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Business knowledge in international context

A basic understanding of a broad range of business and economics areas and good understanding of the field of international business and the challenges of environmental, economic and social sustainability.

By graduation our students will demonstrate the ability to:

• recognize the key actors and institutions (such as governments, multinational companies, international organizations, and NGOs) and their interdependent dynamics in modern societies
• apply key theories, concepts and frameworks to international business
• formulate and critically develop international business strategies and business models.

Analytical and information seeking competences 

The ability to identify and analyse sustainability challenges and business opportunities and creatively develop solutions. Prerequisites for finding and interpreting relevant information in business studies and economics to support organisational decision-making and impact assessment. Ability to assess both the impact of one's own decisions on stakeholders and the ethical aspects of organization's decisions.

By graduation our students will demonstrate the ability to:

• develop cultural competences
• compile, analyse and visualise data for effective decision-making
• analyse grand challenges in the global business environment
• address global ethical and sustainability challenges and develop creative responses to them
• be able to critically analyse AI generated information and strengthen the skills needed for further studies and life-wide learning.

Communication and teamwork competences

The ability to communicate and interact professionally in diverse communities with people from various backgrounds.

By graduation our students will be able to

• engage in clear and analytic oral and written communication
• demonstrate good communication skills in English and other languages
• utilize technology such as AI in a transparent, reliable and systematic manner
• manage projects and self-manage effectively
• foster inclusion and work collaboratively in multicultural teams. 

The completion of the Bachelor’s programme requires students to spend a semester abroad. This is done in a foreign university, where students take a semester of undergraduate level courses equivalent to the usual workload expected in the specific institution during the term. Students must complete 24 credits (ECTS) during the study abroad period. 

Detailed instructions concerning the language studies will be added later. 

* Finnish 1 or more advanced Finnish courses for non-Finnish speakers

** Finnish 2-3 or more advanced Finnish courses for non-Finnish speakers, preferably advanced courses in other languages for others

Elective studies consist of 

• multidisciplinary studies at Aalto 5 ECTS. Multidisciplinary studies are studies completed at another School of Aalto University. They cannot include studies in business and economics, industrial engineering and management or language and communication studies.
• electives 12 ECTS

You can choose elective studies to your Bachelor's degree so that the extent of the degree (180 ECTS) is fulfilled. You can exceed the extent of the degree by one course maximum.

The elective studies can consist of for example:

• multidisciplinary studies:
  • courses in the field of technology or art
  • University Wide Studies
  • courses in the European 
  • gender studies via Hilma network or other Aalto networks
• additional studies in the degree programme
• courses from other programmes
• language and communication studies. The Language Centre offers also courses in Communication and Social Interaction and Intercultural Communication.
• internship (3 ECTS or 6 ECTS)
• Personal Impact courses

Elective studies can include basic, intermediate or advanced level courses.

Elective studies completed outside of Aalto University

Elective studies must be on higher education level, primarily part of the degree studies of the organising institution and meet the intended learning goals of the degree completed at the Aalto University School of Business. Higher education institutions also offer studies outside degree education aimed at a wide audience, and the suitability of such studies is assessed by evaluating the correspondence to the learning outcomes of the degree. 

Starting from 1 August 2025, the credit transfer process to the electives studies of the degree has changed. Read more about this change in the news article. 

Are you planning to take studies outside of Aalto University and include them in the elective studies? 

If the course you are taking is worth 1–3 credits and can be completed flexibly online, apply for a permission to include the course in your degree in advance. For other courses, follow the normal credit transfer process. 

How to apply for the approval

1. In Sisu, add a study draft of the course you wish to take in your study plan
2. Write an informal application in which you justify why you want to include said course in your degree. In your justifications, consider the entity of the degree and the skills and knowledge you would acquire.
3. Send the application to the Planning Officer of your major or programme. You can find the contact information of the Planning Officers in the Student Guide on your programme’s pages in the section Contact.
4. The decision is made by the School of Business’s Vice Dean for Education. The applications are processed approximately once a month.
5. If the course is approved, complete it and afterwards, apply for a credit transfer (inclusion) in Sisu via the study draft as per usual. 

This procedure is applied only to 1-3 credit courses that can be completed flexibly online outside of Aalto University. 

Elective studies cannot overlap with other courses included in the degree.