What is a Master in Management?
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Key Takeaways
- A Master in Management (MiM) is a postgraduate degree targeted at new graduates and early career professionals who want to advance their management career. Most MiM students are under 24 and have no work experience prior to joining the program
- Most MiMs are generalized one-year programs. However, it’s also possible to follow specialized routes over the course of two or more years.A MiM teaches similar topics to an MBA.
- The main difference between the two is that an MBA is targeted at older, more experienced professionals looking to advance to senior-level positions within their organization.
If you’ve just completed your undergraduate degree, you’re probably deciding on your next move.
If you’re targeting a career in business and looking for an introduction to the fundamentals, a Master in Management (MiM) may be right for you.
Here, we break down everything you need to know about MiM degrees, including who they are for, what you can expect from the curriculum, your MiM jobs and salary prospects, and how to apply for a program.
Who is a Master in Management for?
Master in Management programs are popular among new graduates and early career professionals looking to step into business and management-focused roles.
Just over 70% of MiM applicants are under 24, according to our annual Prospective Students Survey.
The majority (51%) of students have no work experience prior to joining the program. In terms of their top motivations for studying, the most-cited reasons by MiM students in 2026 were: desire to put themselves in a better position to get a job, advice from parents, feeling pressured by the potential economic recession, and boosting their knowledge for their current job.
In terms of academic background, 28% have a business-related degree, 28% have a STEM degree, while 26% did a humanities or social sciences degree.
Types of MiM programs
Master in Management programs can come in different lengths and formats.
One-year Masters in Management
The majority of MiMs are one-year, in-person programs. These are ideal for students who are either keen to boost their employment prospects or who already have some prior work experience, as you graduate faster and apply more quickly what you have learned.
“A graduate from a one-year program will be able to seek opportunities faster and benefit from the knowledge gained from their studies,” says Christos Tsinopoulos, dean of Royal Holloway Business School.
Two-year Masters in Management
Two-year programs are less common, but popular among those looking to dive into specialist subjects and gain more international exposure or work experience.
Business schools in France—like HEC Paris and ESSEC Business School—offer Grande école programs, where you complete the core MiM curriculum in your first year and gain a specialized master’s degree in your second year. This route often includes an additional summer internship.
There’s also the option to take a gap year in between your first and second years to gain 12 months of work experience, extending your MiM experience to three years.
Online Masters in Management
An online MiM is a great opportunity for students looking for increased flexibility and access to top programs. The online format is well-suited to MiM students who want to work, earn a salary, and study at the same time.
Some programs, such as Aston Business School’s MSc in Management, are available in both online and in-person formats. The online MiM is twice the length (two years rather than one), as it takes place part-time.
Specialized Masters in Management
Some MiM programs come with an in-built specialization focusing on a specific function or industry. Take the Master in Management of Disruption at Esade Business School, a program specifically designed for STEM graduates, helping them lead disruption in companies using technology.
Other specialized Masters in Management include:
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Master in International Management / Master in Global Management
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Master in Strategic Management
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Master in Management & Corporate Sustainability
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Master in Management & Technology
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Master in Management & Leadership
Master in Management syllabus
Master in Management programs are designed to give you a definitive introduction to business as well as to build your confidence as a leader or manager. Here’s what you can expect from a MiM:
Business fundamentals
Given that many students come from non-business backgrounds, MiM programs will give you an introduction to topics that you’re likely to come across in the business world. These include accounting, finance, marketing, data analytics, and strategy.
Soft skills
Your MiM is the perfect chance to learn and practice skills you need to lead and thrive in the workplace. These include ‘soft’ skills such as communication, teamwork, feedback, coaching, and negotiation. These are often taught through practical methods such as group projects or simulations.
Specialist subjects
Though a MiM is a generalist degree, there are opportunities to dive deeper into certain subject areas through elective courses. Popular topics include machine learning, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and corporate social responsibility. You may even have a chance to combine your MiM with a specialized master’s.
For MiM graduate Satyam Goel, one of the best things about studying a Master in Management at ESMT Berlin was being able to choose elective courses to tailor the program to his career goals. “Given that the market opportunities were good for AI, machine learning, and that sort of thing, I thought it was a logical choice to make,” he says.
International trips
Masters in Management programs typically include international exchanges, consulting projects, and field trips. Some programs may even be spread across multiple campuses on different continents.
Leonardo Deschaseaux enrolled on emlyon Business School’s European Triple Degree Master in Management, where students study on three campuses in France, the UK, and Germany. “You get different perspectives, from different professors, from the three different universities,” he says.
Work experience
For early career professionals, a critical element of any MiM degree is the opportunity to build work experience. This may take place through a short internship or a year-long placement.
Marco Trada, a graduate from EDHEC Business School’s dual degree MiM, says his work experience year hugely benefited his future prospects as a consultant. “You can apply the skills you learn during your master’s, and understand whether the industry you are interested in joining will be the right fit for your career,” he says.
Master in Management cost
The cost of a Master in Management varies depending on where you choose to study.
For lower-to-middle-ranked European MiM programs, you can expect to pay up to US$20k. Tuition is especially affordable if you’re an EU student staying within the EU; it’s often a fraction of the price that international students pay.
Tuition fees are more expensive for top-ranked Master in Management programs. At schools like EDHEC and ESSEC, international students pay over US$50k for two-to-three year programs.
MiM programs in the United States are more expensive. For instance, the 10-month MiM program at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business costs just under US$67k.
Master in Management jobs
So, what can you do with a Master in Management?
Pursuing a Master in Management keeps your career options open and makes you attractive to employers: 57% of companies planned to hire MiM graduates in 2025, according to our Corporate Recruiters Survey. That’s a higher proportion than for graduates of Master in Finance or Master in Accounting programs.
There are many exciting jobs for Master in Management graduates across a range of industries, mostly at associate or analyst level. Examples of roles MiM students land after graduation include:
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Associate Consultant
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Assurance Associate
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Business Analyst
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Consultant
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Investment Banking Analyst
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Strategic Advisor
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Wealth Management Analyst
Many big-name companies recruit MiM graduates, including:
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AB InBev
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Accenture
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Amazon
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Bain & Company
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Deloitte
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EY
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IBM
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JP Morgan
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KPMG
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LVMH
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McKinsey & Company
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P&G
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PwC
Is a Master in Management worth it?
Given the cost of Master in Management programs, you may be wondering if studying a MiM degree is worth it.
The salary you can expect to earn after you complete the program is one sign that a MiM is worth the cost. The average MiM graduate in the United States earns a starting salary of US$90,000, according to our research.
Of course, your starting salary is likely to vary depending on your industry and location. According to the Financial Times’ weighted salary data, MiM graduates from IIM Ahmedabad in India earn the equivalent of US$180k three years after they graduate. At the University of St.Gallen, MiM graduates earn the equivalent of US$140k within three years.
The return on investment you get from a MiM is strong given the top industries and employers you can go on to work for. Much like other business degrees, consulting, finance, and technology are the most popular career destinations.
Chris Li, a CUHK Business School graduate, says his MiM helped him land a role in consulting. “Consultants need to think clearly and critically to solve problems effectively,” he says. “What benefited me most [from my MiM] was the critical thinking training, which in turn led to great improvement in my problem-solving and decision-making abilities.”
Olga Kotenko, a demand and supply planner, says her MiM from the University of St.Gallen (known as the SIM) prepared her for a new job at Apple. “Apple culture is quite similar to SIM culture. People constantly look for improvements and challenge the way things are,” she says.
Applying for a Master in Management
Typical Master in Management admission requirements include:
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0-to-2 years’ work experience
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Bachelor’s degree (not necessarily business related)
Your Master in Management application consists of several stages. You start with a written application, which consists of a number of essay questions to help the school understand your motivations behind pursuing an MiM, as well as your fit for their program specifically.
Alongside your written application, you need to submit references, academic transcripts, and resume.
You’ll likely need to submit a GMAT or standardized test score. Some schools state that candidates should meet a certain minimum GMAT score (600+ at certain top schools), while others stress that lower scores can be offset by other parts of your application.
Shortlisted candidates are invited to interview. This is your opportunity to build on your written application: demonstrate your fit for the school, what is different about you, and what you’ll bring to the program.
