Student Guide

Master's Programme in Global Management

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Curriculum 2022–2024

MSc degree studies consist of programme studies and elective studies. In some programmes, there is also a compulsory minor. The scope of the modules varies between programmes.

In addition to the goals stated in Government Decree on University Degrees (794/2004) 7 § the aim of the Master of Science degree in Economics and Business Administration is to provide students with

deep overall knowledge of the area of the specialised master’s degree programme, and very good knowledge of the minor subject or corresponding study entities included in the degree;
the knowledge and skills required in challenging managerial positions or positions demanding a high level of expertise, or as entrepreneur;
the ability to independently produce and apply knowledge in the field of business administration and economics, and preparedness for demanding international postgraduate programmes;
the ability to address ethics, sustainability, and international context; and
excellent communication and team working skills.

The academic requirements of the CEMS MIM programme are integrated in the Global Management/CEMS MSc programme.

Please see the recommended study timetable for Global Management.

Students entering the Global Management/CEMS programme are automatically granted a slot in the CEMS MIM cohort of the second year in their MSc studies, i.e. students starting in GM in 2022 will be in their MIM year in the academic year 2023–2024. The first MSc year is designated for Global Management programme studies. It is not possible to change this order, nor can a student choose to postpone their MIM year. There is some flexibility in the timing of the programme studies, but in order to also graduate from CEMS MIM, the students need to complete their CEMS MIM studies according to the rules and guidelines set by the CEMS alliance.

You can familiarize yourself with the CEMS MIM programme elements and graduation requirements on the cems.org website, under CEMS Master (MIM).

In order to graduate from the CEMS MIM programme, students must also complete skill seminars (2 ECTS in total), an international internship and fulfill the language proficiency requirements, in addition to finishing their MSc degree in Global Management.

Degree structure

Total

120

ECTS

Programme studies*

84–89

ECTS

International minor

ECTS

Elective studies

ECTS

*including Master's thesis 20 ECTS

Programme studies 84–89 cr

Code: BIZ224
Credits: 84–89 ECTS cr
Responsible Professors: Professor of Practice Perttu Kähäri

The Global Management (/CEMS) programme fosters reflective critical thinking and grows confident and agile decision-makers that will be able to formulate and apply innovative solutions to complex global business challenges. The graduates will also be aware of their personal responsibility and accountability and of the ethical, institutional and cultural frameworks within which leadership is exerted.

Upon completion of the Global Management (/CEMS) programme students will be able to distinguish themselves in the following areas:

Internationalism
- Our graduates are knowledgeable international business practitioners, able to execute effective business decision-making in diverse contexts.
Business Embeddedness
- Our graduates apply advanced management and leadership competencies developed through systematic experience of and engagement with the corporate world.
Responsible Citizenship
- Our graduates champion a holistic vision of responsible business decision-making, leadership and citizenship, informed by ethical reasoning, personal integrity, and respect for social diversity.
Reflective Critical Thinking
- Our graduates are confident, agile, and reflective decision-makers and problem-solvers, able to formulate and apply innovative solutions to complex business challenges.
Comprehensive Leadership
- Our graduates are fully aware of their personal responsibility and accountability and of the ethical and cultural frameworks in which leadership is exerted.

Compulsory studies 54 cr

Code	Course name	ECTS credits	Period
MNGT-E2012	My Development Journey	1 cr	I–V
MNGT-E2011	Global Political Economy	6 cr	I
ABL-E1377	Financial Management	6 cr	I
MNGT-E2014	Data Analytics for Managers	6 cr	II
MNGT-E1005	Strategy in Action	6 cr	II
MNGT-E2013	Strategic Marketing in Global Context	6 cr	III
MNGT2.20.thes	Master's thesis	20 cr	spring term
BIZ.matr	Maturity test	0
One from the following:
MNGT-E1003	Quantitative Methods	3 cr	II, IV
MNGT-E1011	Qualitative Methods	3 cr	II, IV

Elective studies (completed during CEMS MIM year) 30–35 credits

Code	Course name	ECTS credits	Teaching period
42E00400	CEMS Block Seminar¹	3 cr	Prior to I
42E00101	CEMS Global Strategy¹	6 cr	II
MNGT-E5002	CEMS Global Citizenship Seminar¹	1 cr	III
42E00600	CEMS Business Project^{1 2}	15 cr	III–V
MNGT-E5003	CEMS Global Leadership¹	6 cr	IV
	CEMS elective courses (Academic year specific programme offer on cems.org)		I, II, III, IV, V

¹⁾ All CEMS MIM students complete these elements during their MIM year either at Aalto university or during the CEMS term abroad. Courses completed at Aalto will be included in the Global Management programme studies. Courses completed during the term abroad, will be included to the minor studies.
²⁾ This course fulfills the Capstone requirement in the Global Management programme

Master’s thesis and thesis seminar

The programme study module includes a Master's thesis. The thesis must demonstrate readiness for scientific thinking, command of research methods, conversance with the topic of the thesis, and ability for scientific communication.

In many programmes, the students also take part in a thesis seminar, which is designed to help the students to prepare their thesis work. The seminar commonly consists of meetings, completing thesis, presenting the research topic to the seminar group and acting as an opponent for a fellow student’s thesis. Seminar lasts usually the whole semester, and it is organised during both autumn and spring semesters.

Seminar practices vary depending on the degree programme: please see the instructions for each programme in Sisu or MyCourses. For instructions on writing and handing in the thesis please see the page Thesis under "During your studies".

The Global Management programme studies include a Master's thesis (20 credits) and there is no separate thesis seminar. The thesis must demonstrate readiness for scientific thinking, command of research methods, conversance with the topic of the thesis, and ability for scientific communication. The thesis course is scheduled for the spring term of the first year of studies and more information can be found on Thesis MyCourses pages.

Minor studies 24 cr

During the second year of the Global Management programme, the ‘CEMS MIM year’, Global Management students study one academic term at Aalto and the other term at another CEMS school. With this CEMS term abroad, students fulfill the requirements of the international minor (24 credits) of the Global Management programme.

The allocation process for CEMS exchange takes place during the winter of the 1st year in the Global Management programme. At that point, students are asked to indicate their top preferences for exchange destination and preferred term, which are taken into account in the allocation.

Electives

You can choose elective studies to your Master's degree so that the scope of the degree (120 credits) is fulfilled. You can exceed the scope of the degree by one course maximum.

Elective studies can include basic, intermediate or advanced level courses. You can use the module e.g.

To complete a minor
To broaden your skills and knowledge via multidisciplinary studies:
- select courses in the field of technology or art
- select courses in other universities via JOO study right
- Select gender studies via Hilma network or other Aalto networks
To gain entrepreneurial skills
To deepen your language and communication skills (see short informational video about the Language Center here)
To deepen or broaden your skills and knowledge in the field of business
- select additional courses in your degree programme or major
- select courses from other degree progarmmes or majors in the School of Business
- select additional courses in your minor
- complete the Customized Student Business project BIZ-E0100 (read more here)
To gain work experience and working life skills via an internship (read more at During your studies > Other studies)
To gain skills in self leadership and finding meaningfulness via Personal Impact courses

If you have mandatory language studies in your master's degree, they are included in the elective studies module. You have received information about these in the beginning of your studies, if this applies to you. If you are uncertain of whether you need to demonstrate language proficiency in the master's degree, please contact your programme's planning officer to get further information about the matter.

If you have completed your bachelor's degree in Finland (in Aalto or in another higher education institute), you have fulfilled the compulsory language requirements in the respective degree or received the exemption. You do not need to complete language studies in the master's degree.
If your language of education is Finnish or Swedish and you have completed your bachelor’s degree outside of Finland, you must demonstrate proficiency in national languages by writing the maturity test in your language of education (Finnish or Swedish) and complete the language proficiency tests in the other national language. Read more about the language of education here. You may also apply for an exemption of demonstrating proficiency in national languages. See also the following bullet.
If you have completed your bachelor’s degree outside of Finland, you must complete minimum of 3 ECTS in English. You can choose any course on B2 level or higher. Students, whose language of education is not Finnish or Swedish, may alternatively complete an elementary course in Finnish or in Swedish. The courses in national languages can be at any level on CEFR scale.

Language studies are included in students’ elective studies and are agreed in the personal study plan (HOPS). Language center offers the language studies.

Published: 8.6.2022
Updated: 2.12.2024

Student Guide

Master's Programme in Global Management

Table of contents

Curriculum 2022–2024

Degree goals

Programme overview

Degree structure

Programme studies 84–89 cr

Learning outcomes

Core programme studies 84-89 cr

Compulsory studies 54 cr

Elective studies (completed during CEMS MIM year) 30–35 credits

Master’s thesis and thesis seminar

Master's thesis in the Global Management programme

Minor studies 24 cr

Minor studies

Electives

Elective studies

Mandatory language studies

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