MSc in International Management (CEMS)
Dublin, Ireland
MSc
DURATION
16 months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2026
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
UCD Smurfit School is the only business school in Ireland to offer this exceptional dual degree programme, awarding an MSc in International Management and a Master's in International Management (MIM) from CEMS. Our MSc in International Management is now ranked 28th in the world by the Financial Times Masters in Management Ranking 2024.
CEMS is a global alliance of 33 leading business schools and 70+ multinational organisations and NGOs. UCD Smurfit School is the only Irish school within this elite community.
The CEMS Master's in International Management is devised by both academic and business leaders, bridging university education and business expertise, thus offering keen insight into management best practices via seminars, core courses, electives, language teaching, and internships. This programme is targeted at graduates with a business/economics background, fluency in English and another language (plus a third language at a minimum at a beginner level to be developed through the year), excellent interpersonal skills, and the ambition to become international business managers and leaders.
With a mandatory semester abroad, international networking events, a diverse range of nationalities in class, and a high percentage of graduates expatriating upon recruitment, the course provides the ultimate international springboard.
What Will I Learn?
The UCD CEMS MIM course provides a direct bridge between the academic and corporate worlds, combining the top-level academic theory of leading academics from the member schools and in-the-field expertise of corporate partners of the CEMS alliance.
- The academic knowledge and practical skills required to operate within global businesses and multinational teams.
- A vision of responsible business decision-making, leadership, and global citizenship that is informed by ethical reasoning, personal integrity, and respect for social diversity.
- An awareness of and working within different cultures, schools of thought, and ways of doing business, via a semester spent abroad in a CEMS member school, an international internship, and constant interaction with the corporate world during the course via the CEMS Business Project, Skill Seminars, and other corporate events.
How Will I Benefit?
The CEMS network and curriculum provide students with an array of personal, academic, and recruitment opportunities that very few students of other Master's in Management courses enjoy, including:
- A rare opportunity to learn about and practice responsible management from top academics, business professionals, and NGOs, via a multi-part curriculum that promotes personal development.
- A globally-recognised degree, rated amongst the top in the world by the Financial Times and highly regarded by companies such as Google, Kerry Group, Microsoft, McKinsey, L’Oréal, P&G, and Salesforce.
- An awareness of different cultures, schools of thought, and ways of doing business via a semester abroad in a CEMS member school and an international internship.
- Exposure to a vast, global network of schools, companies, NGOs, students, and alumni, offering an exceptional international learning experience and the ultimate launchpad to an exciting career.
UCD Smurfit Scholarships offer a life-changing opportunity to prospective students. By offering merit-based scholarships, we recruit the highest quality students from across the world; while our financial needs-based scholarships put an MBA or Masters within reach for several ambitious students each year. Smurfit Scholarships are in high demand and there is significant competition each year.
This varied course comprises, in term one, a block seminar, CEMS core Global Strategy module, plus 2 option modules across a range of subject areas.
In trimester two at UCD, the course comprises a global citizenship seminar, CEMS core Global Leadership module, business project, plus 1 option module which includes the CEMS model UNFCCC module. UCD Smurfit School is one of 9 CEMS Schools offering the UNFCCC option.
Option modules enable students to deepen their knowledge in a specific domain or acquire a broad set of competencies. Other requirements of the course are skills seminars, the Business Research Insights thesis paper, and an eight-week international internship. Please note that internship placements are not guaranteed. Students are responsible for finding their own internships, and most are secured through a competitive interview process.
| Autumn Trimester* | Spring Trimester* | Summer Trimester | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mandatory Orientation and Block Seminar (last week of August) | Modules – 30 ECTS & Skills Seminars (UCD Term) | Mandatory Orientation and Global Citizenship Seminar (mid-January) | Modules – 30 ECTS & Skills Seminars (UCD Term Term) | UCD Thesis (UCD Term Time) & International Internship (mid-August onwards) |
| 1 Core Module
+ 2 Option Modules. 1 option module minimum or 2 maximum to be selected from 3 CEMS exclusives. Option modules also offered from other subject areas. CEMS exclusive modules include:
Other options available from subject areas such as Marketing, Business and Management information systems. *Subject to change annually |
| 2 Core Modules
*1 option module selected from a range of subject areas from Marketing, HR, Finance, Business, Management or the CEMS model UNFCCC module. |
|
| Additional CEMS Graduation Requirements Trimester 1 and 2: Weekly Skills seminars and corporate engagement (an additional 2.5 ECTS) | ||||
| Extracurricular Activities – UCD CEMS Club Dublin with series of student organised activities from CSR, Corporate and Alumni engagement to Social events and management of @UCD social channels |
*All UCD CEMS students will spend either trimester 1 or 2 in a partner CEMS school. Trimester 3 can be done remotely for the Business Research thesis project. Further detail regarding the international internship requirements can be found here.
Note: The curriculum options for trimester one and two depends on where the term is spent. Please contact a member of the admissions team for more information on this specialised programme.
Please be advised that the above reflects the 2024/2025 curriculum structure and is subject to change each year. Module options are indicative of what has been delivered in previous years and are also subject to change. Module descriptors are updated in advance of each academic term.
| Programme Goals: | Programme Learning Outcomes: |
|---|---|
| Programme Goal 1: Internationalism - Our graduates will be knowledgeable international business practitioners able to draw on an international learning experience. | Critically assess the theory and practice underpinning international business and management. Identify local, regional, and global economic, social, political, cultural, and institutional factors that inform effective business decision-making and change management in diverse contexts. |
| Programme Goal 2: Business-Embeddedness - Our graduates will be able to apply advanced management and leadership competencies. | Employ suitable theoretical and business frameworks to assist the identification and resolution of real business problems. Use discipline-specific knowledge gained during the programme while undertaking a work-integrated learning experience. |
| Programme Goal 3: Responsible Citizenship - Our graduates will be able to champion a holistic vision of responsible business decision-making, leadership, and citizenship. | Demonstrate an appreciation of responsible citizenship that is informed by ethical reasoning, personal integrity, respect for social diversity, commitment to success through sustainable business practices, and adherence to a multi-stakeholder perspective on organisational purpose. Demonstrate an ability to apply ethical codes of conduct appropriate in real business situations. |
| Programme Goal 4: Reflective Critical Thinking - Our graduates will be confident, agile, and reflective decision-makers and problem-solvers. | Undertake an analysis of a business situation or problem and formulate and apply innovative solutions to complex business challenges and opportunities in diverse contexts. Utilize relevant business and management information to make appropriate business decisions or solve business problems, drawing on appropriate databases and literature. |
| Programme Goal 5: Comprehensive Leadership - Our graduates will assume leadership responsibilities early in their careers. | Engage in collaborative learning by completing business projects and assignments in cross-cultural teams and display an understanding of individual and cultural differences, as well as self-confidence as leaders and team players, as part of these collaborative learning activities. Critically assess diverse theoretical and business perspectives to demonstrate thought leadership and ability to bridge between academia and practice. |
- Management Consultant
- Business Development Manager
- General Management
- Project Manager
- Strategy Consultant
- Competitive Intelligence Analyst
- Marketing Analyst