Master's Degree in Global Business.

Travel the world. Be part of an international team. Get to know different business economies. This program gives you a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in - and experience - a wide variety of cultures. See what is new and question longstanding practices.

The Master's degree program in Global Business will prepare you to pursue a career in an international setting.

The program will hone and improve your skills in self-reflection, tolerance, understanding, flexibility and intercultural skills. These are qualities every manager needs in today's globally networked world.

 

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Key Facts

Degree

Master of Science (MSc)

Tracks

- ACT
- PAC

Duration

4 semesters

ECTS

120 Credits

Language

English (Level C1)

Location

National Phase: JKU Linz
International Phase: JKU & 2 Partner Universities

Program

Full-Time

Application period

15 May - 15 June, 2025
(no application period in fall 2024)

Contact

mgb(at)jku.at

What Makes This Program Special

  • Become a global business professional: During the international phase of your studies, you come into contact quickly with local and domestic business issues in foreign countries. You have opportunities to visit on-site companies and learn more about their business activities. When in the last country during the international phase, you will work on a real company project together with your team.
  • Double Degree Option: Once you have successfully completed the international phase, you also have a unique opportunity to earn a double degree at one of the partner universities. 
  • Intercultural Soft Skills: Strengthen your self-confidence and personality in an intercultural setting by getting professional support during your classes as well as opportunities to receive mentoring and reflect as part of a team; these skills are invaluable when working in a challenging, ever-changing global environment later on in your career. You will learn a new language and actively take part in organized events to get to know the local (business) culture better. The group size of 30-40 students is ideal to network and communicate with fellow classmates.

Master's in Global Business - Tracks

The Global Business program currently offers two different tracks, each containing a different cultural and business focus. The following tracks are available:

 

The Different Programs and Areas of Specialization

  • The Fundamentals of International Business: You learn theory through case studies but also actively take part in projects to learn how to directly apply what you have learned to real-world situations. These opportunities allow you to hone your skill set.
  • Languages and Culture: The time spent abroad during the international phase along with language courses, team collaboration, working together with company representatives and students and educators of different nationalities will help you improve your language and intercultural skills.

Listen in as the program director and a student talk about the program from their perspective!

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The Different Programs and What You Will Learn

In addition to international business and languages, the Master's degree program provides the following opportunities to grow your skill set:

  • Teamwork, Professional and Personal Development: By studying in an unfamiliar environment at three different universities together with students from a wide variety of backgrounds, you challenge yourself to go beyond your comfort zone and face new challenges in a relatively short period of time. Working continuously as part of an international team also requires openness, flexibility and creativity in order to find solutions. The experience allows you to grow personally and strengthen your team skills.
  • Consulting: As part of the international phase, you acquire a basic understanding of consulting and will also be able to apply what you have learned in the classroom to real-world situations by taking part in one company project per team.

Did you know that ...?

As part of the Global Business ACT (Austria, Canada, Taiwan) program, you can choose to pursue an additional MBA degree at the National Sun Yat-sen University in Taiwan. As part of the PAC (Peru, Austria, Canada) program, you can choose to pursue an MBA at the CENTRUM PUCP Graduate Business School in Peru. 

Global Business and Your Career Prospects

Acquiring a strong understanding of management combined with experience abroad is ideal to prepare you for an international career in many areas of industry and business. Potential careers include:

  • International Management (or assistant positions in the area of International management): You have the background and expertise to, for example, develop strategies, manage sales or key accounts, and manage projects (particularly at corporate headquarters, subsidiaries, as well as at internationally active companies). During the initial phase of your professional career, you will also be well prepared to pursue an assistant position in management - such as an assistant to the manager - where you prepare information and concepts to make strategic decisions or help to develop future scenarios.
  • International Human Resource Management: As an international human resource manager, you contribute significantly to an international company or group’s success. Your proficiency in foreign languages, acquired intercultural skills, sound theoretical education, and your personal experience abroad come together to ideally prepare you to manage company affairs as well as provide support services to employees from different backgrounds. 
  • International Marketing: Specialists who have an academic background and understanding of international marketing are not only in demand in an export-oriented country such as Austria, but also internationally. Your qualification profile will enable you to work in international marketing management, international business development, and international product/brand management.
  • Consulting: As a consultant, you analyze trends and challenges for companies or entire industries. Based on your analyses, you create new strategic options and business models. At the same time, you also support a company’s internal operations.

On average, graduates in this field find a job immediately after completing the program. After 3 years on the job, their average monthly gross salary is € 3.625.

„This program teaches you how to deal with unexpected situations, particularly those requiring you to react and respond quickly. This is extremely helpful, particularly if you work abroad after graduation.“
Daniel Aschauer, ACT Graduate 2016/2017
Daniel Aschauer, Absolvent des JKU Masterstudiums Global Business

Register to Enroll

Requirements

In order to be accepted to the Master's degree program, you must meet the following admission requirements:

Still have questions?

Then contact us!

Department

Admissions Office

Building

Bank Building

Please note: In order to successfully complete this program, you need strong time management skills, motivation. and a willingness to study in a full-time Master's degree program (120 ECTS credits) as part of an international group of like-minded people and under sometimes challenging conditions.

Start Your Studies - A Step-by-Step Guide

We have summarized and compiled comprehensive information for you, beginning with the application process to paying tuition fees! Learn everything you need to know here.

Frequently Asked Questions

The programs' international focus is a unique feature. These Master's degree programs in Global Business are taught exclusively in English and provide students with an opportunity to spend approximately nine months at three universities (the JKU and two of the JKU's international partner universities in the respective track), studying and experiencing different cultures. The joint Master's degree program in Global Business aims to prepare students to pursue careers at international companies. This special graduate degree program not only challenges students to travel the world and learn to work together in international teams, but it also encourages them to appreciate different cultures and to reflect critically on their own country. Moreover, each track offers students the opportunity to acquire a double degree at one of the partner universities.

The program has been designed to raise each student's level of awareness, tolerance, understanding and flexibility - traits that every manager in our global world needs today.

Click here to learn more about the application procedure.

The Master's degree program in Global Business is a two-year program consisting of a year spent at the JKU and an international phase where students will be staying at the JKU and two other countries, spending approximately three months at each partner university.

Detailed information about the classes at the JKU during the national phase is available here for each respective track.

Whether or not you can begin with the international phase depends on the program track you select. Detailed information about how each individual track is structured is available here: Tracks

As an Austrian citizen or EU national, you are not subject to tuition fees if you are enrolled in the Master's degree program in Global Business. Students must, however, pay the Austrian student union fee, incl. insurance (€ 20.20 per semester, last update: June 2021).

Certain non-EU nationals will be subject to tuition fees of € 726.72 per semester. In addition, these students will also have to pay the Austrian student union fee, incl. insurance (€ 20.20 per semester, last update: June 2021). This means a total amount of € 746.92 per semester.

JKU Global Business Master students are not subject to any tuition fees at the partner universities while studying there during the international phase of the study program.

Mobility Grants

Students who are officially enrolled at the JKU Linz can apply for a number of scholarships and grants to help financially support and organize their stay abroad. In addition, you may be exempt from paying tuition fees (=Studienbeitrag) providing you meet the corresponding requirements. All students must pay the Austrian student union fee.

 

Exchange Program Study Grants

The following study grants are available. The amounts vary according to :

  • the type of exchange program you are on
  • where you live
  • whether or not you already receive financial aid

The following study grants are available:

  • Erasmus study grants (intended mostly for studies at European universities)
  • The JKU Study Grant (mostly for universities located outside of Europe)
  • Financial Aid for Study Abroad Programs (for students in the second part of studies, or the third semester of a Bachelor's or Master's degree program and receiving financial aid)
  • IPS Study Grant of the Upper Austrian Government (for students who have had main residency in Upper Austria for a minimum of 1 year)

In case you are having an interview to get nominated for the program you will be provided with further information on available study grants. 

Still Have Questions?

Do you need help registering or do you have questions about the program? Contact the JKU's Office of Student Information and Academic Advising (SIBS)!

Program Management at the JKU Business School

If you have further questions about the Master's degree program in Global Business, please do not hesitate to inquire more information via email: programs-businessschool(at)jku.at

Advanced Degree Programs

After completing your graduate degree, you can continue your education by pursuing an advanced degree:

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