Are you looking for a Master’s course with international orientation? Find out what international management has to offer and what other options are open for you.
You have a Bachelor's degree in business administration in the bag and are considering what to do next? Look for a job or continue to study? Do you think a Master's degree in a specialized field could be exciting? Are you keen to work on an international level and are looking for a springboard to get there? When faced with such a decision it’s normal to have lots of questions – and we have a few answers that will give you some clarity.
Master in International Management or Master in Business Administration? –
A look at courses with an international focus
What does a Master in international management give you?
When studying international management you can expect a mixture of teaching content and focus areas from the fields of business administration, economics, and law. You will be familiar with some of this from your undergraduate course. Some topics already covered in the Bachelor's are explored again in more depth or from a new perspective in the Master’s course. The main emphasis is on analyzing international aspects of economic systems, for example the taxation systems of different countries, questions of law, and transnational marketing. You will learn the nuts and bolts of corporate management on an international level, and which country-specific rules you should keep in mind.
The curriculum includes lectures such as “The Development of Global Economic Systems” and “Emerging Markets”. Some universities give you the opportunity to specialize in specific fields such as marketing, human resources, or finance. In such cases, the curriculum will cover the core themes of that field in even more detail. All content is, of course, discussed within an international context. That will be particularly good for you if you have already decided on a specific corporate division.
You will also acquire leadership skills and foreign language skills. Which language you learn depends on the university. French, Spanish, and Chinese are common options. However, certain foreign language skills such as English to B2 level are a prerequisite for admission onto courses. As you’d expect, intercultural communication is a key focus among the skills taught. Along with the international orientation, it forms – metaphorically speaking – the core of the degree course. A semester abroad is an obligatory part of the curriculum on most courses. However, depending on the university, there will either be a specific partner university, a choice of partner universities, or you may have to organize the foreign semester yourself.
Salary and job prospects
With the degree, you will be qualified for positions in middle to upper management and can apply for positions such as product, project or HR manager. All on an international level. Depending on the industry, personal commitment, and negotiating skills, you can expect an average starting salary of €40,000 per year with a Master’s degree in international management. The starting salary often varies depending on the university and its reputation, so this average salary can only be taken as a guideline.
However, if you are looking for a course with an international focus, you also have other options aside from a Master in International Business.
Looking for a course with an international focus?
Our Master program in International Business also has a strong international focus. Furthermore, internationality and intercultural skills are lived in practice at WHU. Graduates and lecturers speak of the “WHU spirit” that is communicated on campus. On average, students from 45 different countries are enrolled on WHU’s Master’s programs, and English is generally the language of teaching. As a result, you have a great opportunity to come into contact with people from all over the world, and to learn from them and to directly acquire intercultural skills.
A semester abroad is also a stipulated part of courses at WHU, and you have 200 partner universities around the globe to choose from. You also have the unique opportunity to gain an internationally recognized double degree from WHU and the partner university. For that you combine the topics of your Master’s program with a Bachelor or Master’s course at the partner university. If you’ve already completed a certain module that comes up in both courses at one of the universities, it is automatically recognized by the other university.
Diverse range of language courses
In addition to the standard languages of French and Spanish, you can also learn Russian, Chinese, Italian, and Japanese at WHU. Language courses are taught by native speakers who – in addition to teaching the vocabulary – will also share all kinds of useful knowledge about the respective country, its people, and its culture. Courses are usually taught in groups of six to ten students.
Practical orientation par excellence
Alongside the set courses of the modules, workshops and lectures are also offered in which speakers from prestigious companies from all industries discuss the current challenges of the international market and possible solutions. In these presentations the theory is integrated in an almost playful manner. WHU is able to organize these events thanks to its excellent network of contacts with the world of business in Germany and around the world. Around 60 well-known companies from various sectors take part in WHU’s events each year, among them renowned consultancy firms and investment banks. These companies often also work with WHU for recruitment purposes. As a result, 78 percent of graduates from the Master’s programs go straight into a job after gaining their degrees, and 89 percent receive a job offer within three months of graduating. A further 6 percent found their own companies after completing their degrees.
Salary and job prospects with WHU Master programs
With a Master’s degree from WHU, the door will be open to a broad spectrum of possible jobs. You can already lay the foundation for your career during your studies by completing an internship. The WHU Career Center can support you with a service that is unique in Europe, helping you to choose the right company and to prepare the application.
44 percent of students on the Master’s programs later end up working for consulting companies, 19 percent in the industrial and services sector, and 14 percent in finance. Almost all the future employers of our students operate internationally, and our graduates can look forward to taking on tasks and challenges all around the world. For that work, they receive an average annual salary of €100,000 in their first job after graduating.*
* As measured three years after graduating