International Business, Bachelor of Science and Master of Science (Economics and Business Administration)
Espoo, Finland
MSc
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2027
TUITION FEES
EUR 15,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* international fee only; EU/EEA/Swiss citizens do not pay | 12000 EUR per year for 3-year Bachelor's | 1500O EUR per year for 2-year Master's
Key Summary
About: Aalto University’s International Business BSc uses three‑ and six‑week courses to build management, leadership and international business skills. The BSc is 180 ECTS. Students choose electives, take language courses, complete a 30 ECTS minor or exchange, and can progress to Aalto School of Business master's with an automatic 2‑year M.Sc. study right. The programme emphasizes internationalisation through visiting faculty, exchange semester.
Career Outcomes: Graduates move to master’s, PhD or join public and private sectors. Typical roles are international project manager, business development manager, marketing manager, consultant, human resources advisor, entrepreneur. Graduates enter management, consulting, finance, marketing, operations and trade.
The Aalto Bachelor’s Programme in International Business is a globally recognised programme that delivers a comprehensive education in the competitive, fast-changing field of international business.
This programme is designed for students who want to connect their strong business skills and international fluency with the large-scale challenges society is facing today.
During your studies, you’ll build a solid foundation in the core areas of business: marketing, accounting, management, entrepreneurship, and business ethics. The focus is on practical applications, teamwork and creativity. You will learn how and why business decisions are made, and how businesses operate in real-world contexts. Your coursework will emphasise collaboration with your fellow students, faculty, outside companies and other organisations on real-life cases.
Structure of studies
This programme has been developed together with Aalto faculty, current students, alumni, and our partner companies, ensuring it reflects the current practices and tools used in international business.
You’ll be studying with a small group of about 80 students. Teaching emphasises practical work, collaboration and creativity through real-life business cases, group discussions and projects, teamwork, and presenting. You can also broaden your expertise beyond business by taking courses from other Aalto schools in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or art and design.
In total, the programme is 180 ECTS, and most courses are 6 ECTS. Your studies include:
- Fundamentals of Business Knowledge, 66 ECTS
- Language and Communication Courses, 17 ECTS
- Courses in Major, 56 ECTS
- Minor Subject Studies (study abroad period), 24 ECTS
- Elective Studies, 17 ECTS
Total: 180 ECTS
The programme will last three years, followed by an automatic study right for a 2-year M.Sc. degree provided by the Aalto University School of Business.
In year one, you’ll focus on building your foundation in business fundamentals together with the international business cohort.
Year two will be spent deepening your understanding of international business and shaping the direction of your studies through one of the major’s functional theme packages.
You will also complete your bachelor’s thesis.
The first half of year three is when you will take your international exchange at one of Aalto’s partner universities. When you return in the spring, you will complete the capstone course, which brings together all your learning and expertise and prepares you to continue your studies or begin your career.
Specialisations
This bachelor’s programme focuses on a single major: International Business. The concentration of the studies in your major depends on the functional theme package you choose – either global supply chain, entrepreneurship, marketing, or people management.
Aalto University is world-renowned for its courses in design at the School of Art, Design and Architecture, and as a start-up hub. You can also apply to the newly launched Aalto Founder’s School, which includes mentoring from some of the leading tech founders in Europe.
Internationalisation
You’ll be working across nationalities and cultures throughout your studies, on everything from real-life cases to projects and presentations. When it comes to teaching faculty, Aalto University is one of the most international universities in Europe.
An exchange semester is also included in the programme for all students. The tuition fee covers the exchange studies and a travel grant to one of our more than 150 partner universities around the world.
You’ll graduate with:
- A solid foundation across key business areas, with a focus on international business.
- A strong set of analytical and practical skills to find, interpret, visualise, and use data to make evidence-based decisions.
- The expertise to develop international business strategies and models.
- The skills to manage projects from planning to execution, communicate persuasively, and collaborate effectively in international teams.
- An understanding of how key actors and institutions – like governments, multinational companies, international organizations, and NGOs – function together in modern society.
You’ll be joining a tight-knit community of international, forward-thinking business students. By the time you graduate, you will be equipped with a strong set of business skills and the network behind you to succeed in a competitive career in the private sector, with an NGO or government institution, or a founder pushing for societal change.
Aalto University offers a small number of scholarships in the form of tuition fee waivers to fee-paying students. Scholarships can be awarded to the highest-achieving applicants based on the programme's evaluation criteria. Applicants are ranked according to the criteria outlined on the programme's webpage.
Aalto University School of Business is an internationally recognised business school that will give you the tools to succeed across a wide range of business fields. Our previous bachelor's graduates have had successful careers and progressed into leadership roles in positions across the fields of international business, marketing, sustainability, social media, IT and more.
Typical career paths include:
- International project manager
- Business development manager
- Marketing manager
- Consultant
- Entrepreneur or early-stage startup hire