MSc in International Management & Business

Become an expert in corporate strategy with a 360° approach to intercultural management

Become a successful international manager and experience what it means to work with people from all over the world on a daily basis. Master teamwork and interaction in a multicultural setting. In our MSc in International Management & Business (MSc IMB - previously known as IM) programme launched in 2005, you will take courses led by global experts within a highly international campus and curriculum.

The MSc IMB is designed for people with a management background and a strong motivation to meet the challenges of international business. Adaptability, flexibility and global understanding are key success factors for young graduates starting a career in international management. These skills will be developed throughout the programme through state-of-the-art management education provided by international faculty.

With the increasing globalisation of economies, companies need highly skilled leaders who can tackle complex problems and master multicultural thinking and action. The MSc IM programme will equip you with both business knowledge and soft skills to enter the positions of your choice in international companies.

As of Fall 2024, this programme is renamed to the MSc in International Management & Business.

KEY INFORMATION

About the Programme

  • Degree earned: MSc in International Management & Business
  • Language: English
  • Tuition fees: 1-year MSc €18,000, 2-year MSc €25,000

Eligibility

  • English proficiency
  • 1-Year MSc: 4-year degree in business, engineering or science, OR exceptionally a 4-year degree in another field with business experience or academic honours
  • 2-Year MSc: 3-year or 4-year degree in any field

Programme

Prepare for your career in any sector of international management at one of the top ranked, triple accredited and most corporately connected business schools in Europe – and in one of the best places to live in France. Complete your core courses, and then determine the focus and format of your education to fit your career goals.

Period 1 (September to January)

You will gain a solid understanding of the foundational principles of international management and develop relevant skills in problem solving and innovation. Core courses include:

Financial accountingManagerial finance
Corporate financeInternational strategy
Corporate social responsability & Business ethicsHuman resources management
International marketingManaging across cultures
Managerial coachingResearch methods in business

Period 2 (February to June)

At this point in the programme, you’ll have built a solid foundation in business management. You will then select one of the following five specialisations: 

MARKETING FOR PRODUCT MANAGERS

  • Marketing project management and tools
  • Marketing of innovation
  • Bringing to market
  • Capturing market insights
  • Integrated marketing communication in the digital age
  • Critical marketing
  • Specialized marketing tools

CORPORATE FINANCE

  • Valuation techniques
  • Portfolio management
  • Module of specialization
  • Financial engineering
  • Advanced financial analysis
  • Cash management & derivatives
  • Reporting under IFRS/US GAAP

CONSULTING

  • Quantitative and qualitative skills for consultants
  • International business for consultants
  • IS and digital transformation for consultants
  • Strategy and change management for consultants
  • Soft skills for consultants
  • Projet and knowledge management for consultants
  • Consulting mission

INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY AND MANAGEMENT

  • Rethinking Business for Society
  • Agile Approaches in Contemporary Companies
  • International Business
  • Strategies in Emerging Markets
  • Business Simulation
  • Digital Transformation
  • Change Management
  • Project Management
  • Corporate Entrepreneurship and Innovation

FOOD AND AGRIBUSINESS MANAGEMENT

  • Food Value Chain & Performance
  • International Food Marketing
  • Operations & Supply Chain Management in the Food Sector
  • Administration & Financial Risk Management (Brazil)
  • Sustainable & Disruptive Innovation (Brazil)
  • Value Chain Management (Brazil)

In addition to the Marketing, Finance or Strategy specialisations, you will broaden your managerial knowledge even further by choosing four elective courses.

Examples of elective courses include:

  • Leadership
  • Business communication
  • International negotiation
  • Digital transformation strategy
  • Change management
  • Project management
  • Project in Ethics & CSR
  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation
  • Psychology of Money
  • Consulting
  • Operations & Supply chain

Period 3 (July to December)

(Minimum 4 months, maximum 6 months)

During your final term, you will complete an individual internship, a collective consulting mission for a company, or a research project. 

Internship or Company Mission

You will secure your work experience anywhere in the world with the assistance of our career advisors. This professional mission will be guided by a faculty member, so you will gain both a hands-on practical understanding and an academic one – something that looks good on any resume.

Internships in France are paid; this will vary from country to country, depending on local laws.

Apply your knowledge and skills within your sector, and further strengthen your network and employability.

Research Project

Instead, you may choose to work on a research project with a faculty member, delving into research questions applied to concrete company problems.

During periods 2 & 3 (January to November)

Delve into your real-world international study of a business and management area that will influence the trajectory of your career. This dissertation is both academic and practical, allowing you to showcase what you have learned and how you plan to apply it. 

You will write this dissertation and can defend it either in person in Nantes or from any place in the world via online communication tools.

While your programme is 100% English-taught, you have the option of adding French to your steadily increasing list of qualifications – for work or for fun! 

You will have the opportunity to take optional French language courses before the programme begins. Audencia offers a four-week French language course with 20 hours of lessons a week for an additional cost of €600. 

You may also learn independently at any time using your exclusive online access to Assimil, a proven intuitive language learning method, provided at no additional cost.

Additionally, you can choose to attend French as a Foreign Language (FLE) evening classes at the University of Nantes’ language department, which is situated just across the road from our main campus. There are a wide range of levels available. Contact the University of Nantes directly by clicking here to register. Register early to secure your place.

Programme Structure

The MSc in International Management & Business is available in two formats:

If you are a highly qualified student with a four-year degree in business, science or engineering, you may be eligible for the 1-year MSc in International Management programme. If you have a degree in another field, or a three-year degree, the 2-year MSc programme is for you.

In the 1-year MSc programme, students start directly in the core courses, specialising further in their second semester, as outlined above.

Students starting the 1-year MSc programme in Fall 2023 will be completing the MSc International Management programme.

If you have a four-year degree in a field other than business or a three-year degree in any field, you may be eligible for the 2-year MSc programme OR the 2-year Master in Management programme.

The first year of both programmes provide students with solid foundations in management and busines, while the second year allows students to specialise in their area of interest:

In the second year of the programme, students begin the core MSc courses, and specialise further in the following semester.

Students starting the 2-year MSc or Master in Management programme in Fall 2023 will be completing or specialisating in the newly renamed MSc International Management & Business programme.

20
Nationalities represented in the class of 2020
77%
found a job before graduation

Career & Alumni

Proven career outcomes for international success

With the increasing globalisation of the world’s economies, corporations need highly trained leaders who can tackle complex and challenging issues – and in innovative and socially responsible ways that emphasise ethics alongside profitability. Gain insights and practical experience from leading global experts and corporations in the IMM.

Discover our Corporate Partners

Once you graduate from the MSc IMB, you will be equipped to work in various sectors, such as:

InsuranceFinancial ServicesProfessional Services
Civil EngineeringChemical IndustryInformation Technology
Textile IndustryMechanical IndustryAgribusiness
Communication & Creative IndustriesConsultingGovernment & Non Profit

The MSc IMB will give you the skills, knowledge and know-how to occupy different positions, such as:

General ManagementImport & Export SalesMarketing
LogisticsFinancial Management & AuditingConsulting

 

Our Career Centre will help you throughout the entire career development process. During your studies, you will have access to CV and interview workshops, individual career coaching, personal development programmes, and many information resources and online tools.

In addition, the Career Centre organises each year Employment Fairs with 120+ companies, shares with Audencia students and Alumni 90,000+ job and internship opportunities, and gives you privileged access to 100+ career events per year.

Audencia graduates interested in pursuing entrepreneurial goals can also benefit from our in-house business incubator!

 

Join more than 27,000 Audencia alumni working in 30 countries. Audencia Alumni includes 31 professional and cultural clubs in France and 40 international chapters. Furthermore, over 2,000 of our alumni have become CEOs.

The alumni association will help you connect with other professionals and provide additional development and networking opportunities to support your career.

22%
work in Marketing & Communications
12%
are Entrepreneurs or Executive Managers
18%
work in Sales
17%
work in Consulting & Auditing

Admissions & Finance

For a full breakdown of programme pathways, eligibility requirements and application procedures, see: Admissions Pathways.

Join us in Nantes to internationalise your future career!