Apply to International Business Management
Here you will find important information on how to apply to the International Business Management programme.
The application to Arcada's master's degree programmes in English for studies beginning in August 2024 has closed. The application was open 3–17 January 2024. There are a total of 30 study places on offer on the International Business Management programme.
Please use the quick links to navigate smoothly between the different sections.
More information regarding the study programme can be found here.
Eligibility
Before starting your master's application process to Arcada, please make sure that you are an eligible applicant, i.e. that you have a suitable educational background and two years of work experience. The applicant proves his/her English language through the various application methods used in the programme. Thus, no specific language test results need to be provided.
Educational background
To be eligible to apply to International Business Management, you must have a suitable bachelor's degree in the field of business or another relevant field. In case the bachelor's degree is from another field than business, you should still have a minimum of 40 ECTS credits in business studies. In exceptional cases, the 40 credits of business studies can be proven with extensive work experience. Arcada reserves the right to define this case by case.
Two years of work experience
All applicants must, in addition to the requirements listed above, have a minimum of two years (24 months) of relevant work experience gained after the completion of the bachelor's degree to meet the eligibility criteria.
Work experience is only counted from the date of the bachelor's degree diploma/certificate, and needs to be proven by a work certificate. Work experience gained before or during your bachelor studies cannot be counted towards the work experience minimum requirement. An exception is only made for applicants who have completed a Finnish vocational college diploma or higher vocational diploma (opisto- tai ammatillisen korkea-asteen tutkinto) before the completion of their higher education degree, as they may also take into account work experience gained before the higher education degree. Work experience can be counted up to 31st July 2024.
Part-time work is converted to full-time work so that 150 hours or 20 full-time working days (a minimum of seven hours per day) are equal to a month. The work experience does not have to be continuous or from the same employer. Practical training or on-the-job learning is not counted as work experience if it forms a part of the degree used for applying.
Application methods
When applying to this programme, either the full-time or the part-time option, the selection method used depends on where you have completed your degree(s). In both cases, the selection process consists of two steps and you must pass both steps to be considered for admission.
Admission group 1: Degree completed outside of EU/EEA
If you have completed the degree that you apply with at a higher education institution outside of EU/EEA you are in this group. For admission, you should submit:
- GMAT test External link or GRE test External link
- Motivational letter
- Video
If you are unsure of whether your degree was completed in or outside of an EU/EEA country, please check the following list External link.
An applicant who has completed both his/her bachelor's degree, and also a possible master's degree outside of the EU/EEA can be considered only in this admission group.
About the GRE and GMAT test
Arcada's GRE code is 2523. You should order your GRE score to arrive directly at Arcada.
You should have a minimum test score of 500 points on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Corresponding test scores in the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) may be used, with a minimum of 150 points for each of the quantitative and verbal reasoning skills. For conversion, use this tool. External link
Please make sure you take the test on time! The recommendation is to take the test at least one month before you submit your application.
If your GMAT or GRE score meets our requirements, you are considered to have passed the first stage of the selection process. This means that your application moves to the second step where your motivation letter and video will be graded. If your GMAT or GRE score is below our requirements, it is registered as a failure in the first step. Thus your application does not move to the second step and the motivational letter and video will not be graded. A pass in both steps is required for being considered for admission.
Read more on the motivational letter and video below.
Admission group 2: Degree completed in an EU/EEA country
If you have completed your degree at a higher education institution in an EU/EEA country you are in this group. Note that degrees completed in Great Britain can also be included in this group. The degree should however have been completed on-site within Great Britain or the EU/EEA area. For admission, you should submit:
- Motivational letter
- Video
This admission group is for an applicant who has completed either his Bachelor's or Master's degree in an EU/EEA country.
The first step of the selection process is an academic evaluation of your degree. The academic evaluation is marked on a pass/fail basis. Only applicants who pass the academic evaluation will move on to the second phase, in which the motivational letter and the video are graded
If you are given a fail in the academic evaluation, it is registered as a fail in the first step, and your motivational letter and video will not be graded. A pass in both steps is required for admission.
Information on the motivational letter and video
Motivational letter
In the motivational letter, you should explain your reasons for applying to the International Business Management programme at Arcada. Please include a presentation of your background (relevant work experience and previous studies), and how you see the programme supporting your personal development. You are also requested to elaborate on your study and communication skills, as these are prerequisites for succeeding in the programme.
The motivational letter may not exceed one page (use Times New Roman 12, line spacing 1.2, justified text). The letter is scored between 0-60 points focusing on:
- Written English
- Skills and experience
- Clarity and focus
- Interest and suitability for the programme.
Personal motivation video
In the video, you should introduce yourself, your prior studies and relevant work and/or other experiences. Please also discuss why you are interested in the International Business Management programme.
The video should not exceed 2 minutes in length. The video is scored between 0-40 points focusing on:
- Spoken English
- Presentation skills
- Skills and experience
- Clarity and focus
- Interest and suitability for the programme.
Upload your personal video directly to the application form, or share a link to the video you have uploaded to a video-sharing service. In case you are using a video-sharing service, upload a document containing the link to your video. Make sure the video is set to private and accessible only with the link you share.
The motivational letter and the video should be uploaded to the application as soon as possible, however no later than 24th January 2024 03:00 PM EET.
Student selection process
There are in total 30 study places in the master's degree programme in International Business Management. Study places may be flexibly shifted between the full-time and part-time options, depending on the number of applications each one attracts. If either option fails to attract a sufficient number of applications, Arcada reserves the right to cancel that option.
In the second step of the student selection process, the motivation letter and video are graded. All applicants who passed the first step of the application process in their admission group are now included in the second step. Applicants are given a total score for the motivation letter and video and are ranked based on that score. Applicants are admitted in the order of ranking.
Results will be announced by end of April at the latest.
How to apply - Master's level
Here you will find a checklist to guide you through the application process.
The application is to be submitted through the national application portal Studyinfo. External link
Checklist for applying:
Eligibility criteria
Make sure you meet all eligibility criteria for the programme that you are interested in. Please note that you need to apply with a bachelor's degree and mark this on your application form as your educational background.
Part-time or full-time studies
Decide if you want to apply to the part-time or full-time study option if you are applying to a degree programme where this choice is offered.
Fill in the application form
The application form is found on the application portal Studyinfo External link during the application period. Fill in the form yourself, using your own contact information.
You can also use the direct links below (only active during application time):
Big Data Analytics, full-time studies (application closed)
Healthcare Leadership, online, full-time studies (application closed)
Healthcare Leadership, online, part-time studies (application closed)
International Business Management, full-time studies (application closed)
International Business Management, part-time studies (application closed)
Media Management, full-time studies (application closed)
Energy Automation Sustainable Engineering, full-time studies (application closed)
Please read through the instructions carefully and make sure you answer all questions on the form.
Click 'submit'
Do not forget to click 'submit' to save your application form. You will receive a confirmation e-mail in your inbox. If you do not receive a confirmation e-mail, please check your spam folder and make sure that your inbox is not full. If you still have not received a confirmation, contact the admissions services of the university or university of applied sciences that you applied to.
Submit all application documents
Applicants should in general submit the following supporting documents:
1. Copy of original final bachelor's degree certificate/diploma in the original language
2. Copy of the transcript of academic records in the original language
3. Official translations of the bachelor's degree diploma/certificate and transcript of academic records if it was not issued in English, Finnish or Swedish
4. Copies of relevant work certificates
5. Copy of residence permit or passport that exempt from tuition fee
Submit any other required documents or assignments
These are, depending on the programme, a GMAT or GRE test, a pre-assignment, a motivational letter and/or video. Please note the deadline for submitting all documents on the application form.
Keep an eye on your e-mail
Arcada Admissions Services will contact you in case there are questions about your application or documents, so please make sure that you check your inbox and spam folder regularly.
The result of your application will also be sent to you be e-mail.
Supporting documents - Master's level
Below you will find detailed information on which supporting documents to submit when you apply to Arcada.
The application form will generally alert you to all the documents you should submit, and their specific deadline. Most attachments can be uploaded directly to the application form, others may need to be ordered from an external service provider. No documents, however, need to be sent by post.
Select the category below for further information on documents and deadlines.
Authorised translations in English, Swedish or Finnish of the Bachelor's degree certificate/diploma should also be submitted, if the original degree certificate is not issued in one of the previously mentioned languages. The translation should bear the stamp and signature of the translator.
If the Bachelor's degree was completed in Finland, it is generally not needed to send any copies at this stage.
Authorised translations in English, Swedish or Finnish of the study transcript or academic records should also be submitted, if the original degree certificate is not issued in one of the previously mentioned languages. The translation should bear the stamp and signature of the translator.
If the Bachelor's degree was completed in Finland, copies of transcripts do not need to be sent in at this stage.
Copies of work certificates should be submitted in English, Swedish or Finnish indicating a minimum of two years (24 months) of relevant work experience. Self-employed candidates (independent entrepreneurs) can prove their work history by sending CVs well as a YEL or MYEL-certificate, where possible. Please send only work certificates that are relevant. The work certificates must show start and end dates as well as title and description of work tasks. If you have worked part-time, the work certificates should indicate the number of work hours per month. 150 work hours or 20 working days (the minimum length of one full working day is 7 hours) is equivalent to one month of work experience.
In order to prove exemption from tuition fees, a non-EU/EEA applicant should submit a copy of a valid residence permit (both sides) issued by the Finnish Immigration Service.
All applicants must submit a copy of valid proof of Identity.
Accepted documents are:
- Passport
- Finnish Identity card
- Identity card with photo issued in EU-country
These include pre-assignments, GMAT or GRE tests, motivational letters and/or videos. See specific details on required documents for each master's programme.