Master's Degree Programme
| About the programme Language: English (See language requirements) | Place of study: Herning | Commencement: August / September (no winter intake) |
The Department of Business Development and Technology will not accept applicants for the International Business Development programme in the fall of 2024.
The role of business development has evolved considerably in recent years due to advances in technology and a need for environmental sustainability. Companies and organisations need to develop their businesses effectively and efficiently in order to meet the rapid and ever-changing needs and demands of customers and society. Consequently, strong business development skills have become an essential part of a company’s strategic competence base. For this reason, more and more companies are hiring business developers to carry out key development tasks in order to safeguard their existing markets, develop new business models and gain competitive advantage in new markets.
Studying to become a business developer
The MSc program in Economics and Business Administration – International Business Development offers the necessary skills for expert business developers. The education provides the students with knowledge and competences in using methods and tools that support a career in business development, whether it is working in a large multinational company or in a small firm. The students will gain skills and knowledge in marketing, economics, strategy, business models and business analytics and related to business development. Furthermore, and as a central element in the education, the students will get the opportunity to test their acquired competencies in a business context.
Unique benefits, company collaboration, job opportunities
The Department of Business Development and Technology in Herning has a high academic standard in research and teaching as well as strong bonds to the surrounding business community. Our company collaborations connect the academic world with the demands of the business community and as a student on the program, you will benefit from this unique network, as well as getting:
Applicants with a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Business Administration (HA) from Aarhus University have the right to be admitted to the Master's degree programme in Economics and Business Administration (cand.merc.) at Aarhus University on the condition that application is made for admission to the Master’s degree programme no later than three years after completion of the Bachelor’s degree programme. The legal right of admission requires receipt of the application by Aarhus University within the appropriate period of time.
The following Bachelor’s degrees fulfill the admissions requirements for the Master’s degree programme in Economics and Business Administration at Aarhus University but are not automatically secured a spot at the programme:
* With a diploma older than 2000, your Bachelor’s degree will be assessed according to the specific admission requirements described under the section: “Students that hold a degree from another university”.
Other Bachelor´s degrees can provide admission to the Master’s degree programme. When you apply the university will access if your Bachelor´s degree corresponds in level, extent and content to a BSc in Economics and Business Administration/HA from Aarhus Universitet. The assessment will prioritize the sufficient content of the following subjects and ECTS-points:
Subject | ECTS |
Methods* | 15 ECTS |
Marketing | 7,5 ECTS |
Finance | 7,5 ECTS |
Accounting | 7,5 ECTS |
Organisation- and Leadership Theory | 7,5 ECTS |
Microeconomics | 5 ECTS |
Operations Management | 5 ECTS |
Additional ECTS points within the abovementioned areas | 25 ECTS |
Total ECTS within Economics and Business Administration | 80 ECTS |
*Please note, applicants must have at least 15 ECTS within methods including at least 10 ECTS within quantitative methods or statistics. However only 5 ECTS can be covered by Mathematics.
In order to meet the admission requirements for the MSc programmes in Economics and Business Administration, applicants with a specific professional bachelor’s degree must have completed specific elective courses as part of their qualifying exam. In this table the requirements for elective courses are laid out.
As English is the language of instruction in all subjects, all applicants are required to provide evidence of their English language proficiency.
Please see the page on language requirements.
If you apply for admission with an international Bachelor's degree, you must fill in this appendix and upload it in the application portal. The appendix serves to help the Admission Board assess your Bachelor's degree in regard to the admission requirements.
As from the intake 2022, the Master’s degree programmes in Economics and Business Administration (cand.merc.) only admits a limited number of students each year. Therefore, meeting the admission requirements does not in itself guarantee admission to the programme.
Please note, for programmes with restricted admission special rules regarding supplementary Bachelor’s courses apply. Therefore, we no longer offer pre-assessments for the programme in Economics and Business Administration (cand.merc.).
Read more about supplementary Bachelor’s courses.
If there are more qualified applicants than available seats, the Admissions Committee assesses each applicant based on the average mark (i.e. GPA) of the Bachelor’s degree at the time of application. Marks/grades obtained after the application deadline will not be included in the GPA. The Admissions Committee assesses each applicant’s marks based on the information provided by diplomas and transcripts.
ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
Below is an outline of the courses:
The study programme consists of two semesters in the first year which cover the compulsory courses in the programme specialisation and two semesters in the last year which are reserved for the student's own specialisation.
In the first semester you follow the prerequisite courses that form the methodological and academic basis for the further study programme.
In the second semester you follow the specialisation courses of the programme.
In the third semester you can choose elective courses within your areas of interest. The courses can either be taken at Aarhus BSS during the semester, at the Summer University or at one of our more than 300 partner universities abroad. You can also participate in project-based internship programmes either in Denmark or abroad.
The fourth semester is devoted to the final thesis. You may choose the topic of the thesis freely and so get a chance to concentrate on and specialise in a specific field of interest. The thesis may be written in collaboration with another student or it may be the result of your individual effort.
Campus Herning is situated on the outskirts of Herning and is located in Birk Centerpark where you will find education, art and business life merged into one as can be seen from the surroundings. With its central position in Central and Western Jutland, we offer study programmes within business economics, international business communication and engineering. At campus Herning there is a close interaction between the different study programmes, which cover the needs and requirements of the business community. As a student in Herning you will experience the advantages of this interdisciplinary environment, which gives you the opportunity to work with students with different educational backgrounds in solving business assignments from the real world.
"You should feel at home". It is as simple as that! Although your education is probably the most important factor in your choice of educational institution, the surrounding environment is decisive for a successful study period. It is hard work to get a degree but time should also be allowed for a fun social life. At campus Herning, we focus on the academic part but there is also room for friendship, events, getting together, love and all the other things which are part of being a student.
Campus Herning is a rather small institution with close interaction between the students and the teaching staff. Approximately 2,000 full-time and part-time students attend the different study programmes in Herning. Campus Herning has about 125 full-time as well as 100 part-time teachers.
Furthermore, we give high priority to personal information and guidance, and you can therefore always contact the staff if you need help.
The building from 1995 is rather unique. Not only does it contain and offer many facilities to students, but the light and comfortable arrangement of the rooms also creates a perfect and inspirational study environment.
At campus Herning, you can become a member of a number of different committees and thus take part in developing campus Herning as an educational institution. You can participate in the weekly Friday bar, meet students from other educational institutions at the student house or use the facilities in the fitness room above the student house – both are located a few minutes walk from campus.
You will find wireless network everywhere at campus, the group rooms are equipped with computers with internet access and the institution has its own book store.
Herning is known for hosting major concerts and sporting events, but the city offers so much more. Almost one in every five people in Herning is an upper secondary or post-secondary student. This means that the city is full of young people and offers everything that young people need. In Herning, nature is right outside the door, and a selection of lovely beaches have been established by the lakes, which are just a bike ride away from the university. What’s more, when you start life as a student in Herning, you don’t need to worry about finding a roof over your head. The Municipality of Herning har a lot of student flats. This allows you to stay in ultra-modern one or two bedroom flats/student housing at a low rent, and if you are moving more 30 km to study in Herning, you will be first in line for the next available flat. Herning offers more than 20 bars, cafés and places to go out - as well as a number of cultural events throughout the year. These include everything from large concerts with international artists in Boxen to smaller concerts at the local music venue Fermaten.
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The chart shows the five most common types of work for graduates 1-2 years after finishing their degree. The data is derived from a survey made by Epinion for the Ministry of Higher Education and Science and Aarhus University in 2020.
The MSc in Economics and Business Administration – International Business Development will give you in-depth knowledge and experience of working within a company. Using that knowledge of the company and its markets, you will be able to critically analyse the company’s internal processes with a view to optimising them. You will be able to conduct a professional analysis of the market potential of a new business area, product or service. You will also be well equipped to develop the company’s strategy.
We want to help our students find successful careers. Students can always contact our Career Services for advice and assistance with getting onto the Danish labour market. Check out our careers page to see the range of services we offer.
Our students are encouraged to take a semester abroad at one of Aarhus BSS’s approximately 300 partner universities around the world. Studying abroad is an excellent opportunity for you to expand your horizon academically, culturally and personally, and for you to acquire valuable international experience and qualifications that are in high demand in companies and organisations everywhere.
