MSc in Economics and Business Administration - General Management and Analytics

By combining business economics with decision-driven analytics, you will learn to enable informed decision-making for complex business problems. The focus on general management and financial implications will allow you to set strategic directions, create value through problem-solving and interact with stakeholders across functional and organizational boundaries. The programme aims to enable graduates to qualify for positions in large organizations such as business analytics, general management positions within small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s), and business and management consulting.

About the programme

Goal setting and problem-solving in companies
While analytical models and data abound, the general manager typically does not face isolated problems similar to textbook examples. Instead, managers often face problematic situations consisting of many strongly interrelated issues across functional and organizational boundaries. Hence, an essential role for the general manager is to find ways of addressing such problematic situations by setting goals and engaging in value-creating problem-solving. You will acquire competencies for decision-making and problem-solving by developing your financial and analytical capabilities and applying these to real-life situations. You will learn to use data to engage in decision-driven analytics to develop value-creating solutions in dialogue with stakeholders. While the starting point is general management, you will develop your analytical capabilities and learn how to apply your knowledge in various areas.

Business economics as a foundation for general management
Through the programme, you will acquire knowledge and develop capabilities enabling you to engage in various activities within companies, spanning across functional domains. The programme allows you to make and implement management decisions. You will develop insight into the financial consequences of decisions and how to navigate the economic environment in which a company operates. You will build a strong foundation for general management through the progression from your business economics background. The general manager has various roles, which involve making decisions on strategy, organization, and business development and enabling the organization to implement and execute its strategy. Knowing how to engage the right stakeholders and communicate is vital for general managers to make and implement sustainable decisions that are both financially viable and ethically sound.

Business analytics and informed decision making
The growing availability of data and developments in analytical technologies such as business intelligence systems, artificial intelligence, and machine learning enables business analytics and informed decision-making. You will learn to apply analytics in various areas, such as developing models for understanding customer value and forecasting demand, evaluating complex investments, and evaluating acquisition targets. Decision-driven analytics requires both a sense of business logic and critical reflection and analytical and technical capabilities to develop insight from large data sets. Analytics and management also involve sense-making processes taking place in interaction with relevant others. Managing stakeholders and communicating across functional and organizational boundaries is essential for making and implementing sound decisions. Hence, to study and practice management, you will develop capabilities to systematically observe and collect qualitative data to analyze and make sense of interaction processes and implement change in organizations. Quantitative methods are deeply embedded in general management and analytics, but qualitative research methods too are essential in practicing and studying reflexive management.

Customise your programme

During the programme, you have various opportunities to create your own academic profile. The programme will to some extent, also give access to take progressive electives, enabling you to go even further into specific areas.

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.

See the current selection of CBS electives on Single courses and electives - Master

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 selection of CBS electives on Minors - Master

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

CEMS - Master in International Management programme
On General Management and Analytics, 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 your 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. 

What to consider

Studying in English
If you do not have bachelor’s degree taught in English, we recommend that you read more about what to consider before applying for an English taught programme. 

See Studying in English on Student Life

Study environment
General Management and Analytics is a new study programme offered for the first time in 2023, so the first cohorte of students will start this year.

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

At CBS, there are more than 23,000 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

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.

Read more on For internationals 

Teaching and exams

Teaching 
Read about Teaching and working methods on Student life

Exams
Read about Exams and exams types on Student life

Time consumption
You should know that it is demanding to study in a graduate programme, and both the curriculum and workload is  significantly higher than at bachelor level. 

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.

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 about Time consumption on Student Life

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 For internationals > Academic information  

Career

Competence profile 
In the competence profile you can find more information about the various competences you achieve on the programme: 

Competence profile for GMA

 

Course overview

1st semester

2nd semester

3rd semester

4th semester

Corporate Finance (7.5 ECTS)

Business Analytics (7.5 ECTS)

Electives / Exchange / Internship/ CEMS

(30 ECTS)

Master’s thesis (30 ECTS)

Management Accounting (7.5 ECTS)

Market-informed Decisions (7.5 ECTS)

Strategy and Organization (7.5 ECTS)

Qualitative Research Methodology (7.5 ECTS)

Market Development (7.5 ECTS)

Business Project (7.5 ECTS)

You can read more about the programme, academic content and exams in the programme regulations for General Management and Analytics

 

The page was last edited by: Web editor - Student Communications // 09/08/2023