MSc 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.

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.

Cooperative Learning Project

This project is a springboard for experiential learning with the focus on applying the theories learned in class into management practice or community work locally or overseas. Students will challenge International management practices and real-world problems or situations. Real-life-activities provide a uniquely effective method for management and leadership development.

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.

Innovation, Design and International Entrepreneurship

This module focuses on innovation management within existing companies, design thinking and modelling of new business ideas, and international entrepreneurship. The module combines research-based knowledge by developing innovative business ideas, including a prototype or similar application or platform, a minimum viable product.

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. It builds on a sample of studies covering critical management skills in cross-cultural contexts and organisations.

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.

Current Electives (6 ECTS each, Total 30 ECTS). Electives are subject to change depending on the demand.

Business Analytics

The module introduces the concepts of decision making under uncertainty and statistical knowledge formation. Students will learn estimation, hypotheses testing, model building, queuing theory and discrete event simulation, including their application to business cases.

Challenging International Managers and Leaders

This elective module provides students who seek to be challenged by real-world cases from different areas, be it mergers & acquisitions, digitalisation, turning companies around, managing change, or coping with a crisis.

Corporate Reputation and Brand Development

This module draws on a wide range of disciplines including corporate communications, marketing, sustainability, organisational behaviour, HR and strategic management when discussing how to develop, manage and protect corporate reputations and brands.

Corporate Responsibility Management

The topic of this module is how companies take on responsibility through considering specific concerns of their stakeholders and developing management approaches which harmonise economic objectives and environmental and social issues.

Cross-Cultural Consumer Behaviour

This module adopts a psychological, cross-cultural, technological and economical approach to consumer research and consumer behaviour analysis and also explores the implications for individual consumers, organisational consumers and marketers.

Disruptive Change and Enterprise Transformation

This module offers students a framework to understand what organisations are capable of accomplishing in disruptive change situation. Students will learn how a company’s disabilities become more sharply defined even as its core capabilities grow.

Overseas Educational and Managerial Experiences (Intensive Learning Module Abroad)

This intensive learning module takes place during the mid-semester's catchup weeks. It provides students with the opportunity to connect and engage with students and companies in a foreign country’s businesses, education, and organisational and social cultures.

Emerging Topics in International Management

The module aims to raise students' abilities to manage effectively and efficiently in a changing world. Students will learn about the contextual conditions and success factors of management innovations in different types of international companies and markets.

Eurasia-Pacific Enrichment Economy (Intensive Learning Module Abroad, Hybrid Format)

This intensive module provides students an opportunity to explore and work on a project with a different cultural, social, commercial and development context, including strategised and enrichment activities for a prospective region.

EYA International Student Project (Council of Europe Collaborative Module, Hybrid Format, Short Field Trip)

This module is part of a European Project involvement based on the goals defined by the Council of Europe and Europe 2020, as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The international business analysis and project includes a short field trip, virtual collaboration with Europeans and attending an intensive symposium.

Going Global, Human Resources Challenges for a digital Future

This module focuses on the future digital challenges that managers may face in understanding human resources and addresses topics such as global talent management, international mobility and careers and corporate governance and how they impact on human resources in the sharing economy.

International Competitiveness and Local Clusters

This module is based on a distinctive course platform developed at Harvard Business School by Professor Michael E. Porter, Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness. The module is taught with the permission and support of Professor Porter and his Institute.

Internationalisation of Business (Hybrid Format)

Students will participate in a highly recognized award winning cross-cultural organisation of projects. Students will work alongside partners from different countries to compete, collaborate, and learn the ‘real challenges’ and best practices of international business consulting.

Leading People in Changing Environments

Students learn to develop a ‘critical discourse’ about the nature and relevance of leadership in different business sectors and across diverse strategic business contexts, incorporating in depth discussion of case studies and applying a variety of strategic management tools.

Technologies for International Customer Engagement

This module will provide the global best-practice concepts and an overview of technologies that drive and support the digital transformation, innovation and marketing strategies to drive customer engagement and business performance.

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

Our pre-master's programme 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 interview may require the applicant to revisit these modules.

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

Applicants who fail to pass the pre-master’s examination at their second attempt will not be accepted for 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 in International Business in Beijing, China (BFSU)
International Business School, Beijing Foreign Studies University

Study at one of the most international business schools in China and specialise in one of these areas: Regional Business Environment and Transnational Business Operation, or International Trade and Investment, or Business Diplomacy or International Business Law.

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.

Master of Business Administration or Master of International Business in Queensland, Australia (USC)
Faculty of Arts, Business and Law, University of Sunshine Coast

An opportunity to experience a different learning and living environment in the Southern Hemisphere.

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.

Exchange semester opportunities

• 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 week before the semester starts, 5 full-days from Monday to Friday
Spring start: Week 7
Autumn start: Week 37

Study plan (PDF)

Core Modules

• Full-time students: Every Tuesday and Friday
• Part-time students: Every Tuesday evening and Friday
  

Elective Modules

• On weekdays (6 full-day or 12 half-day), Saturdays or intensive weeks

• Core Coursework, Research and Project Modules: Campus Olten
• Electives: in 3 campuses* (Olten, Brugg and Basel)

* Elective modules in these campuses depend on availability. Modules that do not generate minimum number of registration to start will be cancelled

* Full time and Part time
* Students domiciled in a Swiss canton or in 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 or EFTA citizens
Other students who are not eligible for regular fee: CHF 7'500 per semester.