Strategic Management MBA

The Strategic Management MBA at Estonian Business School (EBS) is an innovative one-year, full-time Master of Business Administration programme in Tallinn, Estonia. The programme is taught entirely in English and has a nominal duration of one year, comprising 60 ECTS. It is designed for managers, specialists and consultants who want to strengthen their management capabilities, develop strategic decision-making skills, advance their careers, improve business performance, or take their company to a new level without interrupting their professional career for an extended period.

The MBA provides a comprehensive foundation in key areas of business and management. Students develop knowledge and skills in responsible organisation and people management, organisational economics, financial performance, management tools, marketing, business process management and the application of new technologies in business. The programme also focuses on economics, business and organisation management, leadership, business process development, technology implementation, project management and the management of diverse teams. Through flipped-classroom, project-based and problem-based teaching methodologies, students develop professional and social competencies while working with practical business challenges.

Programme Structure

The programme begins in the Autumn semester with a master’s bootcamp, where students meet their course-mates and become familiar with the programme. The Autumn semester includes Graduation Capstone I: Coaching (2 ECTS), together with core subjects such as Financial and Managerial Accounting (6 ECTS), Corporate Finance (6 ECTS), Strategic Management and Innovation (6 ECTS), Managing People and Organisations (6 ECTS), Leadership and Ethics (3 ECTS), and Marketing and Sales (3 ECTS), for a total of 32 ECTS.

The Spring semester continues with core studies including Managerial Economics (3 ECTS), Emerging Technologies for Business (6 ECTS), and Operations and Project Management (6 ECTS). To complete the MBA programme, students must successfully complete the graduation module, which consists of five graduation capstones. These composite examinations assess the student’s ability to integrate the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the MBA core subjects. The listed graduation components include Graduation Capstone II: Management Game (Dynama) (5 ECTS), Graduation Capstone III: Case Study Writing (6 ECTS), and Graduation Capstone IV: Mentoring Practice (2 ECTS).

Learning Environment and Career Development

The programme uses a team-centred learning and teaching environment with real-life examples, group discussions, teamwork, practical studies and lessons from professional experience. Students learn alongside specialists, managers and entrepreneurs from different fields, creating opportunities to develop an international network of contacts among students, companies and organisations. Faculty members and students from different nationalities contribute to a diverse cultural environment, while the programme is taught by faculty and established industry professionals who bring both academic knowledge and practical business experience to the classroom.

After completing the programme, graduates are expected to have advanced management skills and a holistic understanding of global business, strategic decision-making and leading teams through organisational changes and complex business challenges. The MBA is intended to prepare graduates for diverse career paths and positions in today’s competitive business environment.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must hold a non-business master’s degree, a 240 ECTS bachelor’s degree, or an equivalent qualification. Applicants are expected to have at least three years of management or team-lead experience, including people or process management experience, which should be demonstrated in the submitted CV. Applicants must also provide an internationally recognised English-language qualification corresponding to level B2 of the European framework.

Admission additionally requires a successful EBS admission interview with a minimum result of 6 out of 12 points. The interview evaluates the applicant according to three criteria: ambition, motivation and discussion skills. Applicants must also have at least 60% of the highest possible GPA.

Qualification documents are accepted in English, Estonian or Finnish. If the previous educational institution does not issue documents in English, applicants must provide a certified translation together with their educational documents. At least two references are recommended, and references may be provided by previous employers or academic faculty.

English Language Requirements

EBS accepts several forms of proof of sufficient English proficiency. The listed requirements include TOEFL iBT 85 for examinations taken before January 21, or 4.5 for examinations taken after January 21; IELTS 6.0 with at least 5.5 in each component; Duolingo English Test with a score of 110; and Cambridge English Exam at CEFR B2 level. The source also states that FCE or CAE and other accepted evidence may be used.

An international English certificate may be replaced in specified circumstances, including a Finnish state examination result of 4 (cum laude approbatur), an International Baccalaureate or European Baccalaureate graduation certificate with an English result of at least 70%, or completion of previous education in English in the UK, USA, Canada, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand. Previous education taught fully in English in EU/EEA member states may also qualify for an exemption when the transcript confirms that the studies were conducted fully in English. If previous studies were completed in English but outside the specifically listed countries, an internationally recognised English-language test is required.

Tuition and Application Fee

The tuition fee for the 2026/2027 academic year is €9,000. The tuition fee for the first academic year is paid in one instalment of €9,000 and must be paid before the applicant’s visa appointment with the Embassy. EBS provides an invoice containing a personal payment deadline.

The application fee is €120 and is non-refundable. Application documents are processed only after the application fee has been received. Applicants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan can pay the application fee via Wise instead of bank transfer. EU candidates are exempt from the application fee.

Intake and Application Deadline

The stated application deadline is April 1, at 23:59:59 Eastern European Time. Studies are scheduled to begin on August 30.