Master's Degree Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management, Business and Technology

Business and technology studies prepare you for an international career

The technology industry needs young professionals with an intercultural mindset and an in-depth understanding of the latest technologies. We at Tampere University welcome engineers and engineering graduates from all over the world to study in our MSc Programme in Business and Technology (B&T) in an intercultural, business-oriented learning environment.

B&T focuses on business development in international sales and sourcing networks. Companies operate in global networks; both managers and business development professionals need to understand how these networks work and how they can be managed.

In B&T you will develop a thorough understanding of the business processes characteristic of global business-to-business markets and the ability to apply business development practices in international networks. As a special feature, our B&T programme emphasises problem-based learning in projects with the local industry. Our programme combines theory and practice providing students with skills and competences appreciated in the industry; in terms of graduate employment rates, B&T is one of the leading international MSc programmes in Europe. An engineering background complemented with B&T is, therefore, an excellent starting point for a career in management.

As B&T is targeted at young engineers and engineering graduates, we place special focus on technology-intensive products and services. This pedagogical approach ensures that students are able to take full advantage of their engineering background when repositioning themselves in the management field.

Information about studies

• Type: Master's degree
• Degree earned: Master of Science (Technology)
• Planned duration: 2 years
• Extent of studies: 120 ECTS
• City: Tampere
• Campus: Hervanta Campus
• Tuition fee for non-EU/EEA citizens: 12000 €

Study objectives

The technology industry needs young professionals with an intercultural mindset and an understanding of the potential offered by the latest technologies. The Master's Degree Programme in Business and Technology (B&T) welcomes engineers and engineering graduates from all over the world to study management in an intercultural and business-oriented learning environment.

B&T focuses on business development in international sales and sourcing networks. Companies operate in global networks: both managers and business development professionals need to understand how these networks function and can be managed. Our B&T students develop a thorough understanding of the business processes characteristic of global business-to-business markets and the ability to apply business development practices in international networks. The major offered is International Sales and Sourcing, with special emphasis on business development in technology-intensive industries.

As a special feature, the B&T emphasises problem-based learning in projects conducted in collaboration with local industry. This combination of theory and practice is in great demand in industry; in terms of graduate employment rates, B&T is one of the leading international MSc programmes in Europe.

Business development in sales and sourcing often requires managers to understand not only the potential of but also the limitations embedded in these technologies. An engineering background is, therefore, an excellent starting point for a career in sales or sourcing. Furthermore, since B&T is targeted for young engineers and engineering graduates, technology-intensive products and services are emphasised in the programme. This pedagogical approach ensures that students are able to take full advantage of their engineering background when repositioning themselves in the management field.

Complementary courses as a part of the major provide students with options to deepen their competencies in subjects based on their personal and career interests.

More about the language of instruction

The official language of the programme is English, meaning that all the courses, exams and student services are arranged in English. Consequently, proficiency in both written and spoken English is an absolute prerequisite. Students are required to submit an approved certificate of their language proficiency when applying for admission. In addition, students are required to complete a course in the Finnish language. The course provides them with an introduction to everyday Finnish and Finnish culture.

Study contents

Studies in B&T are organised into a pedagogically coherent three-semester package. The programme starts with an introductory course to management studies and eventually culminates in advanced courses simulating decision-making situations in real-life business. Students who hold a BSc in Industrial Engineering and Management will study a technologically oriented minor. After the three semesters, students write their master's thesis in close collaboration with a company, mostly in a paid position.

Our experienced teachers use a broad range of teaching methods, such as lectures, class discussions, case studies, written assignments and problem-based learning with companies. As is characteristic of Finnish education, we encourage active interaction between students and faculty members. The feedback we receive from our students highlights the commitment and encouragement of our teachers, the international and friendly atmosphere, and modern facilities.

Tuition fees

The tuition fee of the programme is 12,000 euros per academic year for non-EU/EEA students with a scholarship system for fee-paying students.

Structure of studies

The Master’s programme (120 ECTS) may be completed in two years of full-time study.

All students with a degree from a Finnish university of applied sciences (AMK) required to complete a complementary study package which generally includes courses in mathematics, physics and/or chemistry depending on the student's background.

Career opportunities

This programme is aimed at students who have a BSc degree in engineering or technology. The engineering degree combined with our two-year management programme is a powerful combination with interesting career prospects in business development.

Our graduates have career opportunities, for example, in the following fields:

• Business Development
• Sales Management
• Technology Sourcing
• Supply Chain Management
• Business Intelligence Systems
• Market Analytics
• Product Management
• Key Account Management
• Consulting

A solid theoretical knowledge combined with some practical experience is always valued in the corporate world. However, the most important assets for today's leaders, namely the willingness to grasp new opportunities fearlessly and the capability to acquire new competencies efficiently, are also practised in this programme.

Co-operation with other parties

In addition to studies in one’s own degree programme, students may take full advantage of the teaching offered by the Tampere higher education community ranging from technical to vocational studies in various fields.

Eligibility criteria

Eligibility criteria in the Master's degree programmes consist of two parts: Tampere University's general eligibility criteria, and programme-specific eligibility criteria, which specify and/or add information to the general criteria. You must meet both to be considered eligible. Applicants who do not meet both the general eligibility and the programme-specific eligibility criteria will not be selected as students at Tampere University.

General eligibility

To be eligible to apply to a Master’s degree programme at Tampere University, you must have

1. Bachelor’s degree - nationally recognized first cycle degree
   • Which corresponds to at least 180 ECTS (European credits) or to three years of full-time study
   • From the relevant field for the Master’s degree programme that you’re applying to
   • From an accredited institution of higher education
2. AND a good command of the English language for academic purposes.

A Bachelor’s degree completed in a university outside Finland must provide eligibility for university-level master’s degree studies in the country in which it was awarded.

Applicants in their final year of the Bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply if the degree will be completed by 31 July 2020. In this case, they may be accepted conditionally.

Applicants with a Master’s degree may be admitted only well-founded reasons and only if they are able to show that the new degree at Tampere University provides the applicant with significant new knowledge and skills.

Programme specific eligibility criteria

The previous degree should be from a field closely related to the Master's programme you are applying to. In the Master’s programme in Industrial the previous degree has to be in one of the following (or highly related) fields:

• Technology or engineering

Applicants who have completed their degree in Finland must meet the minimum cumulative GPA set by the programme to be eligible. The minimum is the same as in the admission to the same Master’s degree programme offered in Finnish.

• Minimum GPA for bachelor's degree completed in a Finnish University of Applied Sciences (AMK): 4,00/5
• Minimum GPA for bachelor's degrees completed in a Finnish university (yliopisto): 3,70/5

When counting the cumulative GPA weighted by ECTS only the courses (include thesis) with numeric grade value are taken into account. Applicants in their final year of Bachelor’s degree must meet the minimum cumulative GPA when applying and after graduation.

Language skill requirements

All applicants must submit evidence on a good command of English for academic purposes. There are two ways of indicating English language proficiency: language tests and previous studies.

The minimum English language test result requirements

Test name & Minimum test result

• TOEFL iBT: 92 overall, with no section below 20
• IELTS (academic): 6.5 overall, with no section below 5.5
• PTE (academic): 62 overall, with no section below 42
• C1 Advanced: C
• C2 Proficiency: C1
• Finnish National Certificate of Language Proficiency (English): Proficiency level 5

*The previous CAE and CPE have been renamed as C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency.

Previous studies

It is possible to be exempted from submitting a language test score if you have completed particular studies listed by Tampere University. Only these studies are accepted. If you apply without a valid language test result, carefully examine the exemptions.

Intake

A maximum of 20 students is admitted to the Industrial Engineering programme.

Admission procedure

Students are selected to the programme from those applicants who submit a complete application (application and application documents by the deadline) and fulfil the official eligibility criteria.

The student selection is made by an admissions committee based on the academic qualifications and merits shown in the application documents. Please note that not all applicants fulfilling the requirements can be admitted.

Students admitted to a Master’s degree programme may be required to complement their earlier degree with complementary studies.

All students with a degree from a Finnish University of Applied Sciences (AMK) are required to complete a study package which generally includes courses in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry depending on the student's background. Admitted students will be informed on these studies in detail when the studies start in the autumn of 2020.