Move to content
MBA student Lutfun Lata.

Master of Business Administration, International Business Management, Daytime studies

The Master’s Degree Programme in International Business Management is the right pick for you, if you want to develop your expertise and take the next step to advance in your career. A Master’s degree is an excellent way to increase your professional knowledge about business administration, especially in the field of international business.

Degree: Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Study type: Daytime studies

Duration: 1,5 years, 90 credits

Campus: Talonpojankatu 2, Kokkola

Tuition fee for non-EU/EEA citizens: 10000 €

Places: 22

Application period opens: 01.11.2024

Application period closes: 15.12.2024

Studies start in autumn 2025

Teaching language: English

Programme description

The MBA studies are conducted in English on weekdays at our Talonpojankatu campus in Kokkola. You are eligible to apply for the MBA programme if you have a higher education degree completed outside the European Union or the European Economic Area and you have at least two years of post-graduate work experience.

During your studies, you will deepen your knowledge and get new perspectives on international business management. You will study human resource management, leadership, strategic management, financial management, international marketing and brand management – to name a few subjects. The studies also include business ethics and sustainable development studies. You will dive deep into international business management from many aspects. An essential part of the degree is the Master’s thesis project. If you have previous business studies on master’s level, it is possible to integrate those skills into your MBA degree to speed up your studies. We do our best to offer high-quality education and flexible arrangements to guarantee good study progress.

Our students come from all around the world. Some class exercises and assignments are done in groups, which is an excellent way to network with fellow MBA students. The subjects of the group activities are usually related to real business life. The study environment is very international, and you will not just learn about international business, but you will also learn about different cultures and habits while practising your language skills. You can choose optional studies from Centria Master Schools’ supply which allows you to connect with other Master’s students from Centria, or alternatively, you can have optional Master’s level studies from the Finnish national CampusOnline study portal.  

We constantly develop the degree programme with companies. We aim to build the expertise of our students so that both the students and the working life can benefit from it. In the annual national survey, our graduating Master’s level students have ranked Centria as the best university of applied sciences in Finland for two years in a row now.

Additional information

The Master’s Degree in International Business Management is conducted in English. The scope of the studies is 90 ECTS, and the duration of the studies is 1,5 years. The studies are organised as daytime studies. Multimodal learning methods are used. Live lessons are offered at Kokkola Campus on weekdays. Furthermore, independent distance studies in the student’s own time are required. The learning process consists of lectures on campus and partly also online, exercises in class, independent work, as well as 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 the early stage of your studies. The thesis process is also supported by courses on research and development methods and tools, as well as research 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 written by our students on 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.

Please notice that some applicants are obligated to pay tuition fees. If you are not an EU/EEA citizen or if you do not have a document that exempts you from paying the tuition fees, you are obliged to pay them.

Please note that Centria UAS uses Flywire to accept payments from international students worldwide. This is the only accepted way to pay the tuition fee. Centria does not approach students with any other payment methods. Please only use the payment link provided in the conditional offer letter.

More information about the tuition fees can be found here.

Student selection

You are eligible to apply to Centria’s MBA programme offered as daytime studies if you have a higher education degree completed outside the European Union or The European Economic Area.

You also need to have at least two years of relevant work experience gained after the bachelor’s degree (applicants can accumulate work experience until the end of July 2025).

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.

English language skills can be proved by the following documents (Those applying with GRE and GMAT test results do not need to submit a proof of language proficiency.):

  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)
  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
  4. Upper secondary degree completed in English in an EU/EEA country, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, or the United States
  5. One of the following grades in the Finnish Matriculation Examination, European Baccalaureate, International Baccalaureate, or Reifeprüfung/DIA completed in Finland:
    • Finnish Matriculation Examination: English advanced syllabus with a minimum grade C
    • The whole International Baccalaureate degree 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 are also accepted.

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 until 31st of March 2025. 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 uses the International UAS Exam as the recipient of the results, if possible. The results must be at least sent to the university of applied sciences that is listed highest on the list of targeted study programmes in the application form. If possible, the test results should be sent to every university of applied sciences using the International UAS Exam where the applicant has applied to. 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.
  • The degree/programme must be taught and assessed entirely in English. The language of instruction must be clearly indicated on the educational documents.
  • If the applicant’s degree includes courses or diploma-level qualifications that have been completed outside of the specified countries/area, or courses conducted in a language other than English, the degree might not meet the requirement.
  • 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.

Point 6 above:

  • The applicant must attach a certificate to prove they are studying for one of the mentioned degrees or about to graduate during the autumn season from one of the mentioned degrees.

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 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 entrance examination / interview. Please note that, if you receive an approved result in the first phase but you have not submitted a valid identification document by the given date, you will be rejected from the second phase. 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
    • Also, an expired passport or identity card is accepted if its validity has expired on 31 March 2024 or later.

The deadline for submitting the documents is 22nd December 2024 at 15:00 Finnish time (UTC/GMT+2) at the latest.

Selection method 1: Entrance exam and interview

Students are selected on the basis of points received from the entrance examination and a final interview. 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 the application form, applicants are advised to double-check if the given email address is functional. A 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. The final interview takes place in February. A functional computer with a stable internet connection is required.

More information concerning the admission criteria can be found here.

Selection method 2: GMAT or GRE test scores

  • 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. 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. Eligible students with acceptable GMAT or GRE scores will be accepted already during the application round on the first-come first-served basis until all available places for this selection method are filled.

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

Students are selected on the basis of points received from the entrance examination and a final interview.

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 on Monday 20th January 2025. When filling the application form, applicants are advised to double-check if the given email address is functional. A functional email address is necessary in order to be able to contact applicants with essential guidelines.

Online exam is scheduled for Monday 27th January 2025 between 2 – 4 pm Finnish time.

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.

The final interview takes place in February

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. 

More information concerning the admission criteria can be found here.

The most frequently asked questions about applying to MBA programmes compiled in a video.

How to apply


Separate application period 1.11.-15.12.2024

The application process will take place at Studyinfo.fi when the application period starts. The application process is free of charge for all applicants. Applicants can be admitted if they meet eligibility requirements, submit a valid application, attach required documents, and successfully pass the entrance exam.

You can find Centria’s degree programmes on Studyinfo by using the keyword “Centria”, as well as limiting search results with the “application ongoing” button.


Applying during transfer application 1.-15.5.

It is possible to apply to Centria UAS during the transfer application period if a student wants to transfer from one field of study to another within Centria UAS or a student wants to transfer from another Finnish university of applied sciences to Centria.


Applying with open UAS studies 1.–30.4 and 1.–31.10.

Students who have completed studies in the Open University of Applied Sciences (UAS) may use the open UAS pathway to apply for degree student status.


Applying with an incomplete degree 1.–30.4 and 1.–31.10.

If you have studied in Centria UAS or in another university in Finland but you have not yet finished your degree, you can re-apply for the same or related degree programme to finish your degree.


Contact us

Do you have questions about studying in the degree programme, studying in Finland or the practicalities of the application process? Please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Centrians sitting on the amphi stairs

How to reach us

If you want to know more about studies in the programme, you can contact our Education Export team and they will get back to you.

If you have a question about the practical application process, you can contact our Admissions services.

Students sitting together in the amphi of Kokkola campus

Stay in the loop with our Applicant’s Newsletter

Subscribe to our Applicant’s Newsletter and receive all important information regarding the application process and reminders about application periods!

We only send you useful newsletters a couple of times a year.

Student Stories

  • – Tioria Samosir, Student

    Most interesting course so far is sustainability in business. The things I learn in that course I can implement on my daily life. It’s what makes sustainability so attractive for me.


International business management information, skills and competencies – all in the same interesting package combining theoretical and practical knowledge. We get excellent feedback from our graduates and working life. Come and join us. You know you want to.

Marko Ovaskainen, Head of Centria Master School

You could also be interested in these

Master of Engineering, Cloud-Driven Artificial Intelligence

Kokkola Blended learning Application period: 01.11.2024 – 15.12.2024
Engineering Young Multiethnic Female Government Employee Uses Tablet Computer in System Control Monitoring Center. In the Background Her Coworkers at Their Workspaces with Many Displays Showing Technical Data

Bachelor of Business Administration, Business Management

Kokkola Daytime studies Application period: 12.02.2025 – 12.03.2025
Business Ali Pourrahim and Tranh Thuy Trinh pictured on Talonpojankatu Campus.

Bachelor of Business Administration, Business Management, Enterprise Resource Planning

Kokkola Daytime studies Application period: 12.02.2025 – 12.03.2025
Business BBA students Savva Titov and Umar Shahzad