Strategic Management MBA

The Strategic Management MBA at Estonian Business School is a two-year, full-time postgraduate programme taught entirely in English and comprising 120 ECTS. The programme is designed for professionals who already have experience leading teams or projects and want to develop advanced knowledge and practical skills in business management, strategic decision-making and leadership.

The programme is particularly suitable for applicants with a non-business bachelor’s degree who have at least three years of management or team-lead experience. It combines a strong core curriculum with elective microdegrees, allowing students to develop expertise in areas that match their professional interests and career goals.

Programme Focus

The MBA provides a comprehensive foundation in key areas of business and organisational management. Students develop knowledge and skills in organisational economics, financial performance, responsible leadership, people management, strategic management, marketing, business processes and the application of new technologies in organisations.

The programme also focuses on developing the ability to make informed decisions in a technology-driven global business environment. Teaching uses real-life business examples, group discussions, teamwork, practical studies, project-based learning and problem-based methodologies.

Students learn alongside managers, specialists, entrepreneurs and other experienced professionals from different fields. This creates opportunities for peer learning, professional interaction and the development of an international network of students, companies and organisations.

Programme Structure

The 120-ECTS MBA consists of 45 ECTS of main subjects, a 15-ECTS graduation module and 60 ECTS of elective microdegrees.

Academic Year 1

The first academic year establishes the core business and management foundation.

Autumn Semester

The programme begins with a Master’s Bootcamp, where students meet their fellow course participants and become familiar with the programme.

Core studies include:

• 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
• Marketing and Sales — 3 ECTS
• Graduation Capstone I: Coaching — 2 ECTS

The autumn semester totals 32 ECTS.

Spring Semester

The spring semester continues with subjects focused on economics, technology, operations and project management.

Core subjects include:

• Managerial Economics — 3 ECTS
• Emerging Technologies for Business — 6 ECTS
• Operations and Project Management — 6 ECTS

The first year also includes the graduation module, which consists of graduation capstones designed to assess the student’s ability to integrate knowledge and skills acquired during the MBA.

The graduation capstones include:

• Graduation Capstone II: Management Game (Dynama) — 5 ECTS
• Graduation Capstone III: Case Study Writing — 6 ECTS
• Graduation Capstone IV: Mentoring Practice — 2 ECTS

The first year concludes with the graduation module, after which students can focus more specifically on developing expertise in their chosen field during the second year.

Academic Year 2

The second academic year provides greater flexibility through elective microdegrees.

Autumn Semester

Students can choose two microdegrees or spend a semester at one of EBS’s partner universities.

Total: 30 ECTS.

Spring Semester

Students can choose two additional microdegrees.

Total: 30 ECTS.

Microdegree Opportunities

Estonian Business School offers microdegree modules as part of its MBA structure. These master’s-level learning modules focus mainly on five areas:

• Sustainability and Green Economy
• Digital Transformations
• Communication and Marketing
• Management and Leadership
• Finance and Accounting

Students can select a total of 60 ECTS worth of microdegrees during the two-year MBA. The microdegrees are designed and adapted according to challenges and needs identified in the labour market, allowing students to shape part of their curriculum according to their professional interests.

Learning Objectives

The MBA aims to provide managers, specialists and consultants with knowledge and practical skills in economics, business, organisational management and leadership.

By completing the programme, students develop knowledge and skills related to:

• Business and organisational management
• Leadership and responsible management
• Business process management and development
• Strategic management and innovation
• Financial and managerial accounting
• Corporate finance and financial performance
• Marketing and sales
• Managing people and organisations
• Project and operations management
• Implementation of new technologies in organisations
• Creating and managing projects and diverse teams
• Professional and social competencies
• International networking between students, companies and organisations

Teaching and Learning Approach

The programme uses a team-centred and practical approach to learning. Students work with real-life examples and participate in group discussions, teamwork, practical studies and project- and problem-based learning.

The teaching approach is intended to help students connect academic knowledge with practical business challenges. Faculty members and established industry professionals contribute both academic knowledge and practical business experience to the learning environment.

The programme also brings together students and faculty from different nationalities, creating a diverse learning environment and providing opportunities to broaden perspectives through interaction with professionals from different fields.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must hold an undergraduate diploma or higher. A non-business bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification is considered suitable for the programme.

Applicants are expected to have at least three years of management or team-lead experience. Both people-management and process-management experience are considered relevant, and applicants are expected to demonstrate their experience through their submitted CV.

Applicants must also have at least 60% of the highest possible GPA.

Admission includes an EBS interview, where candidates are evaluated according to ambition, motivation and discussion skills. Applicants must achieve at least 6 out of 12 points in the admission interview.

At least two references are required. References may be provided by previous employers or academic faculty.

English Language Requirements

The programme is taught in English, and applicants must provide internationally recognised proof of English proficiency corresponding to level B2 of the European language framework.

Accepted evidence includes:

• IELTS 6.0, with at least 5.5 in each component
• TOEFL iBT 85 for exams taken before January 21,
• TOEFL score 4.5 for exams taken after January 21,
• Duolingo English Test 110
• Cambridge English Exam at CEFR B2 level
• FCE or CAE

Certain qualifications can replace the international English certificate, including specified Finnish state examination results, an International Baccalaureate or European Baccalaureate with the required English result, or completion of previous education in English in specified countries or EU/EEA member states under the conditions stated by EBS.

Tuition and Application Fee

The listed tuition fee is €9,000 per year. However, the programme information for the academic year states that the first academic year tuition fee is €9,200, which must be paid in one instalment before the applicant’s visa appointment with the Embassy. The university provides an invoice with an individual payment deadline.

The application fee is €120 and is non-refundable. Application documents are processed only after the application fee has been received. EU candidates are exempt from the application fee.

Application Deadline and Start Date

The stated application deadline is April 1, at 23:59:59 Eastern European Time.

Studies commence on August 30, 2027.

The programme is offered at Estonian Business School in Tallinn, Estonia.