Strategy and International Management (SIM)

The Master's Programme in Strategy and International Management (SIM) is our flagship programme, combining essential management knowledge with outstanding practical skills to prepare our students for the challenging business world.

We offer graduate education in strategy and international management. The programme builds upon core management courses complemented by more specialised "SIM Integratives", providing students with an integrative approach to solving complex managerial challenges.

Combining different disciplines

As an interdisciplinary programme, the SIM combines managerial disciplines with relevant aspects of economics, law and the cultural sciences and encourages students to take multiple perspectives while dealing with personal and professional challenges.

International setting

The SIM is a three-semester programme (1.5 years). Students are required to complete the course-load of 90 ECTS. On account of its international focus, the language of instruction and examination is English. Upon successful completion, the select group of both Swiss and international students graduate with Master of Arts HSG in Strategy and International Management. Successful applicants begin this research-based programme each year in September.

Financial Times Ranking

The SIM programme has been awarded first place worldwide in the Financial Times Global Masters in Management Ranking in 2012 and 2013. Per criteria SIM was ranked as follows:

• Number 1 for 'value for money'
• Number 1 for 'aims achieved'
• Number 2 for 'placement success'
• Number 5 for 'weighted salary'

Engaging and challenging curriculum

Each SIM course combines contact studies (lectures and tutorials) with independent studies components.

Students need to successfully complete a course load of 90 ECTS, including a master's thesis and international internship to graduate with a M.A. HSG in Strategy and International Management.

Students must fulfil the following requirements:

• 5 compulsory core courses (20 ECTS)
• 1 SIM Advanced Management Course (there are 2 courses to choose from; 4 ECTS)
• 2 SIM Integratives (there are 8 courses to choose from; 8 ECTS)
• the SIM International Project (SIM-IP) (6 ECTS)
• SIM Diversity-in-Action I & II (4 ECTS)
• a selection of independent electives (12 ECTS)
• a selection of Contextual Studies courses (18 ECTS)
• a Master's thesis (18 ECTS)

SIM Core Courses

The SIM Core Courses build on your Bachelor's Level classes and provide a thorough grounding in business and general management.

You will develop core knowledge and skills and also learn to establish interconnection between various aspects of management.

The SIM Core Courses (20 ECTS) are compulsory and should all be taken in the first semester of the SIM Programme. It is not possible to waive or substitute these courses with other courses taken either at the University of St. Gallen or at another university during an exchange semester.

The SIM Core Courses are only offered in the Fall Semester:

• Financial Management

• Strategic Management

• International Management

• Strategic Leadership

• Research in Management

Global Exchange & Double Degrees

Beside the regular exchange programmes with more than 170 partner universities, the SIM Master's programme offers exclusive SIM Double Degree programmes (DDP) with either the Nanyang Business School (NBS) in Singapore or the INCAE Business School in Costa Rica.

The University of St. Gallen has partnerships with top business schools all over the world to provide its students with double degree and/or exchange opportunities. Students apply to these programs in their first semester after coming to the HSG.

The Advice Center for Study Funding offers information on options for financing your studies: www.studyfunding.unig.ch

Accreditation

The HSG has earned the EQUIS (2001) and AACSB (2003) accreditations and consequently has obtained the two most demanding international seals of approval for business schools.

In the 2013 Financial Times Global Masters in Management Ranking we are in 1st place with the Master in Strategy and International Management and in 7th place with the CEMS Master in International Management. Our Master in Banking and Finance is ranked 10th in the Financial Times Masters in Finance Ranking.