
Master of Business Administration, International Business Management, Blended learning
Centria’s Master’s Degree Programme in International Business Management is for you that 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 of business administration, especially in the field of international business.
Tutkinto: Master of Business Administration, MBA, Tradenomi (ylempi AMK)
Opintomuoto: Monimuotototeutus
Opintojen laajuus: 90 opintopistettä
Kampus: Talonpojankatu 2, Kokkola
Aloituspaikat: 20
Haku alkaa: 15.03.2023
Haku päättyy: 28.04.2023 klo 15:00
Koulutus alkaa syksyllä 2023
Opetuskieli: Englanti
Programme description
The MBA studies are conducted in English and in a blended learning format. The online lectures take place usually on Saturdays. You are eligible to apply to this MBA programme if you have a higher education degree completed in one of the member countries of the European Union or The European Economic Area and you have at least two years of work experience.
During your studies, you will deepen your knowledge and get new perspectives on international business management. You will study human resource management and leadership, 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. The studies also include optional studies that you can choose based on your interests. An essential part of the degree is the Master’s thesis project. In addition, if you have previous business studies at the Master’s level, it is possible to apply for credit transfers and integrate that knowledge and 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 MBA students come from Finland and other European countries. Some 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 international, and you will not just learn about international business, but you will also learn about different cultures and habits while practising your language and communication skills.
We constantly develop the degree programme with companies and other cooperative partners. 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.
More information on the programme
You can find the curriculum here.
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 personal 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 and 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 & tools, as well as RDI processes and expert communication.
Content of studies
Core studies 15 ECTS
- Research, Development and Innovation Processes and Expert Communication
- Research and Development Methods and Tools
- Strategic Management and Development
Profiling studies 30 ECTS
- Human Resource Management and Leadership
- Business Ethics and Sustainable Development
- Strategic Opportunities in International Business
- International Marketing and Brand Management
- Organizational Behaviour and Development
- Management Accounting and Decision Making
Optional studies 15 ECTS
- You can choose optional studies either from the Centria Master School supply or from Campusonline.fi portal that offers Master’s-level courses also in English. These courses are optional and you can choose subjects you are interested in. Also, exchange studies and studies based on credit transfers and the recognition of prior learning can be included here (or they can also replace some compulsory studies if they meet the learning requirements of the course at the Master’s level).
Master’s thesis 30 ECTS
The study environment at 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, the 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 thesis 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 learned 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 in 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.
Student selection
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 2022).
Applicants are also required to be in good command of the English language since the Master’s studies are conducted in English.
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 eligible applicants by email. When filling out 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. A functional computer with a stable internet connection is required.
More information concerning the admission criteria can be found here.
- After all the eligibilities are checked, eligible students will be informed about the next procedures via email which they submitted in their application
- Instructions for the entrance exam will be sent to eligible applicants via email on Monday 22 May 2023
- The online exam is scheduled for Monday 29 May 2023 between 2 – 4 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 the given instructions. All necessary instructions, detailed content and the schedule of the online entrance exam are going to be sent to eligible applicants via email by 29 May 2023. Applicants’ English language skills are going to be evaluated as well. Please notice that a functional computer with a stable internet connection is required.
How to apply
Separate application period 15.3.-28.4.2023
The application process takes 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.-15.5.2023 and 1.-15.11.2023
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 1.4.–31.5.2023 and 1.10.–30.11.2023
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 1.4.–31.5.2023 and 1.10.–30.11.2023
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 information
Marko Ovaskainen
Koulutusalapäällikkö (liiketalous) / Yliopettaja, koulutusalapäällikkö MasterSchool
+358447250435
marko.ovaskainen@centria.fi
Kokkola

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