Application and admission

Play Play on YouTube

Application timeline

• October 1 - Application opens
  

• November 15 - Early application deadline (at 23:59 CET)
  

  You may apply by this deadline if you have all the required documents and have taken the required tests. A limited number of outstanding applications are selected after the first application deadline. You will receive a decision from us by the end of December whether you have been admitted, rejected, or moved into the general application pool. Edits to early applications may not be made.

• January 15 - General application deadline (at 23:59 CET)

  This is the last day to submit your application. Late applications are not accepted.

• March 15 - Notification regarding the results of the selection

Application requirements

1. Bachelor’s degree

A Bachelor's degree in any field of study, with at least 30 ECTS in business administration.

We also accept candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in any field of study and little or no background in business administration. Such candidates should demonstrate exceptional talent and outstanding achievements in areas such as academia, work experience, culture, sports, and societal contribution.

Admitted applicants with a Bachelor’s degree in subjects other than business administration or economics are required to complete an online pre-program at SSE prior to the start of their MSc studies. The pre-program is completed during the summer and corresponds to approximately one week of full-time study. It is designed to provide these students with key foundations in business administration.

Students in the final year of their Bachelor’s program are welcome to apply and must upload a document listing the remaining courses in their degree.

2. GMAT or GRE test results

We accept GMAT scores from both test center-based and online exams.

• GMAT (Focus Edition): a minimum total score of 555 is required for the application to be considered.
• GMAT (previous format): a minimum total score of 600 is required for the application to be considered.
• GRE General Test or GRE General Test at Home: a minimum quantitative score of 155 is required for the application to be considered. There is no minimum requirement for the verbal score, but higher scores strengthen your application.

Applicants with a Bachelor of Science degree from a Swedish university or SSE Riga are not required to submit GMAT or GRE test scores.

Please note that we currently receive a large number of applications from students with a Bachelor of Science degree from Swedish universities. We therefore recommend that applicants in this category consider taking the GMAT or GRE if their grades do not fully reflect their academic ability. A strong test score can strengthen an application and help it stand out.

3. Proof of proficiency in English

We accept the following as proof of English proficiency:

• IELTS Academic (test center-based or online): minimum score 7

• TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition: minimum total score 100

• CAE: minimum grade B

• BEC: minimum grade B

• CPE: minimum grade C

• Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE): minimum score 68

Exemption from the English test requirement is granted to applicants who have:

• English as their native language

• A Bachelor degree from a program conducted entirely in English

• “English 6” from Swedish upper secondary school

• Upper secondary education under the International Baccalaureate curriculum
  
  

4. Motivation and supporting documents

• Describe your reasons for applying to the program (maximum 500 words).

• Submit a brief CV highlighting recent achievements (one page; no specific format required). Relevant work experience and extracurricular activities will be considered.

• Short video introduction (highly recommended):
  Record a video (maximum 60 seconds) explaining why you want to study at SSE. You can upload the file or share a link.

• Up to two references (highly recommended):
  Submit preferably a combination of academic and professional references (if available). Only contact details are required. You may submit your application while waiting for references.

The video and references are not formal requirements, but we highly recommend including them to strengthen your application.

How to apply in five easy steps

Step 1: Find the program you are interested in

SSE offers six MSc programs. A full list is available here. All programs are two-year, full-time programs conducted in English.

Studying is full-time, and it is not recommended to combine studies with other demanding activities. To ensure your application is credible and well researched, focus on the program that genuinely interests you. If you are unsure which program suits you best, contact us and we will be happy to help.

If you apply to several programs, you must submit a separate application for each. You can only be admitted to one program, so make sure to list your preferences clearly in each application.

 

Step 2: Take the tests and meet the entry requirements

We require a GMAT or GRE test, as well as an English language test, unless you qualify for an exemption. Make sure to take the tests before the application deadline (Nov. 15 or Jan. 15).

Your application will not be considered if a GMAT or GRE test is required and you do not provide proof of having taken the test. You may upload your preliminary test result if the official result is not available before the deadline. However, you must ensure that the official result is reported to SSE.

We recommend using the same email address for your application and for reporting test scores, as this simplifies matching. Check which tests we accept and how to submit your results.

 

Step 3: Upload all required documents and complete the online application

Applications are submitted through SSE's online application portal and are free of charge.

If you apply to more than one program, you must submit a separate application for each. Make sure your program preferences are consistent across applications, as we need to know which program you prioritize.

You can save your application and return to it later. Submit your application only when all required information and documents have been provided. No changes can be made after submission.

Make sure to apply before the deadline. Late applications are not accepted.

 

Step 4: Possible interview

We may contact you if we have questions about your application. In that case, you will be invited to a short interview by phone or video.

The interview includes a few questions about your application and also gives you the opportunity to ask about the program and how it aligns with your career goals.

Step 5: Admission decision

We conduct a holistic assessment of all complete applications. We consider your previous studies, grades, GMAT or GRE scores, English proficiency, CV, and motivation.

Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission, as places are limited and competition is high.

A limited number of strong applications are selected after the early deadline. If you submit a complete application by this deadline, you may receive a decision by the end of December. Applications not selected in the first round are automatically considered in the second round. Final results are communicated in mid-March via email.

Applicants in their final year of their Bachelor's program may receive a conditional offer. They must complete their degree before the start of the MSc program and submit all final documents by August 20.

Due to the confidentiality of the admissions process, we do not provide feedback on rejected applications.

Get in touch with us

If you have specific questions about our MSc programs, the different program components or the application process, you are welcome to contact the MSc admissions team.

You can also connect with our current students via the chat platform Unibuddy to learn more about their experiences at SSE. Start chatting!