Second Cycle - Business

Definition
Master degrees normally tend to focus on knowledge–deepening courses, with the possible orientations either in a vertical direction where students go in–depth in a subject area from the first cycle, or horizontally/intra–disciplinary meaning that students add new subject areas of business, or finally going diverse, which means including courses and topics not directly linked to business, for instance psychology or engineering. Master programmes normally contain a substantial thesis component, usually involving empirical research.

Second cycle programmes are highly varied, with different types of specialisation or focusing on a particular sector (e.g. agri– business, financial services, healthcare management or voluntary organisations).

In addition to second cycle programmes which build on business and management content at the first level, and which are followed straight after bachelor studies, two other forms of second–cycle business programmes exist:

(1) MBA: This has two versions (a) executive (post– experience) MBAs, aimed at candidates from any disciplinary background with several years experience in a business organisation, and (b) pre–experience MBAs, which are mostly aimed at first–cycle business graduates aiming for accelerated promotion in a business career.

(2) MA/MSc: These are designed as a type of ‘conversion course’ for graduates from non–business disciplines such as the humanities, engineering and science. They are sometimes referred to as graduate courses in the sense that those admitted need to be graduates. Students may join such programmes immediately after graduating from the bachelor cycle or some years later. They offer an condensed but intense curriculum consisting of core subjects commonly found in bachelor programmes, possibly in combination with a master–level specialisation in a particular field.

Sub skills
Students should able to / have:


 * First cycle competences
 * Ability to structure and analyse complex business problems
 * Skills enabling participation in strategic decision making
 * Skills to perform holistic judgement and abilities to make critical assessments on strategic solution
 * Skills to manage change
 * International mobility and intercultural understanding

Assessment
Current methods used to assess ability in the skill.

Benchmarks
Statements that could serve as comparators for ability.

Relevant Higher Order Skills
Business