MSc in Business, Language and Culture

MSc BLC - Business and the Global South equips you to navigate the challenges and opportunities of emerging markets and developing economies. You will gain the analytical and cultural skills to work with companies, organisations, and institutions driving sustainable development worldwide.

About the programme Structure Study environment Entry requirements Career

About MSc in Business, Language and Culture

Level

graduate

Programme type

2-year master programme

Duration

2 years

ECTS

120

Time commitment

Full-time

Language

English

Students

Gender distribution – men / women

33% / 67%

Average age

24.9 years

Foreign students

60%

Topics

Culture and society Innovation and entrepreneurship

Why study MSc BLC?

3 good reasons to choose MSc BLC - Business and the Global South

Curious about global development

You want to understand how businesses shape change in developing countries and emerging markets.

Into culture and languages

You enjoy exploring new cultures and working with a second foreign language alongside your studies.

Like solving complex problems

You thrive on critical thinking and combining business, politics, and society to tackle real-world challenges.

“I like the teaching culture in Denmark. You talk to professors on a first-name basis, and they are very nice and approachable. Coming from Germany, that is still something I'm getting used to.” Andre
Student, MSc BLC

MSc in Business, Language and Culture - Business and the Global South gives you a scientifically based set of interdisciplinary, analytical, and communicative skills and qualify you for a career in globally oriented companies, institutions and organisations, private and public.

Interdisciplinary approach

The MSc BLC combines business, social sciences, and language studies to explore how organisations operate across cultures. This perspective helps you understand how regional values and practices shape global business and how differences can become strengths.

Business meets global development

In MSc BLC, you study international business through the lens of development. You learn how global value chains, foreign investment, and corporate strategies affect growth, sustainability, and inequality in developing countries, and how businesses adapt to challenges in these complex environments.

“A master’s programme has a tendency to be much more career oriented, which is only natural as you narrow down the field you specialise in.” Nicklas
Student, Msc BLC

Spotlight on emerging markets

From Africa and Asia to Latin America, you’ll focus on regions where development and business opportunities are rapidly evolving. You dig into real-world cases that show how culture, institutions, and politics influence business practices, and why emerging markets matter for global growth.

Regional and language competence

A part of the programme is the language component. Alongside English, you choose a reginonal track in either French, German, Spanish, Chinese, English or Japanese, and connect it to your regional studies. This gives you cultural awareness and communication skills that are highly valued in international careers.

See the programme regulations for MSc BLC

See you in February 2027

Are you considering a master programme at CBS? Then come to our next Open Day and learn more about your options.

Master events

See upcoming events that can help you with your study choice and admission.

Event

Open day for master programmes 2027

Date:

4 February 2027

Location:

Solbjerg Plads 3, 2000 Frederiksberg

Are you considering a master programme at CBS? Come visit us for Open Day and hear what your options are. Here you can meet students and staff, pose your…

View event

Structure

Innovation and entrepreneurship

You learn how innovation and entrepreneurship can drive sustainable growth and development. The focus is on how new business models and creative solutions can address social and economic challenges in emerging economies.

Culture and society

You learn how culture, institutions, and social dynamics influence business and development in global markets. The focus is on understanding the contexts in which organisations operate and how these shape strategies, partnerships, and sustainable outcomes.

MSc BLC

Innovation and entrepreneurship – 40%

Culture and society – 60%

3 things to consider

You care about both business and development?

The programme looks at how companies influence global challenges like sustainability and inequality.

Are you ready for a second language perspective?

Alongside your regional focus, you will work with the language focus in French, German, Spanish, Emglish, Chinese, or Japanese.

Do you enjoy solving complex problems?

MSc BGS combines business, politics, and culture. You’ll work with an entreprenurial mindset and look for solutions that are not straightforward in a challenged world.

Track courses

Regional track courses

You must choose one of the following courses:

Regional track courses with language

The courses are taught in French, Spanish, German for students studying these languages, and in English for students with Chinese and Japanese.

Depending on your choice of language, you will study one of the following courses:

French: Business and Social Responsibility in Francophone Countries

Spanish: Business Strategies in Latin America and the Caribbean

German: Business in a Changing World: German Perspectives

Chinese and Japanese: Institutions and Business Strategy in the Chinese Context

English in the Global South: course description will follow

Programme overview

1st semester

1st year

2nd semester

1st year

3rd semester

2nd year

4th semester

2nd year

More about the programme

Large curriculum

The courses involve significant readings in general approximately 800-1200 pages of course curricula per course. This is a challenge to some students but can be overcome if you plan your studies carefully.

2nd foreign language

For some students the 2nd foreign language is a challenge. You will have courses in area studies taught in your 2nd foreign language. These courses deal with business, cultures and societies in regions in which the language is spoken. This means that you will read and discuss fairly complex academic texts in your 2nd foreign language.

Options during the programme

During the programme, you have various opportunities to create your own academic profile.

Electives

On the 3rd semester, you can choose to study courses of your specific interest. CBS offers a large number of electives within a wide range of topics. You can also choose to take electives at other Danish universities. The electives you choose have to be relevant for your programme.

A number of electives are specifically designed to complement the core courses of BADS. Among those are: Poverty, Sustainability and the Private Sector (CCBLV1601U) (autumn), Marketing in Emerging Markets: Seizing the market opportunities in the world’s main growth economies (CCBLV1703U) (autumn), Field study: Entrepreneurship and Private Sector Development in Uganda (CCDEV1135U) (spring)

See the current selection of CBS electives on Courses at master level.

Minor

On the 3rd semester, you can also choose to study a so-called minor. A minor is a package of electives within a specific academic area. Typically, it consists of 3 courses. By taking a minor, you strengthen your competences within a specific area of interest, and you can use it to qualify for specific jobs or industries.

See the current selectives of CBS minors on Minors.

Exchange

Many students choose to go on exchange on their 3rd semester; usually at one of CBS’ more than 300 partner universities. When you go on exchange through CBS, you do not have to pay for the teaching at the foreign university (with a few exceptions), and you can bring your SU (student grant).

Find a list of all CBS partner universities here.

Internship

On MSc BGS, you can choose to replace some or all of your electives with a so-called academic internship. The academic internship consists of an internship period at a company, which is then completed with a project report. You can do the internship at a company in Denmark or abroad. The internship must have an international or intercultural scope, and the project report and work assignments have to be relevant to your study programme.

When doing an internship you get the opportunity to relate theory to practice and reflect on the academic training you receive at CBS in a practical setting.

CEMS

On MSc BGS, you can apply for the CEMS - Master in International Management programme. CEMS MIM is a double degree programme, which gives you the opportunity to add a second degree in international management to you CBS degree. This means that you will get both the MSc degree and the CEMS in International Management degree.

CEMS is a 1-year programme, which you study in combination with your CBS degree in your 3rd and 4th semester. Part of it takes place at one of the other CEMS universities abroad.

Learn more about CEMS / Master in International Management.

Master's thesis

Your 2nd year is completed with a master's thesis. You choose the topic you want to write about which allows you to focus on a specific topic of your interest. Typically, you write your master's thesis with a fellow student.

“I didn't have to do any oral exams in my bachelor’s, so I was a little unfamiliar with what they were going to be like. The teachers are super nice though, the atmosphere is cozy, and it is definitely possible to get good grades.” Andre
Student, MSc BLC

See you in February 2027

Are you considering a master programme at CBS? Then come to our next Open Day and learn more about your options.

Study environment

A multicultural and supportive environment

You’ll study alongside open-minded and curious classmates who are eager to learn from each other. The atmosphere is both social and academic. Students from the MSc BLC often connect, and group work becomes a chance to explore different perspectives. With so many nationalities represented, you’ll experience a truly global classroom where collaboration and support are at the heart of student life.

Student life at CBS

Studying at CBS is much more than just preparing for and going to classes.

At CBS, there are more than 20,000 students with different backgrounds and nationalities. Teamwork is an essential part of studying at CBS both in classes and in extracurricular activities.

With more than 100 student organisations, you also have plenty of opportunities to engage and connect with students across programmes and classes.

Learn more about the vibrant student life at CBS, the student organisations, and the international environment on Student life.

Read more about Student life on CBS.

For internationals

If you are an international student, we have gathered a lot of information about what it is like to be an international student at CBS and how you can prepare for life in Denmark.

Studying at CBS is more than just preparing for classes. Learn about the student life at CBS, the countless student organisations you can join, and the international environment.

Read more on International students.

Meet the students

André

“ In general, I feel like the level of teaching is very high, but not hard to follow if you're prepared for the class. The professors are also very supportive and eager to help you if you have any questions. ”

Programme: MSc BLC

From: Hamburg, Germany

Age: 25

Educational background: International Business Administration & Entrepreneurship, Leuphana University Lüneburg

Why did I choose my programme (and CBS)?

For my master’s, I wanted to move away from business administration in the traditional sense and go more into development studies. The MSc BLC programme is very unique in the sense that it specifically caters to those students. For most development master’s you will also need a bachelor’s in that area. I also wanted to move abroad for my master’s, as I believe there is no easier point in life to try to live somewhere else. CBS was a natural choice for me, as it’s quite renowned, it focuses on sustainability, and studying there is completely free for me.

What do I like the best?

I think that would be my classmates and the general vibe in our programme. We are a pretty international programme, with only about a third of us being Danes. Everyone is super open and supportive of each other, and even though you might have different opinions in class, everyone gets along. Growing up in northern Germany, I expected everyone to maybe be a little cold and distant (which is often said that Danes are), however, that's not the truth. My classmates (including the Danes) are fun to be around and open, and we regularly meet outside class.

How do I experience the difference in academic level between my bachelor and master programme?

The academic level definitely increased quite a lot! During my bachelor’s, I used to study very little throughout the semester and have stressful exam periods, which is not really possible for me anymore. The amount of readings you need to do is a lot, so I spend a lot of time reading up on papers and books in the library. In general, I feel like the level of teaching is very high, but not hard to follow if you're prepared for the class. The professors are also very supportive and eager to help you if you have any questions.

What are the biggest challenges in my programme?

I think that would be to keep a healthy work-life balance. Between classes, readings and working two days a week, I sometimes get pretty stressed out. I really liked the structure of my first semester in that regard, as it was split in the middle, so we had two exam periods. While the workload was similar, that really helped me be able to focus on specific topics and get used to the study climate at CBS. I also got to know some classmates to share the readings with, so I didn't have to read everything on my own.

What would I have liked to have known before starting my programme?

First, that there is a restriction on how many ECTS you are allowed to do. I come from Germany where it’s possible to visit as many extra classes as you want, which is not a thing in Denmark. Therefore, you need decide quite early on how you want to use your limited ECTS, for example, for semesters abroad, internships, etc.

Second, what the teaching culture is like in Denmark. You talk to professors on a first-name basis, and they are very nice and approachable. Coming from Germany, that is still something I'm getting used to.

What do I want to do after finishing my programme?

I am currently still considering if I want to start working or pursue a PhD after finishing my programme. However, both options are related to the field of development. If I start working, I would like it to be either directly in fieldwork or at development institute, NGO or in development consulting. I grew up speaking Spanish, so I would like to do something related to Latin America, but I am pretty open in regards to location.

If I could give myself a piece of advice, before starting it would be…

Don't stress out too much – first, in regards to moving abroad, and, second, when it comes to oral exams.

Moving to Denmark was actually quite easy, and I’m still amazed at how efficient and digitalized the Danish bureaucracy is. They really make it easy for you, and we got a lot of information in our opening week at CBS.

I didn't have to do any oral exams in my bachelor’s, so I was a little unfamiliar with what they were going to be like. The teachers are super nice though, the atmosphere is cozy, and it is definitely possible to get good grades.

Nicklas

“ Even though people from my programme come from very different academic backgrounds around the world, the general expectations of you as a master student are higher, compared to being a bachelor student. ”

Programme: MSc BLC

From: Nykøbing Falster, Denmark

Age: 26

Educational background: International Business in Asia, CBS

Why did I choose my programme (and CBS)?

Primarily, I chose my programme as it's a natural progression of my bachelor programme and thus presented the best opportunity, in my opinion, to further develop my skills and knowledge within the field I'd previously studied. I come from a bachelor programme with a strong emphasis on China, and so it would often be the Chinese context in which we were introduced to new knowledge. Therefore, I also chose this programme to experience and work with my field in other contexts than just China.

What do I like the best?

Most of our teachers have had practical research experience within their fields of expertise and actively contribute to the literature, which naturally influences our courses as well. Generally, our teachers have also been keen to draw on their professional networks and regularly invited guest speakers from e.g. start-ups in emerging economies or top-level managers from multinational enterprises. Furthermore, the amount of students is quite modest yet very diverse in terms of cultural background, which adds a lot of different perspectives.

How do I experience the difference in academic level between my bachelor and master programme?

Even though people from my programme come from very different academic backgrounds around the world, the general expectations of you as a master student are higher, compared to being a bachelor student. To some extent, teachers expect that you have a predefined understanding of being a business student, and the workload on most of my courses has been heavier. Thus, it also takes more effort to achieve a high grade on your master's, in my opinion.

What are the biggest challenges in my study programme?

It can be hard to maintain your foreign language, especially when you're in a country where you're not forced to use it on a daily basis. On the Asian concentration of my programme, the mandatory regional track course, which is Chinese mandarin in my case, is taught in English and so you have to be very disciplined and regularly spend time on improving and maintaining your language skills if you expect to make use of it after ended studies.

What would I have liked to have known before starting my programme?

I wasn't too sure about how high the academic expectations to the students were when time came for our first exams. I started panicking a little and doubting my own abilities, especially because everyone else on my programme seemed so capable. Everything worked out fine in the end, so go into your master’s programme with an open mind and trust the abilities that you have accumulated during your previous education.

What do I want to do after finishing my programme?

I'm open to work within most fields, and I see myself working in a larger international organisation that deals with sustainability and positive development in the markets they operate within. I haven't quite landed on a specific direction yet, but I'm keen on pursuing a job that allows me to use my knowledge about especially Asian markets. One of the good things about Business and Development Studies is that it touches so many disciplines that allow you to look for jobs in many different directions.

If I could give myself a piece of advice, before starting it would be…

A master’s programme has a tendency to be much more career oriented, which is only natural as you narrow down the field you specialise in. Some might have a very clear plan for their career after graduation, maybe even have a full-time job lined up with their current employer, others might still not know exactly where they're going. Thus, it is easy to stress and compare yourself to others, so learn to focus on yourself and your own path, even if it's not clearly outlined yet.

Teaching and exams

Teaching

The teaching in MSc BLC has a strong focus on mixing theoretical learning and practice. On the 1st semester you are introduced to mainly theoretical material, while on the 2nd semester you’ll learn how to put theory into practice. You do this by writing business projects and cases, presenting different cases in class and having representatives from multinational companies to act as guest lecturers.

Read more about Teaching and working methods.

Exams

Each course is concluded with an exam. This means that you will have exams after each quarter and semester. The exam types in MSc BLC are a mix of the exam types offered at CBS in general. This includes everything from written to oral exams.

Read more about Exams.

Student life at CBS

Being a CBS student is about more than going to lectures and doing exams.

Get a glimpse of student life at CBS. Here, you can explore what a typical day of teaching and exams looks like.

Also, you can learn how our programmes are structured and read about social life on campus, including the many ways to connect with fellow students.

Time consumption

Workload

On the master’s programme, you will work more independently than on the bachelor’s programme, and teaching places greater emphasis on preparation as well as in-depth individual study.

If you are studying on a full-time graduate programme, you should expect spending approximately 37 hours on average on your studies each week. The workload will vary during the year.

Hectic around exams

The time leading up to assignment submissions and exams can be hectic, and you can easily work more than 40 hours a week in this period. Preparing for oral exams can be especially time consuming, because you have to be able to explain and discuss the covered concepts and theories and learn things by heart.

Read more on Teaching and working methods

Student job

Most programmes are quite flexible in terms of combining studies with a student job. Most students work a maximum of 15 hours a week in order to have sufficient time for their studies.

Studying in Denmark - for internationals

If this is your first time studying in Denmark, you may find teaching and exam formats, the grading scale and the academic calendar very different from what you are used to.

Read about everything you need to know as an international student studying at CBS on International students

In need of special support?

Do you have a disability such as dyslexia, anxiety, autism, ADHD, long-term effects of concussion or another physical, psychological or neurological disability?

Then you have the opportunity to apply for Special Educational Support (SPS) and special conditions while studying.

This ensures you can study on equal terms with your fellow students.

Entry requirements

You are qualified for admission to the study programme if you fulfil the following requirements.
Please note that fulfilling the requirements does not guarantee you a study place.

1. Bachelor degree

You must have a bachelor degree before study start.

2. Language requirement

You must fulfil the language requirement before the application deadline.

3. Academic requirements

You must fulfil the academic requirements before study start.

1. Bachelor degree

Bachelor degree

You must hold a bachelor degree to fulfil the general requirement for admission to CBS’ master programmes. You must have completed your bachelor degree before study start.

Legal claim

MSc in Business, Language and Culture is the natural progression for

BSc in Business, Language and Culture from CBS
BSc in International Business in Asia from CBS

If you hold one of the above-mentioned bachelor degrees, you automatically fulfil all the entry requirements and you may also have legal claim guaranteeing admission. Read more about legal claim.

If you do not have one of the above-mentioned bachelor degrees, you can still be qualified for the programme, if you have an equivalent academic background and if you fulfil the entry requirements.

Have you not yet completed your bachelor degree?

You can apply for admission even if you have not yet completed your bachelor’s degree. However, you must finish it before study start. If you are offered a place, you will be conditionally admitted, which means:

You must complete your bachelor’s degree before you can begin your studies at CBS.
You must upload your bachelor diploma and transcript no later than 31 August.

2. Language requirement

English level A Danish upper secondary exam Other upper secondary exams Language tests CBS bachelor degree

Find your country

Only the exact qualifications listed below fulfil the English A language requirement.

In your application you must upload the exact documentation described below, as proof that your upper secondary qualifications fulfil the language requirement.

If you do not have one of the upper secondary qualifications below, you will need to take a language test.

Austria

Required courses and levels

Minimum total sum of 11 weekly lessons over years 10, 11 and 12 and Erste lebende Fremdsprache and Wahlpflichtgegenstände in English language. Subjects that are taught in English even as Wahlpflichtgegenstände do not count.

Required documentation

Reifeprüfung diploma certificate including Stundentafel covering (min.) 4 years of the Oberstufe OR

Reife- und Diplomprüfung diploma certificate including Stundentafel covering (min.) 5 years of the Oberstufe.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Required courses and levels

English A1, higher level
English A2, higher level
English B, higher level
English A1, standard level
English A2, standard level
English A Language and Literature, higher level
English A Language and Literature, standard level
English A Literature, higher level
English A Literature, standard level

Required documentation

Official IB transcript issued by IBO. Alternatively, you can give CBS access to your results via IBO.org.

L or LK or Leistungskurs
P or Profilfach
K or Kernfach*
eA or erhöhtes Anforderungsniveau
E and designated as erhöhtes Anforderungsniveau in the certificate legend
HF or Hauptfach
PF or Profilfach
Highlighted in grey and and designated as Leistungsfächer in the certificate legend

*If you have had English as a Kernfach your Abiturzeugnis needs to state that this means you have had English at either erhöhtes Anforderungsniveau or as Leistungskurs.

For applicants with a Waldorfschule/Rudolf Steiner Schule Abitur or Deutsche Internationale Abitur/prüfung (DIA/DIAP) please contact graduateadmission@cbs.dk for more information.

Required documentation

All pages of your Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife (Abiturzeugnis): cover, diploma and report card for all 4 half-years showing the Qualifikationsphase as well as the Abiturprüfung

Iceland

Required qualifications

For upper secondary studies completed according to the 2008 reform:
Minimum 25 Fein (new credits) obtained in English; of these, minimum 15 Fein must be at Þrep (qualification level) 3 or higher

For upper secondary studies completed according to the 1999 reform:

Minimum 18 einingar (old credits) obtained in English; minimum one English subject must be at level 6 or higher (e.g. ENS 603)

Required documentation

Required documentation

National Certificate of Education Achievement (NCEA) levels 1 and 2 and 3

Norway

Required documentation

High School Diploma as well as High School Grade transcript (covering all four years’ worth of subjects and grades) taken in the US.

The following upper secondary qualifications do not fulfil English level A

The highest upper secondary level of English from the following countries does not fulfil English level A. If your upper secondary education is from one of the countries listed below, you will need to take a language test:

Belgium
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
Estonia
Finland
France
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
The Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
All non-EU countries other than Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK, Singapore, South Africa and the US

Language tests

If you need to take a language test for master programmes, your scores must be available to CBS Admissions by the application deadline at the latest.

Make sure you register for your English language test well before the deadline. It can take up to three weeks from the test date before CBS receives your results. We therefore recommend that you book your test as early as possible.

If you have already taken an IELTS or TOEFL test, remember to check the test date. The test date – not to be confused with the date your test results were issued – must be less than two years old by the application deadline. If it is older than that, we cannot accept the result.

TOEFL

TOEFL iBT/iBT Home Edition

The TOEFL iBT/ iBT Home Edition taken on or after 21 January 2026 must be passed with both

a minimum overall score of at least 5 and
a minimum score of 4.5 in each of the four different sections

For the 2026 admission round, we accept an overall score of 94 (old scale) and 4.5 (new scale) in 2026. Both of these results must be present on the certificate. The subscores must still be a minimum of 4.5 in each of the four sections.

The TOEFL iBT/ iBT Home Edition taken before 21 January 2026 must be passed with both

a minimum overall score of at least 94 and
a minimum score of 20 in each of the four different sections

MyBest scores are not accepted.

Read more about the TOEFL and how to register on ETS.org

Documentation

Your TOEFL scores will be verified in the TOEFL database. You must list Copenhagen Business School as one of your score recipients when you sign up for the TOEFL test, or order a score sheet for Copenhagen Business School if you have already taken the test.

The TOEFL institution code for CBS is 7035.

You must upload either your digital copy, or a scan of your hard copy, TOEFL score sheet to the Application Portal.

Have you already passed a test?

Remember to check that your test date is no older than two years by the application deadline.

Be aware that it is your test date and not the date your test results were issued. If your test date is more than two years old by the application deadline, your test will not be accepted.

IELTS

IELTS Academic test

An IELTS academic test result of at least 7.0 with minimum 6.0 in each discipline is required.

IELTS tests that are more than two years old by the application deadline are not accepted

IELTS Online is accepted.

IELTS One Skill Retake scores are not accepted.

Required documentation

Your IELTS results will be verified in the IELTS database. Please instruct your test centre to make your results available to Copenhagen Business School, either when you book your IELTS test or after the test date.

You must also upload a scan of your IELTS test report form to the Application Portal. If you have not received the physical test report form, you can upload a document with the "Test Report Form Number" (TRF Number) so we can verify your scores.

Have you already passed a test?

Cambridge

The following Cambridge exams/certificates fulfil the English A language requirement.

Cambridge C2 Proficiency (Certificate of Proficiency in English) passed with minimum C.

Read more about the CPE and how to register.
Cambridge C1 Advanced (Certificate of Advanced English) passed with minimum C and an overall score of minimum 185.

Read more about the CAE and how to register.

Documentation

In order for us to verify your results, you need to do the following:

Sign up and share your results with Copenhagen Business School via the Candidate Results Website. Your Cambridge results are only valid if we can check them on their website.
Upload your Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) or Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) Statement of Results and/or Certificate in the application portal

The Certificate of Proficiency in English and Certificate of Advanced English have no expiration date and are valid for life.

3. Academic requirements

Academic requirements

You must fulfil the academic requirements before study start.

The academic requirements are as follows:

25 ECTS-points in Business Administration / Economics
5 ECTS-points in Micro / Macroeconomics
Language and Culture*

* How this requirement is fulfilled depends upon the regional track chosen. Please check your chosen regional track for further details - French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese or English in the Global South.

Examples of Business Administration include Marketing, Strategy, Organisation, Management, Accounting, Finance and Innovation/Entrepreneurship

Examples of Economics include Microeconomics, Managerial Economics, Industrial Economics, Macroeconomics, International Trade and Monetary Economics

Language and culture requirement

Find out how to fulfil the language requirements for the regional tracks.

Regional Track - French

To fulfil the ‘Language and Culture’ requirement for the French regional track, you must document one of the following:

DALF C2
DALF C1
DELF tout public B2
60 ECTS-points passed at bachelor level focusing on French (language courses and cultural area studies courses only. Other courses, for example Economics, taught in French do not fulfil this requirement)
Upper secondary education fully taught in French AND 15 ECTS-points in language*/cultural/political/society studies
Bachelor degree fully taught in French AND 15 ECTS-points in language*/cultural/political/society studies

*such as linguistics or rhetoric

Regional Track - German

To fulfil the ‘Language and Culture’ requirement for the German regional track, you must document one of the following:

Goethe-Zertifikat C2
Goethe-Zertifikat C1
Goethe-Zertifikat B2
Deutsche Sprachdiplom der Kulturministerkonferenz - zweite Stufe (DSD II)
60 ECTS-points passed at bachelor level focusing on German (language courses and cultural area studies courses only. Other courses, for example Economics, taught in German do not fulfil this requirement)
Upper secondary education fully taught in German AND 15 ECTS-points in language*/cultural/political/society studies
Bachelor degree fully taught in German AND 15 ECTS-points in language*/cultural/political/society studies

*such as linguistics or rhetoric

Regional Track - Spanish

To fulfil the ‘Language and Culture’ requirement for the Spanish regional track, you must document one of the following:

DELE nivel C2
DELE nivel C1
DELE nivel B2
SIELE GLOBAL with a min. level of B2 in all four disciplines
60 ECTS-points passed at bachelor level focusing on Spanish (language courses and cultural area studies courses only. Other courses, for example Economics, taught in Spanish do not fulfil this requirement)
Upper secondary education fully taught in Spanish AND 15 ECTS-points in language*/cultural/political/society studies
Bachelor degree fully taught in Spanish AND 15 ECTS-points in language*/cultural/political/society studies

*such as linguistics or rhetoric

Regional Track - Chinese

To fulfil the ‘Language and Culture’ requirement for the Chinese regional track, you must document one of the following:

HSK Level 6
HSK Level 5
HSK - Level 4 AND Speaking Test Intermediate Level
60 ECTS-points passed at bachelor level focusing on Chinese (language courses and cultural area studies courses only. Other courses, for example Economics, taught in Chinese do not fulfil this requirement)
Upper secondary education fully taught in Chinese AND 15 ECTS-points in language*/cultural/political/society studies
Bachelor degree fully taught in Chinese AND 15 ECTS-points in language*/cultural/political/society studies

*such as linguistics or rhetoric

Regional Track - Japanese

To fulfil the ‘Language and Culture’ requirement for the Japanese regional track, you must document one of the following:

JLPT level N1
JLPT level N2
60 ECTS-points passed at bachelor level focusing on Japanese (language courses and cultural area studies courses only. Other courses, for example Economics, taught in Japanese do not fulfil this requirement)
Upper secondary education fully taught in Japanese AND 15 ECTS-points in language*/cultural/political/society studies
Bachelor degree fully taught in Japanese AND 15 ECTS-points in language*/cultural/political/society studies

*such as linguistics or rhetoric

Regional Track - English in the Global South

To fulfil the ‘Language and Culture’ requirement for the English in the Global South regional track, applicants must document the following:

Non-English language subject passed in an exam as part of a formal school education from a Global South country with English as an official language* AND 15 ECTS-points at bachelor level in Politics / Culture / Society Studies

*A Global South country as defined by the UN (only countries with English as the, or one of the, official languages are included).

Check if you fulfil academic requirements

Advance assessment CBS Denmark

Make a self-assessment

What is a self-assessment?

If there is no advance assessment available for your bachelor’s degree, you can make a so-called self-assessment of your educational background.

If there is an advance assessment of your bachelor degree showing that you are missing certain academic areas to fulfil the academic requirements, you can also use the self-assessment to show how you fulfil the missing academic areas.

Your self-assessment is not binding for us, but it can help you prepare your application and give us a better overview of your educational background.

How to make a self-assessment

Start by listing all the undergraduate courses you have taken, or are going to take, as part of your bachelor's degree or in addition to it, and compare them to the programme's academic requirements.

Read your course titles and descriptions carefully. Try to categorise the courses according to the master programme’s academic requirements.

To get an idea of how we assess each course category, you can use the course catalogue to see how we have categorised different CBS elective courses or CBS Summer University courses within each category.

CBS elective courses
CBS Summer University

Use the self-assessment form

We have created a form you can use for your self-assessment. The form is a tool to help you match your courses with the academic entry requirements for the programme and see to what extent you fulfil them.

Remember to include

Courses you have already passed
Courses you are currently taking
Courses you expect to pass (e.g. supplementary courses at summer university)

Download the form here and save it on your computer.

Chance of admission

More applicants than places

This programme has a limited number of study places.

If there are more qualified applicants than available places, we will select the best qualified applicants. The selection is based on an overall assessment of the applicants’ educational background at bachelor’s level or equivalent.

Selection criteria

In the selection of qualified applicants, we look at

Analytical skills and experience with social science methodology
Grades and relevance of educational background at undergraduate level, with a focus within any of the following academic areas: finance, economics, strategy, management, politics, sociology and cultural understanding
Personal statement*

*If you have a legal claim to MSc in Business, Language and Culture - Business and the Global South (Business and Development Studies), you do not have to write a personal statement, but just upload a blank word document.

Personal statement

The personal statement is your opportunity to describe yourself in relation to the master programme you are applying for.

You can, for example, describe:

Your experience from work, studies, leisure activities or similar
How your experience relates to the programme and the regional track of your choice
How the programme relates to your future career ambitions

Requirements for the personal statement

Maximum 2 A4 pages
Minimum font size 11
In English

Connection to the Danish Labour Market

Your connection to the Danish labour market will be taken into consideration as part of the selection process. In your application, you will be asked to write a paragraph of no more than 500 characters (including spaces), describing your current circumstances and reflecting on your future career opportunities in Denmark.

Apply for admission

Read more about the application process, documentation and application deadlines

Admission and application

See you in February 2027

Are you considering a master programme at CBS? Then come to our next Open Day and learn more about your options.

Master events

See upcoming events that can help you with your study choice and admission.

Event

Open day for master programmes 2027

Date:

4 February 2027

Location:

Solbjerg Plads 3, 2000 Frederiksberg

Are you considering a master programme at CBS? Come visit us for Open Day and hear what your options are. Here you can meet students and staff, pose your…

View event

Admission in numbers

Study places

Applicants - 1st priority

144

Foreign students

60%

Gender distribution – men / women

33% / 67%

Average age

24.9 years

Career

Competencies

The international focus of the programme and the mix of theory with real-life cases give you direct exposure to companies and institutions working in development and emerging markets. You also gain hands-on experience working across cultures, which prepares you for international teamwork and global careers.

On top of that, you graduate with the tools and methods needed to work with investments, projects, and interventions in developing countries and fast-growing economies. Together, these skills make you stand out to employers in business, NGOs, government, and international organisations.

Competence profile

In the competence profile you can read more about the purpose of the programme and the competencies you achieve in the programme:

See the competence profile for MSc BLC

What do you learn on MSc BLC ?

Global business analysis

You'll get the ability to assess investments, strategies, and projects in emerging markets and developing countries.

Intercultural communication

You' ll learn how to work across cultures and languages to build strong collaboration in international environments.

Sustainability and development insight

You'll understand how business decisions impact growth, governance, and social change worldwide.

Career opportunities

Graduates work in various industries such as:

International companies – in roles related to strategy, sustainability, supply chains, or emerging markets.
Consulting – advising on global development, responsible business, or market entry strategies.
NGOs and civil society organisations – working with projects in sustainability, human rights, and development.
International organisations – such as the UN, World Bank, or regional development agencies.
Government and public sector – in ministries, embassies, or trade and development agencies.

The typical job tasks for a graduate:

Employee at the UN and other international organisations
Project manager in developing country subsidiaries of international firms
Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility
Marketing function related to emerging markets
Project manager in NGO working with developing countries
Civil servant in foreign affairs ministries
Consultant in development oriented consultancies

More about MSc in Business, Language and Culture

About the programme

Understand what the programme is all about and why it may be the right one for you.

Structure

See the programme structure and your options along the way to shape your own academic profile and the highlighted aspects.

Study environment

Meet the students and learn more about the teaching and exams.

Entry requirements

Check the entry requirements for the programme and your chance of admission.

Career

See the skills and the type of job you will get.

Other master programmes

Curious about similar study programmes? You may find other study programmes that also match your interests and dreams for your career.

About MSc in Business, Language and Culture

Why study MSc BLC?

Curi­ous about glob­al de­vel­op­ment

Into cul­ture and lan­guages

Like solv­ing com­plex prob­lems

Interdisciplinary approach

Business meets global development

Spotlight on emerging markets

Regional and language competence

See you in Feb­ru­ary 2027

Mas­ter events

Open day for mas­ter pro­grammes 2027

Structure

Innovation and entrepreneurship

Culture and society

3 things to con­sider

You care about both busi­ness and de­vel­op­ment?

Are you ready for a second lan­guage per­spect­ive?

Do you en­joy solv­ing com­plex prob­lems?

Track courses

Re­gion­al track courses

Re­gion­al track courses with lan­guage

Pro­gramme over­view

1st semester

Busi­ness Strategy in De­vel­op­ing Coun­tries and Emer­ging Mar­kets

Gov­ernance and De­vel­op­ment

Re­spons­ible Value Chains - a Path to Sus­tain­able De­vel­op­ment?

In­ter­na­tion­al Busi­ness and Eco­nom­ic De­vel­op­ment

2nd semester

Entrepreneur­ship for De­vel­op­ment

Man­aging For­eign Dir­ect In­vest­ment Pro­jects in De­vel­op­ing Coun­tries and Emer­ging Mar­kets

Re­gion­al track courses

Re­gion­al track courses with lan­guage

3rd semester

Elect­ives / Ex­change / In­tern­ship / CEMS

4th semester

Mas­ter's Thes­is

More about the pro­gramme

Large curriculum

2nd foreign language

Op­tions dur­ing the pro­gramme

Elect­ives

Minor

Ex­change

In­tern­ship

CEMS

Mas­ter's thes­is

See you in Feb­ru­ary 2027

Study environment

A multicultural and supportive environment

Student life at CBS

For internationals

Meet the students

André

Why did I choose my programme (and CBS)?

What do I like the best?

How do I experience the difference in academic level between my bachelor and master programme?

What are the biggest challenges in my programme?

What would I have liked to have known before starting my programme?

What do I want to do after finishing my programme?

If I could give myself a piece of advice, before starting it would be…

Nicklas

Why did I choose my programme (and CBS)?

What do I like the best?

How do I experience the difference in academic level between my bachelor and master programme?

What are the biggest challenges in my study programme?

What would I have liked to have known before starting my programme?

What do I want to do after finishing my programme?

If I could give myself a piece of advice, before starting it would be…

For in­ter­na­tion­als

Teach­ing and ex­ams

Teaching

Exams

Stu­dent life at CBS

Time con­sump­tion

Workload

Hectic around exams

Student job

Studying in Denmark - for internationals

In need of spe­cial sup­port?

Curious about global development

Into culture and languages

Like solving complex problems

See you in February 2027

Master events

Open day for master programmes 2027

3 things to consider

You care about both business and development?

Are you ready for a second language perspective?

Do you enjoy solving complex problems?

Regional track courses

Regional track courses with language

Programme overview

Business Strategy in Developing Countries and Emerging Markets

Governance and Development

Responsible Value Chains - a Path to Sustainable Development?

International Business and Economic Development

Entrepreneurship for Development

Managing Foreign Direct Investment Projects in Developing Countries and Emerging Markets

Regional track courses

Regional track courses with language

Electives / Exchange / Internship / CEMS

Master's Thesis

More about the programme

Options during the programme

Electives

Exchange

Internship

Master's thesis

See you in February 2027

For internationals

Teaching and exams

Student life at CBS

Time consumption

In need of special support?

Entry requirements

1. Bachelor degree

2. Language requirement

3. Academic requirements

1. Bachelor degree

2. Language requirement

Find your country

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