Master of Business Administration, International Business Management, Blended learning

The Master’s Degree in International Business Management is conducted in English. The scope of the studies is 90 ECTS. The duration of the studies is 1,5–3 years, depending on the student’s personal situation and graduation plan.

The studies are conducted in a blended learning format. Multimodal learning methods are used. Online lessons are typically offered approximately twice a month, usually on Saturdays. Furthermore, independent distance learning on the student’s own time is required. The learning process consists of online lectures, independent work, distance learning assignments and development projects.

The studies consist of core studies and profiling studies that are compulsory for all MBA students. You can also study optional courses, which you can choose based on your interests. The Master’s thesis is a large part of the degree, and you will get a chance to start planning it from an early stage of your studies. The thesis process is also supported by courses on research and development methods & tools, as well as RDI processes and expert communication.

You can find the curriculum here.

The study environment in Centria is very international, and this will give you many possibilities to practice and improve your language skills and learn about new cultures and habits. We also provide you with the opportunity to go on a Master’s level exchange to one of our partner universities abroad.

The thesis is a research and development project, and it is an essential part of the studies. The thesis project aims to develop your ability to find new research information and implement it in your thesis work. The thesis project helps you to gain the expertise that you need in challenging expert and managerial positions. The thesis project is a combination of theory and practice. The scope of the thesis is 30 ECTS. 

The MBA Programme in International Business Management provides a wide variety of potential thesis topics depending on your personal interests. Examples of thesis topics include, for example, development of management systems or leadership practices, organizational development, international business opportunity mapping, advanced market surveys and marketing research, internationalization plans for businesses, advanced business planning and business model development, development of e-business solutions, etc.  

You can find Master’s theses made by our students in www.theseus.fi.

After you have completed the MBA programme, you have grown into a business management professional. You are capable of independent decision-making, working in management or demanding expert tasks in businesses. You have learnt tools and methods. You can operate in international business or as an independent entrepreneur in the global business environment. 

According to a study commissioned by the Professionals of Business and Technology (Tradenomiliitto TRAL), a higher education degree completed at a university of applied sciences has a positive impact on career development and salary. More than 80% of the respondents feel that the degree has significantly impacted their organisational status and the content of their work assignments. 

A Master’s degree from a university of applied sciences delivers the same qualifications to positions and vacancies in the public sector as a university Master’s degree. 

For this specific direct application round, the following education gives applicants eligibility to apply for the Master’s programme:

• a higher education degree completed in one of the universities in Finland
• a higher education degree completed in one of the universities of applied sciences in Finland
• a higher education degree completed in one of the EU/EEA-area countries
  

Furthermore, applicants are obliged to have at least two years of relevant work experience, gained after obtaining a higher education degree (applicants can accumulate work experience until the end of July 2026).

Applicants are also required to submit a proof of English language proficiency since the Master’s studies are conducted in English. Those applying with GRE and GMAT test results do not need to submit a proof of language proficiency.

Please attach the required document to your Studyinfo application on 28 January 2026 at 15:00 Finnish time (UTC/GMT+2) at the latest.

English language skills can be proved by the following documents:

1. English language test results:
   • IELTS Academic*: a minimum total score of 6.0 (Test sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking)
   • TOEFL Academic (iBT)*: a minimum total score of 60 (Test sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing)
   • PTE Academic*: a minimum total score of 55 (Test sections: Speaking and Writing, Reading, and Listening)
   • Cambridge English Scale Score: a minimum total score of 169 (Test sections: Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening, and Speaking)
   • TELC (The European Language Certificate) English B2-C1 university qualification, completed on or after 1 October 2021: minimum of B2 level (Test sections: Listening/Reading/Language Elements, Writing and Speaking)
   • Oxford ELLT Global*: (English Language Level Test), completed on or after 1 July 2023: a minimum total score of 6.0 (Test sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking)
2. National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) English: Grade 4 or higher on all the subtests (speaking, listening comprehension, writing, and reading comprehension)
3. Higher education degree completed in English in an EU/EEA country, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, or the United States, or a doctoral thesis completed in English in any country. Please note that your degree must be taught and assessed entirely in English**.
   • Degrees from international schools or institutions located outside the listed countries, where the degree is completed locally but awarded by an institution from another country, do not qualify.
4. Upper secondary degree completed in English in an EU/EEA country, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, or the United States. Please note that your degree must be taught and assessed entirely in English**.
   • The degree must also be a qualification that provides eligibility for higher education in the country in which it was awarded.
   • Degrees from international schools or institutions located outside the listed countries, where the degree is completed locally but awarded by an institution from another country, do not qualify.
5. One of the following grades in the Finnish Matriculation Examination, European Baccalaureate, International Baccalaureate, or Reifeprüfung/DIA:
   • Finnish Matriculation Examination: English advanced syllabus with a minimum grade C
   • The whole International Baccalaureate diploma or International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP) completed in English
   • DP Course Results or IB certificate or IB Final Report completed in English
   • International Baccalaureate final examination: English A HL/SL or English B HL/SL with a minimum grade 4
   • European Baccalaureate: at least grade 6.00 in L2-level English
   • Reifeprüfung/DIA diploma (completed in Finland): at least grade 7 in advanced English
6. Certificate of higher education degree completed in Finland

* IELTS Academic UKVI, IELTS Online, PTE Academic Online, PTE Academic UKVI and TOEFL iBT Home Edition and Oxford ELLT Digital are also accepted.

**The language of instruction must be clearly stated on official documents (also in cases where the official language of the degree awarding country is English). You can also document this by submitting a certificate/letter from your university / educational institution in addition to your official study documentation. If the applicant’s degree includes courses conducted in a language other than English, the degree might not meet the requirement.

Only the tests listed above will be accepted. No exceptions will be made.

There are no expiration dates, but the language test results must be verifiable from the online verification service of the organiser throughout the period from 7 January to 19 March 2026. The TOEFL test cannot be verified after two years. The IELTS test cannot be verified after three years. If the test scores can no longer be verified, the test is not valid. The applicant should make sure that the test results are not too old. If the applicant is unsure and the test results are more than 2 years old, it is advised to retake the test.

Point 1 above:

• When taking the language test, the applicant should choose the university of applied sciences that they are applying to as the recipient of the results, if possible. The applicant must also attach a scanned/electric copy of the test result to the application for verification purposes, and notify their unique identifier.

Point 2 above:

• If applying with the National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI), the unique identifier is not necessary. However, the applicant must attach a scanned/electric copy of the test result to the application for verification purposes.

Points 3-4 above:

• The applicant must attach a certificate of their previous degrees. The applicant must also attach a document that shows the language of the degree and the country of studies.
• If the applicant has completed a doctoral thesis in English, they need to attach the evaluation of the thesis.

Point 5 above:

• The applicant must attach a certificate of their grades.

To demonstrate his/her eligibility, the applicant must include the following attachments to the application form:

• Copy of original Bachelor’s or Master’s degree certificate and transcript A degree certificate is awarded by an educational establishment to show that you have successfully completed a course of study. The degree certificate should include: the name of the institution awarding the degree, the date of issue (the date of issue is the official date of graduation and the required two years of work experience is to be gained after that) and the name of the person to whom the degree certificate has been issued and which title/degree the person has been awarded. Please note that a temporary or provisional degree certificate is accepted if it was awarded no more than five years earlier. Transcript of records or an academic transcript should include: the name of the person to whom the transcript has been issued, full titles of units that the student has completed for the degree and date of issue. 
• Authorized translation of the Bachelor’s or Master’s degree certificate if the originals are not issued in Finnish, Swedish or English. The translation must have the translator’s signature and stamp.
• Copies of testimonials: testimonials of the work experience entered on the application form. The testimonials need to be in English, Swedish or Finnish. Only work experience that is documented by the employer’s testimonial with signing date can be accepted. The testimonials/work certificates should show starting and closing dates as well as a description of work tasks. If you have worked part-time, the work certificates should indicate the number of work hours per month. 150 work hours or 20 working days (the minimum length of one full working day is 7 hours) compares with one month of work experience. Work experience gained as an entrepreneur, in one’s own or family business, can be documented by a certificate from an unchallengeable third party, such as a bookkeeper.
• A proof of English language proficiency (Those applying with GRE and GMAT test results do not need to submit a proof of language proficiency.)
• Copy of residence permit. Starting from 1 Jan 2025, applicants from outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland are required to pay an application fee in order to apply to higher education studies. If you are from outside the aforementioned area and you are applying to studies in Finland, you will need to pay the application fee. Here you can find out if you are required to pay the application fee.

The deadline for submitting the documents is 28th of January 2026 at 15:00 Finnish time (UTC/GMT+2) at the latest.

Selection method 1: Entrance exam and video (80 % of study places)

Students are selected on the basis of points received from the entrance examination. The entrance exam is in form of an online test. The instructions, detailed content and the schedule of the online entrance exam are going to be sent to applicants by email. When filling out the application form, applicants are advised to double-check if the given email address is functional. Functional email address is necessary in order to be able to contact applicants with essential guidelines.

The content of the entrance examination is based on given reading material and connected assignments. Applicants’ English language skills are going to be tested as well. A functional computer with a stable internet connection is required.

Selection method 2: GRE or GMAT test scores (20 % of study places)

Centria accepts both GMAT and GRE scores, which are converted into percentages, and applicants are selected based on ranking.

• GMAT™ Exam, current format (Focus Edition) ≥ 475
• GMAT™ Exam, previous format (10th Edition) ≥ 500

We accept scores from both test centre-based and online exams. Sending GMAT score results to Centria UAS, please visit: mba.com/exams/gmat-exam/scores/sending-your-score To locate our programs, please search by Centria University of Applied Sciences. 

or

• GRE 150 points in both the quantitative and verbal reasoning sections (ie. a minimum of 150 points for each of the sections)
  Acceptable GRE tests are the GRE General Test and the GRE Revised General Test. Centria UAS 
  also accepts GRE® General Test at home. GRE Subject Test results are not considered in student selection.

Centria UAS GRE designated institution code is 1503.  Detailed information about the GRE General Test including score use guidelines and score interpretation materials, is available in the GRE Scores section on the GRE website.

Please note, all applicants must also submit an application at Studyinfo.fi and meet the eligibility criteria for the master’s degree studies. Applicants must also pay the application fee if required.

Those applying with GRE and GMAT test results do not attend the entrance exam or interview or need to submit a proof of language proficiency.

Test results must be delivered to Centria UAS Admission Services by the end of application period directly from the test center.

Applicants will be informed about the next procedures via email which they submitted in their application. Instructions for the entrance exam will be sent to applicants via email by Friday 9th of March 2026.

Online exam is scheduled for Monday 16 March 2026 14-16 pm Finnish time.

The online entrance exam has two parts – an oral and a written one. In the oral part, applicants prepare a short video based on the material. In the written part applicants create an essay based on the reading material following given instructions. All necessary instructions, detailed content and the schedule of the online entrance exam are going to be sent to applicants via email. Applicants’ English language skills are going to be evaluated as well. Please notice that a functional computer with a stable internet connection is required.

Please note that if you have not uploaded a valid passport and acceptable proof of language proficiency you will not be invited to the written entrance exam. 

Please also note, those applying with GRE and GMAT test results do not attend the entrance exam.