Application and admission

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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. Applications will be assessed on an ongoing basis, and selected candidates will receive an invitation to the assessment center by the end of December.

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

  This is the last day to submit your application. Late applications are not accepted. By the beginning of February, you will be informed whether you have progressed to the next round and are invited to the assessment center.

• Mid-February - Assessment center

  The assessment center will take place at SSE. A limited number of online sessions will be offered for applicants outside Europe or those unable to attend in person.

• March 15 - Notification regarding the results of the selection

Application requirements

1. Bachelor’s degree

A Bachelor’s degree with at least 90 ECTS in social sciences or humanities (including, but not limited to, business administration, economics, finance, political science, psychology, or sociology), with a minimum of 30 ECTS in business administration.

Business administration studies typically include areas such as accounting and financial management, entrepreneurship, finance, human resource management, international business, management, information systems, marketing, operations management, and business law.

Applicants from other academic backgrounds such as engineering, law, philosophy, languages, computer science, or biomedicine may also be considered. Applications are assessed individually based on completed coursework.

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

The curriculum of the MSc in International Business is designed to support the completion of the CEMS Master in International Management, which includes additional language requirements.

Students must meet the CEMS English language requirements before the start of the CEMS MIM.

4. Proficiency in another language

Please list all languages you are proficient in. This information will be considered as part of the assessment.

5. 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.

• Ranking of ten preferred CEMS partner schools for your semester abroad.

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

In reviewing applications, we consider international and intercultural experience, including language proficiency, work or study abroad, international or multilingual family background, and relevant extracurricular activities.

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: Assessment Center

If you pass the initial selection, you will be invited to an assessment center. This is a half-day event (either in person or online) that includes a case analysis and presentation, as well as an interview with one of our assessors. You are assessed based on the following CEMS-wide selection criteria:

Intellectual potential and knowledge

• Intellectual potential
• Academic excellence
• Prior knowledge in business-related fields

Attitude and soft skills

• Motivation and drive
• Interpersonal skills
• Integrity
• Critical thinking
• Motivation for the CEMS MIM program

Global orientation

• Language skills
• International outlook and cross-cultural competence

The assessment center also provides an opportunity to ask questions 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.

If you apply by November 15 and your application is complete and selected to proceed, you will receive an invitation to the assessment center by the end of December. If you are assessed as a qualified applicant but not selected in the first round, your application will automatically be considered in the second round, and you may receive an invitation by the beginning of February. Final decisions will be communicated in mid-March, and all applicants will be notified by 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!