The Master's Programme in Business Studies offers you theoretical classes with practical exercises based on the needs of local and international companies. Core courses focusing on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and Knowledge Management are combined with your choice of specialisation – Accounting and Control; Marketing and International Business; or Human Resource Management. The capstone of your 10-month study period will be a thesis project in which you examine how a specific real-world research problem relates to one of the focus areas of the programme.
Business Theory, Modern Realities
Building on your previous academic studies in the field of Business (or related field), this master programme, which is taught in English, will give you the knowledge, critical-thinking and communication skills, and intercultural understanding that employers of today seek. By the time you graduate, you will have developed the abilities needed to launch or upgrade your career as a Human Resources Specialist, Marketing Manager or Accountant.
The programme is a one-year master's degree in Business Studies. All courses are taught in English.
After passing all courses, including the thesis work, you will be awarded a Degree of Master of Science (60 credits) in Business and Economics, Main Field of Study: Business Administration and Management. The programme comprises 60 credits (1 credit = 1 ECTS) and commences in the end of August, which is the start of the autumn semester.
Semester 1 (Autumn)
Compulsory Courses
- Corporate Social Responsibility in an International Perspective (FÖ3042)
- Knowledge Management (FÖ3034)
Elective Courses (choose one)
- International Business and Marketing (FÖ3036)
- Accounting and Control in Global Enterprises (FÖ3032) (this course will not be offered in autumn term 2025)
- Studies of International Human Resource Management (FÖ3040)
Semester 2 (Spring)
Career Opportunities
Upon completion of the programme, you will be prepared for employment in a diverse job market that includes corporations and banks, and marketing and accounting firms. The career opportunities that will be available to you are too vast to list; however, the most common areas of employment are:
- Marketing
- International Business
- Human Resources
- Accounting
- Production Management
Examples of job titles held by our alumni include:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Financial Controller
- Principal Product Manager
- Market Analyst and Social Media Specialist
- Group HR Development Specialist
- Talent Acquisition Partner – Tech Delivery
- Store Manager
- Strategist in Rights and Integration Issues
- Graphic and Video Editor
Apply to PhD studies
The programme also prepares you for further academic studies in a wide range of PhD programmes in Business Studies.
Stay in Dalarna and look for a job after graduating
You can apply for a 12-month residence permit to stay in Sweden and look for work after you complete a degree programme of at least 60 credits. International students are encouraged to stay in Dalarna and Sweden and look for a job after graduating from the Master's Programme in Business Studies with an International Focus
Using your degree overseas
The degree awarded by Dalarna University for this programme is internationally recognized and has been used by previous students to attain employment or pursue further studies outside of Sweden.
You can also apply to receive an Erasmus+ grant for an internship, even up to 12 months after completing your studies. This opportunity is available to all students in the programme, regardless of nationality, who pursue an approved internship within an Erasmus+ programme country other than Sweden.
Entry Requirements:
- Completed bachelor's degree majoring in social sciences or a bachelor's degree in technology with social science focus equal to a Swedish bachelor's degree. You can also apply if you have an equivalent degree or are currently completing the final year of studies leading to such a degree.
- Your education must also include at least 30 credits in Business Administration (for example, accounting, marketing, organization theory) including a minimum of 7.5 credits in research methods applicable to social science or business, or equivalent knowledge.
- Proof of English language proficiency equal to an IELTS result of 6.5 overall with no part of the test below 5.5. In some cases your previous studies may fulfill the English proficiency requirement.
Documents to Submit:
- Proof of a completed bachelor’s degree, equal to a Swedish bachelor's degree in one of the approved subject areas. It is also possible to apply if you are currently completing the final year of studies leading to such a degree.
Tip: Be sure to read the information specific to the country where you previously studied to know how to submit the appropriate documents. - Proof of English language proficiency equal to an IELTS result of 6.5 overall with no part of the test below 5.5
In some cases your previous studies may fulfill the English proficiency requirement.
Tip: Please check the University Admissions information on English Language Proficiency to see if you are required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS test result.
Research within business studies is linked to the specializations within the programme and also includes innovation.
Our lecturers are also active with research in diverse business areas. Some examples of their research projects are:
- Hybrid working as a practice
Lenka Klimplová and Carina Holmgren focus their research on hybrid working in organizations, what tensions this relatively new phenomenon brings about and how it impacts the working environment. - Human Resource Analytics in public sector organisations
Yanina Espegren studies how HR departments in Swedish public administrations work with HR-related data and analysis as a result of HR digitalization. - Creative innovations in firms
Peter Hultén examines factors affecting creativity in innovative processes in firms and public organizations. - Management accounting methods for climate action
Ravi Dar carries on research projects on management accounting methods for climate action and on conceptual space around IT terminology. - Accounting and management control
Klas Sundberg’s research focuses on Accounting, Management Control, Information Systems, Project Management, Strategic Development and Sustainability. - Financial and non-financial accounting
Asif M Huq investigates the effects of various accounting and auditing reforms, e.g., the effect of mandatory audits on the cost of capital, growth, investment decision choices, etc.; direct and indirect effects of mandatory sustainability reporting such as NFRD and CSRD; effects and determinants of auditors issuing various key audit matters. He also works to develop objective methods based on text analytics to evaluate companies’ sustainability disclosure. - B2B sharing of personal data and the GDPR
Hajo Michael Holtz is conducting legal research on the questions of when and how innovative companies may buy and sell personal data under the General Data Protection Regulation regulatory regime for purposes related to i.a. the development of AI systems, IoT products or Big Data analysis.
One unique aspect of the programme is the research conducted by our students through the Master's Thesis course. The following Master's level theses were presented and defended at the end of this one year master's programme. You can write a thesis on your own or with one other student (this is recommended). Students decide on a topic themselves in consultation with their teachers and fellow students.
- "Career progression in a remote working context" - Gabriel J. Kleinke & Sebastian Ruotsalainen (2024)
- "Standardization and customization of the international recruitment and selection process: A study from the cultural and institutional perspective" – Nicole Bergman (2022)
- "Attracting and retaining talent: A qualitative study about Talent Management within the knowledge-intensive organizations in Sweden" – Kate Smirnova (2022)
- "Consumer preferences for graphic, structural, and information elements on recycled paper-based package: Gender, age, and education differences" - Andrea Èabajová & Jakub Ko¹ík (2022)
- “Knowledge Management and ICT Adaptions as a Result of Pandemic Workplace Restrictions: A Case Study at a SME in Germany” - Tobias Baesch (2021)
- “Impacts of the Level of Swedish Language Knowledge on Refugees’ Employment and Occupational Matching” – Omar Abualhayjaa & Yaman Srour (2021)
- "Employment in Sweden from the International Students' Perspective" - Graciela Llácer Ventura and Juste Svazaite (2018)
Typically, about 15- 20 students enroll in the Business Studies programme each year. They come from all over the world. Since the programme admits only a limited number of students, you will soon get to know your classmates and be involved in activities in and around Dalarna and Sweden with your new-found friends. The knowledge you gain and the experiences you share with your classmates will prepare you to join our alumni who go on to find their ideal jobs within the field.
During the course of your studies, you will attend lectures, participate in seminar discussions, enjoy study visits, and, of course, take exams. You can expect between 6 and 10 hours of class time each week, as well as a weekly study time of between 25 and 35 hours.
Study Environment
You will be among the first students to study in Sweden's most modern campus!
In autumn 2024, Dalarna University's new Campus Borlänge will open. The campus has a strong focus on sustainability and has many modern study environments for our students inside and outside the classroom. The new campus is located in Borlänge town center with immediate access to parks, restaurants and bars, gyms, financial services, fika and is less than 5 minutes walking to the Borlänge train station.
Dalarna University is a small university, which allows you to develop personal relationships with your classmates and teachers.
You will study in Borlänge, a town characterised by thriving business and industry, surrounded by nature and the charming Swedish countryside. The town is two hours north of Stockholm and only 20 km away from the historic town of Falun, the political centre of Dalarna County. The town of Borlänge is home to some major Swedish corporations, such as SSAB and Borlänge Energi, and within a short commute to another large corporation, namely Hitachi Energy.
Student Feedback
To present an accurate picture of what students have to say about the Business Studies Programme, we have published their comments from the end-of-programme evaluation.
What students liked:
- Teaching methods (presentations and seminars) which helped students to share their opinions and facilitated their learning
- Development of critical thinking through article discussions, not accepting things from the previous research as granted
- Small classes & good relationships with teachers
- Events: Uppsala trip, SSAB visit, Dalarna Science Park visit
- Guest lectures and invitations to different research seminars
- Small group seminars were very good and helpful for students in their development of critical thinking
- The international perspective is highly beneficial on many levels – cultural, language and experiences
What students thought could be improved:
- More cooperation with companies and possibilities for internship
- Get more support in order to conduct case studies (as students come from different countries and have no connections with businesses in Sweden)
- Networking with alumni
Tuition Fees
96,000 SEK (total*)
*EU/EEA Citizens are not required to pay tuition fees.
Tuition fees are paid in two installments of 48,000 SEK and the first payment should be made as soon as possible after you have received your invoice and no later than the deadline on the invoice. This allows for reasonable processing time for a residence permit application.
If you have any questions about tuition fee payments, please e-mail tuitionfees@du.se.
Scholarships
There are a number of scholarships available for successful applicants to the Master's Programme in Economics who are not EU/EEA citizens.
For more information about scholarships, please visit our webpage about international student scholarships or contact us using the contact form on this website.
