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Taught at Aalto University School of Business’ Mikkeli unit, the Bachelor's Degree Programme in International Business celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. In other words, School of Business began providing business education in Mikkeli in 1989. Right from the outset, the B.Sc.BA. programme has been taught entirely in English.

'The degree prepares students for continuing their studies elsewhere in the School of Business, for example as part of a master’s programme, or continuing directly to working life. In addition to business studies, the modes of study offered by the programme emphasise group work and problem-solving skills while strengthening the students’ communications and language skills', says Ingmar Björkman, Dean of the School of Business.

Application period already in January

The next application period for the Bachelor’s Degree Programme in International Business runs from the 7th to 27th of January 2015. It takes around three years to complete the degree, after which students can continue directly onto one of the master’s programmes offered by the School of Business if they so desire.

This direct transfer option from the BScBA programme to a master’s programme is a change to the old system. The option enters into force from autumn 2015.

To-date, students completing the BScBA degree were eligible for the school’s master’s degree programmes, but their acceptance onto these programmes was not guaranteed.

Studying in a fast-paced and multicultural environment

Studying on the Mikkeli campus is done in three-week modules, which focus on one course at time. The work is intense and the modules are offered almost all-year-round. Classroom teaching takes up three hours a day, five days a week.

The fast-pace of the full-time studies enables students to complete the degree in under three years. One term, usually the final, is spent on a student exchange at a foreign university. There, the students complete an internationally-recognised, minor-subject module.

'The BScBA. degree includes a broad student exchange programme that involves around 50 partner universities from all over the world. For its part, around 70 exchange students are welcomed at the Mikkeli unit every year. A large proportion of the Finnish students on the degree programme have prior experience of studying and living abroad. Furthermore, the teaching on the programme is primarily organised by visiting international professors', explains Director of the B.Sc.BA. Programme, Dr Joan Lofgren, as she talks about the international flavour of the Mikkeli campus.

85 new students started their bachelor’s degree studies at the Mikkeli campus this autumn. Of the new students, 25% are international students from a total of 8 different
countries.

Getting onto the Mikkeli programme is like winning the lottery for students

Second-year student Julia Romanyuk is more than satisfied with her decision to come to Mikkeli to study for a B.Sc.BA. degree. In her eyes, the intensive programme is the ideal preparation for life in business; she’s learned both time management and organisational skills that are invaluable in working life.

'On top of everything else, the small class groups make the learning experience much more interactive. Through our own activity, we students are able to take a central role in shaping the way the teaching is organised', Julia remarks as she reflects on her time in Mikkeli.

Originally from Russia, Julia really values the opportunity to study with driven, open-minded and internationally-orientated students.

'Best of all is that we’re now part of our very own, unique ‘BABA network’, which will be extremely useful in the future, too', she adds.

For more information about the Mikkeli BScBA programme:

BScBA Presentation 2014 (pdf)
studies.aalto.fi/mikkeli
bscba-mikkeli@aalto.fi
Tel. +358 (0)50 438 9837