Our Graduate/Master programs are based on and are fully compatible with the established European and American educational systems. Master programs consist of 60 European credits, equivalent to 40 American semester credits. Courses are assigned a number of credits, indicating the estimated workload. Each credit equals up to 30 learning hours, including contact hours, exam hours, self-study hours and group-study hours. The workload of a typical full-time graduate student amounts to 20 credits and 600 learning hours per quarter.

Students are assessed on a combination of attendance, participation, individual assignments, group assignments and exams. Assignments may include reading materials, term papers, reports, presentations, and others. The combination of these assessments provides students with an equal opportunity to demonstrate their skills and knowledge. The minimum passing grade is D (60%). In case of an FX grade, students have the option to request a second exam or assignment in order to obtain the minimum passing grade of 60%. Exams can be in paper-based, open-book or take-home format.

Students who achieve a certain GPA (Grade Point Average, or the weighted average of all grades earned, calculated on a 4.0 scale), will have their academic honors listed on the academic transcript and diploma supplement that is issued together with the diploma.

This program was modeled after our Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program that was ranked in the Global Top 200 and the European Top 60 in the 2019 QS MBA ranking, as a Tier One program in the 2020 CEO Magazine Global MBA ranking, 41st in the 2019 CEO Magazine Global Executive MBA ranking, and 4th in the 2020 CEO Magazine Global Online MBA ranking. Learn more about the school’s rankings.

Our Master in Business Studies (MBS) program is programmatically accredited by the US-based Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). This program was also originally modeled after our Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program that is programmatically accredited by the EU-based European Council for Business Education (ECBE). Learn more about the school's accreditation.

Upon successful completion of the study program students receive an international Undergraduate Certificate in Global Business awarded by the school’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, based on the recommendation of the faculty of the local campuses where credits were earned. Learn more about the school’s academic degrees and accreditation.

All certificates, diplomas, degrees and other awards issued by the school can be awarded not only the traditional way on paper in a school-branded diploma cover, but also through the Ethereum blockchain. With this cutting-edge technology, we are adding a whole new dimension to diploma verification, of which students and alumni benefit. With secure document verification, one such benefit is the instant verification of the awards by employers during the recruitment and hiring process, thereby reducing the processing time and avoiding unnecessary delays in by instantly verifying the validity of the award. Those with Blockchain-verifiable awards will have a major benefit over other candidates when it comes to the speed at which they go through the hiring process. Refer to the program fees document for pricing details.

Academically qualified and professionally experienced professors link theory and practice by bringing contemporary case studies into the classroom, preparing students to become the global leaders of the future.

Small class sizes with up to 30 students allow professors to use interactive teaching methods, thereby increasing group interaction, improving group dynamics and building long-lasting connections among students.

Learn more about the Application Process, or find out about specific guidelines for Transfer Students and Exchange Students. For those without national passports or residence permits, the Student Visa Guidelines may also be of interest.

Our Admissions Department applies a rolling admissions process and does not set deadlines to submit applications because of the multiple starting dates available. Applications are reviewed continuously troughout the year. Only in case a student visa is required do we recommend to apply 1-3 months prior to the intended starting date.

Program fees are calculated pro-rata per campus where the student completed courses and earned credits. The total fees are due payable on a quarterly basis on a fixed payment schedule. Program fees cover matriculation and tuition fees but do not include the cost of living, housing, travel, transport, health insurance, study materials and other expenses. For more details, refer to the document attached.

Students should be fluent in English, and have obtained a Bachelor degree (or equivalent). Refer to the application process for further details on the recommended English language levels.

Degrees with 180 European credits or 120 American semester credits are considered equivalent. Other degrees can be submitted along with your application for review by our Admissions Department. No distinction is made between academic or professional Bachelor degrees.

Students who do not hold a business-related Bachelor degree or equivalent may be required to complete an inbound assessment test prior to starting the program, and, depending on the results, earn an additional number of credits in leveling courses from the Pre-Master Foundation Program in order to be fully prepared for our graduate programs.

Students who have 15 or more years of relevant work experience may apply directly for the Pre-Master program and will be required to complete an inbound assessment test prior to starting the graduate program, and, depending on the results, earn an additional number of credits in specific undergraduate courses.

The Private Tutoring and Private Coaching options allow students to schedule additional one-on-one sessions with professors or study coaches to catch up on missed contact hours or to receive additional academic support. Sessions are charged per hour and take place on-campus at a time that is convenient for both the student and professor or coach.

The Internship option encourages students to put their skills and knowledge into practice through offers received by our Careers Department from regional and international companies and organizations. No credits can be awarded for internships. Internship agreements of up to 3 months are available only for students with a national passport or residence permit and cannot be considered for a student visa extension.

This entirely optional and fully customizable program allows students who do not hold a business-related Bachelor degree or equivalent to earn up to an additional 30 credits in levelling courses in order to be fully prepared for our graduate programs. Learn more at the Campus-based Pre-Master and the Online Pre-Master.

Continue at UIBS and earn a second private (programmatically-accredited) Master degree for an additional 30 European credits and a total of 90 European credits on a full-time or part-time basis throughout the campus network, including also in an online, executive or blended format. Any combination of programs is possible, including with those from our sister institution, European College for Liberal Studies (ECLS). The applicable program requirements will depend on the combination of programs. Shorter Graduate Certificate programs are also available that can be completed on top of your Master program. Additional dual degree programs are available with our academic partners; these typically add another academic year to your studies rather than 1 to 2 additional quarters.

Students can transfer between campuses on a quarterly basis with guaranteed program compatibility. Our quarter-based academic calendar allows for a continuous study abroad experience across Europe and Asia.

Consider spending one or more quarters at our satellite campus in Tokyo, Japan and experience all the city and country have to offer.

Each academic year, students from across the campus network celebrate their graduation in Barcelona, Spain. During the ceremony we honor all students who graduated in the past 12 months, all students who graduated just recently, as well as all imminent graduates who wish to participate. Watch the video of our most recent Graduation Ceremony below!

Each academic year, students from all campuses in Europe, as well as students from our academic partners can join our Global Study Trip to Tokyo, Japan. The weeklong trip is packed with cultural excursions, company visits, social activities and an Asian Management seminar.

Earn a Global Master degree at UIBS by studying in Europe and Tokyo, and finishing with one of our academic partners in the United States, such as UC Irvine or UC Berkeley.

With the help from our dedicated career services and our online career center, students and alumni get the career support they need to help their professional careers take off. Our dedicated career services organize relevant career seminars and guest speaker events on a quarterly basis, and our online career center provides 24/7 access to the latest job offers and internship opportunities and to a wide range of videos and articles with helpful tips and advice.

Our professional study programs prepare students for a wide range of professions across a wide range of industries. Important to note is that our programs do not aim for access to regulated professions or government employment. While access to government employment may be limited because of the private nature of our degrees, several alumni do work for government authorities in a number of positions.

Take a look at our LinkedIn page and see where our alumni work, what they do and what they have accomplished with a professional degree from UIBS. You may be surprised about the variety of positions in small, medium, large and multinational companies across numerous industries that is represented among our alumni.

The California Extension Program is operated by one of our local academic partners, the Haas School of Business from the University of California at Berkeley (UC Berkeley), through its Berkeley Haas Global Access Program (BHGAP), and is available to all Graduate students and alumni who wish to complete a study abroad period of up to 2 semesters in Berkeley, California, in addition to the studies at UIBS. Credits earned at UC Berkeley may also partially count towards a second Master degree at UIBS. Exclusively for students in the Master in Business Studies (MBS) program, up to 8 American semester credits (12 European credits) can be transferred from UC Berkeley into the program at UIBS. Specific admissions and/or academic conditions may apply.

The California Extension Program is operated by one of our local academic partners, the Division of Continuing Education from the University of California at Irvine (UC Irvine), and is available to all Graduate students and alumni who wish to complete a study abroad period of up to 2 semesters in Irvine, California, in addition to the studies at UIBS. Credits earned at our partner may also partially count towards a second Master degree at UIBS. Exclusively for students in the Master in Business Studies (MBS) program, up to 12 American quarter credits (12 European credits) can be transferred from UC Irvine into the program at UIBS. Specific admissions and/or academic conditions may apply.

Continue in a Postgraduate program at UIBS and earn a private Doctorate degree by completing an additional 60 European credits on a part-time basis throughout the campus network. Shorter Postgraduate Certificate programs are also available.

Continue in a Postgraduate program at our sister institution, the European College for Liberal Studies (ECLS), and earn a private Doctorate degree by completing an additional 60 European credits on a part-time basis throughout the campus network. Shorter Postgraduate Certificate programs are also available.

Check out several interviews with students from our various campuses!

Check out several interviews with professors from our various campuses!