Program contents and structure

Program concept

The basic concept and structure of the “International Business” program at the School of World Economy and International Affairs builds on the extensive experience of some of the world's leading and most successful similar programs for training specialists in the field of international business and international affairs. In addition to this experience the School of World Economy and International Affairs offers its unique learning methods and priorities.

The interdisciplinary master program “International Business” is developed for students who have a strong commitment to a career in international business. The program provides them with a unique cross-functional and cross-cultural set of skills and understanding the interconnections between business, international economics and politics (business + economy + political science + law + language).

The curriculum of the most advanced international business programs represents the following:

a series of required core courses, consisting of 6-9 courses including “Foundations of International Business” or “Introduction to International Business”;
a number of elective courses, consisting of at least 10 courses;
applied research project “International Business Consulting” or “International Enterprise Consulting Experience”. Students form groups of 3-5 and with the help of an instructor work on real business projects assigned by participating international companies. This applied research project is the highlight of the program;
business communication and foreign language fluency;
“Career Development” course;
study abroad or international internship.

Program structure

The “International Business” master program consists of the following study blocks:

core study block;
elective study block;
adaptational courses;
practical and research work;
final project (thesis).

The core study block consists of core disciplines. The elective study block allows students to balance the required core courses with their individual interests. Therefore the core provides a foundation of skills and knowledge while the variety of electives allows students to customize their education to suit their own interests and career goals.

The “International Business” master program is a 2-year on-campus program. The final state certification takes place after thesis defense. The language of instruction is English. In the first semester of the second year of study students may choose to study abroad at the partner university, while the second semester is dedicated to practical work including thesis preparation.

Students study following an individual degree plan, approved by their faculty advisor and the head of the master program. According to the study plan the courses fall into three categories: core, elective and adaptational.

The core courses form the foundation of skills and knowledge in the key areas of international business and international affairs. Students take the core courses in their first year of study. In order to gain analytical and research skills students attend a scientific and research seminar, which enables them to prepare for the research project and choose the thesis topic.

For students who do not have a substantial background in global economy, international affairs, finance and management the program offers adaptational courses aimed at building a solid base for further more in-depth knowledge of specific subjects.

Students have the opportunity to customize their education to suit their own career paths through a series of elective courses. The elective courses are offered in both the first and second years of study. These courses allow students to build unique areas of expertise and marketable skills in the areas of their interest.

Students will also gain additional practical experience through the “International Business Consulting” project.

“International Business Consulting” Project

“International Business Consulting” is the program's key consulting project. Students work on this team project in groups of 3-5 under the supervision of the instructor. The project is to be completed in the second semester of the first year of study. This is an ideal opportunity for students to submerge in the real business world as consulting interns and to carry out real-life client-oriented consulting projects for participating international companies. For the purpose of this field study the School of World Economy and International Affairs forms a project portfolio of the existing and potential business partners – sponsoring international companies. While working on this project students apply the knowledge and skills they acquired during their studies in the master program.

The international companies participating in the “International Business Consulting” project also represent the base for student practical training and internships and the potential employers for the master program graduates.

Management of the educational process

The program is delivered by the School of World Economy and International Affairs in cooperation with other Schools at HSE. The head of the program is Candidate of Science, Associate Professor at the Department of world economy, Irina G. Kratko.

The general management and monitoring of the program, as well as the administration of the learning process, record management and supervision of the learning process is conducted by the School of World Economy and International Affairs.

Master thesis defense takes place at the meetings of the State Commission on Management headed by the Chairman of the State Commission on Management appointed by the Government. The Commission consists of the professors of the School of World Economy and International Affairs, the School of Management and other participating Schools.

In order for the master program to cooperate with the academic and business society there will be created a Coordinating Council of the master program. The Chairman of the Coordinating Council is Dean of the School of World Economy and International Affairs at HSE. The Coordinating Council consists of the representatives of the School of World Economy and International Affairs, the School of Management, other Schools at HSE and business representatives. The head of the master program is responsible for the overall management of the master program. The principal aspects of functioning and development of the master program are discussed and approved by the Research Council of the School of World Economy and International Affairs at the National Research University “Higher School of Economics”.

Academic format and forms of control

Classes are taught in the evenings and on Saturdays.

The study format of the master program is as follows:

lectures: discuss the main theoretical concepts and definitions of the course; give analytical perspective on the key issues and research methods;
master-classes, panel discussions and presentations by the prominent international business executives;
discussion sessions: students discuss and analyse difficult and debateable aspects of the course material, conduct presentations and debates, work on group research projects;
independent studies, research papers on the key issues confronting international companies;
individual and group research projects, aimed at working out scientific and practical problems of international business, including the core consulting project “International Business Consulting”;
conferences / scientific and research seminars for presenting the results of research projects, term papers and other independent study projects completed by the students;
self-guided study of the theoretical and practical course material through home assignments, essays, discussion preparation, completion of research projects and writing of term papers;
instructor advising and consultations with specialists to help students better understand the course material.

Final grading will be based on written exams. The current control of academic performance will take form of speeches, essays, midterm and final exams.

Students will also be offered to undergo scientific and research or academic practical training at state institutions and Russian corporations, both involved in international business, and at foreign companies.

State certification consists of the master thesis defense.

Study abroad and international internships

Students may choose to take one or more courses at the partner institution with having all their credits transferred and getting a certificate for the course. Students may also apply for an internship at an international company abroad.

The program provides many opportunities for students to supplement their education with exchange programs with the partner institution and other leading schools and graduate programs. The master program at HSE is closely connected with the matching program of the partner institution and there will likely be a joint program created in the near future.

International partner institutions

Why the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, USA, is the most appropriate partner for the “International Business” master program of the School of World Economy and International Affairs at HSE

The Fletcher School at Tufts University is the most appropriate foreign partner institution for the “International Business” master program because of:

Reputation. The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy is the world’s oldest (75 years), most prestigious and leading school of international affairs and international business, famous for its Master of International Business (MIB) program. Higher School of Economics is the first and the only institutional partner of the Fletcher School in Russia.
Goals. The leading master degree programs at the Fletcher School are Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy and Master of International Business, MIB. These program goals satisfy the mission and priorities of the School of World Economy and International Affairs at HSE.
Academic and research partnership with Harvard. The Harvard University does not have a specialized master program in International Business (MIB). The majority of professors of the Fletcher School, including Senior Associate Dean for International Business and Executive Director of Fletcher's Institute for Business in the Global Context, Dr. Bhaskar Chakravorti, are former Harvard professors or teach at both Harvard and Fletcher.
Student mobility between Fletcher and Harvard. Students of both the Fletcher School at Tufts University and Harvard University are able to crossregister for courses, which enables graduate students from Fletcher's International Business program to attend classes at Harvard and vice-versa.
Compatibility of master programs. The International Business master programs at Fletcher and the School of World Economy and International Affairs are very similar in program concept, academic structure, curriculum, specializations and regional options, program length and number of students enrolled.
Joint programs. The Fletcher School has direct and stable partnerships with universities in Europe and Asia and successfully realizes dual degree and student exchange programs.
Scientific research. The Fletcher School has established the International Business Center and the Center for Emerging Markets Enterprises which carry out scientific research in the area of international business.
Business connections. The Fletcher School has direct extensive business connections in and outside of the United States. Within the MIB program at Fletcher the students are offered the global consulting course, in which they develop real-life consulting projects for client companies.
Administration. Dean of the Fletcher School, Stephen W. Bosworth and Serge A. Karaganov, Dean of the School of World Economy and International Affairs, are both members of the Trilateral Commission and have communicated at the meetings of the Commission on multiple occasions. They are committed to developing and strengthening partnership relations between the schools through the activities of the Working group on Education of the Russian-American Bilateral Presidential Commission.
Established contacts. The National Research University “Higher School of Economics” and the Fletcher School at Tufts University have signed a Cooperation Agreement. The participants of the negotiations on cooperation between the universities included Head of the “International Business” master program at the School of World Economy and International Affairs at HSE, Associate Professor at the Department of world economy, Irina G. Kratko and Senior Associate Dean for International Business at the Fletcher School, Executive Director of the International Business program, Dr. Bhaskar Chakravorti.

Common characteristics of the Fletcher School at Tufts University and the School of World Economy and International Affairs at HSE and of their MIB programs

National and international reputation of the universities;
MIB programs are new to both the Fletcher School and the School of World Economy and International Affairs;
Both MIB programs are 2-year interdisciplinary master programs;
Each MIB program is a unique hybrid of international business and international relations;
The MIB programs at both universities have a similar structure and concept;
The Fletcher School and the School of World Economy and International Affairs have common missions, goals, priorities and research interests.

The Official ceremony of signing the Cooperation Agreement between the National Research University “Higher School of Economics” and the Fletcher School at Tufts University took place on October 27, 2011. The Agreement represents a necessary formal prerequisite for and the initiating condition of the cooperation between the two partner universities.

Work plan

1. Development and realization of the “International Business” master program at the School of World Economy and International Affairs with participation of the Fletcher School professors:

Stage 1: partnership program based on professor and student exchange
Stage 2: (depends on the results of stage 1): joint program (dual degree)

Stage 1 will follow the plan below:

а ) development of joint courses created and taught by the professors of the Higher School of Economics and the Fletcher School within the frame of the “International Business” master program;
b) development of courses at HSE with participation of the professors of Fletcher within the “International Business” master program;
c) professor exchange for teaching at the partner university during 1-2 modules;
d) professor exchange for teaching short-term courses (1-2 weeks) and master-classes at the partner university;
e) student exchange during summer school;
f) student exchange for international internships organized by the partner university.

2. Conducting joint research projects, organizing research conferences, symposiums, and developing joint mini-cases for the “International Business” master program.

Master of International Business

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