Master of Science in International Business and Trade

The master’s programme provides a combination of training and knowledge about the functioning of international organizations and corporations —large and small—in the global economies of today. Highlighting the interplay between local, regional and global business environments, the programme prepares students for advanced work in multinational corporations, international organizations, or start-up companies in a variety of manufacturing and service industries. In addition, the programme provides a basis for those who want to enter a doctoral programme.

General entrance requirements:

A Bachelor's degree (equivalent to 180 ECTS credits) from an internationally recognized university and English 6/English B from Swedish upper secondary school or the equivalent level of an internationally recognized test. For more information about general entrance requirements see universityadmissions.se (English) and antagning.se (Swedish).

Programme specific entrance requirements:

A) a minimum of 60 credits in Business Administration

or

B) a minimum of 30 credits in Business Administration and 30 credits in the subject areas of Economic Geography, Economics or Economic History.

In addition to A and B, the applicant's university education must include at least 15 credits in Statistics or Research Methods, or 15 credits in a combination of both.

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) with a major in International Business and Trade (Ekonomie masterexamen med huvudområdet internationellt företagande).

The programme addresses the dynamics of internationalization and globalization processes of firms, regions and economies, and the context of these processes, understanding them from the internationally oriented organization’s perspective.

The programme covers four academic terms of full-time study (120 credits) including three terms of courses, core (60 credits) and elective (30 credits), (total 90 credits), and one term of Master Degree Project (thesis writing, 30 credits).

The language of instruction is English.

Programme structure and courses

Semester 1

Period 1 International Business Environmental Analysis, 7.5 credits (core)

Period 2 International Entrepreneurship, 7.5 credits (core)

Period 3 - 4 International Strategic Management, 7.5 credits (core)

Period 3- 4 FDI, Trade and Global Trends, 7.5 credits (core)

Semester 2

Period 1 Globalisation of Innovation and the Multinational Company, 7.5 credits (core)

Period 2 Managing and Organizing the Multinational Corporation, 7.5 credits (core)

Period 3 International Business and Trade Research Methods, 7.5 credits (core)

Period 4 International Business Environment Analysis and Strategic Management – Project, 7.5 credits (core)

Semester 3

Elective courses, 30 credits (core)

Semester 4

Master Degree Project in International Business and Trade, 30 credits (core)

Elective courses 

The Graduate School offers a number of electives within economics, business administration, law, economic history and economic geography. The elective courses offered may vary between different academic years.

Courses from outside Graduate School may be included after permission granted by the Graduate School.

General outcomes for Degree of Master (120 credits) 

Knowledge and understanding 

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the main field of study, including both broad knowledge of the field and a considerable degree of specialized knowledge in certain areas of the field as well as insight into current research and development work, and

• demonstrate specialized methodological knowledge in the main field of study.

Competence and skills 

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and analyze, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information

• demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues critically, autonomously and creatively as well as to plan and, using appropriate methods, undertake advanced tasks within predetermined time frames and so contribute to the formation of knowledge as well as the ability to evaluate this work

• demonstrate the ability in speech and writing both nationally and internationally to clearly report and discuss his or her conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based in dialogue with different audiences, and

• demonstrate the skills required for participation in research and development work or autonomous employment in some other qualified capacity.

Judgement and approach 

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to make assessments in the main field of study informed by relevant disciplinary, social and ethical issues and also to demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work

• demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used, and

• demonstrate the ability to identify the personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for his or her ongoing learning.

Local outcomes

• demonstrate awareness of economic, social or environmental sustainability issues related to International Business and Trade on a local, regional and global level.

The study programme will be followed up and evaluated in accordance with the applicable Policy for the Quality Assurance and Continuous Quality Improvement of Education at the University of Gothenburg (Policy för kvalitetssäkring och kvalitetsutveckling av utbildning vid Göteborgs universitet).

Students admitted to the programme have guaranteed admission to all core courses within the programme according to the programme structure outlined in the programme syllabus, and given that the course requirements are fulfilled.