Business and Management

This programme leverages insights from marketing and management, offering a combination of integrated studies in key business and management issues, as well as specialisation studies in (1) international strategy and sustainability or (2) marketing.

The aim of the programme is to offer a Master of Science degree of high international standard that will give students the required competence to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex marketplace. In times of economic turbulence and uncertainty, strategy and marketing are central to a firm’s competitive strength.

1.International Strategy and Sustainability: Thinking strategically with sustainability in mind

Running an organisation that spans multiple economic, social, environmental, geographic, institutional, cultural and linguistic contexts entails a number of business, governance and sustainability challenges. The specialisation track in International Strategy and Sustainability helps you identify and manage these challenges. As many multinational companies (MNCs) from the Nordic countries are putting more emphasis on sustainability issues in their strategy, the track is increasingly focusing on a variety of sustainability issues as seen by these MNCs, which typically operate in large emerging markets such as China, India, and Russia.

The track prepares participants for careers in international organisations, business organisations in particular. Upon completion of the programme, participants may go on to work as experts within large multinationals – for example within the areas of strategic development, human resource management, human resource development, corporate responsibility, corporate communications, or marketing – subsequently growing into management roles in these areas. They may also work as management consultants with different areas of specialisation, involving expertise in strategy and/or sustainability, or in a number of other fields where international organisations have a strong presence.

Students applying for the specialisation in International Strategy and Sustainability have the option to apply for a Double Degree with EM Lyon Business School. The Double Degree option is an extraordinary opportunity to obtain two master’s degrees in four semesters.

2.Marketing: A Nordic school approach to sustainable customer value

Today’s businesses must excel in communicating and interacting with customers in a manner that supports the customers’ value creation practices better than its competitors can.  The key to this is the understanding of customer needs, but also the firms’ key resources and being visionary in how to leverage those two, potentially creating new markets and opportunities. Simultaneously, being best does not suffice –the firm needs to be able to communicate its value proposition to its internal and external customers. Our marketing track helps participants to understand, analyse and solve problems related to managing multiple relationships to facilitate sustainable customer value, giving insight into strategic marketing and management issues.

The track prepares the participants for multiple tasks within marketing, including marketing management, brand management, and consultancy, in service- goods and industrial firms. Typical titles are: CRM-manager, Key Account Manager, Brand manager, Sales Manager, Sales Director, Product manager, Project Manager, Marketing Assistant, Marketing Manager, Assistant Manager, Project Leader, Consultant.

The programme can be divided into core subject courses (62-70 ECTS) and courses that develop research and analytical skills (50-58 ECTS) through three items:

• Research Methods course(s)
• Research Seminar course
• Master’s Thesis

The programme consists of integrated studies during the first Autumn, after which the students of the two tracks focus on their respective fields.

YEAR 1

Autumn (30 ECTS)

Integrated studies
Course 1: Corporate Sustainability (8ECTS)
Course 2:  Academic writing (6ECTS)
Course 3: Strategic Management (8 ECTS)
Course 4: Service and Relationship marketing (8 ECTS)

Spring (30 ECTS)

Deepening knowledge in track specialization (obligatory core courses) (24 ECTS)
Research Seminar, part 1 (6 ECTS)

YEAR 2

Autumn (24-30 ECTS)

Elective studies, at Hanken or on an exchange abroad (24 ECTS)
Research Seminar, part 2 (6 ECTS) (can also be taken in Year 2 Spring)

Spring (30-36 ECTS)

Master´s Thesis (30 ECTS)
Research Seminar, part 2 (6 ECTS) (can also be taken in Year 2 Autumn)

So as to give all the students an opportunity to gain first-hand international experience, one semester at one of Hanken’s foreign partner universities is built into the programme as an optional component. Furthermore, to allow flexibility in studies, the electives may also be taken earlier if the students so wishes.

Programme participants have full access to activities at Hanken, including its active student life and various events and activities are arranged also within the programme itself. Particularly during the first weeks and months of the programme, time is dedicated to extracurricular activities that enable the participants to bond with each other, the programme faculty and the broader Hanken community.

Bachelor's Degree

In order to be eligible for admission you must hold:

• a Finnish bachelor's degree from a university or a polytechnic OR
• an applicable foreign degree from a recognised university.

The degree must be the equivalent of 180 ECTS credits or more, i.e. it must be a degree of at least three years of full time studies. Hanken reserves the right to decide whether or not a degree and/or university meet our requirements.

Do you graduate after the application deadline?

If you graduate after the application deadline of 27 January 2016 (January, February, March, April, May, June, July), you can apply for admission before having received your degree certificate. Admission will be conditional for successful applicants who have not received their degree certificate by the application deadline. Conditionally admitted applicants must submit an officially certified copy of their degree certificate and final transcript as soon as they have obtained them, however no later than 29 July 2016 at 15:00 (GMT +2). Do note that country-specific requirements also apply for these educational documents.

If your admission is conditional, you have to send the officially certified copies of your degree certificate and final transcript directly to Hanken. If Hanken has not received the documents within the set time, the offer of admission will be withdrawn. Please note that this means that if you expect to receive your degree certificate after 29 July 2016 you cannot apply for admission to Hanken in 2016.

Sufficient background in economic sciences

As an applicant you must have completed:

• at least 30 ECTS in business/economics and/or in subjects relevant for the programme and desired programme track so that the admitted students are able to start studies at advanced level.

Please note that fulfilling the amount of ECTS credits required for a programme does not automatically lead to admission of the applicant. It will be decided case by case whether or not the applicant possesses the knowledge required for studies at advanced level. The evaluation of the relevance of the applicant's educational background is only done during the processing of the applications with the application and enclosures at hand.

60 ECTS credits is the equivalent of one year of full-time studies. 

Business/Economics include for example accounting, corporate geography, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, information systems science, commercial law, management, marketing, statistics and supply chain management. Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of subjects that can be regarded as economic sciences. 

In special cases, an admitted student may be required to supplement his or her knowledge of the major subject or subjects relevant to the programme before taking a specific course or completing the whole programme. Information about such supplementary requirements is included in the acceptance letter.

Language Requirements

Applicants who fulfil one of the criteria below are considered to fulfil the language requirements and are thus not obliged to take a language test:

• Applicants who have obtained a university or polytechnic degree with instruction completely in English. A separate certificate from the higher education institution is required if the information is not stated on the degree certificate or transcript.
   
• Applicants who have obtained a university or polytechnic degree in Finland or in another Nordic country (Sweden, Norway, Denmark or Iceland). Officially certified copies of the educational documents are required.

If you do not fulfill one of the above criteria, you must prove sufficient knowledge of English through one of the following language tests:

IELTS (International English Language Testing System, Academic): 

• a minimum score of 6,5 is required.
• Note! if you are also applying for the Double Degree programme, a minimum score of 7,5 is required.
• A photocopy of the test result should be sent via regular mail to UAF or the electronic test result needs to be made available to UAF online by the test organiser. 
• Please note that neither trf links sent by e-mail nor score slips sent to UAF as e-mail attachments will be accepted. 
• The results are valid for two years and test results older than this are not accepted.
• The test result must reach UAF no later than 27 January 2016 at 15:00 (GMT +2).

 TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): 

• a minimum score of 92 in the internet based test or 580 in the paper based test.
• Note! if you are also applying for the Double Degree programme, a minimum score of 104 in the internet based test or 620 in the paper based test is required.
• The test score report must be sent directly by the Educational Testing Services (ETS) to University Admissions Finland (UAF) or its electronic equivalent needs to be made available to University Admissions Finland.
• When filling out the TOEFL registration form, please fill in UAF's institution code 3138 in the score report recipient field.
• The results are valid for two years and test results older than this are not accepted.
• The test result must reach UAF no later than 27 January 2016 at 15:00 (GMT +2).

 CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English):

• a minimum score of grade C.
• if you are also applying for the Double Degree programme, a minimum score of grade C is required.
• An applicant's copy of the test result is acceptable, since the results will be verified from the test organiser.
• Include your Candidate's ID (3 letters and 6 numbers) and secret code (4 numbers). If you do not have these codes, you can request them from the testing organisation. If the codes are unavailable, you should ask for the Certifying Statement from Cambridge ESOL to be sent directly to University Admissions Finland.
• Test scores sent as email attachments will not be accepted.
• Please note that only tests taken after 2005 will be accepted.
• The test result should be included in the application and must reach UAF no later than 27 January 2016 at 15:00 (GMT +2).

 PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English): 

• a minimum score of 62 is required.
• Note! if you are also applying for the Double Degree programme, a minimum score of 71 is required.
• Test results for PTE Academic are typically available within 5 working days following the test session.
• Once you receive your test score send it to University Admissions Finland from your PTE account. Choose Finland as the 'Country', 'University Admissions Finland' as the 'Institution' and click 'Search'. Then select the university you want to send your results to and confirm your order. After this, UAF should have access to your test results within 48 hours.
• Be advised that online language test results will only be accepted from the test organiser.
• The score report must reach UAF no later than 27 January 2016 at 15:00 (GMT +2).

No other English proficiency tests are accepted.

• It is your responsibility to find out the test dates and closing dates for registration. The language test procedure may take several months including registration for the test, taking the test and getting the results.
   
•  You may have your language test result submitted to UAF as soon as you wish. UAF will store the test result and attach it with your application once they processed your application.
   
• Language test results must be sent to University Admissions Finland by the application deadline 27 January 2016. Test scores sent as attachments to an email message are not acceptable.
   
• Please note that your language test score must be valid throughout the entire application period. This means that if your language test expires even 1 day before the final application deadline, your language test score will not meet the requirements. Please check the validity of your test score and make arrangements for a new language test well in advance, if necessary.
   
• Note! Taking a language test is mandatory if you are also applying for the Double Degree programme within the programme track International Strategy and Sustainability.

GMAT and GRE admissions test requirement

For applicants to the Master's in Business and Management the international admission test GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) or GRE (Graduate Record Examination, General Test) is:

• mandatory for applicants who are applying based on a degree which has been obtained outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland
• mandatory for all applicants who are also applying to the Double Degree programme within the programme track International Strategy and Sustainability
• recommended, but not mandatory for all other applicants

No exceptions to this requirements are accepted.

GMAT and GRE are standardised admission tests that are widely used by Business Schools and Graduate Schools in admissions to master and doctoral programmes. The tests measure the applicants' verbal, mathematical and analytical writing skills. Both tests can be taken at various test centres all over the world.

Please note that:

• You need to take the test before 27 January 2016 (it is acceptable that the test results arrive to Hanken after the deadline as long as the test date is no later than 27 January 2016).
   
• Take the test as early as possible - the test procedure may take several months including registration for the test, taking the test and getting the results. Hanken accepts test results delivered from the testing organisation all year long. It is your responsibility to find out the test dates and closing dates for registration for GMAT or GRE.
   
• Your test score should be no lower than an overall score of 550 in the GMAT and an equivalent score for GRE. GRE scores will be converted to the GMAT scale and compared to the required GMAT minimum score of 550. The school may, however, admit applicants with lower scores in GMAT or GRE, based on the applicant's other application documents. 
   
• For applicants also applying for the Double Degree programme within the programme track International Strategy and Sustainability, the GMAT or GRE admission test is mandatory and a minimum overall score of 600 in GMAT and equivalent score in GRE is required.
   
• All sections of the test can be taken into account in the student selection process, so applicants should complete all parts of the test.
   
• As an applicant you need to request the official test score report to be sent to Hanken directly from the test organisation. The institutional GRE reporting code for Hanken is 8433. Applicants taking GRE General Test should use this code when registering for the test in order for the results to be sent to Hanken. The institutional GMAT programme code for Hanken is NRC-QZ-86. Applicants taking the GMAT test should use this code when registering for the test in order for the results to be sent to Hanken.
   
• GMAT and GRE test results are valid for five years and Hanken does not accept score reports for tests taken over five years ago.

Find the test centre closest to you by visiting: mba.com (GMAT) and ets.org (GRE). In Helsinki, applicants can take GRE at the NUEVO MUNDO  and GMAT at LGF.

Choosing a programme track

Applicants applying to the Master's degree programme in Business and Management need to be eligible for one or several tracks within the programme.

• You must on the application form choose minimum one programme track which you wish to be considered for
• If you are interested in several programme tracks, you can also place the other available tracks in order of preference on the application form 
• The order of preference marked in the application is binding and cannot be changed during the application process.
• The applicant will in the first place be considered for the track which the applicant has placed the highest in the order of preference, and in second hand for the tracks he or she has placed second or third in the order of preference.

The admitted students gain admission to one track within the programme. The admitted applicants will be informed which track they have gained admission to in the admission result.