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Master of Science in International Business
Master of Science in International Business
The Master of Science in International Business prepares you to operate in international markets, to manage cross-cultural teams, and to communicate and negotiate internationally.
The MSc in International Business is a program that provides students with the knowledge, techniques, skills, and critical attitudes to understand and be successful in the current dynamic context of the global company. The program is organized so that students learn about all the processes and strategic decisions involved in business internationalization: from how to interpret current political, economic, and social affairs in international business, to acquiring and putting into practice the analytical tools required to develop and implement an International Business Plan.
You will acquire the skills required to communicate and negotiate in a multicultural business environment. You will also be able to identify, analyse, and develop business opportunities in the changing scene of international markets through the understanding and implementation of commercial, financial, human resources, and operational strategies. At the end of the program you will master the analytical tools used in preparing and implementing an International Business Plan. In addition to this, the program includes a curricular internship and a one-week international Business Trip.
The MSc in International Business benefits from the outstanding faculty of UPF's world ranked Department of Economics and Business and the professional international business expertise of ESCI-UPF, and the participation of experienced professionals of diverse sectors. The program's faculty is known for their applied approach, their constant contribution to creating knowledge and their proven ability to stimulate and convey knowledge.
Program jointly offered with:
Why choose this program
Hands-on learning and skills
The Master's structure in modules and the final project are both designed to be able to develop your understanding regarding how companies implement commercial, financial, human resources, and operational strategies for the internationalization of organizations. The Master of Science in International Business will also teach you the skills needed to manage, communicate, and negotiate in a multicultural and international business environment.
Learn from the best
You will learn from the faculty of the UPF's Department of Economics and Business and ESCI-UPF, and from experienced professionals in the areas of trade, operations and marketing, among others. UPF is the first-placed Spanish University in Economics and Business (Times Higher Education Ranking 2020) and the 10th best University among those under 50 years old (Times Higher Education Under 50 Ranking).
International environment
The program welcomes up to 30 people each year from diverse countries and cultural backgrounds, creating a multicultural and international environment where teamworking and networking will become key elements of your experience.
Professionalization
The MSc in International Business provides the resources necessary for you to complete a curricular internship as part of the program's contents, which constitutes relevant work experience in the field of international business.
International Business Trip
The master of science includes an international business trip where you will visit institutions that contribute to internationalization processes and attend talks with top managers of international companies. The trip, which is an excellent cultural and networking opportunity, is included in the program's fees.
Who is it for?
The MSc in International Business is aimed at recent graduates and junior professionals of diverse backgrounds who wish to acquire new skills and a realistic, practical, and professional perspective of International Business.
Accreditations
This is an official master and has the academic recognition of the Ministry of Education of the Government of Spain. The Quality Agency of the University System of Catalonia (AQU Catalunya) has institutionally accredited the UPF-BSM. This accreditation certifies all the official university master's degrees that we teach and recognizes the quality of our educational model in accordance with the criteria of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).
Curriculum
The MSc in International Business is organized around core modules which unfold parallel to the 3 key phases of a company's internationalization process:
- Internal and External Diagnosis (1st term)
- Strategic Planning (2nd term)
- Business Operations (3rd term)
Additionally, in the 3rd term students embark on a one-week Business Trip to a foreign country in order to experience the implementation of international business plans. Flight tickets, accommodation, and transfers are included in the tuition fees of the master of science. During previous courses we have visited Poland, the Benelux countries, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Morocco, and Russia.
Throughout the whole academic year participants work on their MSc Project in tutorized sessions on campus. The Project usually takes the form of an International Business Plan or an international start-up development plan, in which the knowledge acquired throughout the course should be demonstrated.
At the end of the Master of Science in International Business participants will undertake a curricular internship in companies. Career development sessions will be offered to aid individuals in finding placements and prepare them for their professional future in international business.
Internal and External Diagnosis (Term 1)
Strategic Planning (Term 2)
Business Operations (Term 3)
Curricular Internship
MSc Final Project: International Business Plan
Complementary activities
Additional Off-Program Activities
Further to the course's regular classes, all Master of Science participants have the possibility of attending free complementary training parallel to the running of their studies.
The following activities are optional and are included in the program's tuition fees:
- Brush-up Courses: online preparatory crash-courses on business and economy-related subjects which take place two weeks prior to the beginning of the program.
- Spanish Course: free of charge during the first term. 3 hours/week course at the UPF's language school.
- Career Development Program: career sessions and workshops where participants obtain specific training on how to improve their professional profile, approach potential employers, and develop professional soft skills.
Double Degree
The UPF Barcelona School of Management Master of Science in International Business offers a Double Degree option with the EBS Business School (Germany):
- MSc in Automotive Management
- MSc in Finance
- MSc in Real Estate
- MSc in Management
For more information on each of the agreements please send an email to international@bsm.upf.edu
International mobility
The UPF Barcelona School of Management offers you the possibility of expanding your training and international vision through the International Mobility Programme. Extend your studies extracurricularly, during the academic year following the completion of your Master's, at a top-level institution. Limited places.
Qualification obtained
Once students have completed the course they will obtain the Máster Universitario en Negocios Internacionales / International Business official Master Degree, awarded by Pompeu Fabra University.
Students will also receive an additional Master of Science in International Business completion certificate awarded by the UPF Barcelona School of Management and ESCI-UPF.
Issuance of official Master's Degrees: The amount stipulated in the DOGC (Official Gazette of the Government of Catalonia) must be paid for the rights to issue the title. This rate varies annually and the rate in force at the time of application for the degree will be applied.
Note: The information contained in these pages is for information purposes only and may be subject to change in the adaptation of each academic year. The definitive guide will be available to students enrolled in the virtual space before the start of each subject.
Faculty
The MSc in International Business faculty is composed of professors of UPF's world ranked Department of Economics and Business and from ESCI-UPF, the school of International Studies. In addition to the regular program faculty, experienced professionals from diverse sectors are invited during the year to share their expertise, knowledge, and experience in international business.
Academic directors
Associate Professor UPF-BSM
Faculty
Lecturer BSM
Head of Accounting and Finance
Senior Lecturer BSM
Associate Professor UPF-BSM
- José Miguel Aliaga
Adjunct professor at ESCI-UPF
PhD in International Trade (Candidate) from the Polytechnical University of Barcelona (UPC). He holds a Bachelor in Political Sciences from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and has a Master in Supply Chain Management from the UPC.
He has held decision-making positions in a number of international companies, working in the areas of purchasing, global operations, logistics and customs management. As an international consultant, he has focused his expertise on the aeronautics, textile, food and logistics industries. His fields of interest include companies’ export/import behaviour and the economic impacts of special economic zones (SEZ). - Andrew Barry-Coles
Adjunct professor at ESCI-UPF
Bachelor in Spanish and French Philosophy from the Liverpool John Moores University. Multifranchisee Kids&Us at Kids&Us Language School. - Eduard Beltran Betriu
Managing Director at CEFNE Creating Value
He holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Barcelona, a Diploma from the French School for Government Service (ENA) and Master in Political Science from the IEP of Paris (Sciences-Po). He served as Deputy Head of the Cooperation Office of the French Ministry of Justice (2005-2009) where he coordinated the relations with the European Union and foreign governmental partners. He has also practiced law in France, Belgium and Spain for 12 years in the areas of arbitration and foreign investments projects in the EU. He is a member of the Barcelona Bar and has been a member of the Paris Bar. - Valentí Camps Fons
Adjunct professor at ESCI-UPF
PADE-Top Management Program from IESE Businesss School. He also has a Top Management Program for Retailers and Suppliers from Harvard Business School, an MBA at ESADE and holds a Bachelor in Business Administration from UPC. He is professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and ESEC (Toulouse University). - Clàudia Canals
Senior economist at CaixaBank
PhD in Economics from Columbia University - New York. She also holds a Master of Science and a BA in Economics, both from Pompeu Fabra University. Clàudia is a Senior Economist in the Macroeconomics Unit of the Strategic Planning and Research Department of CaixaBank. She has worked as a Research Assistant at Columbia University and at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), and also as an Assistant Professor at Columbia University. Her areas of study include international trade and macroeconomics, focusing on the US and emerging economies (Asia and Latin America). - Andrew Barry-Coles
Adjunct professor at ESCI-UPF
Bachelor in Spanish and French Philosophy from the Liverpool John Moores University. Multifranchisee Kids&Us at Kids&Us Language School. - David Cosculluela Agustí
Adjunct professor at ESCI-UPF
PDD from IESE Business School. CEO at Ninco. He also holds a Bachelor in International Business from ESCI-UPF, where he is the current Alumni President. - Elena Golovko
Associate professor at ESCI-UPF
PhD in Management from IESE Business School. She has a MA in Economics from New Economic School (Russia) and is also Tenured Assistant Professor at Department of Management of Tilburg University. - Alberto Lempira Guevara Chacón
PhD in Business (Candidate) from Barcelona University
He is also MSc in Marketing from Pompeu Fabra University. Has a Postgraduate in Social Media and Digital Marketing from Tecnocampus, a Posgraduate in Transmedia Storytelling & Branded Content and a Postgraduate in Inbound Marketing, both from INESDI and a BE in Production Engineering from Metropolitana University (Caracas). He has worked with different organizations from corporate to political marketing. He is the host of the NotYourMarketer podcast. - Estíbalitz Ortiz González
Executive Director of IESE Coaching Unit
PhD from IESE Business School. She also holds a degree in Spanish Language and Literature from Universidad de Navarra. - Cristina Pérez Muñoz
Head of Innovation & Commerce in Insights Division of Kantar
MBA in International Business from UOC - Universitat Oberta de Catalunya. She also holds a Master in Magement of Cultural Companies from UPF-BSM; a Master in Management of Cultural Heritage from UOC - Universitat Oberta de Catalunya and a Degree in Economics from University of Barcelona.
She has more than 30 years of experience in market research mainly in quantitative research techniques. Her diverse experience covers a wide variety of projects including Customer Satisfaction, Advertising & Brand Image study, Advertising Pre-testing, Concept Testing, Customer Profiling & Segmentation, U&A... with special focus in Shopper Research and Innovation during the last years, helping clients to understand shopper’s behavior, by generating insights and Trade Marketing strategies which deliver successful results in launching products and campaigns in the market. She has worked on products and services in many different industries mainly in FMCG (different areas: beverages, food, electronics, household care, personal care, infant…) - Joan Pere Plaza
Associate professor at ESCI-UPF
PhD in Political Science from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. He also holds a Bachelor in Political Science from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. His areas of research are the political parties of the European Union. Postdoctoral research of the Department of Political Science and Sociology at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. - Toni Prat Jorba
Senior Partner at Global Abogados
PDD from IESE Business School. He also holds a Bachelor in Law from the University of Barcelona. - Tomislav Rimac
Associate Professor at ESCI-UPF
PhD in Management by the IESE Business School, University of Navarra. He also holds an MBA by the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto (Canada). - Ramon Xifré Oliva
Associate Professor at ESCI-UPF
PhD in Economics from the Carlos III University of Madrid. He also has an MSc in Economics and Philosophy from the London School of Economics. He is Policy Research Fellow at IESE Business School.
Methodology
The Master of Science in International Business is an on-campus program that combines diverse teaching methodologies to offer a hands-on learning experience.
Practical case studies
Learning from the successes as well as the failures of real organizations with a hands-on applied approach to put the skills you have acquired into practice.
In-class discussions and group activities
The master of science includes practical simulations, group dynamics, on-site presentations, and interactive activities to enhance the learning process in the institution. You will benefit from sharing these activities with the diverse group of people that participate in the program.
Guests speakers
Experienced professionals from diverse sectors are invited to the campus to share their expertise and their knowledge of international business in specific fields.
Company visits
An opportunity to discover organizations in diverse sectors and to learn about their business strategies and their operations in international markets.
International Business Trip
A one week trip visiting international organizations located in the country of destination to broaden the students' comprehension and knowledge of the dimensions involved in the internationalization of businesses.
Evaluation
The assessment criteria for the Master of Science in International Business is explained at the beginning of each term. The evaluation system varies depending on the course requirements and the skills to be assessed. The following are common evaluation activities:
- Written exams and quizzes
- Oral presentations
- Individual work and essays
- Group projects
- Class participation and debates
Tools
Project-oriented learning and the combination of lectures and active methodologies such as case studies, flipped learning, solving real problems and professional simulations allow the student to connect theory and practice, acquire advanced skills and achieve learning which is transferable to work.
You will have:
- Master's or postgraduate work to learn by doing
- A personal mentor to monitor your Master's Final Project (TFM) or Postgraduate Final Project (TFP)
- Digital resources to achieve transversal skills
- Interdisciplinary activities and workshops
Professional Future
The MSc in International Business is aimed at recent graduates and junior professionals from diverse backgrounds who wish to acquire new skills and develop a realistic, practical, and professional perspective of international business. Once graduated, students will be able to work in top international companies operating in diverse markets.
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Student profile
Every year the program welcomes students from all over the world, coming from different backgrounds, to study a master of science in Barcelona: a vibrant, dynamic, and international city. The multicultural environment and international vision of the program begins with the multicultural group of students, creating an international environment that becomes the first step to communicating, working, and developing businesses globally.
Career opportunities
The MSc in International Business includes a curricular internship as an essential element of the academic curriculum. The Internship counts as a course with academic weight which must be completed in order to earn the program's degree. Resources and assistance will be provided by UPF-BSM Careers Service to support students in their search for internships and job positions.
- Import-Export Manager
- International Entrepreneur
- International Sales Manager
- International Expansion Manager
- International Logistics Manager
- International Marketing and Research
- Foreign Subsidiaries Manager
- Consulting
Admission and enrolment
Our admission process consists of a rigorous evaluation of each application to preserve the quality of the group as well as the training, experience, and work capacity of all students.
Who can apply?
Bachelor degree
Applicants must have finished or be in the last year of a Bachelor Degree from an accredited university. If you are currently studying the last year of your Bachelor Degree you will need to finish your university studies and provide proof of your final qualification before the beginning of the program.
If you finished your Bachelor Degree some time ago you should preferably not have more than 3 years of working experience in a position directly related to the program's area.
Proficiency in English
In order to enrol in the Master of Science in International Business, an official English certificate must be submitted.
If you do not have your English Test results at the time of admission, you will be required to provide them two months before the course starts. Admission without an official English certificate will be considered conditional until the certificate is provided.
The English certificate scores are:
- TOEFL CBT: > 235
- TOEFL PBT: > 575
- TOEFL IBT: > 100
- CAE: C1
- IELTS: > 7
- Duolingo: > 115
Applicants whose mother tongue is English do not need to submit the aforementioned certificate.
Applicants who have completed their full Bachelor Degree at an English-speaking institution must submit written evidence that the language of instruction of their studies was English.
How to apply?
To apply for admission to this program, students must read and accept the Terms and Conditions of Contract once they start the application for admission through its form.
Application for admission
Complete your application within the next admission rounds:
| Round | Application deadline | Resolution deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10/11/2021 | 25/11/2021 |
| 2 | 01/12/2021 | 16/12/2021 |
| 3 | 16/12/2021 | 31/12/2021 |
| 4 | 12/01/2022 | 27/01/2022 |
| 5 | 02/02/2022 | 17/02/2022 |
| 6 | 23/02/2022 | 10/03/2022 |
| 7 | 16/03/2022 | 31/03/2022 |
| 8 | 06/04/2022 | 28/04/2022 |
| 9 | 27/04/2022 | 12/05/2022 |
| 10 | 18/05/2022 | 02/06/2022 |
| 11 | 08/06/2022 | 23/06/2022 |
| 12 | 22/06/2022 | 07/07/2022 |
| 13 | 06/07/2022 | 21/07/2022 |
| 14 | 19/07/2022 | 29/07/2022 |
Applications for admission will be evaluated when you complete the following steps:
- Complete the online admission form.
- Pay the €120 admission fee. This amount will be returned if you are not admitted.
- Send the following documents through the online platform e-registrar:
- Presentation letter or video
- CV
- 2 academic recommendation letters (mandatory) and 1 professional (optional)
- Scanned copy of university degree (if you are in the last year of your degree, you can provide your academic records)
- Scanned copy of Transcript of Records. Make sure that it includes your GPA (Grade Point Average)
- Scanned copy of ID Card or Passport
- Passport-size photo (jpg format)
Additional documents may be requested in certain cases.
Applications are subject to the number of places available on the program.
Admission
- The Admissions Committee will select the candidates on the basis of a personal or CV-based interview.
- You will be notified of the admission decision in writing.
Enrolment
- Resgistration must be paid within a 15 days after the admission.
- Once the letter of acceptance to the program has been received, you will need to submit the following original documents before the course begins:
- Stamped and/or authenticated photocopy of your university degree.
- Stamped and/or authenticated photocopy of your transcript of records.
- If you have a foreign degree you may need to submit additional documents.
- Paying the reservation fee (25% of the program's tuition fees) is essential in order to reserve your place
- If you pay the tuition fees by bank transfer you will be required to introduce the program code. The program code for this course is 1526.
- The remaining tuition fees must be paid 2 weeks before the start of the course.
Grants, scholarships and financing
Scholarships
The UPF Barcelona School of Management offers you different means of financing so that you can take any of our programs without worry. We offer you the opportunity to finance part of your program, either by rewarding your talent through scholarships, through grants from entities dedicated to promoting education or through collaboration agreements with financial entities.
Grants and discounts
Language: English
Price: 18500€