Master Program in Business Studies with an International Focus

Business Theory, Modern Realities

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.

Should you apply?

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.

Find out if you are eligible for the Master's Programme

How To Apply

Applying to this programme is quick and easy. Just complete these two steps:

Click on the blue "Apply" button to create a user account and add the programme to your account in the online application portal.
Submit the required documents to verify that you fulfill the entry requirements listed below. It is usually possible to upload the required documents to your user account.

Entry Requirements (August 2023)

Specific Entry Requirements

Completed a bachelor's degree majoring in Social Sciences or a bachelor's degree in technology with Social Science focus comprising at least 180 credits (60 credits = 1 academic year full-time study), or an equivalent degree or currently completing the final year of studies leading to such a degree. The applicant's 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.
An approved Statement of Purpose (pdf)

English Language Proficiency

The most common tests and important scores that are accepted are:

IELTS (academic training), 6.5 (with no part of the test below 5.5)
TOEFL (Internet based): 90 (with a minimum of 20 on the written part)
TOEFL (paper based): 575 (with a minimum of 4.5 on the written part)

Please check the University Admissions information on English Language Proficiency to see if you are required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS result.

Tuition Fees

87 000 SEK (total)
*EU/EEA Citizens are not required to pay tuition fees.

Tuition fees are paid in one-semester installments and the first payment (43 500 SEK) should be paid 2-3 months before the start of classes. 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 Business Studies Programme who are not EU/EEA citizens.

For more information about scholarships, please visit our webpage about international student scholarships or contact study@du.se.

Scholarships for international students

Programme Overview

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 the degree of Master of Science with a major in 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

Elective Courses (choose one)

Semester 2 (Spring)

Master's Thesis: Examples

The Master's Thesis course will develop your research and academic writing abilities. 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.

"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)
"A Study of the Electric Vehicle Market in Germany" - Alinz Hässler and Bernd Souren (2018)
"Legitimation Strategies in the reporting of Negative CSR Aspects" - Bliss Ayertey and Getnet Asrat (2017)
"The relationship of internal, social and external determinants towards the green purchase intention of German Generation Y for fast moving consumer goods" - Svenja Bouwmann and Ilona Schneider (2017)

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

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: