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 2027).

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.
• Copy of passport or EU/EEA ID card: All applicants must upload a copy of passport/official identification card to their application form to confirm the identity in the online interview. Only the following documents are accepted as proof of identity:
  • passport
  • Finnish identity card with a photo, issued by police
  • Finnish driver’s licence
  • another EU/EEA country identity card with a photo
• 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.

Please attach the required document to your Studyinfo application on when submitting your application.

This application round is based on rolling admission. Eligible applicants are admitted throughout the application period on a first-come, first-served basis until all available study places have been filled.

Selection method 1: Interview (80 % of study places)

Students are selected based on an individual online interview. After the eligibility check has been completed, eligible applicants will receive an email with detailed instructions and a booking link. Using the link, applicants can schedule their own interview time.

The interview is conducted online on a one-to-one basis and assesses the applicant’s English language skills and motivation for studies. Applicants must have access to a computer, a webcam, a microphone, and a stable internet connection. All information related to the admission process will be communicated by email, so applicants are advised to ensure that the email address provided on the application form is valid and regularly monitored.

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

Students are selected based on their test scores, and no entrance examination or interview is required.

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.

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

This application round is based on rolling admission. Eligible applicants are admitted throughout the application period on a first-come, first-served basis until all available study places have been filled.

Eligible applicants applying through the GMAT/GRE pathway may be offered admission once their official test scores have been received and verified. Eligible applicants applying through the interview pathway who successfully complete the online interview will be notified of the admission decision shortly after the interview.

As the number of study places is limited, the application round may close before the published closing date once all available places have been filled. Applicants are therefore encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible.

Admitted applicants must accept their study place and pay the tuition fee within 28 days of receiving the conditional offer letter.

An early bird scholarship is offered when accepting the study place and paying the tuition fee within 14 days of receiving the conditional offer letter. The 25% amount is automatically reduced from the tuition fee. 

More information regarding tuition fees can be found here.