Brandeis International Business School

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International Business Scholars

Brandeis International Business School prepares students for a changing world. The International Business Scholars program offers Brandeis undergraduates a unique opportunity to complete a graduate business degree in as little as one additional year.

Programs

In approximately five years, International Business Scholars earn a bachelor’s degree in any major, including but not limited to business, and one of the following degrees:

Brandeis undergraduates can increase their starting salary by more than 60 percent if they earn a master’s degree at the International Business School.

The average U.S. salary and bonus for BA/MA, BA/MSBA and BA/MBA graduates in 2022 was $99,153 — or $38,587 more than the average Brandeis undergraduate salary.

Exclusive Perks of Scholars program

  • Guaranteed 25% scholarship for graduate tuition
  • Assigned Program Advisor in Brandeis International Business School for unlimited 1:1 support
  • No formal application required for graduate program 
  • Exclusive invitations to International Business School events and speakers
  • Early access to International Business School alumni network
  • Early access to internship opportunities and collaborative programming through the Hiatt Career Center and the International Business School's Career Strategies and Engagement Center

How to apply

No separate application is required, but you must respond to the question on the undergraduate application regarding your interest in the program.

Students who apply Early Decision I or Early Decision II will be informed of their International Business Scholars program admission decision by April 1. Early Decision I and Early Decision II applicants will still receive their undergraduate admission decisions in December and February, respectively.

BA/MA Program Entrance Requirements

Upon being accepted as an International Business Scholar, students must meet the following requirements to continue in the fifth year of the program:

  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at end of junior year
  • "B" grade or better in each of the following required courses, to be completed by the end of junior year:
    • Introduction to Microeconomics (ECON 10a), A Survey of Economics (ECON 2a) or Introduction to Macroeconomics (ECON 20a)
    • Introduction to Data Analytics with Excel (BUS 51a) or Statistics for Economic Analysis (ECON 83a) or Quantitative Methods in Business (BUS 51b) or Introduction to Probability and Statistics (MATH 8a) or Mathematical Statistics (MATH 36b) or Statistics and Research Methods in Psychology (PSYC 51a) or Biostatistics (BIOL 51a)
  • Completion of undergraduate degree in four years or less
BA/MSBA Program Entrance Requirements

Upon being accepted as an International Business Scholar, students must meet the following requirements to continue in the fifth year of the program:

  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at end of junior year
  • "B" grade or better in the following required course, to be completed by the end of junior year:
    • Introduction to Data Analytics with Excel (BUS 51a) or Statistics for Economic Analysis (ECON 83a) or Quantitative Methods in Business (BUS 51b) or Introduction to Probability and Statistics (MATH 8a) or Mathematical Statistics (MATH 36b) or Statistics and Research Methods in Psychology (PSYC 51a) or Biostatistics (BIOL 51a)
  • Completion of undergraduate degree in four years or less
BA/MBA Program Entrance Requirements

Upon being accepted as an International Business Scholar, students must meet the following minimum requirements to be selected for an MBA interview:

  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 at end of junior year
  • Completion of a professional internship by the end of junior year

Upon interviewing with the Admissions team, the scholar will be notified if he/she has been admitted to the BA/MBA program. Scholars may indicate a second program choice in their Program Interest Form if they are not selected for the BA/MBA program. If students are admitted to the BA/MBA program, they must complete their undergraduate degree in four years or less.

For more information, refer to our FAQ.

*Curriculum and program requirements are subject to change.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the International Business Scholars program?

The International Business Scholars program provides access to many benefits of the International Business School, as well as an exciting pathway for students interested in earning a Master of Arts in International Economics and Finance, Master of Science in Business Analytics or MBA in just one or one-and-a-half additional years of graduate study, instead of two.

Do I need to major in economics and/or business?

Students from any academic background can participate in the program, and do not need to major in economics or business. Those who are interested in the global economy, envision themselves making an impact in the business world or who value a strong theoretical and practical foundation in finance,  economics, business administration or business analytics, regardless of academic major, are ideal for this program.

Do I have to stay at Brandeis for five years to earn my undergraduate degree?

No, students earn their undergraduate degree upon completion of the University’s requirements, usually in four years. They then have the option of continuing into the graduate portion of the program for a fifth year (or five and a half years) upon graduation.

What graduate classes will I take as I complete my undergraduate degree?

The amount and type of graduate courses that are required to be completed before a student graduates with an undergraduate degree depends on the graduate program in which the student enrolls.

BA/MA
Typically, economics or business majors will take four graduate courses during their final two semesters. Students who major in other areas may need to take additional courses (up to eight graduate courses). Students may not transfer more than 33 credits from their undergraduate degree to the MA degree, but may be exempted from requirements, allowing students to take more elective credits.

BA/MBA
Students are not required to complete graduate-level coursework prior to enrolling in the BA/MBA program, but they must have 16 applicable transfer credits by the time they graduate with their undergraduate degree. Qualifying courses include 100-level Business or Economics courses or graduate-level Business, Economics or Finance courses. Students enrolled in the BA/MBA may opt to take graduate-level courses in their final two semesters of their undergraduate degree.

BA/MSBA
Students must take eight-to-nine graduate level credits in their final two semesters of their undergraduate degree. Students may not transfer more than nine credits from their undergraduate degree to the MSBA degree, but may be exempted from requirements, allowing students to take more elective credits.

When do I confirm my interest in continuing in the program?

In their junior year, students verify that they have fulfilled all of the program requirements and are interested in continuing in the BA/MA, BA/MBA or BA/MSBA program beginning their senior year. At that time, students are required to submit a non-refundable tuition deposit to continue in the program. Should their academic plans change, students can also opt out of the program through their junior year.

More information

For more information, contact us at globalscholars@brandeis.edu