Master's studies in Management and Organisation
If you apply to English taught master's studies in Management and Organisation you either apply to programme International Strategy and Sustainability in Helsinki or to the programme Marketing and Management in Vaasa. Students who have completed the Bachelor in Business programme may choose Management and Organisation as their major subject in English. Please scroll down to the programmes to read programme specific information, here you can familiarise yourself with basic information about the subject:
What you will learn
Studying Management and Organisation gives you a broad and deep understanding of how businesses and organisations function, develop and are managed. You will learn how to analyse complex situations, understand human behaviour and make strategic decisions that make a difference - both in local and international contexts. The programme will teach you how to manage people and groups, how to organise and drive development processes, and how to strengthen a company's competitiveness through wise strategic choices. You will also gain an understanding of key topics such as organisational behaviour, HR practices, business ethics and sustainability.
The courses are both practical and theoretical. You will be given the tools to analyse real business challenges and develop solutions that work in practice. At the same time, you will practise key skills such as problem solving, academic writing, collaboration, and the ability to communicate and argue persuasively. You will also have the opportunity to shape your own study plan according to your interests, with courses on topics such as strategy, HRM, leadership, sustainability and how to build successful organisations in an everchanging environment.
Studying business management and organisation is an investment in your future. It provides a solid foundation for work in a wide range of organisations, from small businesses to large global corporations. You'll develop your ability to understand what makes both people and organisations thrive - knowledge that's invaluable whatever role you want to take on in your career.
International Strategy and Sustainability
120 credits, 2 years full-time studies on-site
Language: English
Degree: Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Why International Strategy and Sustainability?
International Strategy and Sustainability prepares you for leadership, management and developmental work facing sustainability goals within organisations and businesses in various socio-economic contexts globally. The programme offers a unique experience in understanding how sustainability issues can and should be integrated in core strategies of contemporary organizations. This boundary-crossing programme helps students to identify and manage organizational, governance, and sustainability challenges in various economic, social, environmental, geographic, institutional, cultural and linguistic contexts.
Studying within the master’s programme in international strategy and sustainability, you will learn to:
- Apply a variety of approaches to strategy and strategy work in various kinds of organizations.
- Identify and manage organizational, governance, and sustainability challenges in various economic, social, environmental, geographic, institutional, cultural and linguistic contexts.
- Recognize opportunities for organizations to integrate sustainability issues with international strategy.
- Employ independent and critical thinking to enhance decision making in different organizational settings.
Recommended study path
Year 1 Fall (30 ECTS)
- Strategy and Sustainability (5 ECTS)
- Business Ethics (5 ECTS)
- Global Competence: Social Responsibility Across Business Studies (3 ECTS)
- Global Competence: Data Analytics (2 ECTS)
- Elective courses related to strategy, sustainability, and/or people management (15 ECTS)
Year 1 Spring (30 ECTS
- Project course in Corporate Social Responsibility and Humanitarian Logistics (10 ECTS)
- Elective courses related to strategy, sustainability, and/or people management (20 ECTS)
Year 2 Fall (25-30 ECTS)
- Master's Thesis Seminar (in fall or spring, 5 ECTS)
- Research Design (5 ECTS)
- Research Methods (5 ECTS)
- Free choice of language studies (5 ECTS)
- Free choice of elective studies (10 ECTS)
Year 2 Spring (/Summer) (30-35 ECTS)
- Master's Thesis Seminar (in fall or spring, 5 ECTS)
- Master's thesis (30 ECTS)
- Graduation in June or August
ISS with ENGAGE.EU Global Sustainability Management’ year
Possibility of ENGAGE.EU ‘Global Sustainability Management’ year
As an alternative to the main track of International Strategy and Sustainability, 10 students will be selected for ENGAGE.EU’s ‘Global Sustainability Management’ track, where one semester abroad (at one of the ENGAGE.EU partners) is mandatory. For those students, the recommended study path will be as follows:
Year 1 Fall (25 ECTS)
- Strategy and Sustainability (5 ECTS)
- Business Ethics (5 ECTS)
- Global Competence: Social Responsibility Across Business Studies (3 ECTS)
- Global Competence: Data Analytics (2 ECTS)
- Research Design (5 ECTS)
- Research Methods (5 ECTS)
Year 1 Spring (28 ECTS)
- Current Trends in Global Sustainability (4 ECTS)
- Understanding the Global Sustainability Context (6 ECTS)
- Tackling Global Sustainability Challenges (6 ECTS)
- Sustainability Transformation Lab (6 ECTS)
Year 2 Fall (32 ECTS at ENGAGE.EU partner university)
- Reflections on Sustainability (2 ECTS)
- Electives on ‘Navigating the Global Sustainability Context’ (10 ECTS)
- Electives on ‘Addressing Global Sustainability Challenges and Opportunities’ (10 ECTS)
- Other electives (10 ECTS)
Year 2 Spring (/Summer) (35 ECTS)
- Research Seminar (5 ECTS)
- Master's thesis (30 ECTS)
- Graduation in June or August
You can find the official ENGAGE:EU GSM website here.
Management and Organisation
120 credits, 2 years full-time studies on-site
Language: English
Degree: Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration
Location: Helsinki, Finland
If you have completed the Bachelor in Business degree, then you can choose Management and Organisation as your major subject. You can select between two alternative tracks: Strategy or People Management. Both tracks consist of three courses (3 × 5 ECTS).
The Strategy track provides deeper insights into strategic work from both theoretical and practical perspectives. You will learn how to implement strategies, lead strategic change, and explore scenario planning techniques.
The People Management track focuses on the human side of organisations. You will gain a deeper understanding of what characterises effective leadership, how to make better personnel assessments in recruitment and performance evaluations, and how to develop effective HRM practices in international organisations characterized by cultural and institutional diversity.
Perhaps you are interested in both? No problem. The major includes a substantial number of elective studies (25 ECTS), allowing you to count courses from the other track towards your degree. In other words, it is entirely possible to complete both tracks in full.
In addition to courses in Strategy and People Management, we also offer a wide range of courses covering different aspects of sustainability.
Alumni interview
Minja Orava, development coordinator, Varusteleka
Why did you choose your particular major?
- I chose to major in International Strategy and Sustainability because I wanted to focus on sustainability issues while building a broad skill set applicable to a variety of organisations and roles. I believed that being a generalist would give me more flexibility and time to figure out my future direction. Sustainability, aligned with my personal values, was a natural area to explore in depth, and something I considered a necessity in every organisation in the future!
How did you make your decision?
- I was drawn to the Department of Management and Organisation because I got the impression that sustainability would be approached more holistically, beyond just compliance or PR. I was impressed by how the programme integrated sustainability, not only through theory but also by examining practical examples of sustainable organising.
How has your choice of major affected your career?
- I started working at my current position while still studying, so it certainly helped me get my foot in the door!
In practice, sustainability often needs to be balanced with the broader goals of an organisation. Understanding how organisations are driven, how strategy is formulated, and how to influence these processes has been incredibly valuable. I believe the combination of strategy and sustainability will continue to be a key asset in my career, and its importance will only grow in the future.
What are the most important skills your major and studies at Hanken have given you for your professional life?
- The most important takeaway has been strategic thinking. My studies gave me the confidence to analyse critically both organisational and sustainability challenges and contribute meaningfully to decision-making processes.
The combination of up-to-date academic knowledge and hands-on experience with real-world cases provided the ideal balance of theory and practice. This approach allowed me to apply what I was learning directly to my work, bridging the gap between academic concepts and professional life.
Do you have any tips for students considering choosing management and organisation as their major?
- I believe management and organisation offers a strong foundation for any career. I’d recommend making the most of your free electives to tailor your studies to your interests and dive deeper into areas you're passionate about. Keep an open mind and explore different topics, so you can build a unique skillset for yourself!