managers and Leaders, Cross-Cultural Consumer Behaviour, Emerging Topics in International Management, Corporate Focus in Business and Management (with corporate partners), Leading People in Changing Environments, and among other contemporary modules.

The programme also offers international electives which are intensive onsite learning at partner universities. This intensive learning module takes place between semester’s break and during the mid-semester's catchup weeks. These modules provide students with the opportunity to connect and engage with students and companies in a foreign country’s businesses, education, and organisational and social cultures. These intensive modules also provide students an opportunity to explore and work on a project with a different commercial and development context, including strategised and enrichment activities for a prospective region.

Independent Learning Module: Students can choose a module from the MSc Business Information Systems programme.

Module-linked international field trips to countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe during the mid-semester 2 weeks’ break or during the break between semesters.

• Week 14-15 in the spring semester
• Week 44-45 in the autumn semester
• January to Mid February
• June to Mid September

Pre-Master's Modules

• Accounting
• Applied Statistics
• Business and Marketing
• Economics

The pre-master's module is mandatory for applicants who have been given a provisional enrolment, subject to the completion of the required pre-master's modules. Usually applicants who have completed the equivalent pre-master's module/s with a satisfactory grade in their previous bachelor programme do not require to enrol in these modules. However, in some circumstances, the recruitment commission based on the outcome of the application’s interview may require the applicant to revisit these modules.

The pre-master's modules will be offered online. Upon successful completion of the modules and passing the required tests, applicants will then be officially enrolled in the MSc in International Management.

Applicants who fail to prove a pass or completion of the pre-master’s module will not be accepted into the programme.

Dual degree - complete within the study semesters

Students spend a semester or a year at the partner university during the study semesters to qualify for a dual degree. Places are limited and are subject to acceptance by home and host universities.

MSc in International Business in Cambridge, United Kingdom (ARU) 
Lord Ashcroft International Business School, Anglia Ruskin University

Focused learning on issues of vital importance to the global economy, supply chain and operations.

Master in BioManagement in Jakarta, Indonesia (i3L)
(Magister Manajemen) International Indonesia Institute for Life Sciences

Specialised management, lab-based and corporate learning in life science companies, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, the food and beverage industry, the hospital and agriculture sector. The Institute is co-founded by the largest pharmaceutical company in Southeast Asia.

Master Degrees in Puebla, Mexico (UPAEP)
Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla, Asociación Civil

• Master’s Degree in Strategic Planning and Technology Management
• Master’s Degree in Management of Organizations
• Master’s Degree in Management & Marketing 

Study at UPAEP’s urban campus in the heart of downtown Puebla, “the city of the student’. The historical and industrial development in Puebla allows you to acquaint yourself to Mexican management, business, traditions and culture.

Double degree - additional semester/s required after completion of MSc International Management

Double degree MSc in Business Information Systems, FHNW

The interdisciplinary double degree with the Master of Science in Business Information Systems FHNW is an opportunity for students who have already learned about managing in the sharing economy and digital future but want to actively shape the digital transformation of their enterprises. Two additional semesters to complete the double degree.

• Bachelor‘s degree (Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Economics,  Finance, Marketing; International Business Management; International Management, Facility Management*, ICT*; Tourism Management*, Psychology*, Applied Psychology*) or a bachelor's degree in a similar programme.
• Good or very good overall grade (A or B, equalling a recognised first or upper second class honours degree in the United Kingdom)
• Very good or excellent linguistic abilities in English (minimum requirement equivalent to CAE/BEC Higher)
• At least one year of relevant work experience

The transcript of records (modules completed) of bachelor's degrees which are marked with * will be checked in detail. Required modules that are missing can be studied in a Pre-Master-Programme (covering four weeks, prior to the Master programme).

Each student providing evidence of meeting the registration requirements will be invited for an interview. The number of places for this programme is limited.

Intake spring*

Intake autumn*

* Please note that the application hand-in date is indicative only. For both intakes, interview appointments, allocation of acceptance and starting date is subject to availability in each intake. Please apply early to secure an interview appointment for a prospective acceptance. 

Mandatory day (Friday) before the semester starts
Spring start: Week 7
Autumn start: Week 37

Core Modules

• Full-time and part-time students: Every Thursday evening and Friday

Elective Modules

• On Thursdays and Saturdays (6 full-days) or intensive weeks

A switch from part-time to full-time and vice versa is possible during semester breaks

Timetable

FHNW Campus Olten, Von Roll-Strasse 10, 4600 Olten

* Full-time and Part-time
* Students domiciled in a Swiss canton or the Principality of Liechtenstein with legal entitlement to a grant
* Expatriate Swiss citizens
* Students domiciled in a Swiss canton, who are holders of a residence permit that has not been issued specially for their studies

EU/EFTA citizens who do not meet the above mentioned criteria at the start of the programme: CHF 1,000.00 per semester.
Non EU/EFTA students who do not meet the above mentioned criteria at the start of the programme: CHF 7,500 per semester.