MSc in International Business and Politics

By understanding the international, political, economic and to some extent legal dynamics that shape the world we live in, you are able to critically analyse and understand political and business dynamics and how they influence each other.

About the programme

The MSc IBP addresses core business skills and considers business activities within a broader political and economic context. When you graduate you will therefore be equipped to take on the challenges faced by firms, policymakers and their advisers across the globe. Our graduates find employment in a broad range of occupations including management posts in the private and public sectors, business development, research, consultancy, project leadership and the mass media.

The programme rests upon the development of specific skills in the four academic streams around which it is structured: business strategies, international political economy, economics and policymaking processes.

Business Economics
The core course considers international trade theory, foreign direct investment (FDI), and the operations of financial markets. The optional stream courses build upon BSc-level economics and offer a microeconomic study of firms and markets as well as advanced macroeconomics
Business Strategies
The core course surveys the contemporary strategic challenges facing multinational enterprises whilst the optional stream courses use theoretical frameworks to examine issues related to people management as well as looking at innovation processes and the ways in which firms access, transfer and use globally dispersed knowledge.
International Business Regulation
The courses build upon the study of IPE at undergraduate level by considering theoretical perspectives at an advanced level and applying them to empirical case studies. The optional stream courses policies focus on the policy responses of emerging and developing countries to international business as well as the politics of business standards, political risk, the politics of international finance, global growth strategies, or the management of international organizations.
Business and Public Policy
The core course considers the making of public policy, the instruments that can be used to regulate different types of policy and introduces ways of analyzing policy processes as to devise recommendations for businesses and governments. It incorporates policymaking simulations, negotiation exercises and opportunities to explore ‘real world’ situations. The optional stream courses consider corruption in both developed and developing countries and the policy challenges that it poses as well as behavioural economics and the insights that it offers for processes of policy development

In the courses within these streams, you will:

analyze the decisions made by firms, the factors shaping those decisions, the market and non-market strategies they employ and the contemporary strategic challenges that they face
consider the interactions between firms and governments, the prime forces that shape the character of the national and international economy
analyze the decisions made by firms, the factors shaping those decisions, the different ideas, interests, and institutions that influence the making and implementation of public policy, the impact of the institutions and structures that mediate between markets and states, and the character of subsequent policy outcomes
address issues at regional, national and global levels. It thus considers contemporary developments and processes in and across emerging markets and advanced economies as well as the role played by supra-national institutions such as the World Bank and the European Union
assess the ways in which states and businesses respond to contemporary challenges such as sustainability, inequality, the increasing volatility of governance structures and market uncertainties

Customise your 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.

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 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

Academic internship
You can choose to replace some 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.

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. Therefore, the project report and work assignments during your internship have to be relevant to your study programme.

CEMS - Master in International Management programme
On MSc IBP, 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
Interest in international economic and political issues
You should have an interest in international economic and political issues. You should also be aware that the programme emphasises an analytical approach to political issues. This means, you will not be discussing political opinions and standpoints but learn how to analyse and understand political phenomena in relation to international business.

Keep up to date with current affairs
Since this programme deals with international politics and contemporary issues, we recommended that you keep up to date with current affairs. You can do so by following the media, in particular media with strong international coverage such as Financial Times or the Economist.

From bachelor programme to MSc in International Business and Politics
The programme builds on the BSc in International Business and Politics. This gives a strong foundation in both business studies, political science and international political economy.

In contrast to the BSc, the MSc also cover central aspects of international law. Students from the BSc IBP should be aware of this progression.

The programme also enrolls many students with other bachelor level backgrounds. Not all students in the MSc IBP have similar levels of skills in business or politics. Some may be less prepared for either the business or the political aspects of the programme.

If your bachelor degree has provided you with a limited foundation in one of the two aspects, it is a good idea to try to make up for this before you enter the MSc IBP.

Studying in English
If you do not have a 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 environmentInternational environment
The study environment is very international with both students and faculty having diverse national backgrounds. Around 40% of the students have a non-Danish background.

The IBP Union
The IBP Union is a student organisation for students in both BSc IBP and MSc IBP. The union arrangesguest lectures, case competitions, exchange with students from other universities, dialogue meetings with alumni, and social events.

Find out more on ibpunion.dk

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

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.

Course Overview

The 1st semester consists of four mandatory core courses addressing each of the four themes that define the programme. The 2nd semester consists of two mandatory courses that brings together the different themes and applies them to specific business cases. This is then followed by more specialist ‘stream’ courses where you choose between 4 streams that each consist of 2 courses.

You will find a description of the courses in each stream below the table.

1st semester	2nd semester	3rd semester	4th semester
Analysis of Industry and Competition (7.5 ECTS)	Advanced Quantitative Methods (7.5 ECTS)	Electives / Internship / Exchange / CEMS (30 ECTS)	Master's thesis (30 ECTS)
International Business: Market and Non-market Strategies (7.5 ECTS)	Advanced Mixed Methods (7.5 ECTS)
Applied International Political Economy (7.5 ECTS)	Choose 1 out of 4 streams Business Strategies or Business Economics or International Political Economy or Business and Public Policy
Applied Policy Analysis (7.5 ECTS)

You can read more about the programme, academic content and exams in the programme regulations for MSc in International Business and Politics

Stream courses

Business Economics

Course	ECTS
Topics in Public Economics	7.5 ECTS
Advanced Macroeconomics	7.5 ECTS

Business Strategies

Course	ECTS
Global Innovation Strategies	7.5 ECTS
Managing People in Multinational Corporations	7.5 ECTS

International Business Regulation

Course	ECTS
Govering the Green Transition	7.5 ECTS
Governing Risk in the World Economy	7.5 ECTS

Business and Public Policy

Course	ECTS
Corruption: Causes, Consequences and Policies	7.5 ECTS
Behavioural Economics and Public Policy	7.5 ECTS

The page was last edited by: Web editor - Student Communications // 04/09/2024