Tallinn University of Technology

Table of Contents

By completing the EFMD accredited International business administration programme, you acquire a broad range of knowledge and skills to work in domestic and international businesses and/or to continue your studies.

  • You can work in the field of marketing, finance, accounting and human resources in businesses of different sectors. 
  • You have the knowledge and skills to start your own enterprise.
  • You can continue your studies at various master programmes in the area of business administration, management, accounting and finance.
  • You have polished your English language skills to work or study in an international environment.
  • You have an international network of contacts acquired during your studies.

Did you know?

That if someone were to simply pocket a business card handed to them by a Japanese executive or forget it into their meeting place, their mutual business would probably be over for good? Or that the United Kingdom has the longest tax code in the world and it is packed with written and unwritten laws to trip up the entrepreneur? If you have some mighty business ideas that will most likely be held back by the borders of your home country, come and study the fine nuances of International Business Administration!
 

Admissions

Students for TalTech international study programmes are admitted based on the admission threshold. First, all candidates are invited to take an online math test. Then, an online interview will be conducted only with the candidates who have passed the online test. The online interview is based on the information you have provided in the motivation letter. An applicant who receives a combined score (average) of minimum 5 points for the motivation letter and online interview is admitted.

Please note that although there are no formal subject prerequisites, we assume that you have passed Mathematics subject at the high school level.

Candidates who have achieved a medal of an international subjects proficiency olympiad are admitted based on the olympiad result, gaining maximum admissions points. This means passing the online test and interview is not applicable. The certificate confirming the result of the international olympiad, motivation letter and other required documents must be submitted via DreamApply. List of accepted olympiads can be found here. Please note that the medal must have been received within the three years prior to applying.

Please find the programme specific admission requirements below

In order to qualify for the studies in Tallinn University of Technology an applicant has to have at least 60% of the highest possible CGPA.

For the programme an individual motivation letter (statement of purpose) should be inserted. 

Please include the following:

  1. Describe your professional goals. Why do you want to study in Estonia and at the TalTech School of Business and Governance? How does the International Business Administration programme support your professional life and career intentions? Which of the specializations is particularly beneficial in pursuing your professional goals? 
  2. Do you study and/or work? What kind of education have you completed or are acquiring at the moment? How many years have passed since your last training course at school, university, open university, executive training, etc.? Have you got any other academic achievements, i.e. participating in contests or Olympiads? Where and for how long have you been working, and what have been your tasks? (0-2 points)
  3. Describe your experiences, knowledge and skills related to business. Have you taken part in any school projects, competitions, online courses, lectures or read on your own any books, articles, followed newspapers and podcasts on the topic? Have you worked in family business or created your own start-up? (0-2 points)
  4. Describe your language skills, i.e. English and other foreign languages. How long have you studied English, to what extent and for what do you use it outside of school?Describe your international experiences. Have you studied, worked or lived abroad or travelled to foreign countries? What have you learned from these experiences, how does it contribute to studying business administration and working in business? (0-2 points)
  5. What are your interests and social activities? (0-2 points)

PS! It is important to properly cite and reference any sources (quotations, publications, ideas, data, etc. which are not your own) used in your motivation letter, because to do otherwise would be plagiarism and result in disqualification. 

There are numerous guidelines and examples of how to write a motivation letter, what is expected here is, however, a narrative from your individual perspective of what has led you to apply to the International Business Administration programme, and how this education is helpful in your future career. 

Grading scale: 0-10

Positive result 5-10 points:

  • The candidate has an interest in learning International Business Administration and is able to elaborate his/her career choice intentions and explain the reasons behind it based on personal interests and/or experiences. The candidate is familiar with the International Business Administration programme structure and overall content. The candidate is familiar with the TalTech and School of Business and Governance, with the overall organisation of studies and university’s profile in terms of size and academic fields, its international activities, and campus.
  • The candidate is able to discuss his/her studies and/or work history by comparing different experiences and lessons learned. Participating successfully in contests or Olympiads adds extra points. The candidate is also able to give an overview of his/her language skills, how these were developed and to what extent foreign languages (esp. English) are practiced every day.
  • The candidate is able to demonstrate and analyse his/her previous experiences, knowledge and skills in the area of business. These might range from visiting business-related lectures and reading books and newspapers to practical experiences like setting up a (student) company or working for family business.
  • The candidate is able to provide an overview of his/her international experiences and of lessons learned (communication skills, language skills, independence, etc.). These might include studying/working/doing sports abroad or living abroad/travelling with one’s family.
  • The candidate is able to elaborate his/her interests and social activities and knowledge/ skills these have developed (public speaking, communication, teamwork, planning, independence and responsibility, etc.).

Negative result 0-4.9 points:

  • The candidate has an interest in learning International Business Administration, but is not able to elaborate in detail his/her career choice intentions, explain the reasons behind these and discuss the role completing the programme has in it. The candidate is only to some extent familiar with the International Business Administration programme structure and content. The candidate is little familiar with TalTech and School of Business and Governance, with the overall organisation of studies, university’s profile in terms of size and academic fields, its international activities, and campus.
  • The candidate is able to list his/her studies and/or work history, but is not able to compare the different experiences and analyse the lessons learned. The candidate has not participated successfully in contests or Olympiads. The candidate is able to list foreign languages, but is not able to explain how these were acquired and to what extent foreign languages (esp. English) are practiced every day.
  • The candidate is able to list his/her previous experiences, knowledge and skills in the area of business, but not compare those and explain how these have led to the decision to study international business administration.
  • The candidate is able to list his/her international experiences, but not analyse the lessons learned and relate these to studying in TalTech.
  • The candidate is able to list his/her interests and social activities, but not analyse the knowledge/ skills these have developed and how these might be useful when studying in TalTech.

TalTech Moodle online test is to evaluate candidate's secondary school mathematics. The test covers the following themes and subjects: numbers and rules of calculation, algebraic skills, standard functions, equations and inequalities, systems of equations, systems of inequalities, calculus, probability and statistics, derivatives, derivatives applications.

You have 2 hours to complete the test consisting of 10 questions. It is required to collect at least 5 points out of 10 to qualify for the interview
Recommended reading material:

  • Brodie, A.  (2004). Pass Your GCSE Maths: Probability and Statistics;
  • Fisher, R. W.  (2011). No-Nonsense Algebra: Part of the Mastering Essential Math Skills. Math Essentials;
  • Li, R. (2018). A Quick Guide to Derivatives;
  • Mergens, J. K. (2011). Learn Math Fast System Volume II: Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages (Volume 2);
  • Stewart, J., Redlin, L., Watson, S. (2015). Precalculus: Mathematics for Calculus, 7th edition. Cengage Learning;
  • Stewart, J., Redlin, L., Watson, S. Precalculus: Mathematics for Calculus, 6 th edition;

You can practice solving exercises at: https://www.symbolab.com

Only applicants who have successfully passed the online test will be invited to the interview.
The online interview is based on the information submitted in the motivation letter. During the interview the following aspects will be evaluated:

  • Motivation and reasons for choosing the university and programme, future career plans, Erasmus studies, master studies. Ability to discuss, create connections, analyse one's behaviour and intentions, strengths and weaknesses (0-2 points);
  • Academic background, working, business-related activities, team-work experiences, achievements and interests (0-2 points);
  • International experiences (0-2 points).
  • Knowledge, skills and practice in mathematics and English (0-4 points);

    • It is preferred to demonstrate related skills by SAT test (if available, add the Score Report to your application in DreamApply). This would be regarded as an asset during the admission interview.

Duration of the interview is approximately 20 minutes.

Grading scale: 0-10

Positive result 5-10 points:

  • The candidate is able to explain the reasons for choosing the International business administration programme and TalTech based on his/her interests and previously acquired competencies. The candidate has a detailed understanding of his/her future career and how the programme his/she is applying for contributes to the career choice intentions.
  • The candidate is familiar with the International business administration programme, its structure, incl specialisations, and content. The candidate is able to discuss the essence of the specialisations and area-specific employment opportunities, the benefits of choosing one of the specialisations and relate it to his/her career choice intentions.
  • The candidate is able to elaborate and analyse his/her knowledge, skills and experiences (business, mathematics, English), discuss his/her strengths and weaknesses, and ways of overcoming these.
  • The candidate is able to elaborate his/her international experiences, coping with stress and team-work skills and how these might contribute or be an obstacle to studying at TalTech.

Negative result 0-4.9 points:

  • The candidate is not able to explain the reasons for choosing International business administration programme and TalTech based on his/her interests and previously acquired competencies. The candidate has a general understanding of his/her future career and is not able to explain how the programme his/she is applying for contributes to the career choice intentions.
  • The candidate is only to some extent familiar with the International business administration programme, its structure and content. The candidate is not able to explain the meaning of specialisations and area-specific employment possibilities, the benefits of choosing one of the specialisations and relate it to his/her career choice intentions.
  • The candidate is not able to elaborate and analyse his/her knowledge, skills and experiences (business, mathematics, English), discuss his/her strengths and weaknesses, and ways of overcoming these.
  • The candidate is not able to elaborate his/her international experiences, coping with stress and team work skills, and how these might contribute or be an obstacle to studying at TalTech.

Students for TalTech international study programmes are admitted based on the admission threshold. An applicant who receives a combined score (average) of minimum 5 points for the motivation letter and online interview is admitted.

Please note that although there are no formal subject prerequisites, we assume that the candidate has passed Mathematics subject at the high school level.

Overview

The Programme of International Business Administration provides students with the knowledge of essential functionalities of an international companies. All the teaching is carried out in English and comprises lectures and practical seminars. Several classes are read by visiting lecturers working in their field and bringing their practical experiences into the class-room. Students will also visit different companies, solve and discuss company case-studies, play simulation games in international marketing and investing and take part in extra-curricular activities like TalTech Satellite programme.

After acquiring fundamental business knowledge like economic theory, business research methods, IT skills, students are free to specialize in either marketing, finance, accounting and business intelligence, or entrepreneurship and management. The programme ends with graduation thesis where students demonstrate the ability of writing, presenting and discussing a small-scale original piece of research.

Curriculum outline (180 ECTS)

  • General studies (18 ECTS) - cover compulsory courses such as IT foundations, and working environment and ergonomics, as well as elective courses - business English, Estonian language and culture, contemporary international relations, philosophy, personal finance, etc.
  • Core studies (84 ECTS) - include courses about micro- and macroeconomics, business mathematics, statistics, logistics and inventory management, international business and ethics, etc.
  • Special studies (63 ECTS) - consist of courses divided into four main specialisations: marketing, entrepreneurship and management, accounting and business intelligence, and finance.
  • Free choice courses (6 ECTS) - students can choose from a wide variety of courses offered at the university.
  • Graduation thesis (9 ECTS) - a business administration related independent research project that allows applying theoretical knowledge for solving practical problems.

The world of marketing has extensively evolved in complexity with the advances of new technology. How do you know if a product, service or message stands out to a particular audience? You do Market Research. What is content marketing? Who uses Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and buys ad spaces on popular keywords? What is direct marketing, database marketing, social media marketing, and guerrilla marketing? The list goes on and on…

In marketing, you will learn the basics of the field and get to know different theoretical viewpoints. You will see how to increase the competitive advantages of an international company with the help of marketing. You will learn the ways to manage marketing, e-marketing, consumer behavior, market research and planning, and marketing communication.

A Marketing specialization will help equip you with the foundational knowledge and training needed to succeed in reaching target customers. In marketing courses you will get to know the role of marketing as a tool to increase the competitive advantage of a company. The development of teamwork and social skills, both crucial in business, is an inseparable part of marketing.

After passing the marketing subjects, you are ready to work in commercial organizations as marketing specialist, social media specialist, client relations officer and sales specialist.

This specialization combines knowledge and skills for starting your own enterprise or managing an already existing one. You will learn about start-up entrepreneurship and innovation as well as get acquainted with management and leadership, personnel management, project management and functioning principles of different companies. You will develop a profound understanding of entrepreneurial behavior and your own entrepreneurial intentions, of solving conflicts, negotiating, and motivating others.

Courses in Management provide an overview of the essence of organizations: their management, human behavior within different organizations and how to efficiently run the work of a company. You will develop your managerial and teamwork skills as well as various social competences in specific positions, thus creating a foundation for working in leading managerial positions in the future.

Upon completing the courses, you can work as project manager, human resource specialist, office assistant. You can of course, start your own enterprise.

If you select this field of study, you will learn how to comprehend business in financial terms. You will learn to interpret the information in a company’s financial report and to make meaningful and productive managerial decisions based on it. You will get acquainted with the basic terms and theories of financial management and finance in general. You will gain knowledge of financing, investments, cash flow, and risk management and how to implement these ideas in practice.

Upon passing finance courses, you will get the knowledge of financial management and financial analysis necessary to be able to use the acquired skills in the future. During your courses on finance, you will learn the theoretical standpoints and aspects of financing, investments, cash flows, financial modelling and risk management.

After passing the finance courses, you can work as analyst or auditor.

In accounting and business intelligence, you will get to know the foundations of analyzing securities and factors that shape the value of a company. You will learn various methods of analyzing financial data and summarizing and reporting your findings. You will also learn the legal framework behind accounting and taxation, principles of management and cost accounting, financial analysis, and business intelligence.

Provide an overview of the principles and methods of financial accounting, the reporting requirements, as well as the finance theory and financial indicators. After completing the accounting courses, you will be familiar with the tax system, the fundamental provisions of tax laws and the principles of taxation. You will also learn to analyze corporate financial statements and simpler investment projects.

Upon completing the courses, you can work as accountant or auditor.

Recognitions

  1. The programme is accredited by EFMD Global peer-review team for three years in 2021. Different from more general state accreditation, EFMD accredited is a field-specific accreditation in the framework of which the programmes are assessed based on business and management area requirements and the peer-review team consists of internationally renowned academics and practitioners.

Why study International Business Administration in TalTech?

Four specializations in the programme provide the possibility to continue in different career and educational tracks. Career-wise there are different positions in various business processes of international companies. There is also the possibility to continue in family business or start one’s own company. For further studies, it’s possible to continue at TalTech International business administration master programme or in master programmes elsewhere.

The student body of the programme is highly international and diverse (more than 20 nationalities). Also teachers come from diverse backgrounds. This enables to bring different view-points into the class-room, practice team-work in multi-cultural groups, and enlarge one’s social network.

Connections with the world of practice in terms of good cooperation with enterprises and practitioners, and entrepreneurship experience of lecturers bring practical experiences and examples into the class-room. There is possibility to participate in extra-curricular activities (e.g. TalTech Satellite programme, start-up course Starter).

The programme also entails an Internship. To assist students with finding internship places, the SBG has established an Internship portal and organizes an annual Internship fair.

Academic Staff

Merle Küttim has been the International Business Administration (BA) programme director since 2017. She has worked as a researcher in the field of business administration at TalTech since 2007. She received her PhD in business from TalTech and her research focused on knowledge transfer from university to industry, especially on the international aspects of it. She has also researched entrepreneurial activity at the population level and in case of specific groups (regions, students, women), and the role of entrepreneurship education in fostering entrepreneurial intentions. Her latest research interests include circular economy and entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Karin Jõeveer is teaching the course in Basic Finance. She is an Associate Professor at TalTech Department of Economics and Finance. She earned a PhD degree from Charles University in Prague (CERGE-EI). Before the current job at TalTech, she worked for several years in the United Kingdom – as a lecturer at the Keele University and the Queen’s University of Belfast, and as a senior research fellow at the Financial Markets Group at the London School of Economics. She has broad interests in the field of financial economics. She has studied the firms’ financing decisions and currently, she is working on the efficiency of financial institutions.

Merle Ojasoo, PhD, is an Associate Professor at TalTech School of Business and Governance, who teaches courses in Business Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility and Change Management. Her main research interests are ethics of organisations and management. She has published several scientific articles and participated in different scientific conferences. She serves as a member of the editorial board and referees for the many scientific journals and conferences. She has been involved in many international teaching projects. She has worked as vice-rector of Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences and as a member of the management board of the Estonian Rectors’ Conference of Universities of Applied Sciences.

Marina Järvis is a chemical engineer, she received her PhD from TalTech School of Business and Governance, and a master's degree (M. Phil. in Occupational health science and occupational hygiene) from the University of Bergen in Norway.
Marina is an associate professor at TalTech department of business administration and teaches master’s and bachelor’s students. She has extensive experience in training and teaching, being a lecturer in the field of occupational health and safety management at TalTech as well as a teacher in many additional training courses for employers, safety managers, occupational health and safety specialists. She has more than 10 years of research experience in the working environment, occupational health and safety management, labour standards, and implementation of EU directives. She has published more than 40 scientific articles. Additionally, she has represented Estonia at the international OH&S conferences and participated in relevant EU projects. Her research interests focus on safety management systems; knowledge management in occupational health and safety; quality of working life and wellbeing; safety culture and risk assessment.

Dr Iivi Riivits-Arkonsuo teaches courses in Marketing Research and E-marketing. She supervises master’s and bachelor’s students’ theses and acts as a member of the thesis examination committee. She wrote her doctoral thesis about how a consumer becomes a brand ambassador. Her research has focused on consumer online behaviour and generations studies. In addition to her academic career, she has been working for a marketing research agency.

Kirsti Rumma is a senior lecturer in business mathematics, statistics and quantitative methods. She has been working as an upper secondary teacher, lecturer, researcher and analyst in mathematics and mathematics didactics. She has a doctoral degree from Agder University, Norway, and her research is related to mathematics, mathematics didactics and education in general.

Tarvo Niine, PhD, is an associate professor of logistics and supply chain management. He teaches the course in Logistics and Inventory Management. He is also the director of the BA programme in Business Administration. His main research areas include business, entrepreneurship and engineering education. He has supervised 60+ bachelor’s and master’s theses.

Maris Zernand-Vilson is a management lecturer. She teaches the courses in Management, Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management. She has received her PhD researching the implementation of new management ideas. She has been the supervisor for numerous research and graduation papers and has created and conducted executive training. She has been active in the field of schoolmasters’ development, leading the community activities and taking part in local government management. In her opinion, educational renewal is the biggest challenge in the university at the moment and implementation of new learning styles is the most exciting part of the job.

René Arvola, PhD, has been active as a lecturer at Taltech since 2001, teaching Basic Marketing, Marketing Communications, Marketing Management, Brand Management, Strategic Marketing, Master Degree Workshop and Marketing Simulation (in cooperation with Breda University of Applied Sciences). He has supervised over 100 master’s and bachelor’s theses. René Arvola is responsible for marketing Mektory Space Centre and has a long experience as an entrepreneur. His current research project (in cooperation with the European network of consumer behaviour researchers COBENET and Centre of Food and Fermentation Technologies) focuses on consumer-driven product development of plant-based dairy product alternatives.

Future Career

Career prospects

In the global economy, companies become heavily interdependent in their commercial activities. Talented people, who can understand the specifics of international business and can integrate supply chain elements from different corners of the world, are in high demand.

Who will you become after graduation?

TalTech's School of Business and Governance prepares managers and specialists with extensive knowledge of economy and business for international companies and the public sector. Therefore, you will have the prerequisites to work in the field of marketing, finance, accounting and human resources of international companies all over the world. A strong international marketing background also gives you the opportunity to find a job in export management. You can, of course, start your own company and determine its development yourself. There is also always the possibility to continue business education at the master’s level and to specialise even more in your chosen field of studies.

Prospective employers

  • International auditing firms: PWC, KPMG, Ernst & Young
  • International organisations: WHO, IMF
  • Large enterprises: ABB, Ericsson, Skype
  • Banks: Swedbank, SEB, LHV, Nordea

Interviews with graduates

Roman Cole, a student of international business administration, believes that his studies have made him more interested in the world.
Read interview with him here

What students say?

Studying in TVTB programme at TalTech was an opportunity for me to upgrade my previous education and receive amazing knowledge, which helped me forward in my career. The programme combines high-quality theoretical teaching with concrete technical aspects to improve your skillset ready for the work-life. The lecturers and the structure of the courses drive you to develop your expertise and create a possibility to network with students all around the world. 

Emmi Puolakka (Finland).

Studying at TalTech helped me develop my international skills and language skills by creating a solid base of understanding regarding different business fields. The TVBT programme is unique as it provides a platform that allows students (who, like me, are ambitious to work across international boundaries and cultures) to continue in different fields of study and develop international business skills. The courses provide both theoretical and practical skills. The programme gives the opportunity to get to study a variety of international courses that provide a global perspective about business. I recommend the programme because it emphasizes international courses, group work, presentation skills and business language skills which, in my opinion, are especially important and useful in succeeding in a global business or pursuing an international career.

Johnny Mikombe (Democratic Republic of the Congo), graduated in 2020. 

Is it for me?

  • The programme is suitable for candidates with an interest in the field of business and professional goals related to marketing, management, entrepreneurship, accounting, finance and logistics.
  • It is a match for people-oriented candidates with previous experiences in organizing school projects, competitions, marketing events, fund-raising campaigns, representing fellow-students, founding their own (student) company or working in family-business.
  • It is also suitable for more numbers-oriented people who like to delve into the depths of the logic of numbers and calculation.
  • Equally important are English language skills, having taken part in international student exchange and language camps is a definite bonus.

How to apply?

Ask Us

TALTECH INTERNATIONAL ADMISSIONS OFFICE

TalTech international admissions office provides general advice to prospective Bachelor’s and Master’s degree applicants and their advisers about applying to and studying at TalTech.

Contact us via study@taltech.ee.
 

CONTACT A STUDENT AMBASSADOR

Student Ambassador can help you with questions about living in Estonia, travelling to Estonia, work and housing options or free time activities for students.

Find a Student Ambassador

STUDENT COUNSELLOR AT THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND GOVERNANCE

Student counsellor at the School of Business and Governance can help you with questions about the study programme.

Piret Levertand


Piret Levertand
(372) 620 3940
piret.levertand@taltech.ee

Programme Director


Programme Director can help you with questions about the study programme.
 

Merle Küttim


Merle Küttim
(372) 620 3971
merle.kuttim@taltech.ee

EFMD Global Accreditation