If you have one of the following degrees from a recognised university or complete one before the degree programme starts, then you can apply for the Master's programme:
For the classification of the similarity of a major, only curricular credits of a completed degree programme are taken into account. Excess credits (optional credits) are not considered. The compulsory achievements of the corresponding HSG Bachelor's degree programme serve as a basis for the classification.
Your degree programme will be recognised if, among other, the following criteria are fulfilled:
If you have any questions on recognised degrees or degrees in similar subjects please do not hesitate to contact the staff at the Admissions and Crediting Office who will be happy to help you.
When you apply, you do not need to prove your knowledge of the language in which the programme is taught. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are suffeciently fluent in the required language to allow you to complete your studies successfully. Recommended level for you to begin your studies is at least C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
If the formal admission regulations are fulfilled and all documents have been submitted, we forward your application to the "SIM Admission Committee" for the selection process.
The SIM Admission Committee conducts four admission rounds between October and April. All complete applications that have been submitted on time are assessed and a decision is made on the admission. (The video interview can be recorded after the deadline of the admission round.)
First admission round:
Applications submitted by 6 November 2024 / Decisions issued by 6 December 2024
Second admission round:
Applications submitted by 31 January 2025 / Decisions issued by 28 February 2025
Third admission round:
Applications submitted by 31 March 2025 / Decisions issued by 30 April 2025
Fourth admission round:
Applications submitted by 30 April 2025 / Decisions issued by 31 May 2025
The following criteria are assessed during the selection process:
GMAT or GRE exams may be taken in person or online. Test results must not be older than five years.
Upload your official score report to your online application. (For GMAT Focus, upload a screenshot of the Test Taker Version from your mba.com account.) You must also have your score sent to the University of St.Gallen by GMAC or ETS before the closing date for applications.
(GMAT: University of St.Gallen, MA / MSc Master Level, GRE: 7202).
When evaluating GMAT scores the total score is taken into consideration, while for the assessment of GRE scores both the Verbal and the Quantitative Reasoning sections are decisive. If you have taken the test several times, the test with the best results will be considered.
The average grade recorded on your degree certificate is decisive. If you do not have your final degree at the time of application, you must apply with a current transcript. All credits specified in the current transcript will be considered.
Commitments and activities outside of your studies, such as work experience, internships, exchange semesters or extracurricular and social activities are only considered if you furnish proof thereof. List all of these activities on your curriculum vitae and upload proof thereof in the supporting documents section.
You must give two contacts as references on your curriculum vitae - an academic one and a professional one. Make sure you use the SIM style template. The curriculum vitae must be written in English.
The provided referees are contacted at the discretion of the SIM. Should this be the case, they will receive in advance an email invitation to schedule a 10-15 minutes phone call with a person assigned by the SIM Admissions Committee.
Write an essay in English on a given topic. Detailed information on the topic and formatting requirements can be found in the SIM Essay Guidelines.
The SIM video interview consists of a series of pre-recorded questions touching a wide range of topics for you to share your opinion and reflections.
Within five days of successfully submitting your online application, you will receive an email from the SIM Management Unit inviting you to complete your video interview. With the link provided in the invitation you can register online where you will find detailed instruction on how to proceed with the recording of your interview. In terms of equipment you need a computer or laptop with a microphone and a webcam, and it is recommended to choose a quiet place in order to avoid distractions.
The deadline for you to complete the video interview may differ from the regular application deadline, it will be included in the email invitation.
Upon admission additional programme-specific requirements may be requested. Prior to starting the programme you will be required to attend a selection of preparatory modules called “SIM Start Professional”. The remaining admission requirements must be fulfilled before graduation.
The compulsory integrative week of the SIM Master's programme "SIM Start Professional" takes place at the beginning of September (calendar week 36).
The management-related topics dealt with in the individual seminars will prepare you for your regular studies in Strategy and International Management. Admitted applicants can obtain more information directly from the SIM Management Unit.
All students must take two language courses (foreign languages) in addition to their Master’s degree course to successfully complete their Master's degree programme. Crediting of internationally recognised language certificates is possible during your Master's studies. Please find a list of recognised language certificates in the Directives, Annex I on the last pages of the document.
All students must provide evidence of sufficient knowledge of accounting to successfully complete their master's degree. Knowledge of accounting acquired during previous studies may be recognised and credited towards fulfilling this condition during the admission process. If you cannot provide proof of sufficiant knowledge of accounting at the time of admission, you will have to take the accountancy exam at the University of St.Gallen.
The degree programme starts in the autumn semester. Please apply online. The application fee is CHF 250.
Application period: 1 October - 30 April
Please have the following information and documents ready to upload:
If any of the documents are not issued in German, French, Italian or English, you must also submit a certified translation of the document in German or English. Please observe our guidelines regarding "documents to be submitted" and "translations" in the Directive on the Implementing provisions of the admission regulations.
Only one file can be uploaded per bullet point. You can use online tools such as online2pdf.com to create PDF files or to combine several pages into one PDF file. Make sure the files you send to us are legible so that we can process your application without delay.
Swiss citizens need their Swiss social insurance number (AHV number) for the application. If you do not know your insurance number, please order a duplicate of your insurance certificate from the Swiss Central Compensation Office in good time.
If you apply online before 31 March you have the option to specify an alternative programme in your application. You may choose one of the following programmes: MBI, MiMM, MGM, MACFin, MEcon.
Only if in the selection process your application is rejected, will your application be checked again. If all formal admission requirements are fulfilled for the chosen alternative programme, the admission process starts for this alternative programme.
Read up about language of instruction, admission requirements, and the admission process of the chosen alternative programme before you apply.
Within five days after applying successfully online, you will receive an email from the SIM Management Unit, inviting you to record your video interview. You will be given a specific deadline to do the recording. Your application will only be processed once we have received your video interview.
The Admissions and Crediting Office checks your personal data and your electronically submitted documents. If your application is complete and fulfils the formal admission requirements, it is forwarded to the Admissions Committee.
Please log into your user account regularly to check the status of your application. If we need further information or documents, we will inform you directly via your account’s status overview page.
The SIM Admission Committee conducts four admission rounds between October and April. All complete applications that have been submitted on time are assessed and a decision is made on the admission.
You will receive the Letter of Admission or the Letter of Rejection in your electronic mailbox (Compass Mailbox). Please find the link to your Mailbox in the Online-Application user account at the top right of your status overview page. You can access your Mailbox using your SWITCH edu-ID log-in data.
Along with the Letter of Admission you also receive the invoice for the first semester fee and a form to confirm your place on your chosen programme. Your place will be confirmed as soon as we receive your completed confirmation form, and the semester fee invoice amount is credited to our account on time.
Your admission is conditional until you submit certified copies of the following degree documents:
(electronic verification options for third parties may be accepted):
Send a certified copy of your degree certificate and final academic transcript by postal mail to the Admissions and Crediting Office of the University of St.Gallen by no later than the start of your study programme (calendar week 38). Should you not be able to submit the certified copies of your degree documents in time, you will not be able to start your studies.
Do not send any original documents in the post! A copy is considered to be officially certified if the content of the copy is identical to the original documents and if the home university or an official body confirms this by means of a stamp and signature. Authenticated copies of the documents pass into the possession of the University of St.Gallen; they will not be returned.
If any of the documents are not issued in German, French, Italian or English, you must also submit a certified translation of the document in German or English. Please note our guidelines regarding documents to be submitted in the Directive on the implementing provisions of the admission regulations.
As soon as you have submitted all the necessary documents, your admission is unconditional. We will send you a confirmation email.
Please find detailed information on the next steps before the start of your studies, including advice on accommodation, insurance and visas, under Starting your studies.
Admissions and Crediting Office
University of St.Gallen
Dufourstrasse 50
CH-9000 St. Gallen
admissions@unisg.ch
+41 71 224 39 31
Tue.-Thu. 10:00 am - 11:30 am
At the office (02-U154)
Tue.-Thu. 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
by appointment only