Global Management, Master of Science (Economics and Business Administration)

Admission dates

The admissions to Master's programmes at Aalto University in the field of Business and Economics are organised once a year. The application period for studies starting in autumn 2023 is from 1 December 2022 to 2 January 2023.

Here are the most important dates to remember:

• 1 December 2022 – Application period begins and online application system opens
• 2 January 2023 – Application period ends and the online application system closes
• 29 March 2023 – Admission results are published at the earliest
• 20 April 2023 – Deadline for accepting the offered study place

Programme-specific Admission Requirements

In addition to the programme-specific admission requirements listed below for admission group 1 and admission group 2, applicants must also fulfill the general admission requirements.

Admission group 1: Bachelor’s degree from a university in Finland

Admission group 2: Bachelor’s degree from a university of applied science in Finland or from a higher education institution abroad

Required application documents

See detailed application criteria below in PHASE I.

1. Transcript of records
2. Proof of proficiency in English
3. Proof of proficiency in language 2
4. CV
5. GMAT or GRE results (Admission group 2 only)
6. Motivation video

All the above documents are mandatory for an applicant to be eligible. Documents 1-5 must be submitted in the regular application portal. Document 6, the motivation video is to be submitted via the link below during the application period.

Student selection criteria

Applicants' suitability for the programme will be assessed based on the following CEMS-wide selection criteria:

Intellectual potential & knowledge

• Intellectual potential
• Academic excellence
• Prior knowledge in the business field

Attitude & soft skills

• Desire to achieve
• Interpersonal competences
• Integrity
• Critical thinking
• Motivation for the MIM program

International orientation

• Language skills
• International openness and cross-cultural aptitudes

PHASE I: Evaluation based on application documents

1) Academic background (as documented by transcript of records)

• 60 ECTS of business related studies. The applicant must have completed at least 60 ECTS of business related studies (corresponding to one year of full-time studies at university level).

• Academic performance

  • Admission group 1: Applicants must demonstrate good academic performance. Applicants with a weighted GPA of previous degree lower than 3.50 (Finnish ECTS evaluation) are not eligible for admission. 

  • Admission group 2: Applicants must demonstrate good academic performance (evaluation is based on the GPA of the previous degree).

2) Language requirements: English (Language 1)

Proficiency in English is an eligibility requirement for the programme. Proof of proficiency is required from both Admission group 1 and group 2 applicants. Acceptable proof of proficiency:

• Bachelor's or Master's level university degree completed entirely in English

  • at an institution physically located in: USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand, while residing in that country; or
  • in a CEMS / Equis / AACSB accredited institution in an EU/EEA country, Switzerland, or South Africa, while residing in that country (e.g. Aalto University School of Business);

The official language of such degree must have been English, and this must be clearly stated on the degree certificate.

or

• One of the following language tests (minimum score):
  • IELTS (Academic)/IELTS Indicator (7.0), (*writing 5.5)
  • TOEFL (iBT100), (*writing 22)
  • CAE (B),
  • CPE (C),
  • PTE Academic (68), (*writing 54)

Note: TOEFL iBT Home Edition test is accepted; a minimum score of 100 is required, with a score of at least 20 in each section.

* Additional writing section minimum required by Aalto University. Please check the general Aalto eligibility rules to see if this additional requirement applies to you: https://www.aalto.fi/en/study-at-aalto/applying-to-masters-programmes.

3) Language requirements: Language 2

Good proficiency (CEFR level B1 or above) in a language other than English is required from all applicants. Acceptable proof of proficiency must be included with the application and may consist of e.g.:

• School certificate of primary/secondary education completed entirely in the specified language.
• Bachelor’s degree from a programme in which the official language of instruction was other than English. The official language must be clearly stated on the degree certificate.
• Certificate from a language test or course(s) in which the level of proficiency is clearly indicated.
• If no such clear proof of proficiency level is available, certificate of mother tongue issued by official authorities can be used (e.g. Digital and Population Data Services Agency in Finland).

4) CV in English

The comprehensive CV evaluation takes into account relevant education, work experience, and extracurricular activities, as well as international orientation as demonstrated by e.g. work, studies, or extracurricular activities abroad, participation in various international or inter-cultural activities in home country, and knowledge of and interest in learning foreign languages.

Work experience in the CV should be documented by enclosing corresponding work/internship certificates. English translations of these are not required.

5) GMAT score (or comparable GRE score)

GMAT or GRE is obligatory in admission group 2 (minimum score 600 in GMAT or equivalent GRE score). 

6) Motivation video

To demonstrate their motivation for studies in the programme, applicants are required to submit a max 2-minute video in English on the topic: 'How will the Global Management programme together with CEMS MIM help me towards my professional goals?', further divided into two questions:

1. Why am I applying to this programme?
2. Why should I be selected to study in the programme and to become a member of the CEMS community?

PHASE II: Interview and further assessment

Based on the evaluation in phase I, the best applicants are allotted a time for an interview and further assessment, including a short oral presentation on a pre-assigned topic. Invitations to phase II are sent per email by February 28, 2023. The assessments take place virtually in early March.

The selection of applicants into the programme is based on phases I and II described above. In case of a tie, phase II scores are used as the basis for evaluation.